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{{Short description|Major battle of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Battle of Chamb (1965)
| place = [[Chumb]] (present-day [[Azad Kashmir]]){{efn|Chumb sector was part of Indian-administered Kashmir at the time. The area was made part of Pakistan's Azad Kashmir after it was captured again in 1971}}
| image = {{multiple image
| border = infobox
| total_width = 320
| image_style = border:1;
| perrow = 1/2/2/1
| image1 = M-48 Patton.jpg
| image2 = Captured AMX-13.jpg
| image3 = An operational tank squadron of the Pakistan Army equipped with the Indian tanks (French-build AMXs) captured in the Chhamb battle, out on manoeuvers.jpg
| image4 = Indian army jeep 1965.jpg
| image5 = Operation Grand Slam.jpg
| image6 = Indian Air Force vampire wreckage.jpg
| footer = '''Top to bottom, left to right:'''
#Pakistani M48 Patton advancing in Chamb sector.
#AMX-13 of the Indian Army captured by Pakistan.
#Captured AMX-13 tanks being used by Pakistan in Chamb.
#Aftermath of an ambush on an Indian army [[artillery battery]] commander's [[convoy]].
# Major Muneer Khan Orakzai of the [[12th Frontier Force Regiment|12th FFR]]'s R&S battalion flanked by his senior [[Junior commissioned officer|JCO]] and the RATELO observing the battlefield at Chumb-Jaurian.
#Wreckage of a shot down Indian [[De Havilland Vampire|Vampire]].

}}
| partof = [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]] and [[Operation Grand Slam]]
| date = 1–2 September 1965
| result = Decisive Pakistani victory
| territory = Pakistan captures 288 sq km (111 sq miles) in and around Chamb (later returned to India as per the [[Tashkent Declaration]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hilal.gov.pk/eng-article/detail/NTc4NA==.html|quote=The veterans visited Haider Minar, right at the center of victorious land of Chhamb. Pakistan Army conquered this land in both 1965 and 1971 wars (288 sq kms and 127 sq kms respectively) and is a real manifestation of valor and courage of Pakistan Army and our valiant nation.|website=Hilal English|author=LT COL MUHAMMAD MAJID MIRZA|title=50 Years Celebrations of Pakistan's Victory in the Battle of Chhamb}}</ref>
| combatant1 = {{flag|Pakistan}}
| combatant2 = {{flag|India}}
| commander1 = {{flagicon|Pakistan|army}} [[Major general|Maj. Gen.]] [[Akhtar Hussain Malik]]
| commander2 = Unknown
| strength1 = 8,000 troops 90-100 tanks 110 artillery guns 2 fighter jets
| strength2 = 4,000-6,000 troops 20 tanks 20 artillery guns 12 fighter jets
| casualties1 = 75 soldiers killed 2 tanks destroyed 4 artillery guns destroyed 
| casualties2 = 212 soldiers killed, 49 captured 8 tanks destroyed, 12 captured 7 artillery guns destroyed, 13 captured 4 fighter jets shot down 
| units1 = 12th Division 13th Lancers 11th Cavalry 10th Infantry Brigade 102nd Infantry Brigade 4th Artillery Corps No. 7 PAF squadron 
| units2 = 10th Division 20th Lancers 191st Infantry Brigade 161st Field Artillery Regiment 6th Sikh Regiment No. 45 IAF squadron 
}}
{{Campaignbox Indo-Pakistani War of 1965}}

{{About|the battle in 1965|the battle in 1971|Battle of Chumb}}The '''Battle of Chumb''' was a major battle fought in the early stages of the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]], during [[Operation Grand Slam]]. After brief but fierce fighting, the battle culminated in a decisive victory for [[Pakistan]], and the [[Indian Army]] retreated with heavy losses.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2015-09-06 |title=The 1965 War. A Summary by Major Amin – Brown Pundits |url=https://www.brownpundits.com/2015/09/06/the-1965-war-summary-by-major-amin/ |access-date=2023-06-23 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=www.webspider.pk |first=Web Spider (pvt) Ltd |title=Glorious September: 1965 War |url=https://www.hilal.gov.pk/eng-article/detail/NDkw.html |access-date=2023-06-23 |website=www.hilal.gov.pk |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=PAK INDIA 1965 WAR |url=http://www.pakistanarmy.biz.tc/chammb.html |access-date=2023-06-23 |website=www.pakistanarmy.biz.tc}}</ref>

== Background ==
In May 1965, [[Pakistan Army]] drew up plans for an offensive operation to capture the crucial city of [[Akhnoor]] in Indian Kashmir,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gates |first=Scott |title=Unconventional warfare in South Asia: shadow warriors and counterinsurgency |last2=Roy |first2=Kaushik |date=2014 |publisher=Ashgate |isbn=978-1-4724-0579-1 |location=Farnham, Surrey}}</ref> with the aim of severing India's supply lines to [[Jammu]] and bringing it to the negotiating table. This operation was dubbed [[Operation Grand Slam]] and launched on September 1st 1965, when the Pakistan Army attacked the [[Chumb|Chamb]] sector in the vicinity of Akhnoor. The Pakistani force consisted of 8 infantry battalions, 6 tank squadrons, and 18 artillery batteries, and were commanded by [[Akhtar Hussain Malik]]. Indian forces in the region were out-numbered (with only 4 infantry battalions, 1 tank squadron and 3 artillery batteries) and possessed inferior equipment.<ref name=":0" />

== Battle ==
On September 1st 1965, at about 0330 hours, Pakistan launched artillery strikes on Indian positions at Chamb, Dewa, Mandiala, Munawar and Borjeal, carried out by 9 field, 7 medium and 2 heavy artillery batteries. These strikes lasted till about 0500 hours, when Operation Grand Slam fully commenced and a sizable Pakistani force crossed the line of control, consisting of 8 infantry battalions, 6 tank squadrons and 18 artillery batteries (the numerical equivalent of roughly 8,000 soldiers, 90-100 tanks and 100-120 artillery guns).<ref name=":0" />

=== Skirmish at Borjeal ===
Borjeal, sometimes known as Borajal, was an Indian fortification located on the Line of Control along [[Azad Kashmir]]. At an altitude of about 950 feet, it provided a clear view of the Pakistani side. The position consisted of pillboxes arranged in a semi-circle formation, which were connected to each other by underground tunnels. The position was defended by 2 companies of India's 6th Sikh regiment.<ref name=":0" />

Half of Pakistan's 102 Brigade and a squadron of [[13th Lancers|13 Lancers]] attacked Borjeal, despite initial plans to bypass the position. The position was overwhelmed within hours despite being well-defended. 14 Indian soldiers were captured in the skirmish, and an unknown number more were killed.<ref name=":0" /> Following victory at Borjeal, Pakistan advanced to the city of Chamb.

=== Fall of Chamb ===
The terrain around Chamb was uneven, with a number of ridges and streams that made advances difficult for large armored formations. This benefited the thinly-stretched defenders, who in some cases were able to effectively engage Pakistani tanks such as near the Tawi stream.<ref name=":0" /> However, this ultimately failed to curb the Pakistani advance. The Indian forces in the area were outnumbered, possessing only 4 infantry battalions, 1 tank squadron and 3 artillery batteries (about 4,000 men, 15-20 tanks and 20 artillery guns). Additionally the Pakistanis possessed superior equipment in the form of American-made [[M47 Patton]] and [[M48 Patton]] tanks, which far outclassed the French-made [[AMX-13]] light tanks used by the Indians. Pakistan's [[8-inch Howitzer]]s were also superior to anything in Indian use at the time. According to Pakistani military historian Major (retd.) A. H. Amin, the Indian AMX-13 tanks were like 'matchboxes' in front of the Pakistani Pattons.<ref name=":0" />
The Indian forces at Chamb and surrounding areas put up some resistance initially, but were defeated by the Pakistanis after brief but fierce fighting. India's defenses had been caught off-guard, and the Pakistan Army, with its superior equipment, tactics and training, made steady gains. Offensive maneuvers cut off or strained most of India's supply lines in the area. At last, having suffered heavy losses and unable to reinforce their positions, the Indians retreated and the region came under Pakistani control.<ref name=":0" /> Roughly 288 square kilometers (111 square miles) in and around Chamb were captured by Pakistan.<ref>{{Cite web |last=www.webspider.pk |first=Web Spider (pvt) Ltd |title=50 Years Celebrations of Pakistan's Victory in the Battle of Chhamb |url=https://www.hilal.gov.pk/eng-article/detail/NTc4NA==.html |access-date=2023-06-24 |website=www.hilal.gov.pk |language=en}}</ref>

== Aerial Combat ==
On 1 September, the [[No. 45 Squadron IAF|No. 45 Squadron]] of [[Indian Air Force]] carried out airstrikes on the advancing Pakistanis using 12 [[De Havilland Vampire]] aircraft. While these strikes were somewhat successful in slowing down their advance, the Pakistanis quickly requested aerial assistance. Two [[North American F-86 Sabre|F-86 Sabres]] of the [[No. 7 Squadron PAF|No. 7 Squadron]] of the [[Pakistan Air Force]] engaged the Vampires.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Joshi |first=Sameer |date=2020-03-31 |title='For just a bloody cannon': How a MiG-21 nearly took down a PAF Sabre on debut for IAF in 1965 |url=https://theprint.in/defence/for-just-a-bloody-cannon-how-a-mig-21-nearly-took-down-a-paf-sabre-on-debut-for-iaf-in-1965/391168/ |access-date=2023-06-23 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref> In the resulting dogfight, 4 Vampires were shot down, including 3 by the Sabres and 1 by ground fire,<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2012-12-21 |title=Pakistani Air-to-Air Victories |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121221231409/http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_324.shtml |access-date=2023-06-23 |website=web.archive.org}}</ref>while Pakistan lost none of their aircraft. These losses resulted in the Vampires eventually being retired from service by the Indian Air Force.

== Casualties ==
Indian losses at Chumb were heavy; with 212 killed and 49 captured (14 at Borajal and 35 at Chumb).<ref name=":1" /> Their only tank battalion in the area was annihilated,<ref>{{Cite web |title=1965 Indo-Pak War [www.bharat-rakshak.com] |url=https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/ARMY/Galleries/Wars/PattonNagar/1965/ |access-date=2023-06-23 |website=www.bharat-rakshak.com}}</ref> with 8 tanks destroyed and a dozen tanks captured in operational condition (later used by Pakistan against India). 7 artillery guns were also destroyed and 13 more captured,<ref name=":2" /> one of which was named 'Chamb di Rani' (Queen of Chamb) by the Pakistani forces. This gun was reportedly used by the Pakistanis against India later in the war. India also lost 4 Vampire fighter jets to Pakistani F-86 Sabres in the aerial clashes above Chamb.<ref name=":3" /> Pakistani losses stood at 75 killed, 2 tanks destroyed and 4 artillery guns lost.

== Gallantry Awards ==
General [[Akhtar Hussain Malik]] was awarded the [[Hilal-i-Jur'at]], Pakistan's second-highest military honor, for his valiant leadership and performance during the battle.

== References ==
<references group="" responsive="1"></references>

{{notelist}}

{{coord missing|Azad Kashmir}}

[[Category:Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]]
[[Category:Battles in 1965]]
[[Category:Battles of Indo-Pakistani wars]]
[[Category:Tank battles involving Pakistan]]
[[Category:Tank battles involving India]]
[[Category:Battles involving Pakistan]]
[[Category:Battles involving India]]
[[Category:Military history of Pakistan]]

Battle of Chumb (1965) - Revision history

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article