Battle of Asal Uttar

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 86.156.208.231 (talk) at 17:05, 17 March 2009 (Undid revision 277775098 by Wikireader41 (talk)). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Battle of Asal Uttar
Part of Indo-Pakistani War of 1965

Captured Pakistani tanks on display near Bhilwind, India
DateSeptember 8 – September 10, 1965
Location
Asal Uttar (Punjab, India)
Result India Repelled the Pakistani Attack.[1] [2]
Belligerents

Pakistan

India
Commanders and leaders
Maj. Gen. Nasir Ahmed Khan Maj. Gen. Gurbaksh Singh
Brigadier Thomas K. Theograj
Strength
300 M48 Pattons 45 Centurions,
45 Shermans,
45 AMX-13
Casualties and losses
97 tanks abandoned or destroyed[3][4] 32 tanks destroyed or damaged[5][4]

The Battle of Asal Uttar (Hindi for Battle of Fitting Reply) was one of the most decisive battles fought during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. It was fought from September 8 through September 10, 1965, when the Pakistan Army thrust its tanks and infantry into Indian territory. After three days of bitter fighting, the battle ended in a victory for the Pakistani Army in Khem Karan, thanks to the conditions of the plains and a strategic stalemate.

Battle

At the start of the war, Indian strength was limited to one armored division and one independent armored brigade, along with six armored regiments supporting infantry divisions. Pakistan had two armored divisions, with the then very modern M-48 Patton tanks. India had an equivalent tank in the Centurion, but their strength was limited to only four armored. Pakistan's invading force, consisting of 1st Armoured Division and 11th Infantry Division, had managed to capture the Indian town of Khem Karan. After the seizure, the Indian Army regrouped and repelled further attacks made by the Pakistani troops and were able to destroy some Pakistani tanks[6] while losing 32 of their own. India seeing that it could not regain control of Khem Karan, decided to open another front and therefore attacked Sialkot; this attack was repelled, and it could not take city of Sialkot. When the 1st Armoured Division was given orders to redeploy to the Sialkot sector where it would fight the Battle of Chawinda, leaving the newly formed 11th Infantry Division to face the Indian counter-offensive.

Indian Losses

India could not take Khem Karan and neither it could take Sialkot. The 2nd Armoured Brigade was totally destroyed and they lost almost all of their tanks. Even today India’s top military thinker Ravi Rikhye admits that Khem Karan had the potential to be India’s Fourth Battle of Panipat.[7] But the battle also witnessed the personal bravery of an Indian soldier Abdul Hamid being honoured with the Param Vir Chakra, India's highest military award.[8]

Pakistani Losses

Pakistani losses in Khem Karan sector for the whole war were 97 tanks. After Tashkent agreement, Pakistan gave the land back to India but left behind destroyed tanks which India claimed to have captured.

Pervez Musharraf

Pervez Musharraf, later Army Chief of Staff and President of Pakistan, participated in this battle as a lieutenant of artillery in the 16 (SP) Field Regiment, 1st Armoured Division Artillery.

See also

References

  1. ^ M47 & M48 Patton in Pakistani Service
  2. ^ The State at War in South Asia By Pradeep Barua
  3. ^ OrBat of Assal Uttar at Orbat.com
  4. ^ a b The M47 and M48 Patton Tanks By Steve Zaloga
  5. ^ [The India-Pakistan Conflict: An Enduring Rivalry 2005 Cambridge Press]
  6. ^ Debacle to Revival: Y.B. Chavan as Defence Minister, 1962-65 By R. D. Pradhan
  7. ^ http://www.defencejournal.com/2001/september/1965.htm
  8. ^ The Param Vir Chakra Winners' home page for Company Quarter Master Havildar Abdul Hamid

Resources

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_Asal_Uttar&oldid=277899800"