Now, an oxygen room for Army in Siachen and Leh

[Abingdonboy]

These things are used by deep sea divers for guys who get the bends. I wonder how effective they are for high-altitude deployment and how the results compare with allowing natural acclimatization. The acclimatization period allows for an increase in the haemoglobin content of the blood, I'm not sure that a few hours in an oxygen rich environment can mimic it's effects.

The IA is arguably the finest mountain/high altitude prfessional army In the world and I'm am sure through their extensive experience that they know what they want and need and wouldn't induct equipment that is not useful to them.

 

[vsdoc]

There is a School of Hyperbaric Medicine (Deep sea and High Alti) in MH Bahgalore that deals solely with these issues. I have personally been involved in some of their EPO studies. Its a premier institution even by international standards. One of my batchmates is now Prof there (currently posted to the Andamans as a submariner).

 

[Raje amar]

sample image

Looks COOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLL

 

[Icarus]

The IA is arguably the finest mountain/high altitude prfessional army In the world and I'm am sure through their extensive experience that they know what they want and need and wouldn't induct equipment that is not useful to them.

I don't mean to boast but our boys survived the Siachen Winter as they held your posts in 99! I feel pity for them but it is a super human achievement none the less!

 

[Abingdonboy]

I don't mean to boast but our boys survived the Siachen Winter as they held your posts in 99! I feel pity for them but it is a super human achievement none the less!

Fair point but it's not as though the IA couldn't have held on if they wanted. It is merely there was an informal "gentleman's agreement" that BOTH sides vacated their highest posts during the peak winter period that had been in place for years-the PA broke this agreement and hence Kargil. Since then the IA has stayed in their posts year round so have matched the feat the PA achieved in '99 and bettered it by reducing causalites on their side. On balance I would have to say the IA has the finest high-altitude/mountainous fighting capability of any one on the planet but the PA is not too far behind.

 

[chairborne ranger]

I don't mean to boast but our boys survived the Siachen Winter as they held your posts in 99! I feel pity for them but it is a super human achievement none the less!

I dont think they went up to siachen...buy hey, good achievement anyway. Good on ya.

 

[Icarus]

Fair point but it's not as though the IA couldn't have held on if they wanted. It is merely there was an informal "gentleman's agreement" that BOTH sides vacated their highest posts during the peak winter period that had been in place for years-the PA broke this agreement and hence Kargil. Since then the IA has stayed in their posts year round so have matched the feat the PA achieved in '99 and bettered it by reducing causalites on their side. On balance I would have to say the IA has the finest high-altitude/mountainous fighting capability of any one on the planet but the PA is not too far behind.

It's a pity the whole episode had to develop the way it did, a number of lives could have been saved that were lost for no apparent reason. If GoP would have withstood the International pressure and allowed PA to hold on to the positions, then that loss of life would have been worth it but to lose so many men for a mere adventure is a heartbreaking spectacle. I knew many fine men who were lost to that unforgiving terrain and I am sure the situation is not much different on the Indian side. Let's hope that such a mistake is never made again.

 

[Tshering22]

About time!

It has taken 20 years of relentless demanding for DRDO to come up with this.

Soldiers from plain lands of our country won't be able to adjust so easily and instantly as we mountain-dwellers are.

Wonder WTF took the MOD so freaking long to get this ratified.

 

[third eye]

It's a pity the whole episode had to develop the way it did, a number of lives could have been saved that were lost for no apparent reason. If GoP would have withstood the International pressure and allowed PA to hold on to the positions, then that loss of life would have been worth it but to lose so many men for a mere adventure is a heartbreaking spectacle. I knew many fine men who were lost to that unforgiving terrain and I am sure the situation is not much different on the Indian side. Let's hope that such a mistake is never made again.

I am surprised to read the comments above.

Firstly PA was in no position to hold on indefinitely, next holding on to those heights by PA would have suited the indiain game plan very well. It had begun to mobilise to attack in the plains.

I mean how childish is this ? The same lack of foresight is visible all along - Op Gibraltar in 65, laungewala in 71, kargil in 99.

To say that holding on would have made the loss of lives worth it shows that even now the thought process is like " Dekhi jayegi"

Wars are not conducted like this.

One often wonders what it taught in Quetta.

It's a pity the whole episode had to develop the way it did, a number of lives could have been saved that were lost for no apparent reason. If GoP would have withstood the International pressure and allowed PA to hold on to the positions, then that loss of life would have been worth it but to lose so many men for a mere adventure is a heartbreaking spectacle. I knew many fine men who were lost to that unforgiving terrain and I am sure the situation is not much different on the Indian side. Let's hope that such a mistake is never made again.

I am surprised to read the comments above.

Firstly PA was in no position to hold on indefinitely, next holding on to those heights by PA would have suited the indiain game plan very well. It had begun to mobilise to attack in the plains.

I mean how childish is this ? The same lack of foresight is visible all along - Op Gibraltar in 65, laungewala in 71, kargil in 99.

To say that holding on would have made the loss of lives worth it shows that even now the thought process is like " Dekhi jayegi"

Wars are not conducted like this.

One often wonders what it taught in Quetta.

 

[Icarus]

I am surprised to read the comments above.

Firstly PA was in no position to hold on indefinitely, next holding on to those heights by PA would have suited the indiain game plan very well. It had begun to mobilise to attack in the plains.

I mean how childish is this ? The same lack of foresight is visible all along - Op Gibraltar in 65, laungewala in 71, kargil in 99.

To say that holding on would have made the loss of lives worth it shows that even now the thought process is like " Dekhi jayegi"

Wars are not conducted like this.

One often wonders what it taught in Quetta.

Indefinitely, certainly not. Long enough to initiate negotiations, yes. The Ops you mentioned above were the result of nascent strategics that often put unrealistic estimates, thus there was little emphasis on the end game and more on "Survive today, then tomorrow and so on..."

 

[rashtriya.rifles]

Indefinitely, certainly not. Long enough to initiate negotiations, yes. The Ops you mentioned above were the result of nascent strategics that often put unrealistic estimates, thus there was little emphasis on the end game and more on "Survive today, then tomorrow and so on..."

no.. PA did anticipate IA's or for that matter any army's weakness to get hold of the peaks without the support of a good high precision bombing capability from Air-force. And at that time IAF seriously lacked high precision bombing capability and also didn't had any LGBs etc..

so, on a strictly theoretical basis, the plan was not downright kiddish by a mile.. but what they didn't anticipate was that France will approve the Israeli modification of Mirages within a matter of days and Israel helping India to the extent that it not only offered to lend it's military complex entirely at India's disposal but also offer it's pilots to fly sorties ..

Ofc, IAF rejected the sortie offer but the French Mirages loaded with Israeli LGBs and targeting pods pounded the hell out of PA.

With pakistani political leadership not finding the backbone to provide even a tactical air-support, it was just a matter of time before a bomb would have landed on those officers' head. And rest is history.. !!!

 

[KRAIT]

@Icarus.
Actually buddy it do a lot and natural way can take weeks which is also the way mountaineers before going to peaks like K2, Everest etc. spends weeks at base camp.

Oxygen room has been used by athletes too.

The time saved will be crucial in case of conflict.

@itaskol
Kindly provide other image of Oxygen rooms.

 

[third eye]

Indefinitely, certainly not. Long enough to initiate negotiations, yes. The Ops you mentioned above were the result of nascent strategics that often put unrealistic estimates, thus there was little emphasis on the end game and more on "Survive today, then tomorrow and so on..."

Kargil too fell into the same category as the rest.

The tele conversation between mush and his general ( Beijing- Islamabad) showed the same cadet - like thinking. I will not call it commando type thinking as a commando thinks things through.

It is preposterous to think that kargil would have induced govt of India to negotiate - a BJP govt would never have given in, in fact they would have loved to cross the IB.

The thought process in the GHQ is dangerous and has almost consistently backfired.

 

[Bhairava]

Indefinitely, certainly not. Long enough to initiate negotiations, yes.

What makes you think India would come to the negotiation table without the mujaheddin not receding back ?

What if India repeats a 1965 ? That is, to relieve the pressure on the Kargil front, opens new front all along from Punjab to Gujarat across the international border ?

 

[Icarus]

no.. PA did anticipate IA's or for that matter any army's weakness to get hold of the peaks without the support of a good high precision bombing capability from Air-force. And at that time IAF seriously lacked high precision bombing capability and also didn't had any LGBs etc..

so, on a strictly theoretical basis, the plan was not downright kiddish by a mile.. but what they didn't anticipate was that France will approve the Israeli modification of Mirages within a matter of days and Israel helping India to the extent that it not only offered to lend it's military complex entirely at India's disposal but also offer it's pilots to fly sorties ..

Ofc, IAF rejected the sortie offer but the French Mirages loaded with Israeli LGBs and targeting pods pounded the hell out of PA.

With pakistani political leadership not finding the backbone to provide even a tactical air-support, it was just a matter of time before a bomb would have landed on those officers' head. And rest is history.. !!!

Quite a fair assessment.