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EVENING BELL: The Week's Counterattack On March 14, 1969, fighting resumed near the Far Eastern island of Damansky. Driven from a patch of Soviet territory (1,500 x 600 meters) on March 2, Chinese troops meticulously prepared for revenge. A 5,000...
...aunched an offensive. Two hours later, the border guards, who had fought to the last drop of blood, had exhausted their ammunition and were forced to retreat. Then, violating the Politburo's directive not to involve the regular army in the conflict, Lieutenant General Oleg Losik, commander of the Far Eastern Military District, ordered the opening of fire with secret Grad missiles. And in a matter of minutes, they razed the attackers, their reserves, and the fortifications on the other side...
...-man infantry regiment took up positions opposite the island. Our troops were also alert, deploying a motorized rifle division with artillery and the latest, combat-tested BM-21 Grad mounts to the rear. The first, and as it turned out, tentative Chinese attempt to occupy the island was thwarted by border guards who had advanced on Damansky Island and dug in. And the next morning, the real war began. Up to 60 Chinese guns and mortars began shelling the island, and three infantry companies l...