1971 field notes: lessons for Pakistan

[Signalian]

Pakistan witnessed a humiliating surrender in Dhaka and 100,000 troops were taken into captivity.

This one statement is enough to understand that this guy is exaggerating in the article. I wouldnt trust this author nor article.

 

[Talwar e Pakistan]

Pakistan witnessed a humiliating surrender in Dhaka and 100,000 troops were taken into captivity.

Stopped reading after this.

Where the hell did he pull 100,000 out of? It was around 35,000; rest were mostly civil services.

 

[Jaanbaz]

Bengal should have been a separate state to begin with.

 

[Indus Pakistan]

Bengal should have been a separate state to begin with.

The 1940 Lahore Resolution actually sanctions two Muslim states on the west [present day Pakistan] and east [present day Bangladesh] of the British Raj.

This one statement is enough to understand that this guy is exaggerating in the article. I wouldnt trust this author nor article.

You seem to be a guy with military know how. Is there any way you can get the Pakistan Army order of battle [orbat] for East Pakistan at the start of the war? And unit strengths etc

 

[Signalian]

You seem to be a guy with military know how. Is there any way you can get the Pakistan Army order of battle [orbat] for East Pakistan at the start of the war? And unit strengths etc

HQ Dhaka
-Engineer Brigade(3 Engineer Regiments)
-Light AD Regiment
-Signals Regiment
-Aviation Squadron
-SSG Battalion (under strength)


14 infantry Division. Deployed since independence for Defence of East Pakistan.
-202 Brigade (2 infantry battalions + 1 mujahid battalion)
-313 Brigade (2 infantry battalions + 1 vastly under strength mujahid battalion)
-27 Brigade (Hastily formed, 2 infantry battalions + 8 Light tanks)
-Artillery Brigade (1 medium Regiment + 2 mortar batteries)

9 Infantry Division. Airlifted to E.Pak in March 1971
-57 Brigade (3 Infantry Battalions + 12-15 Tanks)
-107 Brigade (4-6 Infantry Battalions)
-Artillery Brigade (2 Field artillery Regiments + 1 Mortar Battery)
-A tank Squadron
-3x Wings of paramilitary

16 Infantry Division. Airlifted to E.Pak in March 1971
-23 Brigade (4-6 Infantry Battalions)
-205 Brigade (3 Infantry Battalions)
-34 Brigade (2 Infantry Battalions)
-Artillery Brigade (2 Field regiments + 1 Mortar Battery)
-2x Tank Squadrons

36 AdHoc DIV
- 2 Infantry battalions + 2 paramilitary wings + mortar battery

39 AdHoc DIV
-117 Brigade (3 Infantry battalions)
-52 Brigade (3 Infantry battalions)
-91 Ad Hoc Brigade (1 infantry battalion + 2 Paramilitary wings)
-1x Artillery Regiment


97 Independent Brigade
(1 Infantry Battalion + 1 understrength SSG Battalion + 2 paramilitary wings + AD battery)


Thats a total of 5 Infantry Divisions, all of which are under strength in artillery/armor/other support elements like AD, Engineers,Logistics etc and one division is just size of a brigade.


To uplift numbers, paramilitary wings and mujahid battalions were added which were again under strength. 5 of the 11 East bengal Infantry battalions mutinied while the rest became under strength due to desertions and all the E-B battalions almost became non-existent.

 

[Indus Pakistan]

To uplift numbers

Thank you for the info. Just few more question for you - if you don't mind.

• The units you have listed are they only made of West Paks?
  
• What do you think is the total number of West Paks in these units?

 

[django]

Stopped reading after this.

Where the hell did he pull 100,000 out of? It was around 35,000; rest were mostly civil services.

33,000 men.

Bengal should have been a separate state to begin with.

Bloody true.

HQ Dhaka
-Engineer Brigade(3 Engineer Regiments)
-Light AD Regiment
-Signals Regiment
-Aviation Squadron
-SSG Battalion (under strength)


14 infantry Division. Deployed since independence for Defence of East Pakistan.
-202 Brigade (2 infantry battalions + 1 mujahid battalion)
-313 Brigade (2 infantry battalions + 1 vastly under strength mujahid battalion)
-27 Brigade (Hastily formed, 2 infantry battalions + 8 Light tanks)
-Artillery Brigade (1 medium Regiment + 2 mortar batteries)

9 Infantry Division. Airlifted to E.Pak in March 1971
-57 Brigade (3 Infantry Battalions + 12-15 Tanks)
-107 Brigade (4-6 Infantry Battalions)
-Artillery Brigade (2 Field artillery Regiments + 1 Mortar Battery)
-A tank Squadron
-3x Wings of paramilitary

16 Infantry Division. Airlifted to E.Pak in March 1971
-23 Brigade (4-6 Infantry Battalions)
-205 Brigade (3 Infantry Battalions)
-34 Brigade (2 Infantry Battalions)
-Artillery Brigade (2 Field regiments + 1 Mortar Battery)
-2x Tank Squadrons

36 AdHoc DIV
- 2 Infantry battalions + 2 paramilitary wings + mortar battery

39 AdHoc DIV
-117 Brigade (3 Infantry battalions)
-52 Brigade (3 Infantry battalions)
-91 Ad Hoc Brigade (1 infantry battalion + 2 Paramilitary wings)
-1x Artillery Regiment


97 Independent Brigade
(1 Infantry Battalion + 1 understrength SSG Battalion + 2 paramilitary wings + AD battery)


Thats a total of 5 Infantry Divisions, all of which are under strength in artillery/armor/other support elements like AD, Engineers,Logistics etc and one division is just size of a brigade.


To uplift numbers, paramilitary wings and mujahid battalions were added which were again under strength. 5 of the 11 East bengal Infantry battalions mutinied while the rest became under strength due to desertions and all the E-B battalions almost became non-existent.

Despite all the numerical and logistical disadvantages according to Gen Sam Manekshaw the Pakistan army fought very valiantly indeed, Indians should rather heed the words of good old departed Sam than third rate Generals like GD Bakshi.Kudos bro

 

[Indus Pakistan]

33,000 men.

Do you have a reliable source for this?

 

[django]

Do you have a reliable source for this?

The late Lt Col Shafqat Saeed stated this on NDTV.Kudos sir

 

[Chris Logan]

all of this could have been avoided if Bengalis were fully integrated into the Pakistani sociopolitical sphere