Battle of Chamb: Difference between revisions

{{short description|Battle of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971}}{{Infobox military conflict

| image            = Chamb101.jpg

| image_size        = 350px

| caption          = [[Computer graphics|Digitized]] map of the Chamb sector in [[Kashmir]] with the rough area captured by Pakistan hatched in yellow

| place            = [[Chhamb]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]], [[India]] <small>(present−day [[Azad Kashmir|Azad Jammu and Kashmir]], [[Pakistan]])</small>

| result            = Pakistani victory<ref name="v">{{cite book|title=The Crimson Chinar: The Kashmir Conflict: A Politico Military Perspective|author=Brigadier Amar Cheema|year=2015|isbn=978-81-7062-301-4|publisher=Lancer Publishers|page=297–298|quote=The contention that this was the most serious reverse for India in the war is also correct as it was here that Pakistan could maximise their territorial gains amounting to some 400 Sq. Km.... The way it ultimately planned out, Chamb was the only sector in J&K where the Indian forces suffered setback and this was attributable to Indian operational stance and inadequate preparation for the defensive battle for which the formation had been mandated.....Loss of territory in the sector for both sides was unacceptable, yet it was India who let this happen.}}</ref><ref name="js">{{cite book|title=Indian Gunners at War:The Western Front 1971|author=Major General Jagjit Singh|year=1994|publisher=Lancer Publishers|quote=The saga of Chamb had come to an end. Despite defeat, 191 infantry brigade under the leadership of Brigadier Jasbir Singh (later Lieutenant General) had fought splendidly against, heavy odds.|page=88}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://m.rediff.com/news/slide-show/slide-show-1-three-indian-blunders-in-the-1971-war/20111212.htm|title=Three Indian blunders in 1971 war|quote=In the 1971 war in Kashmir, Pakistan gained some territory in Chhamb as the Indian Army poised for an offensive was caught off guard by the Pakistani attack.|date=11 December 2011|work=Rediff India}}</ref>

| strength1        = *4th Infantry Brigade<ref name="IA">{{cite book|title=Indian Army After Independence|author=Major K.C. Parval|publisher=Lancer Publisher|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DdxDcxj_wn4C&q=Chhamb|isbn=9781935501619}}</ref>

*3 Armoured Divisions<ref name="js"/><br><small>(mainly composed of [[T-54]] and [[T-55]])</small><ref name="v"/>

*2nd Armoured Brigade<ref name="js"/><br><small>(mainly composed of [[Type 59 tank]])</small><ref name="v"/>

| casualties1      = 72 killed<br />15 wounded<br />Several [[tank|tanks]], [[artillery]] and [[military vehicle|military vehicles]] destroyed or captured

| casualties2      = 60 killed<br />80 wounded<br />4 [[tank|tanks]], several [[military vehicle|military vehicles]] destroyed

| territory        = Pakistan captures Chamb

The '''Battle of Chamb''' was a battle in the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]. The [[Pakistan Army]] invaded [[Chumb]] on the same principle as the [[Operation Grand Slam|Battle of Chamb (1965)]]. The Pakistan Army's primary objective was to capture the town of Chamb and surrounding areas that had strategic importance for both Pakistan and India.

Before the capture of [[Chumb]] by Pakistan forces, this western sector was under India's control. Similar to 1965, plans were made to capture this strategic town. The reason behind this plan was to deter Indians from attacking the crucial north-south line of communications passing via Gujrat. The 23 Division of Pakistan was given the task of protecting this sector and later attacking the Chamb-Dewa sectors. On the Indian side, the 10th Division was given the task of defence of Chamb; the Indian army believed that by attacking Gujrat and Tanda, they could guarantee the defence of Chamb. In comparison to 1965, the Indians were better prepared in terms of defences and now realized the importance of the town and sector.<ref>{{cite book|author=Lt. Col. Muhammad Usman Hassan |chapter-url=http://pakdef.org/battle-lore-on-breakthrough-in-chamb/|chapter=Battle Lore – On Breakthrough in Chamb |title=Soldiers Speak, Selected Articles from Pakistan Army Journal 1956-1981 |publisher=Army Education Press, GHQ, Rawalpindi}}</ref>

Brigadier Amar Cheema of the [[Indian Army]], while comparing the strength of two countries during the battle, claimed that the [[Indian Armed Forces]] had superior tanks such as [[T-55]] and [[T-54]] who were equipped with 100&nbsp;mm guns. They were said to be far superior to those of the Pakistani [[Type 59 tank]].<ref name="v"/> The T-55 tanks also possessed pads{{clarify|date=October 2019}} ammunition firing capability which the Type 59 tank did not have. The T-55 had a far superior stabilisation system.<ref name=defencejournal>{{Cite web|url=http://defencejournal.com/sept99/chamb.htm|title=The Battle of Chamb-1971}}</ref> Cheema also claims that there was near parity in terms of artillery but, when it came to infantry, the Pakistan army had fewer soldiers than the Indian army during the battle. He states that "it was this battle which helped in sustaining the morale of Pakistan army. The Indians, on the other hand, describe it as a most serious reverse suffered in the 1971 war".<ref name="v"/>

Under the [[Simla Agreement]], signed between India and Pakistan on 2 July 1972, Pakistan retained the territory it captured in the Chamb sector whereas India retained the territory it captured on the Pakistani side of the ceasefire line opposite the Kargil sector.{{cn|date=March 2022}}

Later Gen Andre Beaufre (Retired) of the French Army, who was invited by Pakistan and remained there throughout the war and who also later went to India by invitation and toured the battlefields after the ceasefire felt that it was difficult to get an accurate picture because both India and Pakistan grossly exaggerated the casualties in men and material inflicted on the adversary. He gave two examples to support his view. The Pakistani commanders in the Chhamb sector claimed that a brigade of four battalions supported by a regiment of armour and five artillery regiments had annihilated an Indian infantry brigade and captured many tanks, a large number of other vehicles and large quantities of arms and equipment. Some pictures shown to him in support of these claims appeared to him to be the product of trick photography. He visited the Chhamb sector soon after the main battle but did not see much-captured equipment, and it certainly bore no relation to the much-publicized Pakistani claims.<ref name="Sukhwant Singh"/>