Mountain Strike Corps - 17

[shubhamsaikia]

We had an Airborne Division, Infact most major countries have such formations. What is barring the Indians.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Para on the face of it is not Mechanised but you might be right in saying that a few of the Mech Units are Para-Qualified. Will have to look into that. But compared to the CHinese we are far behind in Para Capabilities. The Para and the Para (SF) have to be demarcated and given specified attention.

We also have about 10-11 Battalions of Vikas Regiment (SFF) which are para qualified.

They are working on that..

 

[shubhamsaikia]

We don't have the funds nor the requirement for such a large force. It is meant for expeditionary forces like the US.

Well Funds might be an issue, but all this is not irrational or impossible. In the near future we might need such forces. And it does not have to be an All Army establishment. It can always be a Division under the Tri-Services Command.

 

[Bhadra]

They are only increasing the number of Special Force Units of the Para.

Rightly so. They need more SF troops rather than only parajumpers.

I am not talking of Para (SF) Units but para qualified troops/units which can be entirely air dropped.[/qoute]
And then do what ?? When will link up take place? what could be the objective for a divisional size force?
[qoute] Of the the 3 Divisions in Corps one should definiltly be an Airborne Division. From everything to the Artillery to Mech. Assets be para droppable.

For high altitude mountains ?? remember you are talking of mountain strike corps mainly for high altitude Tibet and or POK. so one division should be Para dropped inside Tibet so that they carry out their acclimatisation there? and Link up takes place after 50 years !

 

[Bhadra]

We had an Airborne Division, Infact most major countries have such formations. What is barring the Indians.

US forces are expeditionary forces. Airborne divisions are required to quickly meet major emergencies in foreign lands to be followed up by aerial supply link up or sea borne link ups. Air borne divisions are not for high altitude snow clad mountains.

Indian efforts if any is aimed at meeting such situations rather than going to Rudok Fort.

 

[Bhadra]

Para on the face of it is not Mechanised
We also have about 10-11 Battalions of Vikas Regiment (SFF) which are para qualified.

SFF I thought was SFs much better than other SFs.

 

[shubhamsaikia]

SFF I thought was SFs much better than other SFs.

SFF is Special Frontier Force. Its One of India's best kept secrets

 

[p2prada]

Well Funds might be an issue, but all this is not irrational or impossible. In the near future we might need such forces. And it does not have to be an All Army establishment. It can always be a Division under the Tri-Services Command.

It is not my opinion, but Ray sir's. There is supposedly no strategy that allows the use of a massive force of airborne troops in our conditions.

If you plant an entire corps behind enemy lines, be it India or China, the entire Corps can be annihilated very quickly.

What we have must be plenty. The priority now is setting up the three Mountain strike Corps IMO.

We don't have a Tri-Services command either. Hopefully we will see that sooner rather than later.

 

[shubhamsaikia]

It is not my opinion, but Ray sir's. There is supposedly no strategy that allows the use of a massive force of airborne troops in our conditions.

If you plant an entire corps behind enemy lines, be it India or China, the entire Corps can be annihilated very quickly.

What we have must be plenty. The priority now is setting up the three Mountain strike Corps IMO.

We don't have a Tri-Services command either. Hopefully we will see that sooner rather than later.

The ANdaman and Nicobar Command is a Tri- Services Command

 

[Yusuf]

The ANdaman and Nicobar Command is a Tri- Services Command

I think he meant Joint Chiefs kinda thing.

 

[shubhamsaikia]

Incase of a war with China, somebody has to penetrate the Chinese. And it is definitely going to be this Mountain Strike Corps at the helm. Since the Mountain Strike Corps is majorly going to operate in foreign land, it can be rightly called an expeditionary force. I am suggesting an Airborne Division for deep penetration into CHinese Main Land whic is quite far from the border..

We are at a Disadvantage.... So we have to penetrate deep.

 

[shubhamsaikia]

I think he meant Joint Chiefs kinda thing.

No Its a Joint Command. It has a few ships and an Infantry Brigade for amphibios landings. Headed by a Lt. Gen rank. And yes it comes under the Integrated Defence Staff.

 

[Yusuf]

Check the two front war thread. May interest you.

 

[p2prada]

The ANdaman and Nicobar Command is a Tri- Services Command

I had a bigger notion of a Tri-Services command.

Incase of a war with China, somebody has to penetrate the Chinese. And it is definitely going to be this Mountain Strike Corps at the helm. Since the Mountain Strike Corps is majorly going to operate in foreign land, it can be rightly called an expeditionary force. I am suggesting an Airborne Division for deep penetration into CHinese Main Land whic is quite far from the border..

We are at a Disadvantage.... So we have to penetrate deep.

An expeditionary force goes a bit more than just across the border.

A force deep within China is dead within a few hours, maybe a day or two.

If you can't link up anywhere then they will be no different from suicide troops who served no purpose.

We are not at a disadvantage, we don't need to "penetrate deep." We just have to hold off an invasion and claim victory.

 

[shubhamsaikia]

I had a bigger notion of a Tri-Services command.

I get what you are visualizing. More like the entire Defence Force under one helm. The IDS came up in 2001. So we can hope in the future something like that happens. But for now A&N Command is a major achievment.

 

[shubhamsaikia]

Mountain Warfare refers to warfare in the mountains or similarly rough terrain. This type of warfare is also called Alpine warfare, named after the Alps mountains. Mountain warfare is one of the most dangerous types of combat as it involves surviving not only combat with the enemy but also the extreme weather and dangerous terrain. Mountain ranges are of strategic importance since they often act as a natural border, and may also be the origin of a water source of (e.g. Golan Heights - water conflict). Attacking a prepared enemy position in mountain terrain requires a greater ratio of attacking soldiers to defending soldiers than would be needed on level ground. Mountains at any time of year are dangerous – lightning, strong gusts of wind, falling rocks, extreme cold, and crevasses are all additional threats to combatants. Movement, reinforcements, and medical evacuation up and down steep slopes and areas where even pack animals cannot reach involves an enormous exertion of energy.

 

[shubhamsaikia]

Must Read
http://www.adl.gatech.edu/research/brmsrr/2008/BRMP07010802.pdf

 

[shubhamsaikia]

I had a bigger notion of a Tri-Services command.



An expeditionary force goes a bit more than just across the border.

A force deep within China is dead within a few hours, maybe a day or two.

If you can't link up anywhere then they will be no different from suicide troops who served no purpose.

We are not at a disadvantage, we don't need to "penetrate deep." We just have to hold off an invasion and claim victory.

Incase of a war with China within 72 hours can move nearly 30 Infantry Divisions, we have no chance of penetrating them. India hardly has about 15 Infantry
Divisions towards China. Our defence is also ill prepared. And our best defence shall be an offence.

 

[Ray]

Incase of a war with China within 72 hours can move nearly 30 Infantry Divisions,

Could you amplify?

30 Division from where to where? From mainland or Hinterland China or are they stationed in Tibet.

What would be the logistic infrastructure for such movement - rail, road capacity, staging areas.

Are the depots in Tibet stocked up in rations, arms and ammunition, spare weapons and weapons platforms etc.

Is their Air Force capable to give movements the air cover incase of hostile air effort?

What is the Chinese security machinery to take on any adverse and hostile reaction from the Free Tibet movement within Tibet, who might take advantage of the situation?

 

[Ray]

Mountain Warfare refers to warfare in the mountains or similarly rough terrain. This type of warfare is also called Alpine warfare, named after the Alps mountains. Mountain warfare is one of the most dangerous types of combat as it involves surviving not only combat with the enemy but also the extreme weather and dangerous terrain. Mountain ranges are of strategic importance since they often act as a natural border, and may also be the origin of a water source of (e.g. Golan Heights - water conflict). Attacking a prepared enemy position in mountain terrain requires a greater ratio of attacking soldiers to defending soldiers than would be needed on level ground. Mountains at any time of year are dangerous – lightning, strong gusts of wind, falling rocks, extreme cold, and crevasses are all additional threats to combatants. Movement, reinforcements, and medical evacuation up and down steep slopes and areas where even pack animals cannot reach involves an enormous exertion of energy.

Mountain Warfare is not Alpine Warfare or Whiteshod Warfare.

Mountains need not have steep hills or avalanches since one has to first define what is Mountain Warfare.

There is Mountain Warfare and High Altitude Warfare.

These are different facets of Mountain Warfare.

Would one discount the heights of Tangdhar and the Shamsabari Bowl as not being a part of Mountain Warfare?