What's new

Featured Captain Sher Khan martyrdom anniversary

Why were we attacking downhill? Were we on Top?

Of course, as already highlighted, after frontal attack by 2 Naga and 18 Grenadiers had failed, 8 Sikh was tasked to cut off the peak from its supply route.

But should it be that way?
Orders being translated down at company level should have an aspect of situational awareness built into them so to avoid casualties and look at favorable outcomes. Granted, at times it is a Hobson’s choice but it seems many of the operational strategies and tactics throughout Pakistani history were not at all thought out or executed well.
As Nosy Haider puts it , “perfecting the art of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory”

It should be like this, in the theoretical sense i have to say. But its very difficult, in a real situation that once you have attacked.....even if you sense that there is a chance of failure, you cannot go back. Practically, the defenders' fire doesnt allow you to go back to from where ever you started. So you always try to press your attack regardless. Its better than going back over open terrain to be decimated again.


upload_2020-7-5_22-34-59.png
upload_2020-7-5_22-40-19.png
 
. . . .
An account of Brigadier M.P.S. Bajwa (now retired), who was then commanding the 192 Mountain Brigade which attacked Tiger Hill.

Brig. Bajwa said his brigade was tasked with capturing the strategically-important Tiger Hill. He delegated the responsibility to 18 Grenadiers — which was earlier involved in the battle of Tololing and had suffered approximately 60 casualties — and 8th battalion Sikh Regiment (8 Sikh), which was already in the firm base around Tiger Hill and had lost approximately 25 men in earlier skirmishes.

“I tasked 18 Grenadiers with capturing Tiger Hill Top with their Ghatak Platoon and other companies from the south-west and east. I had warned the commanding officer of 8 Sikh to keep around 50 personnel with two officers ready to be launched on the south-western ridge line to prevent any reinforcements/counter-attack on Tiger Hill Top,” he said.

“Meanwhile, apprehending a likely counter-attack from the south-western ridge line, I ordered 8 Sikh, comprising of 52 personnel — two officers, four junior commissioned officers (JCOs) and 46 soldiers — to capture (the features code-named) ‘India Gate’ and ‘Helmet’,” he said.


“To avoid observation in daylight and the enemy’s intense artillery and other fire, 8 Sikh followed a dry nala and were in position after capturing two enemy posts by first light of 5 July.”

Capt Sher Khan's counter-attack
Radio intercepts also indicated likely counter-attack any time. Bajwa said that the first counter-attack was made by a weak platoon of 20 men, which 8 Sikh beat back.


“But subsequently, a fierce attack led by two Pakistani officers (later identified as Captain Khan of the 12 Northern Light Infantry and Major Iqbal of the Special Service Group) killed three JCOs,” Bajwa said, adding that the attack was supported by artillery fire.

This forced the rest of the Indian soldiers to withdraw to another location.

“At one time, a situation arose wherein we had both our officers wounded, with three and 15 soldiers dead, besides 18 soldiers injured,” he said.

At this point, Brig. Bajwa spoke to the forward-most soldier, Sepoy Satpal Singh, and came to know that Captain Khan, who was leading the attack, was time and again motivating the remaining troops to press on. He realised that it was important to take down the Pakistani officer, and so directions were issued.

Sepoy Singh and two other soldiers managed to kill three leading Pakistani soldiers, and shot Captain Khan from 10 yards.


119409267c68ab10f0751493265e128c.jpg


images

images
 
.
Of course, as already highlighted, after frontal attack by 2 Naga and 18 Grenadiers had failed, 8 Sikh was tasked to cut off the peak from its supply route.



It should be like this, in the theoretical sense i have to say. But its very difficult, in a real situation that once you have attacked.....even if you sense that there is a chance of failure, you cannot go back. Practically, the defenders' fire doesnt allow you to go back to from where ever you started. So you always try to press your attack regardless. Its better than going back over open terrain to be decimated again.


View attachment 648401 View attachment 648402

Sir, Are we still controlling Tiger hill or is it under Indian control...There has been conflicting claims from both sides as we have witnessed on this forum..
 
.
Sir, Are we still controlling Tiger hill or is it under Indian control...There has been conflicting claims from both sides as we have witnessed on this forum..

Tiger Hill directly overlooks Dras. It was recaptured by Indian Army and is with them.

At this point, Brig. Bajwa spoke to the forward-most soldier, Sepoy Satpal Singh, and came to know that Captain Khan, who was leading the attack, was time and again motivating the remaining troops to press on. He realised that it was important to take down the Pakistani officer, and so directions were issued.

An interesting addition about Sepoy Satpal Singh mentioned above....

Tiger Hill Vir Chakra now directs traffic in a small Punjab town
https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/othe...cts-traffic-in-a-small-punjab-town/ar-AAERVbd

AAEStyI.img
 
. .
The sad part is that Pakistani government at the time deployed its soldiers to Kargil and then backed out and never provided any air cover or back up support to the soldiers

They left them out there to be slaughtered

A single company of SSG commandos were left to handle 2 Indian brigades
Short sightedness, by Generals. As per Rand Corp Analysis, Pakistani Generals “AGAIN” planned for the short term referring to previous failures.
Epic failure of NS in Washington. Failure of F.O and Pakistani embassy in US to assess and inform the growing influence of Indians in Democratic Party and therefore Clinton biased and hard approach to NS on landing. Failure of establishment to take corrective action even after NS failed trip to US and use of Nukes bluff to advantage to obtain a favorable position.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
.
what we should have supplied to the SSG units is ATGM and Anza MANPADS

120mm mortars operated by 3-man team would have proved devastating

the Indian artillery was very inadequate and none of those big Indian guns really did any damage

Indian air force also did not manage to accurately target the mountain either, if Pakistan Air Force provided the air cover there is no way IAF could conduct ground strike while engaging in air combat

overall I think this would have a been a pretty easy win for Pakistan
 
.
What’s the story of point 5310? Is it true the Indians in 2000 captured a strategic peak deep inside Pakistani side of the LOC?

“Yes, Point 5310 was a dominating feature in the Karubar Bowl (a nullah is known as a ‘bar’ in this area and a ‘bowl’ is the military term for a small valley), two kilometres across the LoC. The LoC around the ‘bowl’, which is six kilometres wide, is U-shaped with the base towards our side. Point 5310 was two kilometres from the base and thus effectively controlled an area of 12 square kilometres, which was now permanently a part of India.”
plz tag me if you get answer... was that result of us getting 5353?
 
.
plz tag me if you get answer... was that result of us getting 5353?

Yes, based on online Indian sources but Indian sources are problematic and untrustworthy as we saw in Balakot & Feb 27th skirmishes
 
. .
Mashallah - Sher by name and by nature.

This man should have a movie made about him.
 
.
what we should have supplied to the SSG units is ATGM and Anza MANPADS

120mm mortars operated by 3-man team would have proved devastating

the Indian artillery was very inadequate and none of those big Indian guns really did any damage

Indian air force also did not manage to accurately target the mountain either, if Pakistan Air Force provided the air cover there is no way IAF could conduct ground strike while engaging in air combat

overall I think this would have a been a pretty easy win for Pakistan
Carrying a mortar system is no joke. Base plate itself is fairly heavy. Not SSG but Pakistan can create something similar to US Rangers to carry out specialize operations using small units tactics.
 
.

Pakistan Affairs Latest Posts

Country Latest Posts

Back
Top Bottom