Baptism Under Fire: Anti Aircraft Artillery in India Pakistan War 1965

By Col Mandeep Singh

The Second India Pakistan War of 1965 ended in a clear victory for India not only thwarted Pakistan’s designs of annexing Kashmir but annexed large tract of Pakistani territory and inflicted heavy damage on Pakistani War machine. If there was one aspect in which Pakistan redeemed itself, it was the role played by Pakistan Air Force- a much smaller force taking on a numerically superior IAF. Both Air Forces suffered heavy losses. IAF in terms of number and PAF in terms of higher attrition rate. What is generally ignored and overlooked is that in this war of attrition, AAA played a pivotal role. Of the 43 PAF aircraft lost during the war, 25 were to AAA against 17 shot down in air to air combat by IAF. Similarly, Indian Air Force lost 69 aircraft during the war, of these 35 were lost on ground to PAF air raids. What is of interest is that of the 34 lost in air, 15 aircraft were lost to PAF in air combat and 10 were shot down by Pak AAA. In addition, at least two IAF were lost when they crashed on the way back to base after being hit by Pak AAA ie more than one third of IAF losses were to AAA. This is the story of the unsung heroes of AAA who played a key role in the War of 1965.

• Language: English
• Publisher: VIJ Books (India) Pty Ltd
• Release date: May 1, 2017
• ISBN: 9789386457134

Book preview

Introduction

AAA predates the advent of aircraft as the first use of guns against aerial targets was during the Franco-Prussian War in 1878 when the German 2 Pounder were used against French Balloons but it was not till 1915 that the first military aircraft was shot down on September 30, 1915 by Private Radoje Ljutovac of the Serbian Army using a slightly modified Turkish cannon. Ljutovac engaged one of the three enemy aircraft approaching the Serbian town of Kragujevac, managing to draw first blood for AAA. The aircraft crashed in the city and both pilots died from their injuries¹.

The First World War saw extensive use of aircraft in combat role as a result of which Anti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA) came on its own. Even as the period after the Great War saw a decline in the fortunes of AAA due to budgetary constraints, progress in AAA weaponry and gunnery continued mainly because the devastating effects of air power had been experienced during the Great War, not the least by Great Britain.

In the inter war period, Air Defence of Great Britain (ADGB) was created as a Royal Air Force Command in 1925 which was the first time the term ‘Air Defence’ was probably used² though AAA and ‘Ack-Ack’ remained in popular use well into the 1950’s. The Inter-War years also saw the foundations of AA gunnery being laid and the AAA tactics being firmed up. Great Britain had established an AA Experimental Section during the war which had accumulated a lot of data during the war. After extensive analysis and studies, the two volume Textbook of Anti-Aircraft Gunnery was published in 1924-25³. This was the first attempt to institutionalize the craft of AA Gunnery. The introduction of Vickers 3.7" Heavy AA Gun was another important development during this period as it could take on high flying bombers, till then way beyond the reach of smaller caliber AA guns. In 1931, Bofors introduced the legendary 40mm L/60 AA Gun which was to become the mainstay of AAA in most of the countries around the world, including India.

1939 saw the World plunge into another World War when Nazi Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939. Japan was the Eastern pivot of the Axis Powers. AAA saw rapid advancements including in South Asia as the aircraft had become a potent weapon by now and there was a serious need to counter it.

The Beginning in Indian Sub Continent

The threat from Japan was the reason Air Defence Artillery came into being in India in 1939 when a small number of Indian troops were initially trained to use 3-inch AA guns. This was ostensibly to counter any threat which may emerge from the Japanese advance in South East Asia. These gunners formed part of the anti-aircraft batteries of the Hong Kong and Singapore Royal Artillery (HKSRA) as the initial focus was to contain the Japanese threat in the Far East. Later the Indian troops were trained on the Bofors 40 mm L/60 guns and began to be assigned to Indian artillery formations. In the early 1940s, several anti-aircraft units and training establishments were raised throughout the country. The AA units were formed with manpower from existing Artillery establishments as also by milking some select infantry regiments. As the manpower was still inadequate to meet the ever increasing demands, direct recruitment to AA Branch of Artillery was started in July 1940 and AA and Coast Defence Wings were established at Karachi for training of Indian Officers, JCOs and NCOs in the AA techniques⁴. There is an interesting reason why the Coastal Artillery and AAA shared the same training establishment. The tradition dates back to World War I when US Coast Artillery Corps served as the foundation of its AA Branch⁵.

The British War Office decided in August 1940 to create a separate AA branch of Indian Artillery on the concept of Territorial Army. This was however to be limited to Heavy AA units for static tasks and not for field formations. On 14 September 1940, One Indian AA Technical Training Battery was raised at Colaba, Bombay. It included nucleus of the first AA unit of Indian Artillery - the ‘R’ (Royal) HAA Regiment⁶. In January 1941, Light AA unit called the ‘U’ LAA Regiment was raised at Malir Cantt (Now in Pakistan) and was equipped with L/60 guns. In April 1941, both units were re-named and thus ‘R’ HAA became 1 Indian HAA Regiment IA and ‘U’ LAA became 1 Indian LAA Regiment IA. The main difference between the role of HAA and LAA Regiments was that while the HAA Regiment were for static tasks against High Altitude Bombers, the LAA units were raised for mobile role against low flying fighter aircraft. Most, if not all, HAA Regiments were TA Regiments. The LAA Regiments were integral to Artillery Brigades of Infantry and Armoured Divisions, some of them being organized as Anti-Tank/ Anti-Aircraft Regiments.

By 1942, the air defence branch had grown considerably with a total of eighteen anti-aircraft regiments, nine each of HAA Regiments and Light AA Regiments. There were grouped under four AA Brigades. Besides these 18 Regiments, AAA had one Independent HAA Battery and two Independent LAA Batteries. By the end of 1944, AAA had a total of thirty three air defence artillery units making India Command the second most densely protected area- second only to Great Britain⁷. One interesting feature of Indian AAA was that the Infantry Divisions on standard MT(Mechanical Transport) establishment had an integral LAA Regiment with fifty-four light anti-aircraft guns while some had an additional composite AT/ AA Regiment with two Anti Tank and Anti Aircraft Batteries each. The Indian LAA Regiments performed well during the war with three Indian LAA Regiments being awarded with Mention-in-Desptaches during their employment in East Bengal, Assam and Rangoon. A total of three MC, one MBE and seven IDSM were awarded to AA Artillery during the Second World War.

At the end of Second World War, a large number of AA Regiments were disbanded or converted to Field Artillery regiments or even to regular Infantry Regiments. At the time of partition in 1947, in the division of assets between the two Armies, India’s share was only two LAA Regiments with Pakistan getting two HAA and two LAA Regiments. However India was to convert one Field Artillery Regiment to HAA Regiment (making it 2+1 AA Regiments) while Pakistan was to convert one HAA Regiment to Field Regiment and one LAA Regiment to Anti-Tank Regiment (ie 1+1 AA Regiments)⁸. The LAA Regiments that came to India were 26 LAA and 27 LAA Regiments, and were retained as such- 26 LAA Regiment had been raised as 2 LAA regiment in 1941. The equipment required to convert one Field Regiment to HAA Regiment was available with India but rather than convert a Field Regiment, India raised a new HAA Regiment in 1948. The reasons for not doing so are not clear. Most likely, Artillery Directorate (the controlling Directorate for AAA also at the Army Headquarters) may not have been too keen to shed one Field Regiment hence opted for raising of a new Regiment.

The two AA Regiments that survived in to Pakistan Army were re-numbered and designated as 5 HAA Regiment (erstwhile 18 HAA Regiment) and 6 LAA Regiment (erstwhile 25 LAA Regiment).

Pakistan also got One LAA Battery which was later amalgamated into a new raising (14 LAA Battery of 13 LAA Regiment of Pakistan Army AD)⁹ . The two oldest AA Establishment in India, i.e. I Training Battery and ‘R’ HAA Regiment had gone to Pakistan. Of the AA Regiments, 5 Heavy Anti Aircraft Regiment which went to Pakistan was the most technical and sophisticated unit of its time, being the only one with radar controlled guns (3.7" Radar Controlled Guns with a covering range upto 18 kms)¹⁰.

Pakistan Artillery (of which AAA was a part) was initially known as Army Group of Royal Pakistan Artillery (AGRPA) and was designated as Royal Pakistan Artillery on March 23, 1956¹¹.

The Formative Years

The first task given to the AA Regiments post Independence was to assist in maintaining law and order in wake of the riots following the partition. The role of 26 LAA Regiment stands out in this, deployed as they were at Delhi Railway Station and were placed under 1 Armoured Division. The unit was used to escort trains from Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station to Atari on the Indo-Pak border. Ensuring safe passage of refugees, the Regiment excelled in face of daunting odds and two of its personnel viz Major Gurcharan Singh and Naib Subedar Dhan Singh were awarded Ashoka Chakra Class II (Now called the Kirti Chakra) for their act of valour¹². No sooner had the riots brought under control that Pakistan invaded Kashmir in an attempt to annex it by force. While the Kashmir conflict was still raging, India raised three more AA Regiments viz 19 HAA Regiment, 45 LAA and 46 LAA Regiments in April 1948, taking the total number of AA Regiments to five¹³. None of the units however participated in the first war after independence as the PAF kept away and even IAF was used for logistic support only. However, the Indian AA was put on alert and deployed for protection of the static tasks including the national capital. Pakistan AAA participated in the war albeit in direct firing role and not for air defence duties. During May 1948, the 3.7 inch Heavy Anti Aircraft guns of 5 Heavy Anti Aircraft Regiment, Pakistan Army and 40 mm Anti Aircraft guns of 6 Light Anti Aircraft Regiment, Pakistan Army were employed in ground role to augment the fire power of field Artillery. At places these Anti Aircraft guns proved more effective than the field artillery guns as direct firing weapons. In Pandu and Chota Kazi Nag Sector, four Anti Aircraft guns were deployed besides Medium and field artillery while two Heavy Anti Aircraft guns and four Light Anti Aircraft guns were deployed in direct firing role in Uri and Akhnur Sectors¹⁴.

In 1949, India enacted the new Territorial Army legislation which paved the way for raising of new AA Regiments(TA). This led to raising of four Heavy AA Regiments (TA) using the World War II vintage 3.7 HAA guns lying in Ordnance Depots. These were 103 HAA, 104 HAA, 105 HAA and 107 HAA Regiments(TA). Interestingly, they were raised as HAA Regiments not because of any threat assessment but only because there was a ready stock of these guns available in ordnance depots. This was followed by raising of three LAA Regiments (TA) in 1951. These were 126 LAA, 127 LAA and 128 LAA Regiments (TA). There is an interesting anecdote about these raisings also. Apparently, UK had demanded return of its World War II stocks of AA guns especially 3.7 HAA guns and as there were no more HAA guns available, the units were raised as LAA Regiments. Even otherwise, there was a need to do away with HAA guns as they were not found to be suitable in the jet age with the enemy aircraft getting faster and more maneuverable beyond the capability of the lumbering heavy guns. The ideal guns were thought to be in the range on 20 to 40mm. Hence a shift away from HAA guns. The Regiments raised hereafter were all LAA Regiments.

One major development during this time was the raising of 3 AA Brigade by Pakistan Army which was placed directly under General Headquarters¹⁵. The Brigade Headquarters were to coordinate all AD functions in the Pakistan Army. This was much before India raised any AA formation headquarters of its own.

With the induction of jet combat aircraft in the Sub-continental Air Forces, there was a need to have a re-look at the AA defences and upgrade the AAA to take on the emerging threats. As the mainstay of Indian AAA was still the 40mm L/60 Bofors AA Gun, a search was on to find a radar controlled AA gun to equip the AA Regiments. While the choice of gun was simpler as Bofors had already developed the 40mm L/70 AA gun, the search for a suitable fire control radar took a little more time. In the end four vendors were shortlisted – Contraves of Switzerland, Arenco of Sweeden, Aldebaran of Italy and CSF of France. After extensive trials during 1960-61, Radar Superfledermaus of Orleikon Contarves was selected to be used with 40mm L/70 guns. An agreement to produce the radars under license by BEL was signed in June 1961 with the production to commence by 1963¹⁶.

India signed an agreement with Switzerland in 1962 for development of intermediate range surface to air missile, codenamed Project Indigo¹⁷. Switzerland had a long history of developing and perfecting weapons including missile systems and as a ‘neutral’ country, an obvious choice for a non-aligned country for weapon development.

Before any major developments could take place in AAA, China invaded India in October 1962. During 1962 Sino Indian War, a total of six AD Artillery units were employed in Assam/Bengal in AA as well as non AA role. As there were no AA Regiments for the mountainous sectors, the LAA Regiments with Infantry Divisions were detached and deployed in the East¹⁸. 107 HAA Regiment (TA) at Calcutta was also moved to Tezpur and was used in non-AA role.

The war changed the strategic scenario as India. Shocked by the blatant Chinese aggression, India turned towards the West especially US for military aid including an Air Defence umbrella. US occupied with the Cuba Missile crisis did not respond immediately and by the time the US response could be firmed up, Chinese had declared a ceasefire. As a SEATO and CENTO member, Pakistan must have been a factor in the decision making process by US. However, with containing communism being one of the aims, US reached out with a proposal of a Military Aid Package(MAP). The initial aid provided was modest: military advisors, ammunition, rifles, mortars and airlift support²⁰. On November 19, Nehru wrote to Kennedy for a more specific aid for an Air Defence umbrella – to include ‘twelve squadrons of all weather supersonic fighters’ and a modern radar cover. Before US could even consider the request China declared an unilateral ceasefire. Nevertheless, as a follow up action a US military mission toured India and recommended joint Air Defence Exercises. The first such exercise took place in November 1963 and was rightly described as a precedent setting. The US/UK/Indian exercise (SHIKSHA) was aimed to (1) augment, exercise, and improve the Indian air defense system, (2) train Indian air defense personnel, and (3) familiarize US and UK personnel with operating conditions in India. One USAF fighter squadron, two mobile USAF radar units, and one RAF fighter interceptor squadron participated in the exercise with Australia providing some communication personnel and aircraft¹⁹. Following an outcry in the media against US military personnel being stationed on Indian soil, phase two of the exercise never took place. The Exercise however brought out some glaring deficiencies in the Air Defence setup – more notably the absence of a radar cover. In order to help setup an effective AD system, US provided Star Sapphire Radar systems with Project Indigo early warning communications system as a gift to be used on the northern borders