Artillery : the Battle Winning Factor in Kargil

Major highlights of all actions in Operation Vijay was comprehensive destruction of enemy defences and suppression of enemy artillery forcing them to vacate their positions leaving behind a large cache of arms, ammunition, equipment and stores. The suppression of enemy small arms and artillery fire reduced our own casualties considerably. The role of Artillery in the battlefield, as the destructive and decisive arm was indeed written in golden letters in Operation Vijay.

India’s success in Operation Vijay was not achieved without major sacrifices. Three officers and 32 soldiers of the Regiment of Artillery laid down their lives in the true spirit of their motto, Izzat-O-Iqbal (‘Honour and Glory’). Pakistan lost an estimated 69 officers and 772 other ranks (OR), mainly from the Northern Light Infantry ( NLI). Over 1,000 Pakistani soldiers were wounded.

The young company commanders and Forward Observation Officers led from the front by personal example and thus motivated their troops to perform outstanding acts of gallantry. For this exceptional and exemplary valour and grit in heroic battles in Kargil, the Chief of the Army Staff honoured 11 Infantry battalions, three units of Regiment of Artillery namely 141 Field Regiment, 197 Field Regiment and 108 Medium Regiment and two Reconnaissance and Observation Squadrons of Army Aviation with special award of Unit Citations.

By honouring these Regiments the Army acknowledged the vital part played by all the units of the Regiment of Artillery in fight to re- capture Indian territory from Pakistani intruders. Regardless of the controversy over its induction, the 155mm/ 39 Bofors FH77B howitzer performed remarkably well and was mainstay in the operations. Its maximum range of 30 plus km enabled deep strikes on enemy gun positions, administrative installations, ammunition dumps, and headquarters, besides neutralising forward positions held by the intruders. By moving these guns, along with 105mm field guns, 130mm and 120mm mortars and 122mm BM-21 Grad Multi Barrel Rocket Launchers (MBRLs) to forward gun positions for ‘direct’ fire on enemy localities, literally under the nose of the enemy and thereby inviting enemy retaliation onto themselves, the gunners exhibited great courage in battle. The gun positions came under heavy enemy counterbombardment from time to time, often causing casualties. But the gunners there stood fast and continued to respond to the requirements of the Battery Commanders and Observation Posts. It was unique in the history of 286 Medium Regiment that all its 18 guns barrels wore out their life within 25 days since Operation Vijay commenced. They continued to fire as extensively with newer guns that they received from 163 Medium Regiment while the operations were continuing.

The Kargil conflict once again established that artillery firepower plays a major part in achieving victory on the modern battlefield. Accurate artillery fire reduces the enemy’s defences to rubble. Sustained artillery fire gradually wears