Military operations in Ladakh (1948): Difference between revisions

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}

{{EngvarB|date=January 2020}}

Pakistani raiders had besieged and reduced [[Skardu]] in early 1948.<ref name="Offl_Hist_1947">{{cite book |title=History of Operations In Jammu and Kashmir 1947-1948 |last1=Prasad|first1=S.N.|last2=Dharm Pal |year=1987 |publisher=History Department, Ministry of Defence, Government of India. (printed at Thomson Press (India) Limited) |location=New Delhi |pages=418 }}.</ref>{{Rp|300–305}} It was vital that Leh, the next likely target, be relieved before it was attacked by the raiders. Maj Prithi Chand, a [[Lahaul and Spiti district|Lahauli]] officer with a band of 40 volunteers from the 2nd Battalion, [[Dogra Regiment]] began a hazardous mid-winter ascent of [[Zojila]] pass on 16 February 1948, with rifles and ammunition for the garrison. They reached Leh on 8 March, where an ad hoc force for defence was organised, followed soon by a Jammu and Kashmir State Forces detachment bringing additional weapons.<ref name="Slender">{{cite book |title=Slender Was the Thread: Kashmir Confrontation 1947-48 |last=Sen |first=Maj Gen L. P. |year=1969 |publisher=Orient Longman |location=New Delhi |isbn=0-86131-692-4 |pages=308 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lYHXmx4cOUsC |access-date=4 August 2010}}</ref>{{rp|195–199}}

The slow advance of raiders permitted reinforcement of Leh by air by a company of 2nd Battalion, [[4 Gorkha Rifles]] (2/4 GR) and later a company of 2nd Battalion, [[8th Gorkha Rifles]] (2/8 GR) by air just in time to repulse the raiders.<ref name="Rescue">{{cite book |title=Operation Rescue:Military Operations in Jammu & Kashmir 1947-49|last=Sinha |first=Lt. Gen. S.K. |year=1977 |publisher=Vision Books |location=New Delhi |isbn=81-7094-012-5 |pages=103–127|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SMwBAAAAMAAJ |access-date=4 August 2010}}</ref>{{rp|109}} Had the raiders kept advancing they could have captured Leh easily.  The garrison of Leh held despite shortage of troops, weapons and ammunition, sickness and fatigue. In August another company of 2/8 GR was flown in by air and the remaining part of the battalion, codenamed ''Arjun'' column, with a large column of supplies on mules, trekked to Leh from [[Manali, Himachal Pradesh|Manali]]. Another large mule column, codenamed ''Chapati'' column, followed in September to provide adequate supplies for the winter.<ref name="Rescue"/>{{rp|110–111}} Lt Col (later Col) HS Parab, CO 2/8 GR, was airlifted to Leh on 23 Aug and later designated Commander, Leh Brigade (though the force never exceeded two battalions in strength).<ref name="Offl_Hist_1947"/>{{rp|336}} Spirited small unit actions and guerilla raids on both banks of the Indus effectively held the raiders at bay throughout September and October.

[[File:J&K08low.jpg|right|thumb|Operation Duck 15 August 1948 – 1 November 1948]]<br>

When Zoji La fell to the enemy in May 1948, it was vital for the Indians that the pass be recaptured before winter so as to relieve Leh. An unsuccessful frontal attack was launched by [[77th Indian Infantry Brigade|77 Parachute Brigade]] under Brig Hiralal Atal to capture Zoji La pass.<ref name="Rescue"/>{{rp|112}} Operation Duck, the earlier epithet for this assault, was renamed as Operation Bison by Lt Gen [[Kodandera Madappa Cariappa|Cariappa]], the Western Army commander.<ref name="Rescue"/>{{rp|113}}  [[M3 Stuart|M5 Stuart light tanks]] of [[7th Light Cavalry|7 Cavalry]] were moved in dismantled conditions through Srinagar to Baltal while the superhuman efforts of two field companies of the [[Madras Engineer Group|Madras Sappers]] working day and night improved the mule track from [[Baltal, Jammu and Kashmir|Baltal]] up the Zoji La to [[Gumri]].<ref name="Offl_Hist_1947"/>{{rp|356–357}}  The surprise attack on 1 November by the brigade with armour, led by the division commander [[Kodendera Subayya Thimayya|Thimayya]] in the lead tank,<ref name="Amazing">{{cite book |title=Thimayya:An Amazing Life |last=Khanduri|first=Chandra B. |year=1969 |publisher=Centre for Armed Historical Research, United Service Institution of India, New Delhi through Knowledge World |location=New Delhi |isbn=81-87966-36-X |page=137 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZWXfAAAAMAAJ |access-date=6 August 2010}}</ref> and supported by two regiments of [[Ordnance QF 25 pounder|25 pounders]] and a regiment of [[3.7-inch mountain howitzer|3.7 inch guns]], saw the enemy being surprised. The pass was forced and the enemy pushed back to [[Matayan]].

Since the raiders were inactive on the Leh front during 77 Para Brigade’s operations in Zoji La, Leh Brigade went onto the offensive advancing from Tharu to Marol on the north bank of the [[Indus]] and from Chilling to [[Lamayuru Monastery|Lamayuru]] to Kargil on the south bank.  Another detachment advanced along the [[Shyok River]] clearing opposition on that axis and securing the [[Nubra Valley]] flank.

[[Category:Military operations involving India]]