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Just saw a YT video by Pravin Sawhney:
- 1st, thank goodness he exited the army at junior ranks; where people look for solutions, he looks for problems.
- Says Indian troops inducted from plains need to be converted to mountain scale. This self proclaimed expert doesn't know +
- 1st, thank goodness he exited the army at junior ranks; where people look for solutions, he looks for problems.
- Says Indian troops inducted from plains need to be converted to mountain scale. This self proclaimed expert doesn't know +
+ that two mountain divisions which have been inducted already equipped for mountain warfare.
- Goes on-and-on about logistic issues Indian Army will face in maintaining a large body of troops in high altitude area in winters.
- Doesn't mention that while for India, this will +
- Goes on-and-on about logistic issues Indian Army will face in maintaining a large body of troops in high altitude area in winters.
- Doesn't mention that while for India, this will +
+ mean augmenting EXISTING effort; we already maintain a large number of troops in Ladakh theater, including Siachen.
- Our SOPs are already in place and require additional effort.
- But what about China?
- If the Chinese troops remain in eastern Ladakh for coming winters, this+
- Our SOPs are already in place and require additional effort.
- But what about China?
- If the Chinese troops remain in eastern Ladakh for coming winters, this+
+ will be the first time China will be maintaining such a large number of troops in high altitude and low temperature area.
- Because even before this standoff happened, Indian Army was supporting 20K-25K troops between Siachen and Eastern Ladakh while Chinese probably has +
- Because even before this standoff happened, Indian Army was supporting 20K-25K troops between Siachen and Eastern Ladakh while Chinese probably has +
+ less than 5,000 troops!
- Now, having inducted 2+ divisions opposite India, China needs to scale up from <5,000 to about 25,000 troops.
- That's 5 times the effort.
- How come Pravin Sawhney never raises these issues? Because as per him, Chinese are 9-feet supermen who've +
- Now, having inducted 2+ divisions opposite India, China needs to scale up from <5,000 to about 25,000 troops.
- That's 5 times the effort.
- How come Pravin Sawhney never raises these issues? Because as per him, Chinese are 9-feet supermen who've +
+ magically solved all these logistical issues while Indian's, who've been fighting and maintaining troops in high altitude area are daft!
- Apart from food, oil and lubricants, Chinese also need to provide specialized accomodation for their troops because last thing you need is+
- Apart from food, oil and lubricants, Chinese also need to provide specialized accomodation for their troops because last thing you need is+
+ for your troops to spend winters in tents in Ladakh.
- One advantage which the Chinese do have is that their road connectivity with their main logistics hub in Xinjiang will most likely remain open.
- But this will be the first time these Chinese troops will be spending +
- One advantage which the Chinese do have is that their road connectivity with their main logistics hub in Xinjiang will most likely remain open.
- But this will be the first time these Chinese troops will be spending +
+ winters in super high altitude area.
- Altitude and low temperature related illnesses, loneliness, high wind speed, problems in going about even your daily chores - all these are going to haunt the Chinese troops now.
- Chinese will also soon learn the limitations of their +
- Altitude and low temperature related illnesses, loneliness, high wind speed, problems in going about even your daily chores - all these are going to haunt the Chinese troops now.
- Chinese will also soon learn the limitations of their +
+ weapons in winter months.
- Refer to 'Equipment fitness and maintenance' section of the below linked article by @bsdhanoa. Since the Chinese deployment consists of two mechanized infantry divisions, these issues will apply in toto to them as well. https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/why-ladakh-needs-tanks/?amp
- Refer to 'Equipment fitness and maintenance' section of the below linked article by @bsdhanoa. Since the Chinese deployment consists of two mechanized infantry divisions, these issues will apply in toto to them as well. https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/why-ladakh-needs-tanks/?amp
- Indian Army personnels and individual battalions rotate between plains and high-altitude areas.
- Even in this case, where troops have come from lower altitude area, there would be troops who've served in high altitude areas in past.
- Long story short, Indian Army has SOPs +
- Even in this case, where troops have come from lower altitude area, there would be troops who've served in high altitude areas in past.
- Long story short, Indian Army has SOPs +
+ institutional memory when it comes to operating in this environment.
- The Chinese armies will be learning all this afresh. And on a grade scale!
- The Chinese armies will be learning all this afresh. And on a grade scale!
PS: Let me add a slightly twisted thing here.
- Indian Army had infantry divisions for plains and mountain divisions for mountainous areas.
- But the division responsible for eastern Ladakh, a high altitude area, is an infantry division (3 Infantry Division).
- Strange, no?
+
- Indian Army had infantry divisions for plains and mountain divisions for mountainous areas.
- But the division responsible for eastern Ladakh, a high altitude area, is an infantry division (3 Infantry Division).
- Strange, no?
+
+ Actually, no. Not strange.
- Reason being, while eastern Ladakh is high altitude, it is high altitude plateau and flat at most places.
- For ex, Leh is at 11,000 feet and as we move east, the plateau floor itself goes-up in elevation.
- In most of the area, troops won't be +
- Reason being, while eastern Ladakh is high altitude, it is high altitude plateau and flat at most places.
- For ex, Leh is at 11,000 feet and as we move east, the plateau floor itself goes-up in elevation.
- In most of the area, troops won't be +
+ going up to fight the enemy like Kargil; though, wherever we can, we will dominate the heights.
- But as I said earlier, plateau itself starts at 11,000+ feet, reaching up to 17,000+ feet in Depsang PLAINS!.
- Mountains around are few thousand feet more.
- But as I said earlier, plateau itself starts at 11,000+ feet, reaching up to 17,000+ feet in Depsang PLAINS!.
- Mountains around are few thousand feet more.
+ That's why when it was raised, 3 Division was termed as infantry, rather than mountain divisions.
- Chinese have moved mechanized divisions while we've moved reinforced armored brigades into the theater.
- This tells you that in spite of high altitude, the area is flat at +
- Chinese have moved mechanized divisions while we've moved reinforced armored brigades into the theater.
- This tells you that in spite of high altitude, the area is flat at +
+ sufficient places to allow employment of mechanized assets.
