Pakistan's use of anti-tank missile battalions to counter larger Indian mechanized forces. Doctrine

[Hakikat ve Hikmet]

Than is Turkey working one something similar to Javelin or not

Turkey's latest gimmick is with a wheeled anti-tank system where both the driver and the gunner can be inside the carriage without exposing themselves!!! Sensors and radars will do the ticks...

 

[Path-Finder]

The Indian blogger did miss a few things, but let us acknowledge his effort in writing this article.

No Pakistani - to this day - has come up with such a detailed article on LAT's, HAT's and Pakistani ATGM inventory. The author has written an unbiased, well researched article, that matters.

What we find on Indian forums and blogs in general is 'fake Chinni mijjile', 'bekaar Chinni maal' and so on. They have no respect for this piece of technology ,i.e., HJ-8 and have no idea how combat proven it is.

This article shows that somewhere in India, sanity prevails.

'fake Chinni mijjile'

 

[Fawad alam]

We also bought short range Man portable Alcotan-100 Anti tank rockets.

 

[Inception-06]

mount these on APC ... and Roast Enemy Tanks and bunkers
@Ulla @Signalian

It seems like the Army has no funds and interest for it, otherwise a great Idea.

 

[YeBeWarned]

It seems like the Army has no funds and interest for it, otherwise a great Idea.

Presented in Ideas 2016, I liked it deadly combo if they are working in tandem with Tanks Assault groups .

 

[Basel]

This is what we got but we also need portable system like HJ-12

Are you sure PA ave these? Can you shed light which ATGM is this?

 

[waz]

It would be nice to see the PA progressing onto the next generation fire and forget missiles.

 

[Army research]

People are paying indirect taxes on everything.

Ah but where are those taxes going ? From what is observable they go to buy cars for and protect the elite, it's the people who should make their vote count

 

[Hallian_Khan]

Ah but where are those taxes going ? From what is observable they go to buy cars for and protect the elite, it's the people who should make their vote count

then we vote for corrupt and morons nawaz like politicians and give them right to do whatever they wana do with our taxes

 

[rvats]

A few things that the writer should mention but doesnt mention.

1. PA mechanised divisions and their strength when comparing Strike Corps of PA and IA.
2. IABG's and Anti-Tank Brigades in PA.
3. Use of UCAV's like Burraq
4. Use of PAF in CAS role.
5. Use of NASR in desert regions.
6. Terrain and Geography around borders.
7. IA strategies to use Blitzkrieg tactics and combined force formations , not just T-90/BMP combo.
8. Proper use and tactics of APS on IA MBT's.
9. IAF's role in IA support.
10. He is discussing formations and weapons of today and then gives example of 1973. This is 2018, how do weapons and tactics of 1973 affect today's warfare when all weapons have been modernised over last 45 years and tactics/strategies have been changed also.

Just discussing formations and weapons is not enough to give a verdict.

I'm the author of the article and owner of the blog.

This particular analysis was done with the aim of understanding the kind of ATGMs is service with Pakistan Army and how it employs them. With focus on Light and Heavy Anti-Tank battalions and how these pose a challenge to any mechanized thrust by Indian Army.

It is part of the series which I will be doing over coming months to cover different aspects of Pakistan Army.

Coming to points raised by you, those were not germane to the analysis as I wanted to understand and analyse only one specific capability of Pakistan Army. Tomorrow, if anyone attempts a much larger and broader analysis, this information - about PA ATGM battalions - will help to draw a much more informed simulation.

The Indian blogger did miss a few things, but let us acknowledge his effort in writing this article. No Pakistani - to this day - has come up with such a detailed article on LAT's, HAT's and Pakistani ATGM inventory. The author has written an unbiased, well researched article, that matters.<SNIP>

Well, thank you for the good word.

As you said, it was meant to assess only a specific capability. There is a detailed article on the blog about Indian Army's ATGM capability and future programs.

If you can publicly share information about errors in the article, please do. I'll make the changes with due credits. On a side note, I did read your posts when I was researching on this topic.

I joined this forum to gain some information and exchange notes. And will request inputs, whatever that members can share, on this and future topics.

Some write-ups that I've done and are available on my blog:

1. Anti-tank missiles in Indian Army
2. Defense Canals in South Punjab and Sindh
3. Strategic importance of South Punjab and Sindh
4. Defense Canals in South Punjab and Sind-2 (Covering Rahim Yar Khan)
5. Artillery Divisions in Indian Army
6. Indian Army canal crossing operations

 

[Rajput_Pakistani]

People fail to understand that Pakistan also has a reliable conventional deterrent along with a nuclear option as a last resort. Example of 1973 is old and obsolete. ATGMs then were short range with less accuracy. The defender needed to wait for target to come within close range. Egyptian used salvos of ATGMs against Israelis to overcome poor accuracy. That worked then.
Coming to Pak India context,
If India wish to get a favorable result, it would need to have complete air dominance, which in current scenario looks very difficult in a short time frame like 3,4 days.

Expected defensive Pakistani response to Indian armored thrust would be:

Detection of group through satellite, air borne surveillance and ground based radars>
use of NASR/CM to target command center, fuel and ammunition storage, communication nodes>
target moving armored division through MBRLs (cluster AT munitions, AT mines) this would cause iteration break morale of adversary, cause delay and most importantly cause sufficient damage to electronics mounted outside vehicles like APS, radars and communication gadgets, laser warning receivers etc. >
use of air assets (stand off weapons) e.g. HIJARA, special interest in destroying organic SHORAD of an armored division>
as soon as the threat of SHORAD is gone, attack helis get in and cause further destruction. A team of 4 Cobras given a free hand could cause havoc on an entire armored column>
then came LAT, HAT with anti tank minefields/obstacles to slow down the movement>
if it still got break through, it came down to tank vs tank showdown in support with infantry with AT weapons.

Its a very complex process, a night mare of logistics. It would come down to final equations, where how much is one willing to loose for very small gain?
It is all conventional, as soon as TNW kicks in, it make the equation far more complex.

This is the reason, which has stopped India from misadventure for the past 46 years now. This is the reason for all the cry and hue. Yes, if Pakistan's economy continue to suffer at the hand of our badmashiya, may be in 10-15 years we loose this deterrent.

 

[DESERT FIGHTER]

we have Atlicon 100

We have :

Alcotan 100
Barq
Hellfires
FTs
Etc

And a multi launch version of Baktar Shikan.

 

[Gryphon]

Well, thank you for the good word.

As you said, it was meant to assess only a specific capability. There is a detailed article on the blog about Indian Army's ATGM capability and future programs.

If you can publicly share information about errors in the article, please do. I'll make the changes with due credits. On a side note, I did read your posts when I was researching on this topic.

I joined this forum to gain some information and exchange notes. And will request inputs, whatever that members can share, on this and future topics.

* You have mentioned RAPIDs and their structure. But I see no mention of PA's 2x Mechanized divisions. These are considered equivalent to Strike Corps, each Mech. Div. has 5 armoured regiments and 4 MIB's. Plus M-109A5 SP artillery and AD regiments.
2x new Mech. Div's are also planned for XXX Corps and IV Corps.

* LAT's and HAT's are not limited to 1 battalion per Corps/Div, V Corps and XXXI Corps have large anti-tank forces (i.e. 3 dedicated anti-tank battalions per Corps). Plus, these two corps have the highest number of Independent armoured and mechanized brigades.

* There is also a Baktar-Shikan multi missile launcher.

 

[Maarkhoor]

It would be nice to see the PA progressing onto the next generation fire and forget missiles.

Baktar Shikan much improved now further we have acquired some stuff recently.

 

[rvats]

* You have mentioned RAPIDs and their structure. But I see no mention of PA's 2x Mechanized divisions. These are considered equivalent to Strike Corps, each Mech. Div. has 5 armoured regiments and 4 MIB's. Plus M-109A5 SP artillery and AD regiments.
2x new Mech. Div's are also planned for XXX Corps and IV Corps.

* LAT's and HAT's are not limited to 1 battalion per Corps/Div, V Corps and XXXI Corps have large anti-tank forces (i.e. 2-3 dedicated anti-tank brigades per Corps). Plus, these two corps have the highest number of Independent armoured and mechanized brigades.

* There is also a Baktar-Shikan multi missile launcher.

Thanks for the reply.

I'm aware of the presence of Pakistan Army's 25th and 26th Mechanized Divisions under V and XXI Corps, respectively.

The point about RAPIDs especially in context to IA's X Corps was to highlight the imbalance in the mechanized assets on the two sides. Here is another data-point for you - Indian Army's 1 Strike Corps is now under Jaipur based South-Western Command. In any future conflict, there is a probability that PA will face all three Strike Corps and 2 x Pivot Corps ( 3 x Armored Divisions, 4 x (I) Armored Bdes, 6 x RAPIDs) between Bahawalnagar and Southern Sindh. That is more than 40 Armored Regiments. There is enough scope for India to create numerical advantages in specific sectors.

Coming 25th and 26th Mechanized Divisions, this is what my understanding is. Let me know where I'm wrong:

1. V Corps has 2 x (I) Armored Bdes and 1 x (I) Mechanized Bdes. Same goes for XXXI Corps.
2. After 2002, Pakistan raised 25th and 26 Mechanized Divisions.
3. The (I) Armored & Mechanized Bdes while retaining their independent character, will work under 25th and 26 Mech Div HQs in case of war.
4. These Div HQ have all the support troops required to function as a division and will provide higher direction.

The number of Armored Regiments in PA (which I'm aware of) do not support the logic of both 25th and 26th Mechanized Divisions each having 2 x Armd Bdes each with further multiple (I) Armd Bdes under V Corps and XXXI Corps.

Yes, there can be additional/new Mechanized Bdes (some of which I understand are also termed as Light Anti-tank Bdes) under 25th and 26th Mech Division. PA has imported a large number of M-113 APCs over last few years and it perfectly possible that more infantry has been mechanized and placed under these Divisions.

Please correct me where I'm wrong.

PS: I'm aware that over last couple of years PA has raised new armored regiments and armored brigades. But my understanding is that these are not for this sector. But central Punjab.