The Truth About 9th Company
Encyclopedia
The Truth About 9th Company is the first Russia
n documentary computer game which was officially launched on 18 February 2008. This war game simulates the historical battle for Hill 3234
taken place on 7-8 January 1988 in southern Afghanistan
between Soviet paratroop units of the 345th Independent Guards Airborne Regiment
and mujahideen.
The game was developed by the team of Extreme Developers, produced by Andrei Kuzmin
's KranX Productions and published by 1C
in Russia
for the PC. The primary sponsor of the development was Dmitry Puchkov
.
Dmitry Puchkov
, the ideological leader and inspirer of development, and Andrei Kuzmin
, the leader of KranX Productions game development studio, made a special investigation to discover the details of the Operation Magistral
and the real circumstances of the Battle for Hill 3234
.
Dmitry Puchkov
announced the idea of the game as the response to "the intentional destruction of historical memory of the people".
As the result, the in-game mountainous terrain is reconstructed on the basis of the satellite imagery
, and the progress of events is refined with the help of survived eyewitnesses.
. In each episode the player is set the same combat mission that was completed by the real soldiers, the defenders of the hill. Episodes follow one after another according to the progress of events taken place on the battle field.
Vyacheslav A. Alexandrov
, Guards
Junior Sergeant, commander of the NSV 12.7 mm caliber heavy machine gun ("Utyos").
Situation
The intensive bombardment of the hill with rocket-propelled grenades and mortar
s was over. Corporal Andrei Fedotov, the radioman
of the artillery observer
team was killed by a RPG burst. 1st platoon men were leaving the safe range and returning to their positions.
Combat Mission
Acting as junior sergeant Vyacheslav A. Alexandrov
, the player has to repulse the first attack launched by mujahideen from an unexpected direction. Weapons and equipment: NSV 12.7 mm caliber heavy machine gun ("Utyos").
Andrei N. Tsvetkov, Guards
Junior Sergeant.
Situation
By covering the positional movements of the 1st platoon men, junior sergeant Alexandrov
has been killed. The main firepower of the defenders, "Utyos" machine gun, was disabled. The attackers were trying to move to the area of destroyed "Utyos" by covering with terrain and fallen darkness. The mujahideen were going to use this direction as a springboard for the next attack against 1st platoon's positions.
Combat Mission
Acting as junior sergeant Andrei N. Tsvetkov, the player's task is not to allow concentration of mujahideen at the defensive positions, weakened by the loss of the "Utyos" machine gun.
Ivan P. Babenko, Guards
Senior Lieutenant, commander of the artillery observer
team.
Situation
The 1st platoon ammunition was nearly exhausted. Ivan P. Babenko requested direct communication with the artillery commander of the 345th Independent Guards Airborne Regiment
. The artillery battery located near the command post supported the ground units on the hill with the covering fire. Any mistake of the artillery observer could result in the deaths of friendly units. If necessary, the artillery observer called in fire directly on the 1st platoon positions.
Combat Mission
Acting as senior lieutenant Ivan P. Babenko, the player calls in target locations to the artillery commander via radio
. The primary goal of the mission is to direct artillery fire to prevent mujahideen from approaching the hill and to avoid the death of 1st platoon men from friendly fire
. Weapons and equipment: BI-8 binocular, whistle
.
Andrei A. Melnikov
, Guards
Private
, machine gunner.
Situation
2nd and 3rd platoons of the 9th company approached the hill. Reinforcements were led by the 2nd platoon commander, Senior Lieutenant Sergei V. Rozhkov and deputy squadron commander, Lieutenant Sergey B. Tkachev. Realizing that approaching reinforcements strengthened defense, mujahideen started to change the tactics. Covering with the darkness, the attackers were striving to move closer as possible to defense positions in order to subsequent rapid attack.
Combat mission
The player's task is to watch the enemy, to opportunely detect and to destroy the enemy groups attempting to sneak to the defenders' positions. Weapons and equipment: RPK
, illumination shells.
Nurmat N. Muratov, Guards
Private
, sniper
.
Situation
Another subsequent attack at the hill got bogged down. Machine gunner Andrei A. Melnikov
parried the main blow at the cost of his life. mujahideen changed the tactics subsequently and started systematic firing of the hill with RPGs from the long distances.
Combat mission
The player's task is to destroy as many as possible RPG operators firing the defenders' positions at the hill 3234. Weapons and equipment: Dragunov sniper rifle (SVD).
Alexei N. Smirnov, Senior Lieutenant.
Situation
The 3rd battalion intelligence commander, Lieutenant Alexei N. Smirnov received orders to advance to the hill 3234. The intelligence squad carried additional ammunition for the hill defenders.
Combat Mission
Acting as Senior Lieutenant Alexei N. Smirnov, the player carries ammunition to defense positions and participates in the battle for the hill 3234. Weapons and equipment: AKS-74 rifle with the GP-25 grenade launcher.
Sergey B. Tkachev, Senior Lieutenant and Sergei V. Rozhkov, Senior Lieutenant.
Situation
According to the veterans' testimony, the last and the most desperate, 12th attack against the hill defenders started. The attackers advanced through the mine fields. Junior Sergeant Vladimir Krishtopenko was killed by a grenade explosion, and Junior Sergeant Andrei N. Tsvetkov gets seriously injured.
Combat Mission
Acting as Senior Lieutenant Sergei B. Tkachev, the player has to command the 9th company men. The main task is to prevent the seizure of the hill 3234.
Review web site Absolute Games rated The Truth About 9th Company as bad (35% out of 100%), pointing to a number of serious gameplay issues.
PlayGround.ru game review web site rated The Truth About 9th Company 8.0 out of 10.0, with reviewer demigot saying:
On 22 February 2008, the presentation of The Truth About 9th Company to the participants of the Round Table "Computer games as a new factor in education" within XII World Russian People Council took place in Moscow. The Round Table Director Roman Silantiev noted that the computer games like The Truth About 9th Company "do not only raise patriotism in young people, but also provide objective knowledge of military affairs, history and geography". He emphasized that combat operations are reproduced within the game exactly, while it's possible to play only for the one side according to the game rules.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n documentary computer game which was officially launched on 18 February 2008. This war game simulates the historical battle for Hill 3234
Battle for Hill 3234
The Battle for Hill 3234 was a defensive battle and successful military campaign fought by 345th Soviet paratroopers in Afghanistan against a force of 200 to 250 Mujahideen rebels...
taken place on 7-8 January 1988 in southern Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
between Soviet paratroop units of the 345th Independent Guards Airborne Regiment
345th Independent Guards Airborne Regiment
The 345th Guards Airborne Regiment of the Soviet Airborne Troops was active from 1944 to 1998. It was formed on 30 December 1944 at Lapichi, Osipovichi district, Mogilev Oblast, in the Byelorussian SSR...
and mujahideen.
The game was developed by the team of Extreme Developers, produced by Andrei Kuzmin
Andrei Kuzmin
Andrei Kuzmin is a professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod in the Kontinental Hockey League .-External links:...
's KranX Productions and published by 1C
1C Company
1C Company is one of the largest independent Russian software developers and publishers. Its headquarters are in Moscow, Russia. It is best known outside of the former Soviet Union as a video game developer whose presence has come to dominate events like the KRI, and whose products have begun to...
in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
for the PC. The primary sponsor of the development was Dmitry Puchkov
Dmitry Puchkov
Dmitry Yuryevich Puchkov , also known as Goblin and Starshiy Operupolnomocheniy Goblin, is an English-to-Russian movie and video game translator, script-writer, and author...
.
Background
Dmitry Puchkov
Dmitry Yuryevich Puchkov , also known as Goblin and Starshiy Operupolnomocheniy Goblin, is an English-to-Russian movie and video game translator, script-writer, and author...
, the ideological leader and inspirer of development, and Andrei Kuzmin
Andrei Kuzmin
Andrei Kuzmin is a professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod in the Kontinental Hockey League .-External links:...
, the leader of KranX Productions game development studio, made a special investigation to discover the details of the Operation Magistral
Operation Magistral
Operation Magistral was a Soviet Army military operation during the Soviet war in Afghanistan that began in late November 1987 and ended in early January 1988.- The early operation :...
and the real circumstances of the Battle for Hill 3234
Battle for Hill 3234
The Battle for Hill 3234 was a defensive battle and successful military campaign fought by 345th Soviet paratroopers in Afghanistan against a force of 200 to 250 Mujahideen rebels...
.
Dmitry Puchkov
Dmitry Puchkov
Dmitry Yuryevich Puchkov , also known as Goblin and Starshiy Operupolnomocheniy Goblin, is an English-to-Russian movie and video game translator, script-writer, and author...
announced the idea of the game as the response to "the intentional destruction of historical memory of the people".
As the result, the in-game mountainous terrain is reconstructed on the basis of the satellite imagery
Satellite imagery
Satellite imagery consists of photographs of Earth or other planets made by means of artificial satellites.- History :The first images from space were taken on sub-orbital flights. The U.S-launched V-2 flight on October 24, 1946 took one image every 1.5 seconds...
, and the progress of events is refined with the help of survived eyewitnesses.
Storyline
The game storyline is divided into seven episodes that illustrate the key points of the battle for Hill 3234Battle for Hill 3234
The Battle for Hill 3234 was a defensive battle and successful military campaign fought by 345th Soviet paratroopers in Afghanistan against a force of 200 to 250 Mujahideen rebels...
. In each episode the player is set the same combat mission that was completed by the real soldiers, the defenders of the hill. Episodes follow one after another according to the progress of events taken place on the battle field.
"The Forbidding Utyos", 7 January, 16:00-16:30
RolesVyacheslav A. Alexandrov
Vyacheslav Alexandrovich Alexandrov
Vyacheslav Alexandrovich Alexandrov was a Guards Junior Sergeant and squad commander in the 9th airborne company, 345th Independent Guards Airborne Regiment, 40th Army. During the Battle for Hill 3234, Junior Sergeant Alexandrov was leading a paratrooper gun crew for an NSV 12.7mm heavy machine gun...
, Guards
Guards unit
Guards units are elite units and formations in the armed forces of the former Soviet Union, Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine. These units were awarded Guards status after distinguishing themselves in service, and are considered to have elite status. The Guards designation originated during the...
Junior Sergeant, commander of the NSV 12.7 mm caliber heavy machine gun ("Utyos").
Situation
The intensive bombardment of the hill with rocket-propelled grenades and mortar
Mortar (weapon)
A mortar is an indirect fire weapon that fires explosive projectiles known as bombs at low velocities, short ranges, and high-arcing ballistic trajectories. It is typically muzzle-loading and has a barrel length less than 15 times its caliber....
s was over. Corporal Andrei Fedotov, the radioman
Radioman
Radioman was a rating for United States Navy and United States Coast Guard enlisted personnel, specializing in communications technology.-History of the rating:...
of the artillery observer
Artillery observer
A military artillery observer or spotter is responsible for directing artillery fire and close air support onto enemy positions. Because artillery is an indirect fire weapon system, the guns are rarely in line-of-sight of their target, often located tens of miles away...
team was killed by a RPG burst. 1st platoon men were leaving the safe range and returning to their positions.
Combat Mission
Acting as junior sergeant Vyacheslav A. Alexandrov
Vyacheslav Alexandrovich Alexandrov
Vyacheslav Alexandrovich Alexandrov was a Guards Junior Sergeant and squad commander in the 9th airborne company, 345th Independent Guards Airborne Regiment, 40th Army. During the Battle for Hill 3234, Junior Sergeant Alexandrov was leading a paratrooper gun crew for an NSV 12.7mm heavy machine gun...
, the player has to repulse the first attack launched by mujahideen from an unexpected direction. Weapons and equipment: NSV 12.7 mm caliber heavy machine gun ("Utyos").
"The Second Attack", 16:30
RolesAndrei N. Tsvetkov, Guards
Guards unit
Guards units are elite units and formations in the armed forces of the former Soviet Union, Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine. These units were awarded Guards status after distinguishing themselves in service, and are considered to have elite status. The Guards designation originated during the...
Junior Sergeant.
Situation
By covering the positional movements of the 1st platoon men, junior sergeant Alexandrov
Vyacheslav Alexandrovich Alexandrov
Vyacheslav Alexandrovich Alexandrov was a Guards Junior Sergeant and squad commander in the 9th airborne company, 345th Independent Guards Airborne Regiment, 40th Army. During the Battle for Hill 3234, Junior Sergeant Alexandrov was leading a paratrooper gun crew for an NSV 12.7mm heavy machine gun...
has been killed. The main firepower of the defenders, "Utyos" machine gun, was disabled. The attackers were trying to move to the area of destroyed "Utyos" by covering with terrain and fallen darkness. The mujahideen were going to use this direction as a springboard for the next attack against 1st platoon's positions.
Combat Mission
Acting as junior sergeant Andrei N. Tsvetkov, the player's task is not to allow concentration of mujahideen at the defensive positions, weakened by the loss of the "Utyos" machine gun.
"The Fire Adjustment", 20:43
RolesIvan P. Babenko, Guards
Guards unit
Guards units are elite units and formations in the armed forces of the former Soviet Union, Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine. These units were awarded Guards status after distinguishing themselves in service, and are considered to have elite status. The Guards designation originated during the...
Senior Lieutenant, commander of the artillery observer
Artillery observer
A military artillery observer or spotter is responsible for directing artillery fire and close air support onto enemy positions. Because artillery is an indirect fire weapon system, the guns are rarely in line-of-sight of their target, often located tens of miles away...
team.
Situation
The 1st platoon ammunition was nearly exhausted. Ivan P. Babenko requested direct communication with the artillery commander of the 345th Independent Guards Airborne Regiment
345th Independent Guards Airborne Regiment
The 345th Guards Airborne Regiment of the Soviet Airborne Troops was active from 1944 to 1998. It was formed on 30 December 1944 at Lapichi, Osipovichi district, Mogilev Oblast, in the Byelorussian SSR...
. The artillery battery located near the command post supported the ground units on the hill with the covering fire. Any mistake of the artillery observer could result in the deaths of friendly units. If necessary, the artillery observer called in fire directly on the 1st platoon positions.
Combat Mission
Acting as senior lieutenant Ivan P. Babenko, the player calls in target locations to the artillery commander via radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
. The primary goal of the mission is to direct artillery fire to prevent mujahideen from approaching the hill and to avoid the death of 1st platoon men from friendly fire
Friendly fire
Friendly fire is inadvertent firing towards one's own or otherwise friendly forces while attempting to engage enemy forces, particularly where this results in injury or death. A death resulting from a negligent discharge is not considered friendly fire...
. Weapons and equipment: BI-8 binocular, whistle
Whistle
A whistle or call is a simple aerophone, an instrument which produces sound from a stream of forced air. It may be mouth-operated, or powered by air pressure, steam, or other means...
.
"The Night Fight", 22:00
RolesAndrei A. Melnikov
Andrey Alexandrovich Melnikov
Andrey Alexandrovich Melnikov was a Private, machine gunner of the 9th Company, 345th Independent Guards Airborne Regiment, 40th Army. Melnikov was present during the Battle for Hill 3234 as an RPK gunner. During the late night of January 8, Melnikov blunted a strong mujahideen attack on the 9th...
, Guards
Guards unit
Guards units are elite units and formations in the armed forces of the former Soviet Union, Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine. These units were awarded Guards status after distinguishing themselves in service, and are considered to have elite status. The Guards designation originated during the...
Private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
, machine gunner.
Situation
2nd and 3rd platoons of the 9th company approached the hill. Reinforcements were led by the 2nd platoon commander, Senior Lieutenant Sergei V. Rozhkov and deputy squadron commander, Lieutenant Sergey B. Tkachev. Realizing that approaching reinforcements strengthened defense, mujahideen started to change the tactics. Covering with the darkness, the attackers were striving to move closer as possible to defense positions in order to subsequent rapid attack.
Combat mission
The player's task is to watch the enemy, to opportunely detect and to destroy the enemy groups attempting to sneak to the defenders' positions. Weapons and equipment: RPK
RPK
The RPK is a 7.62x39mm light machine gun of Soviet design, developed by Mikhail Kalashnikov in the late 1950s, parallel with the AKM assault/battle rifle...
, illumination shells.
"The Sniper", 23:12
RolesNurmat N. Muratov, Guards
Guards unit
Guards units are elite units and formations in the armed forces of the former Soviet Union, Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine. These units were awarded Guards status after distinguishing themselves in service, and are considered to have elite status. The Guards designation originated during the...
Private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
, sniper
Sniper
A sniper is a marksman who shoots targets from concealed positions or distances exceeding the capabilities of regular personnel. Snipers typically have specialized training and distinct high-precision rifles....
.
Situation
Another subsequent attack at the hill got bogged down. Machine gunner Andrei A. Melnikov
Andrey Alexandrovich Melnikov
Andrey Alexandrovich Melnikov was a Private, machine gunner of the 9th Company, 345th Independent Guards Airborne Regiment, 40th Army. Melnikov was present during the Battle for Hill 3234 as an RPK gunner. During the late night of January 8, Melnikov blunted a strong mujahideen attack on the 9th...
parried the main blow at the cost of his life. mujahideen changed the tactics subsequently and started systematic firing of the hill with RPGs from the long distances.
Combat mission
The player's task is to destroy as many as possible RPG operators firing the defenders' positions at the hill 3234. Weapons and equipment: Dragunov sniper rifle (SVD).
"The Friendly Units", 00:30
RolesAlexei N. Smirnov, Senior Lieutenant.
Situation
The 3rd battalion intelligence commander, Lieutenant Alexei N. Smirnov received orders to advance to the hill 3234. The intelligence squad carried additional ammunition for the hill defenders.
Combat Mission
Acting as Senior Lieutenant Alexei N. Smirnov, the player carries ammunition to defense positions and participates in the battle for the hill 3234. Weapons and equipment: AKS-74 rifle with the GP-25 grenade launcher.
"The Last Assault", 8 January, 03:00
RolesSergey B. Tkachev, Senior Lieutenant and Sergei V. Rozhkov, Senior Lieutenant.
Situation
According to the veterans' testimony, the last and the most desperate, 12th attack against the hill defenders started. The attackers advanced through the mine fields. Junior Sergeant Vladimir Krishtopenko was killed by a grenade explosion, and Junior Sergeant Andrei N. Tsvetkov gets seriously injured.
Combat Mission
Acting as Senior Lieutenant Sergei B. Tkachev, the player has to command the 9th company men. The main task is to prevent the seizure of the hill 3234.
Features
- Reconstruction of all the battle events based on information gathered during the investigation performed by Dmitry PuchkovDmitry PuchkovDmitry Yuryevich Puchkov , also known as Goblin and Starshiy Operupolnomocheniy Goblin, is an English-to-Russian movie and video game translator, script-writer, and author...
. Information is gathered via meetings with the battle for Hill 3234Battle for Hill 3234The Battle for Hill 3234 was a defensive battle and successful military campaign fought by 345th Soviet paratroopers in Afghanistan against a force of 200 to 250 Mujahideen rebels...
veterans. - "Cooperative" first person gameplay: the tasks of combatants are interconnected. The player is able to see the battle from the view of different members during the single game episode, which is aimed to illustrate the war principle: doing your job badly - letting down your mate.
- Simulation of Soviet weapons and warfare, and correspondence of game goals with real combat missions assigned to 9th company men in 1988.
- Design of AI face models is based on the real combatants portraits, and AI models looks like the real soldiers in the real conditions.
- Simulation of visual and audio embodiment of the battle: explosions of RPGs and mines, bullets whistling, illumination shell flashes, the earth shaking from the heavy artillery fire, the cries of wounded and the threatening of enemies.
- Reconstruction of the hill 3234 and neighborhood terrain based on satellite imagerySatellite imagerySatellite imagery consists of photographs of Earth or other planets made by means of artificial satellites.- History :The first images from space were taken on sub-orbital flights. The U.S-launched V-2 flight on October 24, 1946 took one image every 1.5 seconds...
and three-dimensional landscape modelling. The terrain model is approved by the battle veterans. - Collected encyclopedic information, including general information about the Afghanistan warSoviet war in AfghanistanThe Soviet war in Afghanistan was a nine-year conflict involving the Soviet Union, supporting the Marxist-Leninist government of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan against the Afghan Mujahideen and foreign "Arab–Afghan" volunteers...
, the importance of battle for Hill 3234Battle for Hill 3234The Battle for Hill 3234 was a defensive battle and successful military campaign fought by 345th Soviet paratroopers in Afghanistan against a force of 200 to 250 Mujahideen rebels...
in the context of known Operation MagistralOperation MagistralOperation Magistral was a Soviet Army military operation during the Soviet war in Afghanistan that began in late November 1987 and ended in early January 1988.- The early operation :...
, information about combatants, photos of the battle artifacts, the analysis of the battle events performed by professional military. Selected articles are available in the encyclopedic section of the official game web site http://www.pravdao9rote.ru/afgan/.
Reception
The Truth About 9th Company received a mixed reaction from the video game review web sites.Review web site Absolute Games rated The Truth About 9th Company as bad (35% out of 100%), pointing to a number of serious gameplay issues.
PlayGround.ru game review web site rated The Truth About 9th Company 8.0 out of 10.0, with reviewer demigot saying:
On 22 February 2008, the presentation of The Truth About 9th Company to the participants of the Round Table "Computer games as a new factor in education" within XII World Russian People Council took place in Moscow. The Round Table Director Roman Silantiev noted that the computer games like The Truth About 9th Company "do not only raise patriotism in young people, but also provide objective knowledge of military affairs, history and geography". He emphasized that combat operations are reproduced within the game exactly, while it's possible to play only for the one side according to the game rules.
External links
- Official "The Truth About 9th Company" website
- Extreme Developers official web site
- KranX Productions official web site
- 345th Independent Guards Airborne Regiment official web site
- "The Truth About 9th Company" gameplay video, commented by Dmitry PuchkovDmitry PuchkovDmitry Yuryevich Puchkov , also known as Goblin and Starshiy Operupolnomocheniy Goblin, is an English-to-Russian movie and video game translator, script-writer, and author...