1971 war: Western front maps (US Army study)

[Tejas Spokesman]

Maps from book written from US Army study on 1971 war. Author: Colonel John H Gill.

 

[Tejas Spokesman]

Orange lines represent Indian advances, green Pakistani.

Interesting to know that India advanced upto Marala headworks in retaliation to Chhamb offensive.

 

[Peaceful Civilian]

Due to difficult terrain arreas, advantage of depth , Advantage to strike, That's why Kashmir is so important to 3 countries, Pak, India & china. One of the reason it is Occupied by Pakistan, India & china.
This is very important for china too, they are enhancing activities from chinese occupied areas like Aksai chin to Pakistan , CPEC is one of the important project for chine due to strategic point of view .

 

[Tejas Spokesman]

@AUSTERLITZ

 

[Lincoln]

The 1971 War was a horrible failure for Pakistan. People lost morale, the Armed forces lost morale, and no one knew what would be ahead of this country and what held for it in future.

But, as a result of this war, Pakistan took the bold initiative of a nuclear program with the help of Scientists, Government, Civilians and Armed forces; both abroad and in the country, returning and committing.

Who knows, Pakistan might have never been a nuclear power today had this war never happened. Nobody knows what the present would have looked like. What badly hurt Pakistan then, today has caused the very same country to rise above its despair.

But they plan, and Allah plans. And Allah is the best of planners.

 

[Signalian]

@AUSTERLITZ

link?

 

[xyxmt]

1971 was an eye opener for Pakistan about India...now its 2019

 

[Signalian]

It seems that Pakistan High Command fought the war on western front half heartedly.

The following PA Divisions couldn't make any worthwhile gains:
1. 8th Infantry Div (saved by Changez Force)
2. 15th Infantry Div (saved by Changez Force)
3. 10th Infantry Div
4. 11th Infantry Div (failed to achieve objective, except 106 infantry Brigade)
5. 18th Infantry Div (lost chance to over run IA in the desert, Longewala sector, lost area in another sector)
6. 8th Independent Armored Brigade

Following formations were successful:
1. 23 Infantry Div captured Chhamb with additional troops from 17th ID.
2. 12th Infantry Div (captured some areas in kashmir, lost areas at some places)
3. 106th Infantry Brigade (11th Infantry Div) (Captured Indian territory)
4. 105th Independent Infantry Brigade (Captured Indian territory)
5. 25th Independent Infantry Brigade (Captured Indian territory)
6. Changez force (One Armored Regiment of 8 Infantry Div + One Corps Recce Armored Regiment + One Infantry Battalion) Changez force saved PA 8th Infantry Division from destruction, couldn't secure area but delayed Indian Army advance.

Following formations were diluted in strength to reinforce other formations and sectors:
1. 17th Infantry Div (distributed its troops to 23 Infantry Div and later IV Corps in Lahore)
2. 33rd Infantry Div (Reinforced 18th Infantry Div)

Stood out in war, did not take part:
1. 1st Armored Div
2. 6th Armored Div
3. 7th Infantry Div (as reserve behind 12th Infantry Div in kashmir)

 

[ebrahym]

Maps from book written from US Army study on 1971 war. Author: Colonel John H Gill.

its nothing new ........ it is well noted that Pakistan Army has always maintained an edge over India in Formerly "western sector"
interestingly its the only sector now that concerns us .........
we successfully defended it in Past
we are well capable to do it again ......
what we need and what we must consider is strike capabilities

 

[Signalian]

its nothing new ........ it is well noted that Pakistan Army has always maintained an edge over India in Formerly "western sector"
interestingly its the only sector now that concerns us .........
we successfully defended it in Past
we are well capable to do it again ......
what we need and what we must consider is strike capabilities

PA could have performed better

 

[ebrahym]

PA could have performed better

PA, despite performing remarkably, was out of breath after 1965 ...... reliance on western weapon and subsequent embargo exhausted them ....... they did an excellent job.

 

[Cuirassier]

Looks like my dear Indian poster found this pretty late. John S Gill's Atlas of the 1971 War is from 1999 I believe. Shows how Pakistan performed well at tactical level, yet failed in strategic terms.

Look at all that passive defence we did, literally gave up the land in the Bulge and Phulkian Salient (Akhnoor Dagger/Chicken's Neck). Down south in the desert we had scanty resources so the Indians just marched on until they faced resistance from a brigade at Naya Chor, which was further reinforced by another brigade from our reserves.

Northern Areas lost large chunk of land in small clashes as we had GHQ had ignored this area by placing KK Scouts. Such planning much wow. Good thing is most of the places we fought at a numerical disadvantage yet suffered lesser casualties in the end.

23rd Division's attack for Chhamb was masterful, bloodiest battle of the Western Front, and thus we won compensation land at a heavy price while the Indians gained in the mountains for minimal losses. Cheap gains but smart thinking.

These land losses are a major reason for the formation of the FCNA, X Corps, XXX Corps and Army Southern Command.

 

[Signalian]

@PanzerKiel

Can you check if analysis in post 8 is correct ? Thanks

 

[PanzerKiel]

@PanzerKiel

Can you check if analysis in post 8 is correct ? Thanks

I tend to disagree....
Do please go through my posts.... the following post onwards.... You'll find most of your answers there....

https://defence.pk/pdf/threads/indi...actics-strategy-results.667181/#post-12343673

 

[PanzerKiel]

I tend to disagree....
Do please go through my posts.... the following post onwards.... You'll find most of your answers there....

https://defence.pk/pdf/threads/indi...actics-strategy-results.667181/#post-12343673

@Signalian

Dear, do please let me know in case something remains unanswered.....we can discuss it in the above referenced thread.....