Soviet Tank Graveyard
To the North of Afghanistan’s capital Kabul is the “Tank Graveyard“. Here there are hundreds of Soviet tanks, left there since the end of the Soviet war in 1989, slowly rusting away.
Apparently the Taliban used this field for collecting spare tank parts to service the active tanks in the military base just to the East. You can see that the U.S. bombers have destroyed most of the buildings in this base and there are large craters in the surrounding grounds.
Good ground level pics of the graveyard on this Russian page.
Thanks: jher
I took some ground level shots:...”
Guess the “lord of war” hasn’t been through Kabul in a while.
For all you black helicopter spotters!
Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth
Dang! Get me some steel wool and a plane ticket to Kabul!
I wonder what all these towers are for
Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth
The towers look like radio towers to me, used for transmitting or receiveing something…
This air base is pretty impresive aswell. I’d assume this is probably occupied by US/allied forces. Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth
Found quite a few US miltary planes in the region. I think I’ve identified most.
A C-5 Galaxy taxiing
Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth
A C-141 Starlifter with a nearby C-130 Hercules on the tarmac
Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth
C-17 Globemaster taxiing with additional C-130’s (possibly AC-130 Spectre gun ships?), various helicopters (Chinooks, Apache Longbows, etc.), A-10 Thuderbolts/Warthogs… but cannot identify the other dark delta wing aircraft near the C-130’s.
Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth
I think they are Harriers peter.
Lee - I believe that you are correct and that would make sense. Thanks!
lee I dont think that they are harriers.
1) harriers are rarely used in U.S. military operations anymore, not efficient enough.
2) they seem to resemble f-16A hornet’s with that delta wing. harriers have a more swept wing
@ randall: f-16’s are falcons, not hornets. the f/a-18 is the hornet. anyway, the tail is all wrong to be f16’s and the sweep isnt severe enough. i agree with the harrier assessment, despite the logistical arguement against it.
They are USMC AV-8B Harrier II’s. I could come up with the tail numbers if I look around…
“USMC Harrier IIs saw action in the Afghanistan campaign ……… providing support for Marine special operations forces operating in the country.”
-Bill
USMC Retired
Randall, You are correct that the Harrier had technical problems. In the late ’90s the Marine Corps started to refurb their Harriers and are now proving to be very mission capable aircraft. The Brits are also upgrading their Harriers so I believe they will be around for some time. They are very good at Close Air Support missions for protecting ground units.
I personally did not work with the Harriers, but we often deployed our FA-18 Hornets to the same forward operating bases… FYI, Harriers pilots are NUTS!
ah well tanks very much for that… hahahaha sorry just felt the need..
Thank you Bill,
S/F
Dogboy
those other aircraft are EA-6B Prowlers.
I am looking for a electric starter 24volts for a Russian tank engine anyone can help the engine model not available its a 12 cylinder diesel engine the starter is srapped onto the side of the engine pinion is 11 teeth and 2-1/2 Diameter
The Russian tank graveyard is great!the buildings in the second picture are in fact Russian built repair shops-I toured these buildings 1n 2004-2005,while attached to the Afghan Army’s Kabul Military Training Center.These buildings are seperate from the main compound.they most probably contain unexploded ordnance-I DO know that they contain posionous snakes,and scorpions–DONT GO IN!!! A lot of the tanks,APC’s,trucks,and the occaisional helicopter are in the adjoining field-also a Bear bomber(in large pieces) If you want junk,and you have a sense of adventure,go on in!