Search found 165 matches

by pmund
09 May 2015 20:06
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Military Flight Safety
Replies: 3349
Views: 809225

Re: Military Flight Safety

I have seen pictures of the Mig 27 crash site. The ejection seat and canopy lie barely 2-3 metres from the massive crater formed by the impact, which indicates that the pilot indeed stayed with the jet till the very last second. what steely nerves indeed!
by pmund
08 May 2015 23:15
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Military Flight Safety
Replies: 3349
Views: 809225

Re: Military Flight Safety

The pilot stayed with the plane till the last moment. A friend of mine says he is apparently the CO of one of the two units in Hashimara. He reported loss of power above Alipurduar town and steered it away from the heavily populated areas. If he had waited a few seconds longer, he wouldn't have made...
by pmund
08 May 2015 22:38
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Military Flight Safety
Replies: 3349
Views: 809225

Re: Military Flight Safety

Why are there so many MiG 27 crashes in Bengal? Since 1993, there seem to have been 16!
http://www.ejection-history.org.uk/Airc ... ervice.htm
by pmund
29 Jan 2013 18:52
Forum: Trash Can Archive
Topic: Indian Army: News and Discussions 15 Apr 2012
Replies: 3969
Views: 490261

Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 15 Apr 2012

Paramvir Chakra awardees, at least, are not sent back into combat. I heard this from the legends themselves -- Bana Singh and Yogendra Singh Yadav. It was an unforgettable experience to meet the three living PVCs under one roof. I asked them if they saw any action after getting their medals, and the...
by pmund
21 Aug 2012 00:02
Forum: Trash Can Archive
Topic: Indian Army: News and Discussions 15 Apr 2012
Replies: 3969
Views: 490261

Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 15 Apr 2012

:rotfl: i was rolling in laughter, remembering the good old days :rotfl: the auditors have no clue that the army takes out many times more in sweat and blood than it puts in.... 100g of meat vanishes in 10 toe-touches and a potato or two is a joke for someone running 15km with 15kilo packs.... good ...
by pmund
11 Aug 2012 17:28
Forum: Trash Can Archive
Topic: Indian Army: News and Discussions 15 Apr 2012
Replies: 3969
Views: 490261

Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 15 Apr 2012

The charge of intimidation is absolutely false. NCOs are encouraged to try for the officer cadre and COs of such units get commended for it. There may be some ills in the Army but not institutionalized pettiness. Whenever there has been a shameful incident, it is because of an individual, not a syst...
by pmund
10 Aug 2012 17:41
Forum: Trash Can Archive
Topic: Indian Army: News and Discussions 15 Apr 2012
Replies: 3969
Views: 490261

Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 15 Apr 2012

The demography is indeed changing in the Army. Earlier, u saw it mostly in the AF and to an extent in the Navy but now, there is a greater percentage of jawans with the same education level as officers. Navy and AF officers were more used to being talked back, now there are jawans talking back to of...
by pmund
16 Jul 2012 22:33
Forum: Trash Can Archive
Topic: Indian Army: News and Discussions 15 Apr 2012
Replies: 3969
Views: 490261

Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 15 Apr 2012

Naushera Ka Sher. That's what Brig Usman was known as. Few know how he died. It was not the injuries in siege that killed him. He stood in the open during an artillery strike and organised an evacuation of his men to the bunker. He is said to died shielding a jawan from a shell blast.
by pmund
05 Jul 2012 21:09
Forum: Trash Can Archive
Topic: Indian Army: News and Discussions 15 Apr 2012
Replies: 3969
Views: 490261

Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 15 Apr 2012

Altair, u are funny
by pmund
05 Jul 2012 20:45
Forum: Trash Can Archive
Topic: Indian Army: News and Discussions 15 Apr 2012
Replies: 3969
Views: 490261

Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 15 Apr 2012

People here are too emotional and are acutely unaware of the facts.
I'd take offence to that but then I realised u dont know what u are saying :)
by pmund
05 Jul 2012 17:24
Forum: Trash Can Archive
Topic: Indian Army: News and Discussions 15 Apr 2012
Replies: 3969
Views: 490261

Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 15 Apr 2012

Nair Ji! Well said. We have never done it and we should never do it. An overwhelming use of power against our own people is out of the question. The Maoist insurgency cannot be tackled with the use of force alone but a mix of force and infrastructure development in the affected areas. Take out the t...
by pmund
05 Jul 2012 00:24
Forum: Trash Can Archive
Topic: Indian Army: News and Discussions 15 Apr 2012
Replies: 3969
Views: 490261

Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 15 Apr 2012

An IAF sergeant was killed in Nov 2008 in Chattisgarh when Maoists fired at it with AK47 rifles. So yes, the threat is very real. As i said earlier, can u imagine the publicity coup for the Maoists if an IAF chopper crashes in rebel territory for whatever reason, or worse, the Maoists shoot it down ...
by pmund
04 Jul 2012 23:34
Forum: Trash Can Archive
Topic: Indian Army: News and Discussions 15 Apr 2012
Replies: 3969
Views: 490261

Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 15 Apr 2012

The rules of engagement are vastly different in J&K and Maoist-affected areas. You are talking of UID-ing and fingerpinting villagers in these areas? Hell, you can't get them to apply for ration cards and BPL cards, how will you get them to line up for a retina scan? Besides, the Maoist footsold...
by pmund
04 Jul 2012 22:10
Forum: Trash Can Archive
Topic: Indian Army: News and Discussions 15 Apr 2012
Replies: 3969
Views: 490261

Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 15 Apr 2012

Vasu. how will the best of radars differentiate between a half-pant clad Maoist and a half-pant clad simple villager going to the forest to collect sal leaves?? Btw, the Maoists don't move around with weapons all the time and mostly pitch camp near villages so that they can mingle with the populatio...
by pmund
03 Jul 2012 20:35
Forum: Trash Can Archive
Topic: Indian Army: News and Discussions 15 Apr 2012
Replies: 3969
Views: 490261

Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 15 Apr 2012

Accurate intelligence is very very difficult in these areas. By the time the intel reaches the planners, it's old. The band has moved on. The 'situation' is fluid, the terrain very tough and the rebels blend into the non-combatants. It is IMPOSSIBLE to deploy gunships in Maoist ops. Even in the Kish...
by pmund
03 Jul 2012 18:22
Forum: Trash Can Archive
Topic: Indian Army: News and Discussions 15 Apr 2012
Replies: 3969
Views: 490261

Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 15 Apr 2012

Absolutely agree. Adding an 'air wing' to anti-maoist ops is just unthinkable. it'd be a huge escalation in terms of 'aggression' by the state and the rightswallahs will have a field day with it. Besides, it is impossible to use gunships in forested halmets because you don't know who is foe and who ...
by pmund
27 Jun 2012 17:56
Forum: Trash Can Archive
Topic: Indian Army: News and Discussions 15 Apr 2012
Replies: 3969
Views: 490261

Re: Indian Army: News and Discussions 15 Apr 2012

Regarding Maj Surender Badsara's death, it's impossible to imagine a highly trained soldier making a basic mistake on the firing range. Impossible. Was the weapon to blame? I know of three instances when the Sterling Carbine went off on its own, twice when the operative dropped the weapon and once w...
by pmund
02 Feb 2012 23:47
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Military Humor and related
Replies: 580
Views: 193249

Re: Military Humor and related

The tank pic looks like a still from 'Border'.... silly stunts but i loved the paki bashing
by pmund
24 Jan 2012 00:06
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: CT & COIN Operations in India: News, Images and Discussion
Replies: 2894
Views: 792061

Re: CT and COIN operations in India: News, Images and Discus

Starving tribals!! Many of the foot soldiers were once starving tribals, yes, but a TOI report once pegged the Maoists' 'turnover' at Rs 1,500 cr!! That's as good as a corporate major. All this talk of Maoists being 'idealists' is BUNKUM
by pmund
23 Jan 2012 17:49
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: CT & COIN Operations in India: News, Images and Discussion
Replies: 2894
Views: 792061

Re: CT and COIN operations in India: News, Images and Discus

The Maoists regularly raid mines to grab explosives. One such attack happened in an EMTA mine in JKD a few weeks ago. They had got hold of hundreds of kilos of explosives in two raids in Orissa in 2009-10.
by pmund
07 Dec 2011 17:42
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Miscellaneous Pictures - Indian Armed Forces
Replies: 3324
Views: 727401

Re: Miscellaneous Pictures - Indian Military

actually in this modern era.. is bayonet charge are useful..? [just a noob doubt] Bayonet combat is still an integral part of training to make cadets aggressive and bring them into the kill-or-be-killed mode. It adds oomph to a soldier's attitude. (People on this forum who have ever been through a ...
by pmund
01 Nov 2011 22:01
Forum: Trash Can Archive
Topic: Indian Army: News & Discussion
Replies: 3467
Views: 484134

Re: Indian Army: News & Discussion

Pargha, i take your point but I'd happier if the Army dresses up these great athletes in uniform (minus the ranks and unit insignia) and puts them on hoardings with the message "Dhoni wants YOU in the Army". It's for advertisement, after all. I refuse to believe that any potential soldier ...
by pmund
01 Nov 2011 21:53
Forum: Trash Can Archive
Topic: Indian Army: News & Discussion
Replies: 3467
Views: 484134

Re: Indian Army: News & Discussion

Hell, if I knew someone was distributing ranks and units, I would kill for 'Paras' and the maroon beret (i know i wouldn't have got it otherwise) :rotfl:
by pmund
01 Nov 2011 21:26
Forum: Trash Can Archive
Topic: Indian Army: News & Discussion
Replies: 3467
Views: 484134

Re: Indian Army: News & Discussion

I cant help feeling that it's a dumbing down of the maroon beret. Dhoni may be a great cricketer but does he deserve the maroon beret? It's EARNED after so much sacrifice. Don't we know how many covet it and how many actually end up wearing it?? It is every soldier's dream to have the 'Para' shoulde...
by pmund
30 Oct 2011 23:55
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Discussion on Indian Special Forces
Replies: 4246
Views: 1164657

Re: Discussion on Indian Special Forces

OK. Let me raise the BP of Surya-ullah a bit - what is the badge below the Combat Divers badge, and above the medals, on his (SM sahab) left side?
Looks like jumpmaster wings, have they started handing out those now? Doesnt look like the NSG bagde
by pmund
03 Oct 2011 23:20
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: CT & COIN Operations in India: News, Images and Discussion
Replies: 2894
Views: 792061

Re: CT and COIN operations in India: News, Images and Discus

From the initial reports this kid gunned down two pigs at close range and was trying to drag two policemen, who were shot, to safety when he was killed
by pmund
16 Sep 2011 23:41
Forum: Trash Can Archive
Topic: Indian Army: News & Discussion
Replies: 3467
Views: 484134

Re: Indian Army: News & Discussion

Heh heh!!! I have the unique advantage of being an ex-serviceman and a journalist so i know how the media manipulates and is manipulated :)
by pmund
16 Sep 2011 23:04
Forum: Trash Can Archive
Topic: Indian Army: News & Discussion
Replies: 3467
Views: 484134

Re: Indian Army: News & Discussion

RohitVats, this may be irrelevant in the discussion but Nana Patekar (while I am not doubting his patriotism or his respect for the forces) did not undergo 'commando training' at Belgaum. It is naive to think that the Indian Army or any army would allow a civilian to train in such a secretive set-up...
by pmund
16 Sep 2011 19:18
Forum: Trash Can Archive
Topic: Indian Army: News & Discussion
Replies: 3467
Views: 484134

Re: Indian Army: News & Discussion

ASPuar sir, I second u. I dont know how many young guys now have even heard of Arun Khetrapal. Instead of handing out honorary ranks, the Army should publicise stories of its true heroes, men of flesh and blood, who showed superhuman courage and endurance. The 'Paramveer Chakra' serial (not the stup...
by pmund
15 Sep 2011 23:32
Forum: Trash Can Archive
Topic: Indian Army: News & Discussion
Replies: 3467
Views: 484134

Re: Indian Army: News & Discussion

@vishvak, Nana Patekar DID NOT 'serve' anywhere in any capacity. Even the visit to Kargil was apparently not sanctioned by local commanders
by pmund
07 Aug 2011 23:18
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Military Flight Safety
Replies: 3349
Views: 809225

Re: Military Flight Safety

Sanjeev, it's too premature to jump to conclusions. It may not be pilot error. There could have been a tech failure because eyewitness accounts say the jet "suddenly fell out of the sky" and was "plumetting towards a residential neighbourhood". The pilot somehow steered it away t...
by pmund
18 Oct 2010 13:28
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Military Humor and related
Replies: 580
Views: 193249

Re: Military Humor and related

I might add that Cariappa is said to have roared in laughter when an aide explained what he had just said.
by pmund
18 Oct 2010 13:27
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Military Humor and related
Replies: 580
Views: 193249

Re: Military Humor and related

Chill Dhruv. No one is making fun of the field marshal. Cariappa, like Manekshaw, could laugh even when jokes were at his expence, and humour is a very great quality in a commander. There are no language issues here. It's a very well know quote by Cariappa, one of many thaty have passed down generat...
by pmund
12 Sep 2010 23:45
Forum: Trash Can Archive
Topic: Indian Army: News & Discussion
Replies: 3966
Views: 1202231

Re: Indian Army: News & Discussion

Side skirts pbly designed to deflect/misdirect shaped charges. Israeli tanks use metal beads.
by pmund
10 Aug 2010 23:33
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Profiles in Heroism: Archive
Replies: 434
Views: 192716

Re: Profiles in Heroism: Archive

My next blog Raja ji :) It was one of the most unforgettable days in my life. I almost missed Yogendra Singh Yadav, he was standing silently in a corner, quite in contrast to our 'super-achievers' in corporate life. I have already written a story on it. Here is the link http://timesofindia.indiatime...
by pmund
08 Aug 2010 18:36
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Profiles in Heroism: Archive
Replies: 434
Views: 192716

Re: Profiles in Heroism: Archive

Speaking of heroes, I had the wonderful and rare fortune of meeting all three suriving Paramveers, face to face, under the same roof a few days ago. Their courage is only matched by their humility
by pmund
01 Aug 2010 18:06
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: CT & COIN Operations in India: News, Images and Discussion
Replies: 2894
Views: 792061

Re: CT and COIN operations in India: News, Images and Discus

Rahul, u must have seen some other pic. There were only three service-issue rifles seized -- an Insas (that was carried by Sidhu Soren himself), an SLR and a .303. There were a couple of .315 OFB make (one used by the girl, Mita Karmakar) and two-three countrymade guns. Three pistols and IED making ...
by pmund
31 Jul 2010 00:03
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: CT & COIN Operations in India: News, Images and Discussion
Replies: 2894
Views: 792061

Re: CT and COIN operations in India: News, Images and Discus

@RAHUL... here is what i gathered on COBRA commando Ashish Tiwary's death. He was in the group leading the attack on the Maoist camp in Metala forest. The forces were moving in an arrowhead formation, with the COBRAs leading, regular CRPF personnel on the flanks and state police in between. Ashish w...
by pmund
27 Jul 2010 20:00
Forum: Trash Can Archive
Topic: Indian Army: News & Discussion
Replies: 3966
Views: 1202231

Re: Indian Army: News & Discussion

Thanks all :D Gives me great motivation. I hope my blog will bring the Indian soldier into people's homes.
@Rahul, what info are u looking for on the Sidhu Soren op??
by pmund
27 Jul 2010 17:30
Forum: Trash Can Archive
Topic: Indian Army: News & Discussion
Replies: 3966
Views: 1202231

Re: Indian Army: News & Discussion

@Rohit, thanks bro :D :D