6th Armoured Division (Pakistan)

Last updated

6th Armoured Division
6 Armd Div logo.PNG
6 Armoured Division Insignia
Active1965- Present
CountryFlag of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan
BranchFlag of the Pakistani Army.svg  Pakistan Army
Type Armoured Division
RoleStrategic Reserve
Size15,000 men approximately (though this may vary as units are rotated)
Part of I Strike Corps
Headquarters Gujranwala, Punjab Province
Nickname(s)Shahsawar, Men of Steel
Colors Black and Gold
  
EquipmentArmour:
Artillery:
Mechanised:
Engineering:
Air defence:
Engagements Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Gulf War 1991 [ citation needed ]
Somali Civil War [ citation needed ]
Battle of Mogadishu [ citation needed ]
Indo-Pakistani War of 1999 [ citation needed ]
War on terror [ citation needed ]
Commanders
General Officer Commanding OF-7 Pakistan Army.svg
US-O8 insignia.svg Maj. Gen. Abdul Moeed
Brigadier Staff OF-6 Pakistan Army.svg
US-O7 insignia.svg Brig. Omar Rashid Sheikh
Notable
commanders		 Lt. Gen Gul Hassan Khan
Lt. Gen Mian Muhammad Afzaal HI(M) SI(M) OA(M) SBt (Shaheed) (Then Maj. Gen & Later CGS)
Lt. Gen Zarrar Azim HI(M) (Then Maj. Gen)
Lt. Gen Fazle Haq(Then Maj. Gen)
Lt. Gen Shah Rafi Alam SJ (Then Maj. Gen)
Maj. Gen Abrar Husain
Maj. Gen Iftikhar Janjua
Maj. Gen S Wajahat Hussain
Maj. Gen Jamshed Malik
(Late) Maj. Gen Muhammad Ali Khan

The 6th Armoured Division is a Pakistan Army armoured division currently based in Gujranwala, in Punjab Province.

Contents

History

Formation

The division was originally an armoured brigade known as the 100 Independent Armoured Brigade Group. In 1964, it was decided to use the headquarters and other assets of this formation to create a new armoured division. [3] It was still in the process of raising when the 1965 war against India broke out.

1965 War

The formation would see its first taste of action in Operation Grand Slam in Chamb sector where it was the armoured contingent. However the general weakness of Pakistan Army defence around Sialkot and the fact that war was expected to break out over the international border, meant that the division would see only a few days of fighting before it was sent to Sialkot, where it would earn its spurs at a village called Chawinda. [4] On 8 September the Indian attack came and thus began the Battle of Chawinda. Initially the division was surprised and outflanked by the Indians who chose an unexpected axis to attack. [3] Desperate holding actions by some individual units, famously, the 25th Cavalry (of the 15th Infantry Division), would hamper the Indian advance. A battle ensued against the Indians at Phillora (Phillaurah) [5] resulting in a loss of 66 tanks. [6] [7] [8] The 6th Armoured Division then settled in defensive positions around Chawinda alongside other divisions, withstood multiple corps-sized attacks by the Indian I Corps, [9] until the biggest on 18 September when the Indian 1st Armoured and 6th Mountain divisions attacked, and would be destroyed. The Indians then went on the defensive as the 6th and its sister formations steadily and remorselessly forced them back across the international border, a task which was mostly (though not entirely) [9] completed by the ceasefire on 23 September.

The divisions' action at Chawinda remains its most famous action. This battle was the largest tank battle since Kursk in 1943 and has been forever associated with the 6th. Amongst the many commendations received was one by the President which read:

The President of Pakistan has commanded that his personal congratulations be conveyed to All Ranks under your command for the exemplary, successful and courageous battle that they have fought. The President and the whole Nation are proud of these untarnishable deeds of valour. [5]

Present Order of Battle

The division is at present stationed in Gujranwala and has four armoured brigades attached.[ citation needed ]

One of the regiments of the division is reportedly the 29th Cavalry. In addition the following units are attached and stationed in Kharain.

Related Research Articles

The 1st Armoured Division is an armoured division of the Indian Army, headquartered at Patiala, Punjab. It is part of II Corps of the Indian Army's Western Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Basantar</span> Battle of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971

The Battle of Basantar, also known as the Battle of Shakargarh or Battle of Barapind, was one of the vital battles fought as part of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 in the western sector of India. The Indian troops won a hard-fought battle that secured this area in the Punjab/Jammu sector. The name Battle of Basantar actually encompasses the entire gamut of battles and skirmishes fought in the Shakargarh sector.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Chawinda</span> Battle in the Indo–Pakistani War of 1965

The Battle of Chawinda was a major engagement between Pakistan and India in the Second Kashmir War as part of the Sialkot campaign. It is well known as being one of the largest tank battles in history since the Battle of Kursk, which was fought between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany in World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ardeshir Tarapore</span> Decorated officer in the Indian Army

Lieutenant Colonel Ardeshir Burzorji Tarapore, PVC, was an Indian military officer and posthumous recipient of India's highest military award, the Param Vir Chakra. After completing his schooling in Pune, Tarapore joined the Hyderabad Army, and was commissioned in January 1942. Initially he joined the infantry, but was later transferred to an armoured regiment, the 1st Hyderabad Imperial Service Lancers. During World War II, Tarapore saw action in the Middle Eastern theatre of the war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frontier Force Regiment</span> Infantry regiment of the Pakistan Army

The Frontier Force Regiment is one of the six infantry regiments of the Pakistan Army. They are popularly known as the Piffers in reference to their military history as the PIF of the British Indian Army, or as the FF. The regiment takes its name from the historic North-West Frontier, a former province of British India and later Pakistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">10th Indian Infantry Division</span> Infantry Division of the Indian army during World War II

The 10th Indian Infantry Division was a war formed infantry division of the Indian Army during World War II. In four years, the division travelled over 4,000 miles (6,400 km) from Tehran to Trieste, fought three small wars, and fought two great campaigns: the Anglo-Iraqi War, the Invasion of Syria–Lebanon, the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran, the North African Campaign, and the Italian Campaign.

Abdul Ali Malik was a three-star rank army general in the Pakistan Army and an infantry officer in the Pakistan Army from Nineteenth Battalion of Punjab Regiment who earned distinction of leading the combat infantry formations to mechanized warfare in Chawinda during the second war with India in 1965, and later commanded the I Corps during the third war with India in 1971.

The 11th Infantry Division is an active formation of the Pakistan Army. It is currently deployed in Lahore as part of IV Corps, and is responsible for the defence of that city and the surrounding areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">7th Infantry Division (Pakistan)</span> Military unit

The 7th Infantry Division, also known as the Golden Arrow and Peshawar Division, is one of the Pakistan Army's oldest and most battle-hardened division. The officers and men of the Golden Arrow Division have fought in all of Pakistan's Wars and have an unmatched combat service record.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">X Corps (Pakistan)</span> Pakistan Armys field maneuver strike corps. Also known as Northern Command.

The X Corps is a field corps of Pakistan Army, currently headquartered in Chaklala Cantonment, Punjab, Pakistan. Together with the I Corps, it has an area of responsibility and responsibility to protect the Kashmir region— the side only which Pakistan administrates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Corps (Pakistan)</span> Pakistan Armys field maneuver strike corps. Also known as Army Reserve North.

The I Corps is a field corps of the Pakistan Army headquarated in the Mangla Cantonment, Azad Kashmir in Pakistan. Formed in 1957 as one of the tenth-maneuvring corps, it is a major ground formation and has seen deployments in the wars between India and Pakistan from 1965–71.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guides Cavalry</span> Military unit

The Guides Cavalry is an armoured regiment of the Pakistan Army which was raised in 1846 as The Corps of Guides. During more than a hundred and fifty years of military service, the regiment has earned the reputation of one of the most renowned military units in the world. It is also speculated to be the Parental Regiment of Colonel Zilzaali, Commander Dar Dar Jaws Khan and Commander Ayyan Naseer who lead various Freedom Fighting efforts in Kashmir.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">19th Lancers</span> Military unit

The 19th Lancers is an armoured regiment of the Pakistan Army. Before 1956, it was known as 19th King George V's Own Lancers, which was a regular cavalry regiment of the British Indian Army. It was formed in 1922, by the amalgamation of 18th King George's Own Lancers and 19th Lancers (Fane's Horse). On Partition of India in 1947, the regiment was allotted to Pakistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">XXX Corps (Pakistan)</span> Pakistan Armys field maneuver strike corps.

The XXX Corps is a field corps of the Pakistan Army, currently stationed in Punjab in Pakistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IV Corps (Pakistan)</span> Pakistan Armys field maneuver strike corps.

The IV Corps is field a corps of the Pakistan Army, headquartered in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. Having established in January 1966, it is Pakistan army's of one of ten maneuver formation which saw its deployment against the Indian Army in 1971.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Phillora</span> Battle of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965

The Battle of Phillora was a large tank battle fought during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. It commenced on 10 September when the Indian 1st Armoured Division, with four armoured regiments and supporting forces under command, attacked positions in the Sialkot sector held by Pakistani 6th Armoured Division. After three days the Pakistanis withdrew with the loss of 66 tanks. The Indians admitted to the loss of 6 Centurions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evolution of Pakistan Eastern Command plan</span> Pakistani military unit during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War

The Eastern Command of the Pakistan Army also known as III Corps was a corps-sized military formation headed by a lieutenant-general, who was designated the Commander 3 Corps. After the partition of India by United Kingdom, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan was divided into two territories separated by 1,000 miles (1,600 km). Most of the assets of the Pakistan armed forces were stationed in West Pakistan; the role of the Pakistan armed forces in East Pakistan was to hold that part of the country until the Pakistani forces defeated India in the west. The Pakistan Army created the Eastern Command, with one commander in the rank of Lieutenant General responsible for the command. The armed forces, had drawn up a plan to defend Dhaka by concentrating all their forces along the Dhaka Bowl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abrar Hussain (general)</span> Pakistani Army general

Major General Abrar HusainHJ MBE (1918–1992) was a Pakistani senior army officer who served in World War II and the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.

Gadgor is a small Town in Pasrur Tehsil, Sialkot District, Pakistan. Towns near Gadgor include Behrampur, Jahar, Joshan, Chobara, chak meer da,Gillan Wala, Chawinda, Kotli Mughlan and Philoura. Its geographical coordinates are 32° 24' 0" North, 74° 46' 0" East. Gadgor is in the centre of the Chawinda and Kingrah sectors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amjad Ali Chaudhri</span> Pakistani Brigadier

Brigadier Amjad Ali Khan Chaudhry HJ was a Pakistani military officer who fought in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. He was decorated for his service during the Battle of Chawinda.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Pakistan Day Parade - 23 March 2022 Full Version ISPR" (video). youtube.com (in Urdu). ISPR Official. 24 March 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Pakistan Day Parade 23 March 2018 Full HD Part 2 of 3" (video). youtube.com (in Urdu). ISPR Official. 24 March 2018.
  3. 1 2 The Pakistan Army-War 1965-Shaukat Riza-Army Education Press-1984
  4. ↑ Brian Cloughley- A History of the Pakistan Army, ISBN   0-19-579507-5
  5. 1 2 Husain, Abrar (2005), Men of Steel: 6th Armoured Division in the 1965 War, OUP Pakistan, ISBN   978-969-8125-19-6 [ page needed ]
  6. ↑ Prabhakar, Peter Wilson (2003). Wars, proxy-wars and terrorism: post independent India. Mittal Publications, 2003. p. 84. ISBN   978-81-7099-890-7.
  7. ↑ James Rapson, Edward; Wolseley Haig; Sir Richard Burn; Henry Dodwell; Robert Eric Mortimer Wheeler; Vidya Dhar Mahajan. "Political Developments Since 1919 (India and Pakistan)". The Cambridge History of India. Vol. 6. S. Chand. p. 1013.
  8. ↑ Singh, Lt.Gen Harbaksh (1991). War Despatches. New Delhi: Lancer International. p. 147. ISBN   81-7062-117-8.
  9. 1 2 History of Indo-Pak War of 1965. Lt Gen Mahmud Ahmed (ret) ISBN   969-8693-01-7
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.