Possible Indian Military Scenarios - XII

manish.rastogi · Post by **manish.rastogi** » 04 Dec 2010 17:22

gawd...i love the adrealin flow from these posts....god bless you geniuses....

vivek_ahuja · Post by **vivek_ahuja** » 04 Dec 2010 17:48

XIV CORPS COMMAND
LEH, LADDAKH
INDIA
DAY 5 + 1530 HRS (L)

“People, I need options!” Lt-Gen Bharadwaj spoke to the small group of officers inside his command bunker. The silence in the room following the order was accompanied by dismissive shrugs from the staff officers.

“That’s just great! I have the Chinese battering my Corps to oblivion, I have the Chinese missiles falling from the sky above my command centres, I have my entire Corps logistical line choking up east of Leh down the one MSR supplying 3RD Infantry and 8TH Mountain Divisions and I am surrounded by a bunch of idiots for staff officers who can offer me no more options!” Bharadwaj shouted. He was not known among his men for being able to control his anger when things did not go his way in all things military, least of all having the enemy pouncing on his Corps which was choking itself logistically...

Not that it had come as a total surprise, however. The fact of the matter was that the Indian Army was restricted to a select few DIV-MSR capable routes heading east from the logistical nodal point at Leh. The only solution had been to stock up the required equipment east of Leh prior to combat operations. For some reason, however, the expected usage of artillery rounds, ammunition and other supplies had been grossly underestimated by whoever’s job it had been to calculate per hour usage of munitions. Fact was that due to that error, the two main Divisions under XIV Corps: 3RD Infantry and 8TH Mountain, along with the host of other independent units were burning through the stored munitions east of Leh at several hundred percent higher rates than predicted by some desk bound senior officer and his staff years ago. The number of targets that needed to be taken out right away was much, much higher than expected, and all in all, supplies were being used up faster than they could be replenished. If it wasn’t corrected soon enough, its effect would begin to show and no matter how high tech the war was up to that point, it would be a repeat of the 1962 affair after munitions became unavailable. It was not a position Lt-Gen Bharadwaj planned to have for his beloved Corps...

“Sir, right now we have a vast majority of truck based convoys moving between Saser and Shyok, supporting the DBO defence operations under 3RD Infantry Div. If those convoys were made available for the route between Leh and Shyok, we could more than make up for the deficit in transportation capacity...” One young Lt-Colonel remarked from the edge of the table. He incurred the wrath of Bharadwaj right away:

“You mean hand over DBO and the Karakoram pass to the Chinese? Are you insane? That’s exactly what they want, you idiot! Leave the strategy making to me. You just find me what I need: a thousand heavy trucks to haul all the guns and ammo my boys need out there. I don’t care how you do it! You hear?! I am not handing over the most critical piece of terrain in northern Laddakh to the Chinese because you incompetent ASC guys cannot support my boys with supplies! Now get out!”

The men in the room piled out within seconds, leaving Bharadwaj leaning over the map table and fuming with anger. After the door closed behind the last leaving officer, Bharadwaj walked out of the office and headed to the communications centre. He stormed into the room that was filled with chaos and shouting from two dozen officers and operators running about with communiqués from the front pouring in over the radios. His presence was not acknowledged by this mass of people trying to control the crisis that was war, as per Bharadwaj’s own instructions. He continued walking towards his personal Signals and Communications officer and tapped him on his shoulder:

“Get me Major-General Mohanty right now!”

As the Major got down to his radio, Bharadwaj waved over his Intelligence officer, Major-General Jagat, who had been standing across the centre talking with his men. Both men were standing a few feet away from the Major trying to get General Mohanty on the line from Shyok, where his command centre was based.

“What’s the latest news, Jagat?” Bharadwaj asked.

“Not good sir. We just received the latest update from Colonel Sudarshan’s IO. Their three Mechanized Battalions are all reporting the arrival of Chinese heavy armour units across the frontlines east of DBO, as we had anticipated. At this point the DBO sector is heavily outgunned and outnumbered. We still have not been able to find the best way to take down the Qara-Tagh La S-300 batteries, and the Air Force is hesitant after all their losses to try something unless we have some chance of success first. The chinese are also brining in heavy infantry reinforcements along the Hacho and Galwan valley fronts. No surprises there: they are trying to chop up 3RD Infantry Division’s sector into three unconnected parts that would basically annihilate that unit.”

“And once that happens, we end up leaving Shyok and the entire sector east of Leh and north of the Pangong Tso exposed to Chinese overrun tactics.” Bharadwaj concluded before continuing: “You know, one of the officers in my logistics staff suggested pulling 3RD Infantry out of the entire sector north of Shyok to shorten the supply route for munitions a few minutes ago.”

“Maybe we might want to listen to that advice. We can still save 3RD Infantry Division from encirclement and destruction if we pull them out now!” General Jagat offered.

“That’s not my decision to make. The loss of territory would be huge. It’s a Army Command or even higher level decision. Besides, let’s see what Mohanty has to say about his Division’s ability to prevent the Chinese from doing what they feel like. I am going to declare a state of emergency for 3RD Infantry after that call, and I want all efforts directed to make sure that Division gets the supporting fire it needs. I am not pulling one of my Divisions to safety and handing over a large chunk of Indian Territory to the Chinese to walk over. My orders to General Mohanty will stand until I have been relieved of command here by someone higher than me.

3RD Infantry will stand and fight.”

vivek_ahuja · Post by **vivek_ahuja** » 04 Dec 2010 18:10

NATIONAL HIGHWAY- 1D
126 KM NORTHWEST OF LEH, LADDAKH
INDIA
DAY 5 + 1540 HRS (L)

The afternoon setting sun glistened off the shiny new paint job. Major Kulkarni admired the speed with which it had been applied by his crew and other personnel from his unit. The green areas had been painted over with white and the light brown areas had been painted over with shades of darker brown. The paint was still not dry yet, but that could not be helped. And there was no time either. Fact of the matter was that the only reason they were pulled over was because a medevac convoy was making its way west from Leh back to Srinagar carrying the wounded and civilians to safety. The snake like roads did not allow much room for two way motion with the kind of vehicles under Major Kulkarni’s command. And so him and his unit were lined up along a curb waiting for a chance to renew their dash towards the frontline.

The Major looked around. Everywhere they had passed along the way, the story had been the same. Civilians heading west, military convoys heading east; helicopters occasionally flew overhead and sometimes they could see black pillars of smoke from some supply base that had received a hit from Chinese cruise missile. But the change in emotions was powerful. The sense of despair on the faces of those they passed momentarily disappeared as the Major’s unit rolled by. It was still a long drive to Leh and just as long a drive from there to the front lines. The rate at which things were happening, Major Kulkarni wondered if he would even be able to carry out his job in the role it had been devised. Would there even be a frontline to fight on when he got there? He shook his head from those thoughts and turned back to see the wet white paint on the barrel of the gun. As the last medevac convoy truck passed by Major Kulkarni was waved on by the MPs guiding the traffic on the road and he in turn climbed back into the commander’s hatch and put his helmet on. He then lowered his R/T mouthpiece and depressed the talk button, instantly activating voice comms between himself and the remaining twelve vehicles in his unit:

“RHINO-ONE to all RHINO elements. We are rolling again! Let’s go.”

A few seconds later, the thunder of twelve Arjun tank engines reverberated through the valley for kilometres and RHINO Squadron of the 43RD Armoured Regiment began rolling towards the frontline...

Jamie Boscardin · Post by **Jamie Boscardin** » 04 Dec 2010 19:48

Exceptional Brilliance!!
And thanks again!

manish.rastogi · Post by **manish.rastogi** » 04 Dec 2010 20:34

awesome sirji...i dnt know if this is appropriate but if you could write some scenarios in between these with special force operatives giving critical intelligence inputs and trying to finish the war prematurely by taking out important personalities....just a request!!i am happy with what you are giving....but if this could be done then it would be epic.....

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 04 Dec 2010 21:01

hmm..so a persistent brf fantasy is being catered to - arjun tanks in aksai chin.

hope something like Beda Fomm happens

Tanaji · Post by **Tanaji** » 04 Dec 2010 22:45

Good on you Vivek Saab, pleasure to see you back!

Rakeshsm · Post by **Rakeshsm** » 05 Dec 2010 02:28

Its over 2 years i am following this thread and Bharat Rakshak and its my first post.

Below line gave a shiver in my spine............

"A few seconds later, the thunder of twelve Arjun tank engines reverberated through the valley for kilometres and RHINO Squadron of the 43RD Armoured Regiment began rolling towards the frontline..."

Bala Vignesh · Post by **Bala Vignesh** » 05 Dec 2010 13:36

Rakeshsm wrote: Below line gave a shiver in my spine............

"A few seconds later, the thunder of twelve Arjun tank engines reverberated through the valley for kilometres and RHINO Squadron of the 43RD Armoured Regiment began rolling towards the frontline..."

Very true... But hope this helps the boys of the 5th inf brigade and the Ad-Hoc Mech division in the DBO sector...

Shankar · Post by **Shankar** » 05 Dec 2010 16:19

COMBAT INFORMATION CENTER –INS VIKRAMADITYA –OFF THE COAST OF PAPUA

This small and simple tailed delta jet, originally designed as carrier-based (nuclear) bomber, later enjoyed a long career as an extremely versatile attack aircraft. Later developments had a large dorsal spine to make room for electronics. The A-4 was kept in production for 22 years, and is still serving with some air forces. The OA-4 is a two-seat FAC version for the USMC, and the trainer version is known as TA-4. 2960 built.

Engines: 1 * 41.4 kN Pratt & Whitney J52-P8A turbojet
Wing Span: 8.38 m
Wing area: 24.15 m²
Wing loading: 344.4 kg/m²
Length: 12.22 m
Height: 4.57 m
Empty Weight: 4536 kg
Max.Weight: 11113 kg
Thrust/weight: 0.51
Speed: 1100 km/h
Rate of climb: 43 m/s
Ceiling: 13940 m
Range: 3220 km
Armament: 2*g20mm, 3720 kg payload

The mission of an A-4 attack squadron is to attack and to destroy surface targets in support of the landing force commander, escort helicopters, and conduct other operations as directed. Developed in the early 1950s, the A-4 Skyhawk was originally designated the A-4D as a lightweight, daylight only nuclear capable strike aircraft for use in large numbers from aircraft carriers. There are numerous models of the A-4 in use. The A-4M and the TA-4F are currently used by Marine Corps Reserve squadrons. All models have two internally mounted 20mm (.8 inch) cannons, and are capable of delivering conventional and nuclear weapons under day and night visual meteorological conditions. The A-4M uses a heads-up display and computer aided delivery of its bomb load with the angle rate bombing system. The Marine Reserve has two squadrons of A-4s with 12 aircraft each. Additionally, each squadron has two TA-4 aircraft.
The Skyhawk was designed by Douglas' Ed Heinemann in response to a U.S. Navy call for a jet-powered attack aircraft to replace the A-1 Skyraider. Heinemann opted for a design that would minimize size, weight, and complexity. The result was an aircraft that weighed only half of the Navy's specification and had a wing so compact that it did not need to be folded for carrier stowage. The diminutive Skyhawk soon received the nicknames "Scooter", "Bantam Bomber", "Tinker Toy Bomber" and on account of its nimble performance, "Heinemann's Hot-Rod."

The Navy issued a contract for the type on June 12 1952, and the first prototype first flew on June 22, 1954. Deliveries to Navy and U.S. Marine Corps squadrons commenced in late 1956. The Skyhawk remained in production until 1975, with a total of 2,960 aircraft built, including 555 two-seat trainers. The US Navy began removing the aircraft from its front-line squadrons in 1967, with the last retiring in 1975. The Marines would pass on the Navy's replacement, the A-7 Corsair II, instead keeping Skyhawks in service, and ordering the new A-4M. The last USMC Skyhawk was delivered in 1979, and were used until the mid-1990s until they were replaced by the similarly small, but V/STOL vertical landing AV-8 Harrier.

The Diamondbacks of VMA-131, Marine Aircraft Group 49 retired their last four OA-4Ms on June 22,1994. Trainer versions of the Skyhawk remained in Navy service, however, finding a new lease on life with the advent of adversary training, where the nimble A-4 was used as a stand-in for the MiG-17 in dissimilar air combat training (DACT) It served in that role until 1999, when the last were replaced with the T-45 Goshawk. Their nimble performance also made them suitable to replace the F-4 Phantom when the services downsized their aircraft for the Blue Angels demonstration team, popularized on a 80s rock video, until the availability of the F/A-18 Hornet in the 1980s. The last US Navy Skyhawks, TA-4J models belonging to composite squadron VC-8, remained in military use for target-towing and as adversary aircraft for combat training at Naval Air Station Roosevelt Roads. They were officially retired on May 3, 2003.

The Skyhawk proved to be one of the most popular US naval aircraft exports of the postwar era. Due to its small size, it could be operated from the older, smaller WWII-era aircraft carriers still used by many smaller navies during the 1960s. These older ships were often unable to accommodate newer USN fighters such as the F-4 Phantom II and F-8 Crusader, which were faster and more capable than the A-4, but significantly larger and heavier than older naval fighters.

In 1980 Indonesia purchased from Israel
14 surplus A-4E Skyhawks: The aircraft became operational in Number 11 Squadron (SkU-11) at Hasanuddin Air Base near Ujung Pandang.

In 1982, an additional 16 surplus A-4E Skyhawks were purchased from Israel
After refurbishment at Indonesian expense, these Skyhawks became operational, beginning in 1985, assigned to number 12 Squadron (SkU12) at Pekanbaru Air Base, Riau Province.

In 1981 A-4E 149664 was purchased from Israel

As of November 1992, the Indonesian Air Force was operating 28 A-4E Skyhawks in the two squadrons. In 1996, all Indonesian Skyhawk operations were consolidated in SKU-11 at Hasanuddin. Two additional TA-4Js, BuNo 154315 and 158454, were purchased from the U.S.in 1999 and, after upgrading in New Zealand, became operational in October of that year.
The variety of payload the A4 Skyhawk carried evolved dramatically as new systems were developed to meet the increasing challenges of air to air and air to ground combat. In its long lifespan as a low level fighter/attack aircraft, the A4 could boast capabilities needed to match almost any conceivable circumstance.

Rear Admiral Nirmal Jain finished reading through the print out and frowned .Though comparatively slow the incoming sky hawks may be carrying anti ship or laser guided bombs 1000 kg s and hence presented a credible threat to the carrier group . The defending Mig 29 Ks have the advantage of far greater thrust to weight ration, better avionics and the added advantage of AEW support form the pair of Ka 31 s orbiting over head

- captain what is launch status on deck
- - sir we have one ready to go – three more in 10 minutes
- Hold on the ready bird – launch all four together in 10 minutes – we need recover the birds in air in less than fifteen minutes
- Copy that sir
- Sir the blaze flight is closing in on the bandits –looks like the A4 are spreading out and climbing to bomb release altitude
- Blaze flight –tower - this is getting close – are u ready to launch
- Tower – in 90 seconds – over

- clear deck for aircraft launch

- deck clear – aircraft n launch position

- cobra lead – u r cleared to take off – fly runway heading – climb to 2000 meters and report

- tower –cobra lead – rolling

- get the other birds to launch position pronto – we need the reinforcements on air yesterday thundered the admiral and things got done as one by one the rest three Mig 29k s moved into take off position and flew into the sky ,forming up and heading towards the conflict zone

The numbers were no matched and that meant just one thing –the Indonesian sky hawks were doomed from that moment onwards

Avarachan · Post by **Avarachan** » 05 Dec 2010 17:59

Vivek, great to see you back on BRF! I sent you an email at your Yahoo address.

Rupesh · Post by **Rupesh** » 05 Dec 2010 19:48

Shankar wrote:oops - vivek -ur post is deep impact
soory guys - was actually bit too involved with project tender - for the next generation of sat s of Indian origin -next post in gew hours -sorry once again

Shankarosky and Vivek Good to see you ~~guys~~ Gentlemen back in action.

Can we some info on the sats.

Shankar · Post by **Shankar** » 06 Dec 2010 15:14

next generation geo synchronous satellites - 2.5 ton plus - testing facility for the same - in tender stage only

jamwal · Post by **jamwal** » 06 Dec 2010 15:48

Means you'll have even less time to write :-s

vila · Post by **vila** » 06 Dec 2010 17:11

Vivek Sir, There is a slight variation from what you posted for Day 5 earlier and what you are posting now.

nits · Post by **nits** » 07 Dec 2010 17:14

Vivek sir - Its 3rd day now without a post...

Kanson · Post by **Kanson** » 07 Dec 2010 18:12

Military scenario relating Chinese ASBM, Taiwan & USN

ramana wrote:Popular Science has a graphic of the PRC ASBM concept of operations as visualised by USN. Essentially its a BM that takes of from shore and traverses a ballistic path and then levels off and goes horizontal and attacks target ship in a steep dive.

Ghatotkacha · Post by **Ghatotkacha** » 08 Dec 2010 11:45

Nicely Done Vivek.
I love the build-up and suspense at the end of your every post.

Pratyush · Post by **Pratyush** » 08 Dec 2010 11:47

The authors have hit the writers block again.

How can they be unblocked

vivek_ahuja · Post by **vivek_ahuja** » 08 Dec 2010 13:53

"]he authors have hit the writers block again"

Nope. Still here.

No writer's block, just some research on the background material.

Standby....

andy B · Post by **andy B** » 08 Dec 2010 14:06

vivek_ahuja wrote:Nope. Still here.

No writer's block, just some research on the background material.

Standby....

Vivek...need your email.

Got something that you may find...interesting.

Shankar · Post by **Shankar** » 08 Dec 2010 15:56

BLAZE FLIGHT – 4XMIG 29K - ON INTERCEPT VECTOR – 1000 METERS

Tower –blaze lead – clearance to execute strike pattern snake eye
- blaze lead –tower –stand by
- blaze lead –tower –cleared to execute snake eye –repeat cleared to execure snake eye
- blaze lead- to blaze 2 3 4 - -execute snake eye on my command – 3 2 1 now

The four fulcrums lit pivoted on their tail and after burner went past the reheat agte to stops as the nimble powerful birds streaked sky wards with the sound of multiple rolling thunder

It was a calculated risky maneuvered – by suddenly changing theie flight profile at right angles to the incoming sky hawks possibly caring Sparrow type radar guided missiles –it ruined any firing solution that might have generated so far thereby making safe from active /semi active radar missiles but the same time at full reheat they made them selves very very vulnerable to deadly sidewinder 9M/L type which the enemy was surely carrying

But their was a hidden safety net – the range at which side winders can be fired is significantly less than at which the sparrows can be locked and launched

And the Mig 29 k pilots planned using that narrow indow of opportunity to launch their own attack – the gap in the defense window –the twilight zone between WVR and BVR dog fight and they planned to do it with their formidable R-73 and the deadly Gsh 301

- blaze lead –tower – u r 35000 ft – time to turn the tables boys
- copy that tower –blaze lead – executing the turn now
- blaze flight – turn on command – 2 1 now

And the four fulcrums once again turned on their spines – ejecting flares right and left as they deployed their air brakes and dived at the A4 s which have now crossed their flight and approaching the carrier task force and trying to locate them all at same time .

The fulcrums attacked from behind one at a time – each selecting the target – sweeping down in a mesmeric turning dive –launching the heat seeking missile followed by closing in and finishing off with a 3 second burst from nose cannon ripping apart the heavy bomb laden sky hawks into tiny balls of smoke and fire \

- tower –blaze lead – 3 sky hawks splashed – going back for another pass
- - we copy 3 kills – good work – don’t let them go back boys – even the cool voice of admiral sounded tinged with high excitement

With numbers more or less evenly matched –the mIg 29 s this time simply attached with individual A4 and closed in for a pure gun kill – quickly closing in on steep dive –levelling out and then shooting short 2 second bursts till the target disintegrated and then quickly climbing out and away to escape the debris being ingested

It took some time – all of 3 minutes and the sky was once again clear and so was the radar scope of red tagged bandits

- tower –blaze lead –splash 5 more bandits – sky is clear – over
- blaze flight –tower – superb work boys – you are allowed a close fly by tower –just once –came the happy voice of the task force commander as the first of the Migs swooped down on the island structure and passed with am earth shattering roar of its twin RD 33 engines – and then came the second …

Shankar · Post by **Shankar** » 08 Dec 2010 15:59

The Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-30-1 (the actual Russian designation is GSh-301; also known by the GRAU index designation 9A-4071K) is a 30 mm cannon designed for use on Soviet and later Russian military aircraft, entering service in the early 1980s. Its current manufacturer is the Russian company Izhmash JSC.

The GSh-301 is a single-barreled, gas-operated cannon weighing 46 kg (101 lb). Unlike many postwar cannons, it is linear action, not a revolver cannon or Gatling gun, with the Russians feeling that the reduction in rate of fire is compensated by reduced mass and bulk.

The GSh-301 has a rate of fire of 1,800 rounds per minute, customarily limited to 1,500 rounds per minute to reduce barrel wear. Despite that, its barrel life is quite short: 2,000 rounds. When firing a continuous burst of 100–150 rounds, the barrel is put under so much stress that it has to be replaced. The gun uses an evaporation cooling system to prevent the detonation of a high explosive round inside a heated barrel. This cooling system consists of a cylindrical water tank around the rear end of the barrel. The GSh-301 is equipped with a unique pyrotechnic mechanism to clear misfires: a small pyrotechnic cartridge is located to the left of the 30mm cartridge chamber. This pyrotechnic cartridge fires a small steel bolt through the side wall of the 30mm cartridge. The hot propellant gases following the bolt into the dud 30mm round ignite the powder charge of that round and firing continues.

The manufacturer (Izhmash Arms Plant, Izhevsk) claims its maximum effective range against aerial targets is 1,200 to 1,800 m (3,900 to 5,900 ft).

In combination with a laser rangefinding/targeting system, it is reported to be extremely accurate as well as powerful, capable of destroying a target with as few as three to five rounds. It has been deployed on several different types of fighter aircraft:

* Su-27, Su-30, Su-33 and Su-35: 1 GSh-301 in starboard wing root (150 rds. ammunition load)
* Su-34: 1 GSh-301 in starboard wing root (180 rds. ammunition load)
* MiG-29: 1 GSh-301 in port wing root (150 rds. ammunition load)

vivek_ahuja · Post by **vivek_ahuja** » 08 Dec 2010 17:53

andy B wrote:Vivek...need your email.

Got something that you may find...interesting.

Andy,

Email me at vivek underscore ahuja123 at yahoo dot com

All,

As I add more, I am also posting the last connecting segment of some of the other battles I had going on earlier to maintain continuity. Please look them earlier. Since each post has a time and place of occurance, it should not be a problem to see which was past and which is present.

Thanks

vivek_ahuja · Post by **vivek_ahuja** » 08 Dec 2010 17:57

THE ROAD TO LHUNTSE
NORTHEASTERN BHUTAN
DAY 5 + 0730 HRS

The smoke was everywhere. The village was on one of the last road-heads in the sector after which there were only mud tracks through terrace cultivated hills all the way to the northern border of Bhutan. But this village was no more. The Chinese long range Smerch units had launched severe attacks during the night from beyond the border that lay forty kilometres to the north and had practically levelled the civilian structures in the village under a barrage of artillery rockets. Their reasons for doing so had been clear: Royal Bhutanese Army trucks were moving down this road as they brought in supplies and reinforcements for the hopelessly outnumbered and outclassed RBA units north of this sector.

Well, no more...the RBA Colonel thought as he stepped out of his jeep at the middle of the convoy and walked past the line of parked RBA trucks along the mountain road even as injured and panicked civilians were streaming and running back along the sides. He could see the smouldering ruins of the civilian houses in the village. The dead and dying were everywhere even as his men were rushing to administer first aid and urgent medical support to the civilians. The Colonel and his small entourage walked past the rows of burning houses, destroyed ones and large numbers of panicked and desperate people until he came across one RBA Major whose face had been blackened by the soot and grime of battle through the night. The Major was walking down the road from the north along with a few of his men. All showed the exhaustion of combat on their faces. All showed the injuries sustained on the battlefield...

The Major spotted the clean uniformed Colonel of his unit and despite the exhaustion managed to snap off a salute which the Colonel proudly returned. The Colonel ordered his men to help the Major’s men and told them to sit down and have water. A couple of minutes later the Colonel had retrieved his maps and the Major had regained enough of his strength to speak...

“The front is broken, Colonel.” The Major said as he then used his arm to point out the northern peaks beyond Lhuntse where the night battle and skirmishes had occurred with the Chinese “Unknown” Divisional level forces and the outnumbered and outgunned RBA defenders. The Major’s face told the tale of what had happened even before he said a word...

“We were battered into the ground by Chinese artillery for an hour before their infantry began manoeuvring around us. We were completely overwhelmed by the numbers. Three Companies of the Battalion, Alpha, Delta and Echo, were overrun to the last man. They inflicted some losses on the Chinese but it was difficult to tell. My Company and the remaining others were not overrun but took crippling losses in men and material before we had to withdraw to regroup and plug the gaps caused by the decimation of the other Companies. The Chinese had airlifted some infantry to peaks between Lhuntse and us and we didn’t even know about them until the leading column of my men were mown down by machine-gun fire. It was complete chaos afterwards and despite our attempts the men were massacred. We managed to escape by going east into the hills and then taking the route south until we managed to locate Lhuntse thanks to these fires after the rocket attacks. Then we walked here.”

“What about the other three Companies?” the Colonel asked.

The Major shook his head: “Gone, sir. Last we heard were intermittent radio messages saying they had been ambushed. BAT HQ came over the line for a few minutes with the Lt-Colonel shouting for information before they went off the air too. There may be some units still out there to the north but they are likely to be low on supplies and unlikely to be cohesive to a degree to stop the Chinese.”

“Command told me that only skirmishes were underway yesterday night! Couldn't those idiots tell the difference between a skirmish and a Divisional attack?!” the Colonel turned away and walked a few feet, stomping the mud and controlling his anger before returning back to the Major who was standing by the maps...

“So where’s the front now?”

Before the Major could answer, a few civilians came running down the road in panic shouting that that they had seen Chinese soldiers on the peaks some kilometres beyond the village. Even as the Colonel’s men caught hold of those civilians and began asking questions, the Major completed his thoughts:

“There is no front, sir. This valley and Lhuntse are lost...”

vivek_ahuja · Post by **vivek_ahuja** » 08 Dec 2010 19:11

THE MOUNTAINS OF BHUTAN
NORTHEASTERN BHUTAN
DAY 5 + 1550 HRS

Major-General Dhillon looked outside the glass windows to see white clouds hugging the brown mountains in complete serenity, oblivious to what was happening around them. Dhillon leaned back from the windows into his seat and closed his eyes to get what he knew to be his last sleep for some time. Maybe, the world would be saner by then...he hoped as he dozed off.

Up front inside the cockpit of the IMTRAT Dhruv helicopter’s cockpit, the two pilots were busy manoeuvring the helicopter within the valleys of Bhutan as they headed up to the Lhuntse valley from IMTRAT Headquarters. Behind them, a Lancer combat helicopter flew in close formation, providing security as the two helicopters airlifted General Dhillon and his core staff to the scene of the Bhutanese frontlines in the rapidly spreading war against China.

Major-General Dhillon was the Acting Deputy Commander of the Indian Military Training Team, or IMTRAT, until very recently. The role of the IMTRAT had changed rapidly in the last few days. With the brazen Chinese land forces attack on the small Royal Bhutanese Army units inside Bhutan, the security of India’s eastern frontlines had become dire. The Chinese could not be allowed to take Bhutan at any cost, or the weak logistical lines heading to the Indian northeast would be strategically flanked. In theory. In practical terms it was still unclear what the Chinese could actually achieve on the ground and where they would even find the units to support those operations, given their rapidly deteriorating situation in the Chumbi Valley front against the Indian offensive taking place under Operation Chimera.

But one thing was sure, if the Chinese were being prevented from being able to reinforce the Chumbi Valley frontlines thanks to concentrated Indian Pinaka units in the Yumthiang valley in Sikkim, they could still be used to open a flanking attack on Bhutan and force the Indians to divert units and forces away from the Chimera offensive by XXXIII Corps and be forced to support the RBA in defending their small kingdom. For now, that was working for the Chinese, and the Bhutanese had taken heavy losses. The RBA was in tatters along most of the Bhutanese northern borders under sustained Chinese heli-borne and land assaults. The Chinese in turn, were rapidly making progress and swallowing up Bhutanese territory as they drove southwards to the capital city. What stood between them and the collapse of Bhutan was an Indian intervention on the ground...

Three hours ago, the Indian Army’s Eastern Command had effectively absorbed IMTRAT and RBA forces under its command. The RBA had been ordered to hand over strategic command to XXXIII Corps and operational command to Lieutenant-General Potgam, the current IMTRAT Commander. Potgam had taken over basic command and control facilities at Haa Dzong and more C3I equipment was being airlifted on for his use. One of the two most crucial pieces of equipment that had come in within the first hour had been a pair of ALH Dhruvs and one Lancer light attack helicopter for immediate movement of Indian personnel. The eighteen-hole golf course at Haa had been converted into a temporary FARP type location for the three helicopters and small group of ground servicemen. Where it sat, Haa was somewhat vulnerable to Chinese intervention from the west in the Chumbi valley, but under current Chimera operations it was unlikely that they could spare the men and materials for a diversionary attack.

As vulnerable as Haa might have been for an Indian HQ, Thimpu was in a worse situation. The collapse of a RBA Battalion to the north by a Chinese Infantry Regiment over the night had effectively opened the gates open to Thimpu for the Chinese ground forces. The situation on the streets was near panic. The Royal family had been evacuated to the south near the Indian border by an overnight helicopter airlift. The only defensive forces around Thimpu were the Royal Bhutanese Guard units and police forces. Nearest Indian forces were a sixty kilometres away as the crow flies.

Lt-Gen Potgam did not have an enviable job. As commander of Indian and Bhutanese forces and overall operational commander defending Bhutan from collapse, he had very few tools to work with. He did have a good XO to help him out. It was for that reason that Maj-Gen Dhillon had been dispatched by Potgam to the eastern fronts of Bhutan to take stock of the ground situation there and report back. R/T data had been sketchy as panic had ruled the RBA radio-waves for several hours now. Unit reports were uncoordinated and unprofessional. Dhillon was expected to change all that...

“You see that, sir?” the Lieutenant in the co-pilot’s seat said as he pointed with his arm after the helicopter flew around the bend to the east heading valley and then turned along the road heading north to Lhuntse.

“Oh man! That can’ be good...” the Major piloting the helicopter concurred as he shook his head. The conversation sparked interest amongst the two Majors and three Captains sitting in the passenger cabin alongside Dhillon, who awoke from his light sleep and peered outside of the side glass window.

“What is it, Ravi?” Dhillon asked.
“Sir, we are seeing massive smoke columns south of our primary LZ. It’s possible that the Chinese have overrun the area or are at least hitting the RBA forces around the LZ area hard. We definitely have either a hostile LZ or at least a very hot one. What do you want to do, sir?”

Dhillon stepped forward from his seat and leaned his head through the gap between the two pilot’s seats even as the ALH positioned to hover several kilometres south of their landing zone. The Major piloting the helicopter turned his head to the left to see the Lancer moving forward of them now and positioning itself ahead and to the left of the ALH to provide suppressive fire in case they began taking hits from the ground. Dhillon was actively scanning the horizon and the smoke clouds for signs of active fires or explosions: a sign that the RBA forces on the ground were still fighting...

“See any traffic on the road below?” the Major asked his co-pilot who in turn leaned forward of his seat to see through the forward and side glass.
“Yeah: stationary RBA truck convoy one click to the north and what looks like infantry running alongside the civilians half a click to our east.” he reported back.

“Put us down by that truck convoy.” Dhillon ordered the pilots. “That must be the RBA Battalion forces that should have arrived here this morning. I know the Colonel in charge. Let’s see if he’s still alive down there.”
“Roger.” The Major said as he brought the helicopter out of auto-hover and reduced main rotor collective as they approached a small clearing near the road where the trucks were parked. “Keep the Lancer on close leash while we are on the ground over there, understand?” Dhillon continued and got a nod from the Major.

A few seconds later the Dhruv main rotors pushed up a dust cloud around the trucks and then touched down gingerly before one of the Majors in Dhillon’s staff slid open the doors and jumped out with his INSAS rifle in hand, followed on the other side by the rest five officers, each armed with rifles and radios. Dhillon had his personal sidearm out as well. There was no way to tell the ground situation yet and they weren’t taking chances. Overhead the Lancer flew over in a protective arc looking for trouble and not yet finding any. Dhillon ordered the Dhruv crew to take off immediately and it did so a few seconds later, raising yet another dust cloud amidst the parked vehicles.

“Movement! I got movement!” one of the Captains said as he saw a couple of figures heading towards them as the dust settled around them. “Halt! Halt right there or we will open fire!” the Captain shouted. “Hold fire! RBA!” one of two men shouted as they lowered their own rifles.

“Hold fire!” Dhillon ordered as he stood up and put his sidearm away when he saw the RBA Colonel. The Colonel snapped off a salute even as Dhillon dusted off his uniform and returned the favour. The Colonel smiled as he spoke: “Welcome to hell, my friend. You are just in time to see the fireworks!”
“Toshum, what the hell is going on over here. I saw your men running from the field to the south on my way here and your CP looks almost deserted.” Dhillon said.

“Sir, almost all of my men who haven’t fled under panic are fighting on the frontlines. We are trying to buy some time so we can get these civilians out of the fighting zone. The Chinese have been bombarding us for some time now. I think they may even have UAVs above us. It’s very dangerous for you to be here right now, but I am glad you are here!” Toshum reported to Dhillon as both men walked back to a few tables with maps on them lined up behind a parked truck: Toshum’s CP. Dhillon’s staff officers were already getting to work in there while two of the Captains held on to their rifles, just in case.

“What do you need to hold the front, Toshum?” Dhillon asked the Colonel.
“Everything you can give us! Men, equipment, bullets, guns and artillery!” the Colonel responded.

“Let me see what I can do. Let’s get to work...”

vivek_ahuja · Post by **vivek_ahuja** » 08 Dec 2010 19:36

IMTRAT HQ
HAA DZONG
NORTHWESTERN BHUTAN
DAY 5 + 1640 HRS

The rotorwash from the ALH lifting off the grassy field on the golf course provided an unintended break in the discussion as all of General Potgam’s officers grabbed their caps and held on to their papers. As soon as the winds reduced, Potgam turned back to see the grassy field as he spoke to his Army Aviation commander and the IAF IMTRAT Liaison officer: a Group Captain from the IAF EAC.
“So you can chop down those trees over there to make room?”

“Uh, yes sir. Once that happens, we can begin heavy lift operations using Mi-17s but I should warn you: this grassy field won’t last long under sustained operations unless we reinforce it into a full blown FARP facility right away.” The Group Captain recommended.
“I don’t care what you have to do. Get it done now! Blow those trees down using explosives if you have to save time. All I want to know is the time: when can we start operations from here?” Potgam said.

“Few hours. We can continue during the hours of darkness to get the job done. Most of the Mi-17 crews are NVG capable for night ops. After that we can start bringing in the light artillery units by heli-lift.”

“Yeah well, this place...” Potgam looked around the golf course before continuing, “won’t last long once the Chinese satellites pick up what we are doing from here. Two or three missile strikes and we would be out of action. Still, let’s get whatever we can while they are busy with the Chumbi valley whoop-ass we are handing their Divisions right now. What about air support?”

“Mig-27 strikes from Hashimara is all I have been assured of right now. Even that is contingent to availability from Chimera Ops.” The IAF G/C said. Potgam shook his head as he stared at the mountain peaks up north for several long seconds. He then turned back to face his assembled officers and said:

“Get it done, people. We don’t have the luxury of time and space. Bhutan may fall, but we well give the Chinese a damn bloody nose before we leave...”

vivek_ahuja · Post by **vivek_ahuja** » 08 Dec 2010 19:49

DAY 5 + 1750 HRS

The first news reports of the situation on the streets of Thimpu began airing on world news networks as the images of people fleeing with their few belongings and heading south towards the Indian border began airing worldwide. Rumors filled the skies as government function and control began to fail amidst the panic. The situation was vastly reminiscent of the situation in Assam in 1962 during the previous Sino-Indian war. After all, human behaviour under panic conditions is the same everywhere. In the absence of sights showing their own army heading into battle to protect their kingdom, the rumors were piling in that all RBA forces - a handful of Battalions as they were to begin with - had been routed to the north. For the first time that evening the citizens of Thimpu saw the ground thundering amidst the orange yellow glow on the mountainous horizon as the last few RBG units attempted to hold off the Chinese Regiment poised to take the capital of Bhutan. In a few hours television screens across the world were showing the explosions on the horizon of Thimpu as recorded by the BBC and CNN and announcing to the world the defeat of Indian effort to prevent Bhutan’s collapse even before the Indian Army units under Potgam had done anything. At about the same time, Indian television channels began the same news, and began asking questions into the Indian army’s failure to prevent the fall of Bhutan. No media stopped to ask the Indian Army or Lt-General Potgam, the commander who was just now starting his job, for his opinions on the matter...

Bala Vignesh · Post by **Bala Vignesh** » 08 Dec 2010 20:36

Awesome sir... Thanks for the Triple Whammies... Awesome addition, the psy-ops factor...

Jamie Boscardin · Post by **Jamie Boscardin** » 08 Dec 2010 20:40

I guess, the number of folks looking at this post, as soon as your posts started arriving, would show the immense need for you to keep going.
again exceptional stuff and kudos to your abilities!!

sarabpal.s · Post by **sarabpal.s** » 08 Dec 2010 21:30

Taking cue from this thread & IMHO we should more afraid of quantity attack from chines cheap thing make it in big quantity.

We should develop some low cost counter defense weapons in big way.

vivek_ahuja · Post by **vivek_ahuja** » 10 Dec 2010 16:29

SKIES OVER TIBET
DAY 5 + 1930 HRS (L)

The skies were dark blue with shades of black as the night unfolded along the blazing frontline in the Laddakh frontline. The orange glow backlit the mountainous terrain as a hundred different battles raged along hundreds of kilometres of the frontline. The ground shook and reverberated under the intense artillery bombardments from both sides. Southeast of Rezang-La, however, the frontline was relatively silent. As the Indian soldiers skirmished in small numbers against their Chinese counterparts for some unknown mould of earth in the ever encapsulating darkness, all eyes turned upwards at the sound of aircraft approaching. Against the dark blue fading light, a streak of eight Jaguars in two flights of four flew eastwards above Rezang-La and penetrated Tibetan airspace heading east...

“Eagle-Eye confirms airspace penetration at grid Alpha-Alpha-Delta-Three-One-Niner. Negative enemy R-T Chatter. Good job Phantom-Flight. Waypoint-Two approaching in five minutes. Out.” The one-way burst transmission from the Phalcon AWACS over Himachal Pradesh switched off a second later.

The five minutes would go by quickly to the upcoming waypoint. It fell directly over Rudok-Dzong and the terrain identification was the teardrop shaped lake pointing east. There the flight of eight Jaguars would turn north. Incidentally, this was close to the same pathway taken by the Tuskers squadron when undertaking the strike mission over the S-300 sites in the Aksai Chin. This time the goal was different. There were to be no strikes on those SAM sites yet. Instead, the perimeter of the defences set up CAF Colonel Feng were being tested. It was anticipated that he would have learnt from his last mistake and closed the gap on the southern approaches to the missile sites after the previous strikes, making another strike through the same route extremely suicidal. Even with the element of surprise, the previous strike had led to the loss of three Jaguars including that of the Squadron commander, who had ejected over enemy territory and presumable been captured.

No. The current effort was not going to give Chinese anti-air battery commanders the satisfaction of redeeming themselves in Feng’s eyes. Fact of the matter was that the IAF could not spend the war playing a game of chess against the CAF and its air defences over Tibet. The ground war needed IAF participation if the hopes of the Indian Army were to be realized. While providing support at the front was chaotic, riddled with losses and to little actual gain, the CAF Air defences were playing hell with the IAF effort to provide battlefield interdiction in the Aksai Chin. The answer was not go into a slugging match with the CAF but rather to simply bypass them. If the Chinese Army could force the Indian XXXIII Corps to divert forces away from its succeeding offensive in the Chumbi valley by invading Bhutan from a position of advantage, the IAF could do the equivalent. Instead of fighting the CAF ground batteries head on while they were concentrated, they would force them to spread out trying to cover a dozen holes and in turn end up exposing a hundred more. Initiative was the name of the game now. The CAF held it, the IAF wanted it, and was planning to take it...

“There’s the lake. Changing vector. Come to heading two-two-nine, maintain altitude. Out.” The strike team leader said quietly over the R/T as the flight changed heading to come to a northern direction. They flew west of Rudok and now headed east of Lanak-La, all the time flying over Chinese controlled airspace.

“There’s probably some folks down there looking up at the engine noise and wondering whether we are friendly or not....” the S/C’s WSO observed from the back seat of the aircraft.
“The commies have most of their radar directed stuff near the fronts and near crucial rear area nodes. They just don’t have the equipment or manpower to man the whole of Tibet’s passes and roads. Once we break into the Taklamakan Desert, we will be exposed for the final run.” The S/C replied.

“Noted sir.” The WSO looked up to see the half moon beginning to show up even as the S/C navigated using his NVGs. “Great. The moon’s out. That will make our silhouettes easier to spot...”
“Hmmm. Nothing we can do about that now.” The S/C replied back matter-of-factly.
“Yeah” was the reply from the backseat.

The WSO looked sideways to see the moonlight glistening over the upper wing surfaces of the other three Jaguars flying next to them in level arrow formation. The Matra Magic missiles on the upper wing rails were clearly visible along with the drop tanks. The other munitions were just a mass of dark under the wings. Several minutes of flight time later, the silence was broken once again:
“Breaking horizon in five...”

The two flights of four Jaguars each broke into the cold flat plains of the massive Taklamakan Desert inside northern Tibet and left the massive Himalayan peaks suddenly behind them. The aircraft were now exposed to radar batteries, and all eight aircraft screamed to ultra-low level within seconds of changing vector towards the west now.

This is what the Jaguars were built to do: deep penetration at low levels. The aircraft had enough endurance to haul heavy loads deep into enemy airspace at extremely low levels and still have the fuel to come back. Ever wonder why the Matra-Magic missiles were put on the upper-wing rails?

“Final waypoint in three minutes! All Wissos: arm weapons and standby. We are rolling in...” the S/C said over his voice comms while still looking through the front of the cockpit via his helmet mounted NVGs. The flat plain of the high altitude desert in the moonlight was an awe inspiring sight seen at nine-hundred kilometres an hour by the Jaguar pilots. The flight of eight Jaguars now spread into a line abreast formation of two sections of four while the eight WSOs were now busy arming weapons release for their CBUs.

They would only get one pass at this...

Bala Vignesh · Post by **Bala Vignesh** » 10 Dec 2010 16:56

i am gonna lose a finger or two now... Biting my nails so much out of curiosity... Eagerly awaiting your next post sir...

vivek_ahuja · Post by **vivek_ahuja** » 10 Dec 2010 17:03

HOTAN/HOTIEN AIRBASE
TAKLAMAKAN DESERT
NORTHERN TIBET
DAY 5 + 2015 HRS (L)

The airbase was buzzing with activity even in the darkness. The airbase had several unloading tarmac areas where the CAF transport fleet was actively busy in unloading supplies to be driven to the southern front via ground convoys and loading the sick and wounded soldiers to evacuation in mainland China. On the ground, three IL-76s stood on the eastern tarmac area while several Mi-17s and lighter transport aircraft were parked to the extreme western tarmac areas. In the central area, two Boeing 737 airliners from the Chinese airliner fleet were parked as they unloaded soldiers heading fresh to the front. the airbase was full lit as enemy action threat was minimal.

In the skies southwest of Hotien, two J-8IIs armed for air-to-air were now conducting mid-air refuelling ops with an H-6 tanker variant while on BARCAP duty for Hotien airbase. A hundred kilometres north, an KJ-2000 AWACS flew on radar picket duty for the BARCAP patrol, given the extremely limited nature of the J-8II radars...

“Phantom Flight: be advised. Two Juliet-Eighters to your eleven-o-clock high. Suggest low profile during ingress. Eagle-Eye out.” The Phalcon controller warned the Jaguar crews and it caused the S/C to look up through the cockpit glass to see a pitch black sky lit with stars and the moon. Of course he didn’t see the enemy aircraft, but then again, the response was reflexive.

“Low profile? Any lower and we will be into the desert sands!” the WSO chimed in from the backseat.
The S/C grunted and responded back: “Roger that!”

Then suddenly the ground cleared and Hotien was on the horizon, the airport lit up in brightly using floodlights in the cargo areas...
“Those ********. They are not even expecting enemy action! Look at that base: it’s as if they are doing peacetime operations!” One of the other Jaguar pilots responded over the R/T.

“We will change that!” the S/C replied before continuing: “Phantom-One to all elements. Rolling into final run. Remember, one pass only and we get the hell out of here. Phantom-Six and Seven, watch for the Juliet-Eighters at eleven-O-high. Out!”

The Chinese did get a few moments warning as the eight Jaguars now reached for several hundred feet of altitude to reach the bare minimum CBU release height and correct for target vector drift. On the ground, the airbase radars detected the eight inbounds and the sirens were sounded, sending the mass of confused soldiers and ground-crewmen running for cover. The crew in worst position were the pilots of the one IL-76 that had just taken off the runway on a return flight loaded with wounded soldiers in the rear. They began screaming for BARCAP support within seconds...

There was no time however, as the first six Jaguars screamed over the well lit runway even before the first anti-air guns had opened up, releasing two dozen CBU units within a second of each other. The results were devastating as the entire Hotien tarmac area suddenly exploded within a mass of spark filled carpet and punctuated with orange fireballs. The two IL-76s on the ground were turned into smouldering scraps of orange-yellow glow and the control tower was a mass of blazing fires. The Mi-17s and the other airliner on the ground were also turned into funeral pyres by the explosions. Several hundred Chinese lives were lost within those few seconds and Hotien airbase was destroyed.

Phantom-Six and Seven were tasked for anti-air, and they immediately latched on to the slowly lumbering IL-76 that was hopelessly in front of them like a huge sitting target. The pilots didn’t even bother with missiles. Several fly-bys with cannon rounds left the two port engines on fire and the starboard wing broke into two under the structural strain, several human shapes were seen falling from the aircraft as the IL-76 loaded with Chinese wounded fell from the sky into the sands of the Taklamakan desert below, disappearing a couple of seconds later into a massive fireball...

The two-J-8IIs on BARCAP had by now terminated refuelling ops and began diving to low level over Hotien to engage the egressing Jaguars even as the skies were lit with the massive fires and smoke cloud now encompassing Hotien airbase. Phantom-Six fired off two Matra-Magic missiles followed by several other missiles from other Jaguars as the two Chinese pilots found themselves outnumbered four-to-one. One of the J-8s exploded a second later while the skies filled with flares launched by both sides. It didn’t last long. Phantom-Seven dispatched the other J-8II with burst of cannon fire in a lateral strafe, raking the side of the aircraft before it plunged into the desert sands, a dead man’s hand on the controls.

It was over within minutes. The eight Tusker Squadron Jaguars headed southeast once again towards the Himalayan peaks on the horizon, ending their brief foray over the Taklamakan Desert of northern Tibet. Behind them they left a heavily devastated CAF ground support node for the fighting on the Laddakh front...

vivek_ahuja · Post by **vivek_ahuja** » 10 Dec 2010 17:13

THE INDIAN AEROSPACE COMMAND NODE
BANGALORE
DAY 5 + 2215 HRS (L)

Within hours of the strike, two of the S-300 batteries in the Sod-Plains area of Laddakh were seen to be dismantling. Their ground convoys were heading east attempting to close the gap exposed by the Tuskers Squadron and ended up reducing the cross-coverage between their remaining systems over the Aksai Chin area. All of this happened under the watchful eyes of the satellites in the Indian Aerospace Command Node, collaborating with the ISRO Satellite Centre people. The Air Marshal observing the images in real time walked over to the nearest phone and called the Western Air Command:

“That did it Sandeep. We are seeing them...they are rolling east now. Give my regards to your boys in the Tuskers...yeah, we will keep you updated on where they are headed...”

manish.rastogi · Post by **manish.rastogi** » 10 Dec 2010 18:20

i bet getting over drug addiction would be easier than waiting for your posts.....!!!vivek sir.....that was awesome!!!i am speechless!!!

Bala Vignesh · Post by **Bala Vignesh** » 10 Dec 2010 18:21

manish.rastogi wrote:i bet getting over drug addiction would be easier than waiting for your posts.....!!!vivek sir.....that was awesome!!!i am speechless!!!

Second that... The rush is just too much...

Singha · Post by **Singha** » 10 Dec 2010 18:44

highest grade of afghan white powder Sire...you want to roll in it...sleep in it...live for it!

Rupesh · Post by **Rupesh** » 11 Dec 2010 06:07

Wow !!!

Thank You saar

Sidhant · Post by **Sidhant** » 11 Dec 2010 07:47

Vivek Sir, simply awesome.... Your writing style is amazing... Eagerly waiting for next installment...