Page 4 - ch 20

Module - V Kargil Conflict - 1999

Major Wars Post
20.2.1 Indian Army Operations
Independence
(a) The Indian Army detected the intrusions between May 3 and May 12, 1999.
Strategic planning for operations was carried out by the Indian Army from May
15 to May 25, 1999. Such activities included military operations, troops
movement, artillery and other equipment were moved in and the necessary
equipment was also purchased from friendly countries. On May 26, 1999, Indian
Note Army carried out offensive action named Operation VIJAY to evict the Pakistani
intruders.

(b) Indian troops moved towards Pakistani occupied positions with air cover
provided by aircraft and helicopters. However 1AF was ordered not to cross
the LOC as India did not want to enlarge the scope of war. A joint Infantry-
Artillery battle with air cover was launched on regular Pakistani soldiers of the
Northern Light Infantry (NLI) who occupied high altitude mountain peaks and
ridgelines. Indian troops deployed firepower that could destroy the intruders.
(c) About, 250 artillery guns fired on enemy positions to clear the infiltrators.
The Bofors FH-77B field howitzer played a vital role in this operation. An
innovative tactics was employment for Artillery firepower in battle. A massive
exchange of fire broke out between the two groups. Three hundred Artillery
guns, mortars and rocket launchers fired approximately 5000 shells, rockets
and bombs on a daily basis at the enemy.
(d) Indian army used the 155 mm Bofors medium guns and 105 mm guns and
prevented the enemy from interfering with the assault. The Arillery fire was so
devastating that the Army captured Tiger Hill and Point 4875 on July 5, Mashkoh
Valley on July 7, 1999. The Indian Army renamed the Point 4875 as “Gun Hill”
in honour of the stupendous performance of the Gunners in the Drass and
Mashkoh sub-sectors.
(e) Tiger Hill was bombed with high explosives which caused large-scale death and
devastation and the Indian Artillery fired their 122 mm Grad multi-barrel rocket
launchers (MBRLs). These were employed in the direct firing role audaciously
without regard for personal safety. Even such incidents of the guns firing were
telecast in full view of TV cameras and the nation watched in rapt attention for
the first time in history of independent India.
(f) In the Batalik sector despite heavy casualties the Artillery OPs were established
on dominating heights. Another victory was added when Indian forces recaptured
Point 5203 and Khalubar on 21 June and July 6 respectively. With the effective
use of artillery guns by India, the Pakistani forces started suffering casualties and
their moral went down.
(g) Firepower played a significant role in weakening the Pakistani defences,
destroying its battalion and headquarters and mainly the logistics supplies. In the

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MILITARY HISTORY