Discussion on Indian Special Forces

[Kashi]

^^ I think you are right, a sepoy in 9 PARA would be designated as a Paratrooper just like a Grenadier or Rifleman

[arun]

The highest award given out this Republic Day is to Army Commando - Major Rohit Suri - from 4 Para (Special Forces).
https://twitter.com/ShivAroor/status/824294203861499904

^^^ For Surgical Strikes .

X Posted from the “Army strikes terror camps in PoK” thread.

This Republic Day gallantry awards will be given to Special Force members involved in the cross LoC boots on the ground surgical strikes on Mohammadden Terrorist launch-pads setup by the uniformed Jihadi’s of the Punjabi dominated military of the Mohammadden Terrorist Fomenting Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Mohammadden Terrorist Fomenting Islamic Republic of Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Here it may be noted that while the citations say nothing about cross Loc Boots on the Ground Surgical Strikes to maintain secrecy of operational details, “official sources confirmed that the bulk of the awards to 4 Para SF and 9 Para SF in the list are for the surgical strikes” :

On gallantry list: Army men who carried out LoC surgical strikes

Departing from practice, the Army did not release the citations for the acts that got the honours — the operation has remained classified till date.

Written by Sushant Singh | New Delhi | Published:January 26, 2017 4:21 am

Nineteen personnel of two Special Forces (SF) battalions which carried out surgical strikes along the Line of Control (LoC) last September were decorated Wednesday with gallantry awards, including a Kirti Chakra and five Shaurya Chakra, on the eve of the Republic Day.

Departing from practice, the Army did not release the citations for the acts that got the honours — the operation has remained classified till date.

Major Rohit Suri of 4 Para SF was awarded the Kirti Chakra while Colonel Kapil Yadav, Commanding Officer of 9 Para SF, and Colonel Harpreet Sandhu, Commanding Officer of 4 Para SF, were awarded the Yudh Seva Medal for the operation.

The list of awards for these two units includes a Kirti Chakra, India’s second highest peacetime gallantry award after the Ashok Chakra, five Shaurya Chakra, the third highest peacetime gallantry award, and 13 Sena Medal for gallantry.

Besides these awards, 12 men from these units have been given Mention in Despatches which is meant to recognise distinguished and meritorious service in operational areas and acts of gallantry.

The Army did not release the citations of the awarded personnel. An official source said: “Every citation contains the description of the qualifying act, and putting that out will let everything be known about the operation, including tactics. Special Forces operations have to be kept secret. We also did not release citations for gallantry awards after the operations in Myanmar in 2015.”

The two SF battalions are also deployed for counter-insurgency duties in Jammu and Kashmir and some of the awards to the personnel could possibly be for operations against terrorists. But official sources confirmed that the bulk of the awards to 4 Para SF and 9 Para SF in the list are for the surgical strikes.

The two units struck at terror launch pads along the LoC on September 29 last year, in response to a terror attack on the Uri Army camp on September 18, which led to the death of 19 Army soldiers. ……………….

From Indian Express here:

On gallantry list: Army men who carried out LoC surgical strikes

[ranjan.rao]

Should have kept the names secret too

[suryag]

discovery showing an amazing documentary on the para sf

[suryag]

whoa1!!! this confidence firing test where these heroes are firing live ammo at targets 45cm away from your buddy got me goosebumps
whoa2!!! so the heroes are blind folded and 5 disassembled weapons are put in front of them all mixed up and they have to assemble the guns blindfolded
whoa3!!! they learn to read/write urdu in nastaleeq script
whoa4!!! 30KG backpack 10 KM uphill trek, two heroes got 10KG extra as punishment
whoa5!!! this is insane this 1.18KM circuit with additional 40-60 Kg loads apart from their back pack(30 Kg) and weapons
whoa6!!! these heroes are put through so much mental stress now
whoa7!!! 100Km endurance run with 10Kg + 7Kg weapon

This one seems to be a rerun, title is - India's paratroopers - Earning the badge - recommended watch for everyone

[Singha]

^^^^^
and the SEALs and Army SF use Glocks for sidearms and will continue to use them for the forseeable future.

Most of police there also use glocks iirc

[Singha]

The bihar / dogra unit i think smashed a few posts which were right on the border per reports at the time.


Hindustan Times
3 soldiers part of team that gunned down Burhan Wani awarded gallantry medals
Hindustan Times - ‎53 minutes ago‎
Three Rashtriya Rifles unit soldiers who were part of the team that gunned down militant commander Burhan Wani were awarded the Sena Medal.

[Raja Bose]

discovery showing an amazing documentary on the para sf

Go back a few pages on this thread. There was a discussion on this after Singha posted the videos.

[Ankit Desai]

Surgical strike a copybook execution of precise planning

"You don't get a maroon beret, you have to earn it," this is said about all those men who aspire to join Parachute Regiment, the Army's premier airborne strike force. The September 29 surgical strike on terror launch pads across LoC was the latest feat of daredevilry by the men from this elite force. But the government had refused to divulge the details of the operation in which 19 Para soldiers took part.
It was only while bestowing medals to these bravehearts on the 68th Republic Day, the Army gave an account of the combat operation and the raw courage displayed by them in the citations of the gallantry awards, accessed by TOI. While scores of Army personnel might have been involved in the planning and execution of the cross-LoC operation, the 19 para soldiers were integral part of the surgical strike, the citations say.
One Colonel, five Majors, two Captains, one Subedar, two Naib Subedars, three Havildars, one Lance Naik and four Paratroopers of the 4th and 9th battalions of the Para Regiment took part in the surgical strike.
While Major Rohit Suri from the 4th Para was awarded a Kirti Chakra, Col Harpreet Sandhu, commanding officer of 4 Para, was honoured with a Yudh Seva Medal. The team also won four Shaurya Chakras and 13 Seva Medals. Colonel Harpreet Sandhu, who was tasked to undertake two simultaneous strikes on launch pads, was awarded a Yudh Seva Medal for formulating the strike plan and ensuring its execution flawlessly.
The Army started planning to execute the surgical strike on the terror infrastructure in PoK soon after the Uri terror attack in J&K in which 17 soldiers were killed, but it was awaiting an 'amavasya' (moon-less) night to execute the operation. Finally on the intervening night of September 28-29, Major Rohit Suri, heading an eight-member strike team, was tasked to carry out strikes on the terror infrastructure.
After carrying out a recce, Major Suri directed his team to engage the terrorists in the open at a launchpad. Suri and his buddy came within just 50m of the target and neutralised two terrorists. Once the terrorists in the open were killed, Major Suri noticed movement of two suspected jihadis in the nearby jungle. The movement of two terrorists was also being tracked with an UAV. Major Suri ignoring his safety intercepted the terrorists and engaged them in close fight, eliminating both of them.
Another Major was tasked to undertake close-target surveillance of the launchpads on September 27.
The officer, along with his assault group, crossed the LoC 48 hours prior to the strike and kept the target under close surveillance till the day of the strike. His team mapped the target zone, location of automatic weapons and different firing positions the strike team could use. The officer destroyed a weapon shelter, killing two terrorists. During the attack, his squad came under fire from a nearby weapon shelter. Sensing danger to his squad, the Major, who was honoured with Shaurya Chakra, crawled near the shelter and eliminated one more terrorist, silencing the gun fire.
The third Major along with his buddy closed in on a terror shelter and destroyed it, killing all jihadis sleeping inside. Thereafter, he guided other members of the strike group to safety. Major, who too was awarded Shaurya Chakra, kept his superiors posted about the progress of the operation during the strike.
The fourth Major was awarded a Sena medal for destroying an automatic weapon fortification with his grenade attack and killing two terrorists at close range.
The surgical strike was not an easy operation. The strike team came under heavy fire from terrorists. The fifth Major spotted three terrorists carrying RPG (rocket-propelled grenades), who were about to target the squad led by the fourth Major. But before the terrorists could attack, the fifth Major, unmindful of his safety, engaged the terrorists in a gunfight and neutralised the two. His buddy eliminated the third terrorist.
Not only officers, even JCOs and paratroopers showed exemplary courage. A Naib Subedar, who was awarded Shaurya Chakra, fired grenades at a terrorists' fortification, killing two terrorists and destroying the launch pad. When he saw a terrorist firing at his team, he pushed his buddy to safety and charged at the terrorist and eliminated him.
Though no soldier was killed in the operation, a paratrooper, who was part of the surveillance team, suffered injuries during the operation.
Top Comment

After spotting two terrorists who were moving dangerously towards a strike squad, the paratrooper chased them but accidentally stepped on a mine, which blew up his right foot. Unmindful of his injuries, the paratrooper engaged the terrorists and killed one of them.
(Names have been withheld to maintain secrecy of the identities of the defence personnel)

-Ankit

[A Sharma]

NSG gets shot in arm with grenade dropping drones, dog robot

[Gagan]

Dogo Robot

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYMtX3E-Lgs

[vasu raya]

the grenade dropping drones have to be disbursed in J&K soon, its not the NSG always on the scene.

[Rakesh]

Here's an inspiring pic from a SF training mission
https://twitter.com/writetake/status/836030474455756800

[Nick_S]

Army on shopping spree, commandos to get deadlier
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/indi ... s?from=mdr

Defence ministry sources on Tuesday said "restricted" tenders have been issued to select foreign arms companies for acquisition of new assault rifles, sniper rifles, general purpose machine guns, light-weight rocket launchers, tactical shotguns, pistols, night-vision devices and ammunition. "Seven tenders or RFPs (request for proposals) were issued last week to American, Israeli, Swedish and other companies for acquisition of the specialised weaponry on a fast-track basis. Separately in a different capital acquisition project, trials are in progress to acquire over 120 light strike vehicles, which can be carried by helicopters, for the Special Forces," said a source.

[rkhanna]

^^ assuming small arms include optic.. but no comm upgrade?

[Rakesh]

Jump Indicator Wings - A brass badge with stars at the bottom of the parachute,
with 1 star denoting 25 jumps, 2 stars 50 and 3 stars 100....
https://twitter.com/IndianParaSF/status ... 2590261249

[vikassh]

Now we can see some of the faces as well from the list below.

Manu Pubby ‏@manupubby_ET · 7m7 minutes ago

The list of gallantry awards on occasion of Republic Day. Check 4 and 9 Para officers and men for those awarded for surgical strikes.

[nam]

If we read the citation for the awards, this was no fire a rocket at some houses and come back, as was described in the media.

It was proper firefight. 2-3 of the guys knocked off 4 Pakis each.Advance Recon team clearing the path and snipers covering the assault team .

Tells me IA knows whom they were killing & also the Paki body count.

This was precise attack. Rambo would be proud

[rkhanna]

NSG

[Aditya G]

MARCOS dett from INS Sharada in Action on 16th May 2017 in Gulf of Aden

[tsarkar]

NSG

First & third are good photo ops but bunched up without cover is asking for trouble, unless its a very momentary pause during sprint that the camera happened to capture.

Ofcourse, their fingers are on the trigger and I'm sure their CQB marksmanship standards are high, but the risk of a hand or UBGL grenade or RPG is too high.

Hemant Karkhare, Ashok Kamte, Vijay Salaskar were all killed together by Kasab's partner because they were bunched up in the police Qualis.

[rohitvats]

NSG

First & third are good photo ops but bunched up without cover is asking for trouble, unless its a very momentary pause during sprint that the camera happened to capture. <SNIP>

IMO, this bunching up of men (single file formation) is part of CQB drill and not exactly to be followed when you're exposed in open terrain. The pics have been taken in an open area for optics purpose. Again, IMO, it serves no purpose in open area.

[Karan M]

Yes, its CQB drill to minimize number of people visible and exposed to someone putting a weapon outside and firing blindly, they are usually in single file, bunched beside the wall. para sf does the same here (https://i.redd.it/a89vm8zo0tiy.jpg)
NSG here, single file http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/thum ... 637012.jpg

[Gagan]

NSG can be expected to be the best in CQB, because that is their primary line of work.

[rkhanna]

IMO, this bunching up of men (single file formation) is part of CQB drill and not exactly to be followed when you're exposed in open terrain. The pics have been taken in an open area for optics purpose. Again, IMO, it serves no purpose in open area.

If in open ground - they will be moving with Ballistic Shields. - Plenty of Pics of NSG with them already - Newly inducted Kit.

If RPG's and Heavy Guns in Play then NSG will either NOT be the primary Response Unit or Will move in close to the Structure with Armoured Sherpa's (again in Inventory)

First & third are good photo ops but bunched up without cover is asking for trouble, unless its a very momentary pause during sprint that the camera happened to capture.

This is a Photo Op for the Annual NSG Calender

NSG can be expected to be the best in CQB, because that is their primary line of work.

CQB is a perishable skill. Urban CQB is 90% of what NSG practices - where other SOF units will be practicing it less as compared to other fieldcraft. And their CQB orientation is easily visible in their Kit.

However Where NSG TRUELY comes into its own is in Hostage Rescue.

Lastly - If you see recent pictures of NSG SAG cadre you will notice that a higher % (than before) are carrying Balidan and SG badges on their uniforms. A wealth of Talent and experience is slowly accumulating within SAG ranks that will further increase their capability.

Like this gent for example

[Singha]

NSG being our national level FBI-HRT we should not expect them to be using ATGMs and Shipons liberally except to break down obstacles!!
being less collaterally damaging and ability to use low power MP3/5 weapons judiciously among innocents is perhaps part of the job.

cool but aint going to happen in chandni chowk - the usual khan motto of unleashing maximum lead "downrange" as a "operator" like Major Dutch leads a "team" , fast roping down from helis to nab the kid who stole a paratha from the stall.

the benghazi movie 13 hours is a must-see for fans of this genre...every warrior in the GRS CIA team a chiselled rogueish type from the pages of 300, bushy beard, laconic acronyms, a disdain for weak minded civilians, armed to the gunwales with a wide variety of stuff and mods, drink beer instead of water, making fun of the native guards and society "shit show" , heavily armoured 4x4, tight form fitting clothes .... pure war

[shiv]

cool but aint going to happen in chandni chowk - the usual khan motto of unleashing maximum lead "downrange"
http://truthaboutguns-zippykid.netdna-s ... held-2.jpg

This is the sort of image that Indian jingos see and internalize before they get serious and come to places like BRF, after which they complain that Indians know nothing -Americans have handheld 12.5 mm 6 barrelled Gatlings

[Prasad]

OT but talking of maximum lead downrange - https://www.theatlantic.com/national/ar ... on/315967/
Cops shot 100+ bullets at a pickup thinking it was being ridden by a murder suspect.

[Singha]

the cult of the "warrior police" .
the US military has fed this machine by disposing off war surplus weapons and vehicles in large nos.
every self respecting police chief wants some stryker type "tactical vehicle" with bushmaster cannons, remote weapon stations, thermals, slat armour to tackle any "situation"

it finally ends in ridiculous scenes like these

[rohitvats]

There was a time when Para SF chaps were not seconded to NSG. The practice has stopped. Maybe, it has resumed again.

[vasu raya]

During recent times there was a second time the EDI building in Pampore was used as shelter by terrorists and IA lost two Captains and one soldier I believe, and it was CQB

[Gaur]

Great news for the morning

Jammu and Kashmir: Indian Army kills five Pakistani soldiers in LoC strike[url]

http://www.livemint.com/Politics/GXNeTx ... trike.html[/url]

The Indian Army’s special forces in Kashmir on Wednesday eliminated a Pakistani Border Action Team (BAT) of five enemy soldiers, a government official said.

The offensive was conducted along the Line of Control in the Muzaffarabad sector by the Army’s Para (special forces), the official said on condition of anonymity. BAT is a special Pakistani army unit conducting cross-border operations.

“General Bipin Rawat has given the go-ahead to the Para (SF) to conduct a search and elimination operation of BAT teams of Pakistan. Heightened low-grade warfare is likely to take place this summer,” a government official said on condition of anonymity.

On 1 May, BAT raided the Krishna Ghati sector at the border, killing and mutilitating two Indian soldiers. Following this, the Indian Army on 22 May launched a series of punitive assaults on Pakistan bunkers, and released a video documenting another set of assaults on Pakistan bunkers in the Naushera sector. The government official quoted above said assaults will continue through summer.

“The army will be targeting bunkers. We will not wait for more of our men to die along the border or for more soldiers to be mutilated by Pakistan before we take action,” the official added.

While the Army did not officially clarify this, it stated that assaults were part of a “routine exercise.”

“These are routine things. They keep happening. Things have not escalated because it’s part of a routine exercise,” Army spokesperson Ashok Narula said.

While the Army revived cordon and search operations (CASO) in Shopian in Kashmir to flush out terrorists from the Valley, after a gap of 15 years, a defence official said the “army was going back to its methodology of the 1990s, with a more sophisticated approach.”

While General Rawat on Sunday asserted that the Indian Army was fighting a “dirty war” in Kashmir, referring to stone-pelters attacking troops, defence minister Arun Jaitley on 24 May gave the Army full authority to carry out operations in Kashmir as they deemed fit.

[Gaur]

10 Para (SF) - Mustafas of Desert Warfare

http://www.sify.com/news/10-para-sf-mustafas-of-desert-warfare-news-columns-rf5vlQfacjbhg.html

Some snippets

My first encounter with the SF was in Agra way back in 2001. During a dinner, one of my friends, who had just passed out of IMA, asked then Major Rajesh Shyoran, Sena Medal of SF, "Sir, just like you I want to earn the maroon beret and the Balidan badge. How should I proceed?" With a smile on his face, Major Shyoran simply said, "You are very welcome to try". When my friend insisted on the point, Major Shyoran replied, "See it is simple. Either you have it in you or you don’t. Agar tumhara dil, dimag aur ghutna ek line main hai, you can make it (you can make it granted your head, heart and knee fall in a line)".

The 10 Para (SF) are also known as 'Desert Scorpions'. Officers and jawans opting for 10 Para (SF) are trained specially for desert warfare. At the start of the probation, they are given a tent, a bucket, a knife, a rope and a laltain. They have to setup their tent in the desert. Rigorous physical training goes day and night with no specific routine as there is no specific training manual. They get trained, sometimes, without food for 4 days, 1 litre water for 3 days and without sleep for 7 days. Sleep deprivation sometimes starts the moment probation starts. He will always have a 10KG sandbag on his back – this sandbag is affectionately called permanent buddy. Objective is to make the candidate realize that he is far more capable than he ever imagined. The moment he shows any weakness, he is out. Every month he has to complete 10 km, 20 km, 30 km and 40 km speed walk with full battle gear, which constitutes an additional 25 kg. These speed walks should be completed within stipulated time. Scorpions are better navigator than most modern GPS systems. In desert, there are no roads, no landmarks, not much human colonies. There are just sand dunes that keep shifting every night. In such vast and clueless place, they are halo/air dropped in the middle of nowhere, with just a compass in their hand. And using that compass and stars, they reach their destination without fail, every time. They are taught to survive with literally nothing to eat or drink. They collect dew in the wee hours to survive. Just 300 ml of water is good for them to survive for two days. Remember it is 50+ degrees in Thar and a normal human needs more than 10 litres a day to survive. They are taught to eat anything that moves in the desert area. They specially like eating scorpions - `Once you kill and roast it, remove its venom, it is really tasty`. They know which grass, which leaf, which shrub to eat to stay alive to complete the mission. Because the battle is not won by dying for your country but to kill the enemy.

Rest at
http://www.sify.com/news/10-para-sf-mustafas-of-desert-warfare-news-columns-rf5vlQfacjbhg.html

[JE Menon]

^^ From above article on 10 SF:

During a covert operation, disguised as brainwashed Kashmiris/jihadi Pakistani, Maj Sangram Singh (Shaurya Chakra) and Capt Vikas of 10 Para (SF) stayed with LeT terrorists in their camp in a jungle for 4 days. During this covert operation, they gathered tremendous amount of information and killed all 4 terrorists. Indian Army broke down LeT network using that information. Terrorists were so terrorised that they were always on the run thereafter.

Read more at: http://www.sify.com/news/10-para-sf-mus ... cjbhg.html

[Kashi]

I am a little confused. The article says that

"Officers and jawans opting for 10 Para (SF) are trained specially for desert warfare."

But then it goes on to say

Maj Sangram Singh (Shaurya Chakra) and Capt Vikas of 10 Para (SF) stayed with LeT terrorists in their camp in a jungle for 4 days.

Are 10 Para (SF) also trained in jungle/mountain warfare? I assume an LeT camp must be in PoK forests.

[ramana]

What confusion? They can operate anywhere? Read further about Colonel who climbed Everest.

[Kashi]

What confusion? They can operate anywhere? Read further about Colonel who climbed Everest.

No not that. I would have thought that just like 10 para were specialised in Desert warfare, other para regiments would have their own specialisations- jungle, mountain, urban etc, although all of them could probably do the other jobs well enough.

I am no expert on SF Ops, so I simply assumed that the operatives for specific Ops would be chosen based on their specialisation and the specialisation of their parent regiment.

[Singha]

by now all SF units must have rotated through Cashmere. so snow , hill or jungle, they are familiar in all terrain.

and I am sure there are rotational postings in the desert as well.

[Thakur_B]

https://twitter.com/shatrujeet009
https://www.facebook.com/shatrujeet009/

^^ The shatrujeet009 twitter and facebook page has become a really good source of SF pictures. There are a few SFF pictures there as well

[sum]

Treasure trove of pics indeed. All their posts in DFI on SF actions are also very accurate