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OPERATION KIPPER

OP KIPPER NEW_edited.jpg

After capture of Jhangar by raiders in Dec 1947, enemy advanced towards Naushera with an aim to capture it & progress operations towards Jammu. In Jan 1948 enemy mustered their resources around Naushera & concentrated their Forces in Kot & adjoining areas to threaten Naushera. Op KIPPER was launched by 50 (I) Para Brigade to capture Kot & eliminate the threat to Naushera.​ 

                             

                                         Own ORBAT

     50 (I) PARA BDE​

                                       Under Command

​​     2/2 PUNJAB                          3 (PARA) MARATHA LIGHT INFANTRY

     01 x Coy 1 RAJPUT                 01 x Coy 3 (PARA) RAJPUT

     Machine Gun Pl 1 MAHAR                                 

                          In Support​

     01 x Sqn 7 CAV                      

     01 x Bty 22 Mountain Regiment

     01 x Bty 11 Field Regiment

                                             

                              ​The Plan

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  • 2/2 PUNJAB to capture Pt 3227 & Kot.

  • 3 (PARA) MARATHA LIGHT INFANTRY to capture Pt 3284, Pathardi &  Uparla Dandesar.

  • To deceive the enemy, armoured elements & patrols in large numbers operated West of Naushera Tawi to make enemy believe that 50 (I) Para Brigade is advancing towards Jhangar.

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Execution​​​

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  • 3 (PARA) MARATHA LIGHT INFANTRY displaying immense valour, captured areas of Pt 3284, Pathardi & Uparla Dandesar on 31 Jan 1948 under extreme circumstances. Enemy launched counter attacks which were beaten back bravely by the gallant Marathas.

  • 2/2 PUNJAB captured Pt 3227 under heavy opposition on 01 Feb 1948 however Kot was captured without any resistance. Enemy counter attacked & captured Kot. Under heavy enemy fire, 2/2 PUNJAB tactically withdrew to Pt 3227. The operations recommenced & with the help of artillery, aerial support & additional reinforcements, Kot was swiftly recaptured by own Forces on the same day.​

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Implications

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  • Completion of Op KIPPER facilitated launch of operations to recapture Jhangar.

  • Feature of Kot provided depth to Naushera, enhancing the defensibility of the garrison.

BATTLE OF NAUSHERA

NOWSHERA_edited.jpg

Battle of Naushera was fought by 50 (I) Para Brigade to blunt the massive enemy attack on Tain Dhar and Kot since they were the most dominating heights overlooking Naushera.

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Own ORBAT​

Under Command

​​ 1 PATIALA                                1 RAJPUT

 2/2 PUNJAB                              3 (PARA) MARATHA LIGHT INFANTRY

 3 (PARA) RAJPUT​

In Support

​02 x Battery 22 MOUNTAIN REGIMENT           

01 x Squadron 7 CAVALRY

01 x Battery 11 FIELD REGIMENT

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The Plan

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  • Brig Mohd Usman received information about a massive raider attack building up towards Naushera from two sides simultaneously.

  • The plan was to defend Kot & Tain Dhar at all costs. Losing these features would have made defences of Naushera untenable.

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Execution

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  • Enemy launched well coordinated attack on Tain Dhar on 06 Feb 1948 with a Force of approximately 15,000 raiders.

  • Platoons of 1 RAJPUT on Tain Dhar repeatedly broke up enemy assaults.

  • Naik Jadunath Singh distinguished himself in this operation & was awarded Param Vir Chakra (Posthumous).

  • Own 25 pounders & 3.7 inch howitzers spread disorder & scattered the enemy.

  • Total hostiles killed were more than 2000.

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Implications

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  • Raiders lost the will to fight after this massive beating.

  • The garrison of Naushera was finally safe enough to press on with operations towards Jhangar.

BATTLE OF JHANGAR

PHASE 1 : OPERATION BHARATPUR

OP BHARATPUR NEW1_edited.jpg

Op BHARATPUR was launched in the second stage of operations to recapture Jhangar. The operation was a double thrust against Ambli Dhar & Kaman Gosha Gala.

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​​   Own ORBAT

        50 (I) PARA BDE                                     19 INFANTRY BDE

                                     Under Command                                  

​​        2 JAT                                                   2/2 PUNJAB

        1 RAJPUT                                              4 DOGRA

                         In Support

​        01 x Bty 11 Field Regiment

        01 x Bty 22 Mountain Regiment​

                                         

                              The Plan

​​

  • 50 (I) Para Brigade to capture Ambli Dhar (Northern Axis).

  • 19 Infantry Brigade to capture Kaman Gosha Gala (Southern Axis).

  • To mislead the enemy, a Company of 2 JAT was shown to move towards the village of Bhata in the North.

 

Execution​​​

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  • 1 RAJPUT valiantly captured Pt 2916 & subsequently 4 DOGRA & 2/2 PUNJAB were assigned to capture Kaman Gosha Gala. Both its features Pt 2999 & Pt 3574 were captured on 01 Mar 1948.

  • 1 RAJPUT launched attack on Bump Number 1 near Katora Khori on 05 Mar 1948 & captured it  inflicting  large  number of casualties on   the   enemy. 1 RAJPUT later returned to Naushera.

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Implications

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  • Enemy pulled back from Ambli Dhar & Kaman Gosha Gala & moved to Pir Thil Naka (now KDL 546).

  • Operations to recapture Jhangar were now poised for the ultimate thrust.

PHASE 2 : OPERATION VIJAY

OP VIJAY NEW_edited.jpg

Op VIJAY was executed meticulously under the Command of Maj Gen Kalwant Singh, GOC 26 Inf Div, for recapture of Jhangar after successful defence at Naushera.

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​​​                                       Own ORBAT

         50 (I) PARA BDE                                    19 INFANTRY BDE

                                    Under Command                                   

​​         3 (PARA) MARATHA LIGHT INFANTRY           1 RAJPUT

         3 (PARA) RAJPUT                                   4 DOGRA

         1 PATIALA                                             1 KUMAON

         Machine Gun Pl 1 MAHAR​

In Support

​         01 x Sqn 7 CAV                                   

         01 x Bty 11 Field Regiment

         01 x Bty 22 Mountain Regiment

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The Plan

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  • Two Brigades to advance, with 19 Infantry Brigade on the north of road Naushera - Jhangar & 50 (I) Para Brigade on the south of the road.

  • 7 CAV to move along the road.

  • Road Naushera - Jhangar to be boundary between both Brigades.

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Execution​​​

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  • 50 (I) Para Brigade’s advance progressed as per plan, despite facing heavy resistance at Pir Thil Naka (KDL 546) & Susloti Dhar (FDL 544).

  • 19  Infantry  Brigade  progressed  operations  along  Tain  Dhar  & captured Gaikot Forest by 17 Mar 1948.

  • 50 (I) Para Brigade captured Pir Matalsi (KDL 541) on 18 Mar 1948, paving the way for 7 CAV to enter Jhangar.

  • 3 (PARA)  MARATHA  LIGHT  INFANTRY  captured  Pir  Satwan (KDL 538) by 28 Mar 1948, thus completely securing Jhangar.

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Implications

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  • Recapture of Jhangar drove a wedge between Kotli & Mirpur thus slowing operations of enemy & relieving pressure on own Forces.

  • Own lines of communication towards Rajouri & Naushera were secured successfully.

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