Armoured Thrusts, Pivotal Support Elements for Better Results

[FOOLS_NIGHTMARE]

PROLOGUE
Since times the efficient use of the mobile Cavalry had been the hallmark of successful Generals. Whether it was Alexander,Hannibal,Julius Caesar, Hazrat Khalid bin Walid,Napoleon,Wellington,Rommel or Patton etc,all of them had relied on effective mobile cavalry to inflict defeat to their enemy.

The Pakistan army cavalry(armoured corps) has a proud history tracing back to 1773,when its oldest unit was raised in British India. Since its inception it fought in different campaigns worldwide namely in North Africa,Italy,France,Mesopotamia(Iraq),Burma and Saudi Arabia etc.

In the home front pre partition more time was spent in the Western Frontier Regions and Afghanistan. After partition the focus shifted to the Eastern borders with India ,where some great tank battles were fought all but in STALEMATE.

After the huge Indian exercise of BRASSTACKS PA planners decided to fine tune their own offensive capabilities by conducting ZAR E MOMIN and AZM E NAU exercises. Some lessons were learned and new tactics were adopted. Hopefully as claimed the next battles will be fought deep inside the enemy territory.

The two gulf wars taught us the lessons that a modern day cavalry should not only be equipped with good armour but should also be supported with real time battlefield intelligence, air power,communication lines,logistics ,proper reconnaissance ,absolute fire power and superior mobility.
PIVOTAL SUPPORT ELEMENTS
Below are some of the support elements that are critical for any successful armoured thrusts.
a)Full Battle Field Real Time Intelligence and Communication Support
Modern day battlefields are comprised of hundreds of KMs .Wireless sets do provide a good second tier communication back up but for a modern army a central digital command and communication infrastructure is essential at the Brigade level. Aselsan does provide some good C4i communication systems.

b)Close Air Support
Here PAF and Army aviation has a critical role to play. Apart from jet fighters and attack helicopters,drones have also entered the arena. They are not only good tools for aerial reconnaissance but also provide some essential anti armour air support. Recently drones were sighted at some forward air bases.

c)Transport lines and logistical Support
Good roads and railways lines are essential for faster mobility of armour to the border along with the logistics(food,fuel and spares). The railway track from Quetta to Taftan needs to be updated along with a new track from Hyderabad to Islamkot(Thar) needs to be built(for coal and military transportation). The M1 track has always helped our Armour for movements from North to South vice versa.

d) Enhanced Fire Power Support
POF is self sufficient in producing shells of all calibre and unlike our neighbour we dont have to import them in time of need. Our night fighting capability is also far better then the Indian tanks. We completely endorse PAs flexibility in acquiring used equipment from various sources to enhance our fire power. We may see raise of some new PA armoured divisions and Corps in the future!!

CONCLUSION
There are many more factors critical for a successful Blitzkrieg type scenario for our Armour. But the most important of all of them is the faith,devotion and training of the men behind the machines. Judging from the past it is safe to say our boys will give a bloody nose to the enemy deep inside their territory this time.

 

[aziqbal]

Don’t think Pakistani heavy amour has enough logistics to do a blitzkrieg type attack or even a armoured thrust into India

If they do it will be very little

PA is defensive against such a move

 

[FOOLS_NIGHTMARE]

Don’t think Pakistani heavy amour has enough logistics to do a blitzkrieg type attack or even a armoured thrust into India

In the past they have managed to go upto 50 kms in Indian territory. But lack of air support and poor planning prevented them from further advances,khem karan and longewala prime Examples of it.

 

[PanzerKiel]

Don’t think Pakistani heavy amour has enough logistics to do a blitzkrieg type attack or even a armoured thrust into India

If they do it will be very little

PA is defensive against such a move

Its basically Offensive-Defensive strategy, depth of attack into enemy territory matters a little, what does matter is that if you are able to identify enemy's sensitivities which are close to the border, you can always go for them, any objective is worth trying for if it fulfills three basic conditions. Whether it is attainabe, retainable and sustainable. From these three basic tenets then spring all sorts of operational and logistic planning,

 

[FOOLS_NIGHTMARE]

PA is defensive against such a move

If we had the airfield near Longewala(jaisalmer) secured, the Jaisalmer Bulge(mostly a Muslim salient) would have been almost in Pak control(10000sqkm). All roads to rest of India go from Jaisalmer 80 miles from Longewala.

Bollywood clip from Border depicting our offensive with their masala!!!.

 

[PanzerKiel]

Seeing a selected clip of a Bollywood movie Border, had the airfield near Longewala(jaisalmer) been secured the Jaisalmer Bulge(mostly a Muslim salient) would have been in Pak control(10000sqkm). All roads to rest of India go from Jaisalmer 80 miles from Longewala.

Bollywood clip.

Actually, it is not as simple and straightforward as the movie suggests, from a purely military point of view it is a bit more complex.

 

[Adam_Khan]

Seeing a selected clip of a Bollywood movie Border, had the airfield near Longewala(jaisalmer) been secured the Jaisalmer Bulge(mostly a Muslim salient) would have been in Pak control(10000sqkm). All roads to rest of India go from Jaisalmer 80 miles from Longewala.

Bollywood clip.

What guarantee was there that the muslim population in that area would have supported Pakistan, the same assumption was made in 1965 war that Kashmiris would support operation Gibraltar which they didn't.
Main reason of the failure was simple,no air cover for attacking Pakistani tanks because of which they became sitting ducks. From what I read in one place the army did infact ask the airforce for necessary air cover which was still not provided.

 

[PanzerKiel]

What guarantee was there that the muslim population in that area would have supported Pakistan, the same assumption was made in 1965 war that Kashmiris would support operation Gibraltar which they didn't.
Main reason of the failure was simple,no air cover for attacking Pakistani tanks because of which they became sitting ducks. From what I read in one place the army did infact ask the airforce for necessary air cover which was still not provided.

The request was specifically for activation of Jacobabad Air field, which was promised by Air Marshal Rahim. Wasnt done though.

 

[Adam_Khan]

The request was specifically for activation of Jacobabad Air field, which was promised by Air Marshal Rahim. Wasnt done though.

True,there were a few logistical problems as well like trains not available to bring in tanks on time plus lack of fuel.

 

[FOOLS_NIGHTMARE]

What guarantee was there that the muslim population in that area would have supported Pakistan,

Pir Pagara and Shah Mahmood have a lot of mureeds there.

From what I read in one place the army did infact ask the airforce for necessary air cover which was still not provided

You are right the airforce and army did not coordinate properly. A night raid on Jaisalmer airbase was thought sufficient,which did not cause much damage to the aircrafts there.

 

[Joe Shearer]

Actually, it is not as simple and straightforward as the movie suggests, from a purely military point of view it is a bit more complex.

The movie was grossly exaggerated. Poor Atom (Atma Singh) argued for years that it was a fortuitous survival by the infantry detachment on the ground, and that it was purely an air force victory. He became obsessive about it. Brig. Z. A. Khan covers its background in some detail in his book.

 

[FOOLS_NIGHTMARE]

it was purely an air force victory

We all agree to this.

The movie was grossly exaggerated.

Typical Bollywood.

 

[Signalian]

Seeing a selected clip of a Bollywood movie Border, had the airfield near Longewala(jaisalmer) been secured the Jaisalmer Bulge(mostly a Muslim salient) would have been in Pak control(10000sqkm). All roads to rest of India go from Jaisalmer 80 miles from Longewala.

This map u posted.

How would you attack Jaisalmer?
which PA forces would u use?
what would be ur supply and comm lines?
which IA forces would u expect to meet?
what will be your time line?
what would be ur next step after capturing it ?
what would u do if u cant capture Jaisalmer ?
what would u do if you have to go on full retreat towards Rahim yar Khan ?

 

[PanzerKiel]

This map u posted.

How would you attack Jaisalmer?
which PA forces would u use?
what would be ur supply and comm lines?
which IA forces would u expect to meet?
what will be your time line?
what would be ur next step after capturing it ?
what would u do if u cant capture Jaisalmer ?
what would u do if you have to go on full retreat towards Rahim yar Khan ?

Planning for all these is already done, answers for all these can be given in the minutest detail, but then of course this forum might not be the place to discuss these aspects....lets move forward.

 

[OldenWisdom...قول بزرگ]

Almost every war or battle that has been decisively won in the past century has been on the backs of speed, logistics... be it early on or late push, objectives must be achieved in earnest. Because once you bog down it will become bloody and costly very fast not to mention, a quagmire, stalemate will be best outcome in that scenario.