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Battle of Tiger Hill

The Battle of Tiger Hill encompasses the battles fought in and around the peak of Tiger Hill between the Indian Army and Pakistan from the final week of May till second week of June 1999, during the Kargil War. The battle, with the concomitant battle for the adjoining peak of Tololing, culminated in Indian forces capturing Tiger Hill (Point 5060). The Tiger Hill area, including Point 5100, is to the west of Tololing. Peaks in Tololing include Point 5140 and Point 4875 and others.[6][7][8][9]

Battle of Tiger Hill
Part of Kargil War

Indian soldiers during the Kargil War
DateMid June – 8 July 1999
Location
Dras, Ladakh, India
34°29′00″N 75°39′38″E / 34.48333°N 75.66056°E / 34.48333; 75.66056
Result Indian Victory [1][2]
Belligerents
 Indian Army  Pakistan Army
Commanders and leaders

Balwan Singh  (WIA)

Yogendra Singh Yadav (WIA)		 Karnal Sher Khan †
Units involved
8 Sikh
18 Grenadier regiment
2 Naga regiment
Regiment of Artillery
8 Infantry[3]
Ghatak Platoon		 5 Northern Light Infantry
Strength
~3,000 soldiers Unknown
Casualties and losses
34 killed [4] 27 killed [5]

Battle

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Tiger Hill was held by elements of the Pakistan Army's Northern Light Infantry. In late May 1999, the 8th Battalion, Sikh Regiment (8 Sikh) had attempted an assault on Tiger Hill, but were repulsed by heavy small arms fire. Poorly coordinated further assaults initiated without adequate artillery support failed under fire from an entrenched enemy. Unable to press the attack, the soldiers dug in and surrounded the hill. 192 Mountain Brigade assumed command of the operations on Tiger Hill in late June. The 18th Battalion, The Grenadiers (18 Grenadiers), fresh from participating in the victory at Tololing, were then assigned to 192 Mountain Brigade.[3]

The final assault on Tiger Hill began on 3 July at 17:15. 22 batteries from the Regiment of Artillery, including multi-barrelled rocket launchers, pounded enemy positions on the peak for 13 continuous hours, providing covering fire for the infantry advancing up the mountain. The 2nd Battalion, Naga Regiment (2 Naga) advanced on the right flank and 8 Sikh advanced on the left. They used unexpected, and therefore difficult, avenues of approach, maintaining the element of surprise. 200 men from Alpha and Charlie Companies of 18 Grenadiers, along with the battalion's Ghatak platoon, advanced up the rear side of the mountain, a 1,000-foot vertical cliff which the Grenadiers climbed up in 12 hours using fixed ropes, in the freezing rain. They almost made it to the top before the Pakistanis atop the peak spotted them and opened heavy fire, stalling their attack. Sensing the loss of initiative, Maj. Ravinder Singh of 8 Sikh launched a daring attack. He and a detachment of 200 soldiers climbed up the side of the adjoining Western Ridge, splitting the Pakistani defense on the night of 5 July. The group held off several counterattacks. Most of the Sikh soldiers attacked without cold weather gear, and many of the wounded died from exposure. After three more days of heavy fighting, the bold plan paid off, and 18 Grenadiers resumed the attack on the invaders from two directions. 18 Grenadiers seized the 16,700-foot (5,062 m) Tiger Hill Top on the morning of 8 July.[3]

Indian Army launched eight attacks on Karnal Sher Khan's position to capture the strategic posts. However, Khan and his men were able to defend those strategic posts.[10] On 5 July 1999, the Indian army launched another attack and surrounded his posts with two battalions. With heavy mortar fire, the Indian Army captured one of his posts. Karnal Sher Khan personally led a successful counter-attack and was able to re-capture the lost post. Despite shortage of ammunition and men, Khan was successful in forcing the Indian army to retreat. However, during the battle he was hit by machine gun fire and was killed in action.[11][12][13][10][14] Indian Army Brigadier M. P. S. Bajwa was impressed by the actions of Karnal Sher Khan and wrote to the government of Pakistan citing the bravery of the young officer.[15][16][17] Bajwa wrote a citation for Khan and placed it in his pocket while returning his body to the Pakistani officials. Khan's actions during the war were also vouched by his fellow Pakistani soldiers and Khan was posthumously awarded Pakistan's highest military honour, the Nishan-e-Haider.

Gren. Yogendra Singh Yadav of 18 Grenadiers was awarded the highest military honour of Republic of India, the Param Vir Chakra, for his actions during the battle.[18] Overall, Yadav suffered 17 bullet wounds and played a major role in capture of Tiger Hill.[19]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Wilson Prabhakar, Peter (2003). Wars, Proxy-wars and Terrorism: Post Independent India. Mittal Publications. p. 142. ISBN 9788170998907.
  2. ^ Lavoy, Peter R., ed. (2009). Asymmetric Warfare in South Asia: The Causes and Consequences of the Kargil Conflict. Cambridge University Press. p. 190. ISBN 9781139482820.
  3. ^ a b c Acosta, Marcus P. "High Altitude Warfare: The Kargil Conflict and the Future" (PDF). Naval Postgraduat School, US Navy. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2020.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. ^ https://www.deccanherald.com/india/battles-of-tololing-tiger-hill-proved-to-be-decisive-kargil-heroes-on-25th-anniversary-of-war-3091859
  5. ^ Dhar, Sushant Kumar. "BATTLE OF TIGER HILL" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 January 2024.
  6. ^ "Battle of Tiger Hill: Nation commemorates valour of Indian soldiers in Kargil conflict". India Today. 16 July 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  7. ^ "Kargil Vijay Diwas 2021: How brave Indian soldiers captured Tiger Hill". Financialexpress. 26 July 2021. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  8. ^ "When the 'tricolour flapped in icy wind': How Indian Army won Kargil's Tiger Hill". Hindustan Times. 26 July 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  9. ^ Shukla, Aishwarya (13 July 2019). "20 years of Kargil: How India took back Tiger Hill from the enemy". Deccan Chronicle. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  10. ^ a b "Lion of Kargil- Captain Karnal Sher Khan 18th martyrdom anniversary today". The Nation. 5 July 2017.
  11. ^ "Martyrdom anniversary of Captain Karnal Sher observed". 92News. Archived from the original on 27 April 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2020. Despite facing all odds, he led a counter-attack and re-captured the lost parts of his post. But during the course, he was hit by the machine-gun fire and embraced "martyrdom" at the same post.
  12. ^ "Captain Col Sher Khan remembered on 19th death anniversary". Daily Times. 6 July 2018.
  13. ^ "CAPT KARNAL SHER KHAN (SHAHEED)". Pakistan Army Museum. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  14. ^ "Captain Sher Khan". Pakistan Army Official. Pakistan Army. Archived from the original on 24 August 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
  15. ^ "Naughty, Haneef, Robin and Sher Khan: A tale of four Kargil heroes". The Times of India.
  16. ^ "Double promotion for Kargil war hero Satpal Singh who was manning traffic in Punjab town". 26 July 2019 – via The Economic Times.
  17. ^ "Battle of Tiger Hill: 'Vajpayee announced victory in advance, would've been embarrassing if we failed'". Hindustan Times. 20 July 2017.
  18. ^ "Seven Hour Battle that won India, Tiger Hill". Bharat Rakshak. 18 May 2005. Archived from the original on 21 August 2009.
  19. ^ Bisht, Rachana (2009). The Brave: Param Vir Chakra Stories. Penguin Books. p. Yoginder singh Yadav Ghatak. ISBN 9789351188056.

[1]

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  1. ^ "The capture of Tiger Hill: a first-hand account". Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. 26 July 2002.
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