Search found 734 matches

by ParGha
18 Apr 2023 20:56
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Indian Nuclear Submarines -3
Replies: 1994
Views: 547483

Re: Indian Nuclear Submarines -3

The AUKUS Deal and India’s Submarine Dilemma https://thediplomat.com/2023/04/the-aukus-deal-and-indias-submarine-dilemma/ 14 April 2023 India’s quest for SSNs to ensure true deterrence against China will only be fulfilled with external assistance. At best, a dangerous distraction from the SSBN prog...
by ParGha
06 Apr 2023 21:44
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Russian-Ukrainian War: Combat Tactics & Strategy
Replies: 3952
Views: 1524754

Re: Russian-Ukrainian War: Combat Tactics & Strategy

I suspect that the ramp up to that level of escalation will happen gradually, with both parties allowing each other plenty if off-ramps. Your post suggests otherwise. Will future conflicts always be a neat two-party conflict where escalations can be carefully calibrated? If the locally superior pow...
by ParGha
05 Apr 2023 19:06
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Russian-Ukrainian War: Combat Tactics & Strategy
Replies: 3952
Views: 1524754

Re: Russian-Ukrainian War: Combat Tactics & Strategy

https://www.orfonline.org/research/learnings-from-the-ukraine-battlefield-for-armed-forces/ First off, Ukraine is not a nuclear weapons state and Russia is a NWS; Pakistan, India and China are all NWS's. This fundamental difference changes the lessons completely; it has the following implications: ...
by ParGha
18 Mar 2023 17:09
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Indian Nuclear Submarines -3
Replies: 1994
Views: 547483

Re: Indian Nuclear Submarines -3

Was it with a single crew. Or with gold and blue crews. Wonder what nomenclature IN will use... follow the British tradition probably. Green and Gold, IIRC. As with many new and technical services, which were created after Independence, the Silent Service created its own traditions (with some influ...
by ParGha
15 Jan 2023 21:47
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: CDS Appointment & Command Restructuring: News & Discussions
Replies: 712
Views: 188797

Re: CDS Appointment & Command Restructuring: News & Discussions

IDS website has published lots of material on doctrines https://ids.nic.in/doctrine.php Thank you for this find -- it is clear that the writers have thought broad and deep into the problems. The differences we see aired in public, therefore, is not between knowledge vs ignorance, but between curren...
by ParGha
14 Jan 2023 01:38
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Indian Army News & Discussion - 23 March 2021
Replies: 553
Views: 263417

Re: Indian Army News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

Opinions? Dumb@sses need to realize that well-off Sikh warriors historically commissioned helmets to accommodate their top-knot (kesh). See this beautiful brass-steel example: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b0/Sikh_helmet.jpg The kesh is one of the 5-K religious obligations of a S...
by ParGha
24 Oct 2022 03:09
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: CDS Appointment & Command Restructuring: News & Discussions
Replies: 712
Views: 188797

Re: CDS Appointment & Command Restructuring: News & Discussions

That strategic problem was part of the reason for RAPIDS to come into being is it not? RAPIDS were setup in 1980s based on the lessons learned from the 1965 and 1971 wars. Most Indian infantry units had very little mobility, and this led to operational problems in the wars. When they couldn’t keep ...
by ParGha
05 Oct 2022 17:27
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: CDS Appointment & Command Restructuring: News & Discussions
Replies: 712
Views: 188797

Re: CDS Appointment & Command Restructuring: News & Discussions

I was referring to the Missile Command with Pinaka as one of its holdings. One MBRL regiment (Grad or Smerch or Pinaka) is traditionally the “Corps Commander’s Shotgun”. That, along with an (I) Armoured Brigade in Plains or the Corps Artillery Brigade in the Hills, are his main combat levers; every...
by ParGha
22 Jul 2022 16:24
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Agnipath (Tour of Duty): News & Discussion
Replies: 396
Views: 43931

Re: Agnipath (Tour of Duty): News & Discussion

:eek: Lesson I'm learning is, never apply sound military logic assuming positive intent from Indian politicians and bureaucrats. The Ministry of Railways apparently stopped funding the 6x Railway Engineers (Territorial Army) battalions last year, and they are being quietly disbanded since December 2...
by ParGha
17 Jul 2022 20:08
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Discussion on Indian Special Forces
Replies: 4246
Views: 1164661

Re: Discussion on Indian Special Forces

And this is the leadership that is supposed to have thought through Agnipath? Proposals for a shorter color service army has been around for at least four decades. Here is Lt. General Harbaksh Singh -- GOC-in-C of Western Command during the 1965 Indo-Pakistan War, and a veteran of World War 2 and t...
by ParGha
16 Jun 2022 21:06
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Agnipath (Tour of Duty): News & Discussion
Replies: 396
Views: 43931

Re: Agnipath (Tour of Duty): News & Discussion

The BIF is in full cry the rioters are literally using the reversal of the Farm Bills to justify their rioting & destruction of public property! They have tasted blood/CAA in cold storage/National register gone/Farm laws with drawn--so now with agniveer they are following the tried and tested m...
by ParGha
15 Jun 2022 22:51
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Agnipath (Tour of Duty): News & Discussion
Replies: 396
Views: 43931

Re: Agnipath (Tour of Duty): News & Discussion

That is a strong argument in combat arms where unit cohesion is based to a large extent on linguistic and cultural similarities between the troops. Sociological research shows that this is a volatile form of unit cohesion -- it can work very well for the larger purposes, and it can also work very w...
by ParGha
22 Dec 2021 00:07
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: 1971 Indo-Pak War: News & Discussion
Replies: 67
Views: 26204

Re: 1971 Indo-Pak War: News & Discussion

Probable but not plausible. How was the Basantar operation authorized? The Blood Telegram (Bass, G.J., 2013) references the Haksar Papers extensively, and documents the Soviet concerns and conditions throughout the war. Bottom Line: Neither the US, nor the USSR, were okay with India dismembering We...
by ParGha
21 Dec 2021 22:26
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: 1971 Indo-Pak War: News & Discussion
Replies: 67
Views: 26204

Re: 1971 Indo-Pak War: News & Discussion

One surprise to me is the total lack of activity of 1st Armoured Division, aka Black Elephant division. Why? Per PN Haksar, the Prime Minister's secretary, who was part of the 1971 Indo-Soviet Treaty negotiations: The Soviets agreed to veto the inevitable UNSC anti-India resolutions only if India k...
by ParGha
05 Dec 2021 21:13
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Small Armaments & Infantry Equipment - News & Discussion
Replies: 1949
Views: 695863

Re: Small Armaments & Infantry Equipment - News & Discussion

This maybe common knowledge but still posting here. we were outgunned and outranged by LTTE who had ak 47. With all due respect to the Brigadier, it was NOT the first time that Indian troops had encountered enemies with AK-47s / Type-56s. The first time that Indian troops encountered the Type-56 wa...
by ParGha
02 Nov 2021 06:34
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Small Armaments & Infantry Equipment - News & Discussion
Replies: 1949
Views: 695863

Re: Small Armaments & Infantry Equipment - News & Discussion

India is acquiring 716 GPMGs from the United States under FMS for 400 crores. To be used by the special forces. But my question is why not just use the Negav 7.62 machine guns for the role. Which is already available in large numbers for the Indian armed forces. SF worldwide have freedom to tailor ...
by ParGha
02 Nov 2021 06:24
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: India's Border Security with China and Pakistan-2020 - Part 2
Replies: 5263
Views: 1736054

Re: India's Border Security with China and Pakistan-2020 - Part 2

Always wanted to ask this question: Indian soldiers manning tanks, artillery etc seem to follow somewhat ceremoniously choreographed routines. Is there a reason for this or is it just a remnant from British era? Builds muscle-memory, and muscle-memory ensures that everyone does his job during the s...
by ParGha
28 Oct 2021 21:46
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: India's Border Security with China and Pakistan-2020 - Part 2
Replies: 5263
Views: 1736054

Re: India's Border Security with China and Pakistan-2020 - Part 2

If China is pushing in Indian territory to protect its terrorist munna, then the least India can do is to push into China occupied Tibet to ease pressure off Taiwan. If China has to take its sight off Taiwan due to the "2-front threat", that is a decent win for India. Tit for tat simple R...
by ParGha
27 Oct 2021 21:20
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: 1947-48 Indo-Pak War: News & Discussion
Replies: 22
Views: 3743

Re: 1947-48 Indo-Pak War: News & Discussion

This song by Lt. Col. Gurmeet Singh narrates the a summary of the history in the old bardic tradition: Z8W7yIzwDZA Some original documentary footage from PATHE as well (unfortunately it is mixed in with footage from movies, 1960s, 1970s and modern times; pay attention to old .303 rifles and Sten -- ...
by ParGha
19 Oct 2021 23:34
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Indian Army Aviation
Replies: 96
Views: 35886

Re: Indian Army Aviation

For context -- the Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) on Army Aviation has already outstripped Mechanized Forces (previously the most expensive arm of the Indian Army). Expect this trend to continue, minus a brief reversal 2026-31 while Arjuns and Abhays are scheduled for induction, in the long-run.
by ParGha
30 Sep 2021 20:23
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Possible Indian Military Scenarios - XV Kaalkut
Replies: 74
Views: 26963

Re: Possible Indian Military Scenarios - XV Kaalkut

Congrats! I'll check it out over the weekend.
by ParGha
22 Sep 2021 19:23
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Possible Indian Military Scenarios - XV Kaalkut
Replies: 74
Views: 26963

Re: Possible Indian Military Scenarios - XV Kaalkut

Jamwal-ji, isn't this supposed to be Possible Indian Military Scenarios to game future scenarios? While some fictionalized (but broadly factual) is fine to setup the background context, going too deep into an alternate history of 2020 isn't very useful. I would recommend moving it by 2-5 years (2023...
by ParGha
10 Sep 2021 19:06
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Kargil War Thread - VI
Replies: 1431
Views: 395142

Re: Kargil War Thread - VI

WRT gas masks. IIRC, news reports during that time were also showing gas masks at certain positions in the intrusion. One thought I had around that time was that they were expecting Indian army to use tear gas in order to flush out the intruders. Because of the fog of war. Remember, it was before t...
by ParGha
10 Sep 2021 16:27
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Kargil War Thread - VI
Replies: 1431
Views: 395142

Re: Kargil War Thread - VI

Jamwal, that is a very good question. I must have seen that photo dozens of times, but I never thought to ask that question. In the mountains, every ounce matters — you don’t carry anything that you think isn’t going to be used. Something is really fishy.
by ParGha
02 Sep 2021 17:03
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Indian Army News & Discussion - 23 March 2021
Replies: 553
Views: 263417

Re: Indian Army News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

Anoop - the screening of own forces involves using both terrain and security to keep enemy recce away from own formations (and slowing them down with spoiling attacks when spotted). They don’t have engineering assets. Instead they rely on their own mobility to patrol for enemy recce (in a defensive ...
by ParGha
01 Sep 2021 22:14
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Indian Army News & Discussion - 23 March 2021
Replies: 553
Views: 263417

Re: Indian Army News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

17th Battalion, Brigade of Guards meant for anti-armour role. 17 (like 5 and 19 GUARDS) is now a Recce & Support battalion -- it is meant to track enemy armored formations, and screen own armored formations. In comparison to a regular infantry or mechanized-infantry battalion, they are better-a...
by ParGha
13 Aug 2021 20:47
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Indian Army News & Discussion - 23 March 2021
Replies: 553
Views: 263417

Re: Indian Army News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

ParGha Sir is very knowledgeable on IBGs. If he reads your post, he can provide more clarity. Till then ---> https://www.olivegreens.co.in/easyblog/the-concept-of-integrated-battle-groups-ibgs Thanks, sir! Colonel Chahal does a much better and authoritative job of explaining what is an IBG. As to P...
by ParGha
23 Jul 2021 19:37
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Indian Army News & Discussion - 23 March 2021
Replies: 553
Views: 263417

Re: Indian Army News & Discussion - 23 March 2021

The military operations carried out during Kargil were a victory, does that define 'Victory' in any war. The whole world already knows that Pakis are liars. A few months down the road we were hosting the Mush ourselves. The loss of face had very limited consequences for them. You forget that "...
by ParGha
14 Jul 2021 16:55
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Small Armaments & Infantry Equipment - News & Discussion
Replies: 1949
Views: 695863

Re: Small Armaments & Infantry Equipment - News & Discussion

How many Dragunovs are there in IA for this upgrade? ~3,600 SVDs. Look at the insane amount of recoil in burst mode on the SIG. It is physically displacing the soldier on the ground. Even in single shot mode it is going to cause bruised shoulders for sure. And with just iron sights seen in most cas...
by ParGha
08 Jul 2021 18:53
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Small Armaments & Infantry Equipment - News & Discussion
Replies: 1949
Views: 695863

Re: Small Armaments & Infantry Equipment - News & Discussion

Has there been any comparative trial by the Indian army regarding the accuracy between the SVD and the 716, Does it matter in any way? The SVD uses 7.62x54Rmm rounds, and the 716 uses 7.62x51mm rounds. Most Indian Army units don't carry unlinked 7.62x54Rmm rounds (Special Forces and tank units have...
by ParGha
03 Jul 2021 00:27
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: CDS Appointment & Command Restructuring: News & Discussions
Replies: 712
Views: 188797

Re: CDS Appointment & Command Restructuring: News & Discussions

Anoop wrote:
ParGha wrote:O3-O8.
Sir, can you please correlate the numbers to ranks? Thank you.
O3 = Army Captain (or Navy Senior Lieutenant)
O4 = Army Major (or Navy Lt. Commander)
...
O8 = Major General (or Navy Rear Admiral)
by ParGha
02 Jul 2021 21:31
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: CDS Appointment & Command Restructuring: News & Discussions
Replies: 712
Views: 188797

Re: CDS Appointment & Command Restructuring: News & Discussions

JMT based on my observations of fine officers but not necessarily original thinkers. The one I met but he won’t be chief. Funnily enough the less original of his cohort in the Bn could be in the running. Original thinking isn't especially valued in the regular military, and there is a cooperative l...
by ParGha
02 Jul 2021 19:12
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Pakistan Armed Forces: News & Discussion
Replies: 2329
Views: 966560

Re: Pakistan Armed Forces: News & Discussion Thread

With modern fire controls none of the projectiles require any rifling. Rifling was to make the gun more accurate in the absence of modern fire controls. You take a any round designed for rifled gun and modify it for a smooth bore gun with modern fire control system. The shell fired from smooth bore...
by ParGha
02 Jul 2021 18:02
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: CDS Appointment & Command Restructuring: News & Discussions
Replies: 712
Views: 188797

Re: CDS Appointment & Command Restructuring: News & Discussions

Joint ness of operations is not something that starts at a Higher command level but has to start at basic training level. NDA is a joint basic training institution training 17-22 year cadets for decades. If that is not early enough, then I don't think it is a problem of training. Look at the fundam...
by ParGha
30 Jun 2021 23:33
Forum: Strategy, Politics & International Relations Forum
Topic: 2021 Strategic and Political Analysis-1
Replies: 14901
Views: 2782259

Re: 2021 Strategic and Political Analysis-1

For those insinuating a "separate peace" exists between Sikhs and Islamists -- please explain why out of the 8 TA Home & Hearth battalions in J&K, the Army raised: 157 with Sikh Regiment, 158 and 163 with Sikh Light Infantry, 156 with Punjab Regiment (50% Sikh), and 160 with JAKRIF...
by ParGha
12 Jun 2021 21:01
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: India's Border Security with China and Pakistan-2020 - Part 2
Replies: 5263
Views: 1736054

Re: India's Border Security with China and Pakistan-2020 - Part 2

If you are the US or India, it actually makes sense to force war early over Taiwan or Ladakh before their technological/industrial transformation is complete. And it would be stupid for India not to start a kinetic war with China. China needs to avoid a kinetic war to continue rising. India needs a...
by ParGha
26 May 2021 21:04
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Armoured Vehicles: News & Discussion
Replies: 2333
Views: 794613

Re: Armoured Vehicles: News & Discussion

To imagine the C&C centres will not be heavily defended against air and missile strikes and will be a cinch to take out by SEAD is wishful thinking. Identifying and attributing the C&C centers (of the kamikazi drones) is the bigger problem in Indian context, as many of its adversaries use p...
by ParGha
06 Mar 2021 21:16
Forum: Strategy, Politics & International Relations Forum
Topic: 2021 Strategic and Political Analysis-1
Replies: 14901
Views: 2782259

Re: 2021 Strategic and Political Analysis-1

my perspective - the concept of liberal conservatism is quite hard to explain because of the awkward terminology, like 'hot-cold' or 'dry-wet'. It's easier to use contemporary examples rather than go very deep into history. Swarajya likes easy sentence morsels, since those can be tweeted. A simpler...
by ParGha
15 Feb 2021 18:52
Forum: Military Issues & History Forum
Topic: Armoured Vehicles: News & Discussion
Replies: 2333
Views: 794613

Re: Armoured Vehicles: News & Discussion

I don't think we have the means to transport Arjun on the LAC, or do we? Do we need to? And no we do not have a way to transport to LAC. Technically, yes, the new C-17s can lift an Arjun each from Chandigarh and land in Leh. "Do we need to?" is the more important question. From a purely m...