Dras 3D Model
This is the 3D Model at Gun Hill; it is 40 feet by 20 feet in size model depicting the complete Drass Sector. It showcases all the major heights where the battles took place to include Point 4875 also called as Batra Top, the massive Tiger Hill, Tololing Top, Point 5140 also called as Gun Hill to name a few. You can also see the gun locations from where Artillery firing took place, the targets at which the Artillery guns fired at and the ranges at which the firing took place. At the centre of the 3D model, standing tall is the feature of Point 5140 which is now name as ‘Gun Hill’.
Artillery had a major role to play in all the battles of OPERATION VIJAY. Due to the immense contribution of Artillery in the Battle of Point 4875 (Situated to the left side of 3D Model), initially Point 4875 was renamed as ‘Gun Hill’. However, since Captain Vikram Batra had a remarkable and motivating role to play and later awarded Param Vir Chakra in the same battle, Point 4875 was later renamed as 'Batra Top'. Since then Point 5140 in the Drass Sector which also saw heavy Artillery shelling facilitating the capture of the feature was selected to be renamed as ‘Gun Hill’. The solemn rechristening ceremony for the same was held at Kargil War Memorial in the Drass Sector 29th Jul 2022.
Kindly take a moment here to have a detailed look at the 3D model and understand the difficult terrain and conditions at which the war fighting actually took place. The 3D model is an attempt to remind the visitors of the brave and gallant actions by Indian Army in the face of the enemy in the adverse situations. During the Kargil War, the Pakistani troops had occupied important heights along the features and the Indian troops had challenging and arduous task of evicting the enemy from all these locations while the enemy was located at a position of advantage. However, the zeal, vigour and bravery of Indian troops sustained over the enemy and they were successfully evicted out of all these features. For the next part of the audio script kindly position yourself behind the 3D model facing the 'Wall of Reminiscence'.
BATTLE BOARDS
Battle of Pt 5140
Success of Tololing though was a moral booster, but the task was only partially accomplished without capture of point 5140. The diversionary attack by 18 GARHWAL RIFLES and 2 RAJPUTANA RIFLES initially had failed. Finally a multi directional attack by 13 Jammu and Kashmir rifles, 1 NAGA and 18 GARHWAL RIFLES succeeded in capture of point 5140 on 20 Jun 1999. A total of 100 guns along with three multi barrel rocket launchers were deployed surrounding point 5140 from the Western and Eastern direction to rain steel on the mighty ridgeline called Tololing complex. The mighty BOFORS and 122 mm multi barrel rocket launchers were suitably deployed in the Drass bowl. The skill and prowess of the mighty gunners was in full display as Pakistani bunkers literally started biting dust. Brigadier A N Aul, then Commander, 56 Mountain Brigade swore by the telling effects of BOFORS as do Pakistani military historians who have commented that BOFORS instilled fear of Allah in the Pakistani troops. The artillery fire plan for the final assault on point 5140 was codenamed ‘Shatrunash’. It was a testimony to accurate and lethal fire power, that the assault was successful with minimum casualties as compared to earlier attempts by Indian troops. Enemy fled point 5140 leaving behind a large number of weapons and ammunition. At point 5140 a total of 26,000 rounds equivalent to 95 tons of TNT and 527 tons of steel were fired in a span of one night. The infantry troops suffered only three casualties in capture of point 5140. During ‘Operation Vijay’ the gunners proved their mettle time and again. From little rest to painful hand blisters at sub-zero temperatures of Drass and Kargil, they were relentless. To honour the stellar contribution of the gunners, point 5140 has been renamed as “Gun Hill”, an apt tribute indeed.
Battle of Tololing
Only Five Kms From The National Highway, It Was A Thorn Like No Other, Effectively Dominating The National Highway 1a, Impeding All Operational & Logistics Actions During Day Time. After Two Unsuccessful Attempts To Capture It, The Number Of Artillery Batteries Was Increased From 10 To 57 Fire Units In The Area Of Conflict. It Had Become Clear That Only Sustained Firepower Could Destroy The Sangars (Stone Bunkers) And Systematically Break The Pakistani Will To Fight. This Was The Genesis Of The Much Feared 100 Gun Concept On The Tooling Feature And The Beginning Of The End Of Pakistani Resistance. On 06 Jun 99, One Bofors Gun Of 108 Medium Regiment Brought Down Direct Fire On Bunker At Pt 4590. The Target Was Engaged From A Distance Of 5 Km And Was Completely Destroyed. Simultaneously 95 Gunners Of 197 Field Regiment Physically Lifted Each Piece Of 75/24 Mm Gun And Its Amn And Carried Over A Distance Of 6 Km And Engaged Eastern Face Of Tololing. A Total Of 114 Rounds Were Fired By The Gun.the First Coordinated Attack On Tooling Feature Commenced On Ni 12-13 Jun 99. Fire Plan 'nischaya Vijay' Was Executed For Capture Of Tooling With 20 Fire Units And A Rocket Battery. Major As Kasana Of 41 Field Regiment Showed Himself To Be An Examplary Gunner Officer Who Voluntreed To Continue With 2 Rajputana Rif After18 Greedier And Participated In Four Continuous Attack. Captain Mridul Kumar Singh Of 197 Field Regiment Who Was The Forward Observation Officer Finally Led The Attack Of 'c' Company Of Rajputana Rif To Tololing Top After Death Of Company Commander. The Ferocity Of Firepower Can Be Gauged From The Fact That A Total Of 26,000 Shells Containing 95 Tons Of Tnt And 527 Tons Of Steel Were Delivered On The Feature.
Battle of Tiger Hill
Tiger hill is a massive feature which effectively dominates the road to Leh. The feature overlooks the Mushkoh valley, Matayin bowl and Drass village. Tactical importance apart, it’s capture was to have a profound psychological effect on the nation’s psyche. The capture of the Tololing complex paved the way for assaults on the Tiger Hill from several fronts. The mother of all battles was streamed live across millions of television sets in the country. The Tiger Hill was isolated by 8 Sikh from North, East and South in the month of May and June. On night 3/4 July, 18 Grenadiers and 8 Sikh launched multi directional attack on Tiger Hill. Despite all odds, own troops advanced in treacherous terrain in adverse weather conditions on night 7/8 July, despite impregnable resistance, 18 Grenadiers captured the most dominating feature in Drass sector. 41 Field Regiment in direct support to 192 Mountain Brigade executed the fire plan ‘final blow’ for capture of Tiger Hill. Over a hundred guns delivered fierce fire assaults on the Tiger Hill. 1200 rounds of high explosive rained down on Tiger Hill in the space of five minutes causing large scale death and destruction. Brigadier Lakhwinder Singh, YSM, Commander, 8 Mountain Artillery Brigade, personally stood in the direct firing gun position to inspire the gunners and engaged the targets at a distance of 10 km. Due to this massive barrage, 18 Grenadiers, the heroes of Tiger Hill suffered much lesser casualties vis-a-vis earlier assaults and on 08 July 99 Tiger Hill was captured. Grenadier Yogender Singh Yadav of 18 Grenadiers was awarded with Param Vir Chakra for displaying most conspicuous courage, indomitable spirit, grit and determination under extreme difficult conditions beyond call of duty.
Battle of Point 4875
While the assault on tiger hill was underway, another battle was raging almost simultaneously further to it’s West at Point 4875, more popularly known as Batra top. Two of the four Param Vir Chakras awarded in ‘Op Vijay’ are for the battle of point 4875. Pakistani artillery observation post at Point 4875 was dominating the national highway and Drass valley. It was able to easily direct accurate artillery fire on convoys moving on this road and flying of own helicopters. Based on dispositions of enemy, jeopardise Point 4875 was divided into unit and sub unit objectives. The assault was launched on the night of 04 / 05 Jul 1999 . The dare devil act of our valiant from 17 JAT, 13 Jammu and Kashmir rifles, 2 NAGA, 12 MAHAR and soldiers 21 Para special forces ensured that the enemy ran for their lives. By 10 Jul 1999, Point 4875 was re-captured, thereby eliminating enemy domination on the national highway. Fire by 100 guns including 155 mm BOFORS preceded the assault on Point 4875 with an innovatively placed observation post officer on Pandrass ridge. Despite counter bombardment by the enemy, our gunners continuously fired for two hours and destroyed enemy bunkers and sangars. Due to coordinated artillery fire in the entire operation, the enemy suffered 90 casualties while our losses were restricted only to 22 killed in action. A total of one lakh rounds of artillery were fired besides 2700 rockets of multi barrel rocket launcher. Leading forward observation officers Captain R Jery Premraj (posthumous), 158 Medium Regiment and Captain S B Ghildiyal, 305 Field Regiment were awarded with Vir Chakra for their act of bravery. For displaying indomitable courage and devotion to duty of an exceptionally high order in the face of the enemy, Captain Vikram Batra (Posthumous) and Rifleman Sanjay Kumar from 13 Jammu and Kashmir rifles were awarded with the highest gallantry award ‘Param Vir Chakra ’ .
Battle of Khalubar
The Khalubar ridge lies in the Yaldor sub sector North of the Indus river and dominates East and West approaches from the line of control. It was the hub of enemy intrusions in the Batalik sector. In the North, the Ladakh scouts were tasked to capture point 5000. In the centre, 22 Grenadiers was given the task of establishing lodgements astride Point 5287, to be exploited later by 1/11 Gorkha rifles. In the South, 12 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry was tasked to capture point 4812. After initial failure, 1/11 Gorkha Rifles was inducted to reinforce attacking troops. Lieutenant Manoj Kumar Pandey of 1/11 Gorkha rifles displayed exemplary courage and destroyed enemy bunkers till he was fired at with medium machine gun, making the supreme sacrifice. The commanding officer, Colonel Lalit Rai on the morning of 04 July, realising that the enemy was building up for a counter attack, called for artillery fire on his own position which killed many enemy soldiers and broke the back of the counter attack. After a series of artillery fire assaults and attacks by the Gorkhas flashing their Khukris, Pakistani soldiers vacated the post and ran away and Khalubar was finally captured on 06 July 1999. The contribution of the gunners is evident from the fact that more than six batteries fired 4616 rounds in a span of 58 days. The barrels of all the guns of 15 Field Regiment were changed on the spot, in extremely challenging battlefield conditions. For displaying the most conspicuous bravery and outstanding leadership in the face of enemy, lieutenant Manoj Kumar Pandey was awarded with the highest gallantry award of ‘Param Vir Chakra’.
Battle of Jubar Top
While the nation’s attention was riveted on fighting in the Drass sector, steady progress was being made in the Batalik sector despite heavy casualties. 1 BIHAR was tasked to capture the Jubar complex. The attack on Jubar was preceded by concentrated artillery fire wherein multi barrel rocket launchers were employed in direct firing role. 1 BIHAR launched it’s attack on 29 June 99 and the enemy was driven out from Jubar observation post. On 30 June 99, a counter attack by the enemy was also repulsed after inflicting heavy casualties. Artillery observation posts were established at dominating heights on the flanks of the intrusion. Jubar top was pounded 24 x 7 with unrelenting firepower by over six batteries and the 122 mm multi barrel rocket launcher. A second attempt to capture Jubar top on the night of 30 June 99 with a fresh company was also unsuccessful. The standoff lasted for five days, during which artillery and infantry mortars continued to engage enemy targets. Finally, artillery guns hit the enemy’s ammunition dump behind Jubar destroying it completely and enemies were seen fleeing the location. A fresh attack was launched on the night of 06 July 99 with Major KPR Hari leading the attack in the face of heavy enemy artillery and small arms fire. He and other members of his team scaled a cliff face leading to Jubar top from an unexpected direction undetected, they reached within 50 meters of the enemy’s position and captured Jubar on 07 July 99.