9th Company
Movie Poster
9th Company (9 ROTA ) is a 2005 Russian language film that follows a group of Soviet recruits from Basic Training to combat in the mountains of Afghanistan, during the Afghan-Soviet War (1979-1989). The story deals with idealistic young Soviet paratroopers, assigned to the 9th Company, who are fighting a desperate battle against the Mujaheddin fighters in the final days of the doomed conflict. It is (loosely) based on the Battle for Hill 3234.
The following weapons were used in the film 9th Company :
Rifles AK-74 The AK-74 , fitted with an NSPU night-vision scope, is used by Soviet infantryman Lyosha. It also appears amongst several Mujahideen, including local commander Akhmet (Marat Gudiev ).
Error creating thumbnail: File missing AK-74 with NSPU scope - 5.45x39mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing Lyosha looks through the NSPU night-vision scope fitted onto his AK-74. Error creating thumbnail: File missing AK-74 - 5.45x39mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing Akhmet (Marat Gudiev ), a local Mujahideen leader, carries an AK-74. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Mujahideen advance on Hill 3234 firing their AK-74s. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Mujahideen armed with an AK-74 puts a paratrooper in a chokehold. AKS-74 Soviet Paratroopers use the AKS-74 , differentiated from the AK-74 by its folding stock (or lack of buttstock), in both training and combat in Afghanistan. The Mujahideen fighters also use them. Their heavier-than-expected use amongst the 9th Company in both training and combat is undoubtedly due to their light weight and the folding buttstock, ideal for paratroopers. Note that many of these look like full-length AK-74 because of the rubber bands (standard-issue tourniquets from personal first-aid kits) wrapped around their folding stocks – reportedly to keep a tourniquet handy, but more often just to improve cheek-weld on a skeleton stock, as tourniquets rapidly dry out and degrade exposed to the harsh elements.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing AKS-74 - 5.45x39mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing Vorobey (Aleksey Chadov ) crawls under barbed wire during a training exercise, holding an AKS-74. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Drill Sergeant Dygalo (Mikhail Porechenkov ) holds an AKS-74 fitted with a bayonet. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Stas (Artyom Mikhalkov ) uses his AKS-74 during bayonet practice. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Soviet recruit fires his AKS-74 on the rifle range. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Giaconda Petrovsky (Konstantin Kryukov ) trades his AKS-74 for an SVD Dragunov. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Soviet Paratrooper holds an AKS-74. Note the magazines taped together "jungle-style." Error creating thumbnail: File missing Afanasiy (Dmitriy Mukhamadeev ) holds his AKS-74. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Giaconda Petrovsky (Konstantin Kryukov ), carrying an AKS-74 instead of the SVD Dragunov, is led through an Afghan village by a local in his search for matches. Stas (Artyom Mikhalkov ) searches the village. Stas aims his AKS-74 at nearby sudden movement. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Mujahideen fighter fires his AKS-74. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Petrovsky exits a bunker, his AKS slung around his back. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Soviet Paratrooper armed with an AKS-74 fires at the Mujahideen from a bunker. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Kurbashi (Amadu Mamadakov ) and Warrant Officer Khokol Pogrebnyak (Fyodor Bondarchuk ) fire their AKS-74 rifles during the Mujahideen attack. Pogrebnyak's AKS-74 is fitted with a GP-25 . Error creating thumbnail: File missing Lyutyy wildly fires his AK-74 during the last stand. Dragunov SVD An SVD Dragunov is issued to Giaconda Petrovsky (Konstantin Kryukov ), who is an excellent marksman.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing SVD Dragunov sniper rifle - 7.6x54mm R Error creating thumbnail: File missing Giaconda Petrovsky (Konstantin Kryukov ) chambers a round into the SVD Dragunov... Error creating thumbnail: File missing ...Then Petrovsky fires. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Petrovsky with his Dragunov. Note the soldier next to him (Lyosha) using an AK-74 fitted with an NSPU telescopic night sight. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Worm's-Eye view of Petrovsky with the Dragunov. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Petrovsky cradles his Dragunov as the 9th Company is confronted with the few survivors of a Mujahideen attack. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Petrovsky takes down a Mujahideen with his Dragunov. Machine Guns PKM Machine Gun Several 9th Company Paratroopers use the PKM Machine Gun : Chugainov (Ivan Kokorin ) is given Samylin's old gun, which suffered a bend in the barrel due to a hand grenade explosion. He can be seen in one scene trying to sight it to fire at a rock 3m away. One of the paratroopers grabs the barrel of his PKM to bash a Mujahideen and sustains 3rd degree burns in the process.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing PKM with classic (most seen) version of the flash hider - 7.62x54mm R Error creating thumbnail: File missing Chugainov (Ivan Kokorin ) is issued the PKM Machine Gun. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Chugainov attempts to sight in the PKM. Note the bent barrel. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Chugainov fires the PKM. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Mujahideen fires his PKM from the hip. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Chugainov loads a belt of 7.62x54mm into the chamber of his PKM. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Chugainov carries his PKM, holding it by the bipod, as he and the 9th Company search an Afghan village. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Mujahideen fire their PKM's. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A 9th Company paratrooper fires his PKM at charging Mujahideen. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A 9th Company Paratrooper fires his PKM. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Chugainov fires his PKM. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The PKM continues to fire even after Chugainov is knocked down by enemy fire. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Lyutyy (Artur Smolyaninov ) leads a charge with the PKM. PKT Machine Gun The PKT Machine Gun is seen mounted on Soviet T-64 tanks.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing PKT machine gun with 250-round ammo drum - 7.62x54mm R Error creating thumbnail: File missing A PKT machine gun fires from the turret of a T-64 tank. RPK-74 Light Machine Gun Soviet Paratroopers and their Afghan allies can be occasionally seen using the RPK-74 Light Machine Gun .
Error creating thumbnail: File missing RPK-74 Light Machine Gun with 45-round box magazine - 5.45x39mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Soviet recruit carries an RPK-74 on a field march. Error creating thumbnail: File missing An RPK sits mounted on a barrel at a friendly Afghan checkpoint. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Paratrooper operating a minesweeper carries an RPK slung around his back. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The soldier on the far left has an RPK-74 deployed on a rock. KPVT Heavy Machine Gun The KPVT Heavy Machine Gun is mounted on BTR-60 APC's and BRDM-2 scout vehicles used by the Soviet Army in the film.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing KPVT Heavy Machine Gun - 14.5x114mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing A KPVT Heavy Machine Gun is visible mounted on the turret of a Soviet BRDM-2. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Close-up of a turret mounted KPVT as the 9th Company returns to base after successfully defending Hill 3234. NSV Heavy Machine Gun The NSV Heavy Machine Gun is used as a mounted heavy machine gun by Soviet Paratroopers on Hill 3234. Additional NSVT's are seen mounted at the Commander's hatches of T-64 tanks (despite the T-64 being incorrect for the Soviet war in Afghanistan; these tanks are possibly standing in for the similar T-72).
Tripod-mounted NSV heavy machine gun with ammo box and belt - 12.7x107mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing A tripod-mounted NSV Heavy Machine Gun sits at the Anava Outpost. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The machine gun crew open up with the NSV. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A good look at the tripod as the crew are forced to duck behind cover. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A 9th Company paratrooper lugs an NSV during the climb to Hill 3234. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A 9th Company Gun crew set up their NSV. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A gun crew man their NSV. The NSV is clearly visible behind the head of this Paratrooper as it opens up on Mujahideen fighters during the convoy ambush. Error creating thumbnail: File missing 9th Company Paratroopers open up on the charging Mujahideen. Error creating thumbnail: File missing An NSVT is visible on the T-64 tank leading the convoy. Error creating thumbnail: File missing An unmanned NSVT sits on the turret of the T-64. Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-2 The Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-2 is mounted on the Soviet Mi-24P Hind-F gunships which come to the rescue of 9th Company during the final assault.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-2 30mm automatic cannon - 30x165mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing A GSh-30-2K 30mm automatic cannon is visible mounted on the Mi-24P Hind-F gunship escorting the 9th Company convoy into the mountains of Afghanistan. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Mi-24P Hind-F gunships rattle away with GSh-30-2K 30mm automatic cannon. Shipunov 2A42 The Shipunov 2A42 is mounted on the BMP-2 Infantry Fighting Vehicles used by the Soviets on convoy duty.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing Shipunov 2A42 automatic cannon - 30x165mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Shipunov 2A42 mounted on a BMP-2 Infantry Fighting Vehicle. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A BMP-2 gunner aims his 24A2 at 9th Company paratroopers looting the convoy. ZU-23-2 The ZU-23-2 Anti-Aircraft Gun is seen at Bagram Airbase and mounted at the Anava Outpost.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing ZU-23-2 - 23mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing A ZU-23-2 Anti-Aircraft Gun is visible at the Anava Outpost on the far right of this screenshot. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The ZU-23-2 AA Gun is visible in the left foreground. Launchers AGS-17 Plamya An AGS-17 Plamya can be seen as part of Hill 3234's defense.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing AGS-17 Plamya on tripod - 30mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing Two 9th Company paratroopers to the right set up an AGS-17 Plamya. The paratrooper passing them carries an NSV. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The paratroopers in the bottom right can be seen loading an AGS-17. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The paratrooper to the right mans an AGS-17 Plamya. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Stas (Artyom Mikhalkov ) on guard in an AGS-17 nest. GP-25 Grenade Launcher The GP-25 grenade launcher is used by Warrant Officer «Khokhol» Pogrebnyak (Fyodor Bondarchuk ) and Afanasiy (Dmitriy Mukhamadeev ), mounted on their AKS-74 rifles. This Grenade Launcher was first introduced in the 1980s and was referred to as the BG15. A later updated version would be the GP-30.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing GP-25 grenade launcher - 40mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing Pogrebnyak on patrol with his AK-74 and GP-25. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Pogrebnyak with his AK-74 and GP-25. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The GP-25 is clearly visible as Pogrebnyak fires his AK-74. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Pogrebnyak loads a 40mm High-Explosive Round into his GP-25. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Afanasiy (Dmitriy Mukhamadeev ) loads a 40mm HE into his GP-25. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Pogrebnyak fires a flare from his GP-25. RPG-7 The RPG-7 , mounted with a PGO-7 scope, is used by the Mujahideen alongside RPG-18s to attack the 9th Company. They are also carried by Soviet Paratroopers, but without a scope. A glaring error is that in several shots it is apparent that there is no loaded rocket when the RPG is fired.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing RPG-7 - 40mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Soviet recruit holds an RPG-7 over his head during a march. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A 9th Company Paratrooper climbs up to Hill 3234, carrying a slung RPG-7. Error creating thumbnail: File missing RPG-7 with PG-7VM rocket and PGO-7 scope - 40mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Mujahideen fires an RPG-7 fitted with a PGO-7 scope at 9th Company. In a glaring error, there is actually no rocket visible before and when he fires. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Another Mujahideen fires an RPG-7. The same error in the above shot is repeated in this one. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Mujahideen attaches a PG-7VM rocket to his RPG. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The Mujahideen fires his RPG-7. RPG-18 The disposable, single-shot RPG-18 launcher is used by Mujahideen to attack the Soviets. Soviet Paratroopers also carry and operate them.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing RPG-18 - 64mm Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Soviet Paratrooper fires at Mujahideen positions with his RPG-18. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Lyutyy (Artur Smolyaninov ) climbs to Hill 3234, carrying an RPG-18 around his shoulders. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A pair of Mujahideen fire their RPG-18s at a Soviet convoy. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Mujahideen fires his RPG-18. Note the second tube slung around his back. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Mujahideen fighter fires his RPG-18 at the Soviets. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A Mujahideen fires his RPG-18 as a second disposes of his used tube. Grenades & Mines F-1 Hand Grenade The main grenade carried by the Soviet Paratroopers is the World War Two-era F-1 Hand Grenade , even though the RGD-5 was standard issue from the 1960's onward. This is probably due to its iconic status in Russia, where RGD and similar modern grenades are largely unknown to civilians (the oft-cited Russian army myth defines the F-1 kill radius as 200 meters - while 200 m is actually its potential danger radius in range conditions).
F-1 High-Explosive Fragmentation Hand Grenade Error creating thumbnail: File missing Lyosha pulls the pin on an F-1 Hand Grenade. Error creating thumbnail: File missing A 9th Company paratrooper pockets an F-1 Hand Grenade. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Lyutyy (Artur Smolyaninov ) throws an F-1 Hand Grenade. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Vorobey (Aleksey Chadov ) cooks off an F-1 Hand Grenade for a suicidal detonation. RGD-5 Hand Grenade Giaconda Petrovsky (Konstantin Kryukov) throws an RGD-5 Hand Grenade into a Mujahideen tunnel complex in the aftermath of the Convoy Ambush.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing RGD-5 High-Explosive Fragmentation Hand Grenade Error creating thumbnail: File missing An RGD-5 Hand Grenade thrown by Giaconda Petrovsky (Konstantin Kryukov ) rolls into a hole used by the Mujahideen to escape. Error creating thumbnail: File missing The grenade goes "boom!" This scene is noteworthy for two reasons: the non-Hollywood explosion and by illustrating the ease at which the Mujahideen are able to escape the Soviets. One hole for every man. UPG-8 Dummy Antitank Grenade An UPG-8 dummy antitank grenade is used by Vorobey (Aleksey Chadov ) in an exercise during training ("UPG" means "Uchebnaya Protivotankovaya Granata" - training anti-tank grenade. It is a training version of RKG-3 anti-tank grenade ).
UPG-8 training grenade Error creating thumbnail: File missing Vorobey (Aleksey Chadov ) readies UPG-8 grenade. Cyrillic letters "УПГ" can be seen on its body. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Vorobey hurls the dummy grenade at a Soviet T-72. PFM-1 Lepestok A PFM-1 Lepestok antipersonel landmine is seen in the one scene.
Error creating thumbnail: File missing PFM-1 Lepestok landmine. This is training sample. Error creating thumbnail: File missing Perfect view of the landmine. Trivia Russian language poster for 9th Company aka 9 POTA (2005) (Russia). Note: Though IMDB lists the Russian name as "9 POTA" the cyrillic in the poster reads 9 "Roh-ta" with the "r" rolled on the tip of the tongue like in Spanish. Thus the 'phonetic' English wording used for the International Title is actually incorrect.
