→Force levels: Copyedit (minor)
imported>Hyperforever m (Added info about result.) |
->Kautilya3 (→Force levels: Copyedit (minor)) |
||
| Line 5: | Line 5: | ||
{{Infobox military conflict | {{Infobox military conflict | ||
| conflict = Operation Grand Slam | | conflict = Operation Grand Slam | ||
| place = Chamb−[[Jourian]]−[[Akhnoor]] sector, [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)| | | place = Chamb−[[Jourian]]−[[Akhnoor]] sector, [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]]{{efn|Chamb is now located in Pakistani-administered [[Azad Kashmir|Azad Jammu and Kashmir]] following Pakistan's seizure of the town in the [[Battle of Chamb]] in 1971; Jourian and Akhnoor remain under Indian control.}} | ||
| partof = the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]] | | partof = the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]] | ||
| date = September 1965 | | date = September 1965 | ||
| Line 196: | Line 196: | ||
Even though Akhnur was not the "jugular" that President Ayub Khan imagined, it was still a key choke point. It had the only bridge across the [[Chenab River]] in this area, on which ran the supply route to the western districts of [[Rajouri district|Rajouri]] and [[Poonch district, India|Poonch]]. The bridge was capable of carrying only light tanks. It had not been strengthened over the years, despite warnings from various local commanders.{{efn|Brigadier Joginder Singh states that the commander of the 26 Division had assessed that the Akhnur bridge would be a target in a Pakistani operation and recommended strengthening it. He was reportedly asked to "proceed on pension".<ref>Agha Humayun Amin, [http://www.defencejournal.com/2000/aug/bookreview.htm Behind The Scenes] (Review), ''Defence Journal'', 2000.</ref>}} In addition, the cease-fire line was defended only lightly, as per the UN-mediated cease-fire agreement at the end of the [[First Kashmir War]]. It would be quickly overrun in the event of a full scale invasion.<ref>{{citation |last=Pradhan |first=R. D. |title=1965 War, the Inside Story: Defence Minister Y.B. Chavan's Diary of India-Pakistan War |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ymYCJQjEGBUC&pg=PA12 |year=2007 |publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Dist |isbn=978-81-269-0762-5 |page=12}}</ref> | Even though Akhnur was not the "jugular" that President Ayub Khan imagined, it was still a key choke point. It had the only bridge across the [[Chenab River]] in this area, on which ran the supply route to the western districts of [[Rajouri district|Rajouri]] and [[Poonch district, India|Poonch]]. The bridge was capable of carrying only light tanks. It had not been strengthened over the years, despite warnings from various local commanders.{{efn|Brigadier Joginder Singh states that the commander of the 26 Division had assessed that the Akhnur bridge would be a target in a Pakistani operation and recommended strengthening it. He was reportedly asked to "proceed on pension".<ref>Agha Humayun Amin, [http://www.defencejournal.com/2000/aug/bookreview.htm Behind The Scenes] (Review), ''Defence Journal'', 2000.</ref>}} In addition, the cease-fire line was defended only lightly, as per the UN-mediated cease-fire agreement at the end of the [[First Kashmir War]]. It would be quickly overrun in the event of a full scale invasion.<ref>{{citation |last=Pradhan |first=R. D. |title=1965 War, the Inside Story: Defence Minister Y.B. Chavan's Diary of India-Pakistan War |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ymYCJQjEGBUC&pg=PA12 |year=2007 |publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Dist |isbn=978-81-269-0762-5 |page=12}}</ref> | ||
At the time of the opening attack of Operation Grand Slam, the Chhamb Jaurian sector was defended on the Indian side by the [[191 Infantry Brigade (India)|191st (Independent) Infantry Brigade]], comprising three battalions, and supported by a squadron of [[20th Lancers (India)|20 Lancers]] , which was equipped with [[AMX-13]] light tanks.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianarmy.nic.in/writereaddata/documents/Articles1965/Ltgensatishnambiar230915.pdf |author=Lt Gen Satish Nambiar (retd)| title=Operations in the Chhamb and Sialkot Sectors |work=IndiaStrategic (September 2015 issue)|pages=54–56|date=23 September 2015}}</ref> | |||
At the time of the opening attack of Operation Grand Slam, the Chhamb Jaurian sector was defended on the Indian side by the [[191 Infantry Brigade (India)|191st (Independent) Infantry Brigade]], comprising three battalions, and supported by a squadron of [[20th Lancers (India)|20 Lancers]] , which was equipped | |||
=== Decision to launch === | === Decision to launch === | ||