Indian Special Forces (archived)

[Trinetra]

Insulting question led to planning of PoK surgical strikes: Manohar Parrikar

PANAJI: Former defence minister Manohar Parrikar today said an "insulting" question by a television anchor to Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore after the 2015 anti- insurgency operation along the Myanmar border prompted him to plan last year's 'surgical strikes' in PoK.

Speaking before a gathering of industrialists here today, the Goa Chief Minister said, "The surgical strikes against militants in PoK (Pakistan Occupied Kashmir) was planned 15 months in advance."
On June 4, 2015, north-eastern militant group NSCN-K ambushed an Indian Army convoy in Chandel district of Manipur and killed 18 jawans.

Parrikar said when he was informed about the incident, "I felt insulted....A small terrorist organisation of 200 people killing 18 Dogra soldiers was an insult to the Indian Army and we sat in the afternoon and sat in the evening and worked out the (plan of) first surgical strike which was conducted on 8th June morning in which about 70-80 terrorists were killed (along the India-Myanmar border)."

"It was a very successful strike," he said, adding that on Army's side, the only instance of an injury was a leech attaching itself to a soldier's leg.

Contrary to some reports, no helicopters were used. "I had placed helicopters (on standby) only in case of emergency evacuation," he said.
"But one question (from media) hurt me. (Union minister) Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, an ex-Armyman, was on TV and he was explaining about all kinds of search operations. An anchor asked him 'would you have the courage and capability of doing the same on the western front'," Parrikar recalled.

"I listened very intensely but decided to answer when the time came. The starting of September 29 (2016) surgical strike on the western border was 9th of June, 2015.....We planned 15 months in advance. Additional troops were trained. Equipment was procured on priority basis," he said.

The Swathi Weapon Locating Radar, developed by the DRDO, was used first in September 2016 to locate "firing units" of Pakistani Army, though the system was inducted officially three months later, Parrikar said.

Thanks to this Radar, forty firing units of Pakistani Army were destroyed, he added.

 

[Vinod DX9]

Happy 51st raising day of 9 PARA....
So to defence lovers they have become a legend... In honour of them, this poster, which perfectly depicts what a fan thinks of 9 PARA

 

[Vinod DX9]

PARA SF

in action during Today's Anantnag Encounter

 

[Vinod DX9]

PARA SF

in action during Today's Anantnag Encounter

 

[Vinod DX9]

PARA SF in action during Today's Anantnag Encounter

 

[cobra commando]

______________________________

 

[COLDHEARTED AVIATOR]

View attachment 17172
PARA SF in action during Today's Anantnag Encounter

Is that BT 9mm?

...........................................................

 

[rkhanna]

Is that BT 9mm?

...........................................................

Yup those are TP9s .. seen them with 10Sf but with silencers. Replacement for the uzi.

Think MP7s were also trialed but with the banks on HK selling to India we don't have access to them

 

[Bornubus]

First in a series of SG weapons and equipment.
Helmets, ARC Air assests, small arms and other stuff follow soon


Bulgarian AK with EOTECH

 

[COLDHEARTED AVIATOR]

Yup those are TP9s .. seen them with 10Sf but with silencers. Replacement for the uzi.

Think MP7s were also trialed but with the banks on HK selling to India we don't have access to them

I have seen Uzi in Body guard role guarding GOCs and as a secondary weapon but this is the first time i see a weapon of such caliber as primary weapon in a encounter.

 

[rkhanna]

I have seen Uzi in Body guard role guarding GOCs and as a secondary weapon but this is the first time i see a weapon of such caliber as primary weapon in a encounter.

Actually if you troll through old pictures (mid 2000s) you will see alot of SF and RR Cdo pictures with suppressed Uzi's - IA Ghataks still use them. The Suppressed Uzi's used widely to do Silent entry work / take out sentries.

Historically Uzi's in a SF team were given to the the Heavy Weapons operator (RCL) or the Comms operator - Both Carrying a heavier combat load. - PDWs have always been part of Army SF Orbat.

Supressed Uzi and M-4

Para's with Uzi during an Encounter

Para SF

10SF (Operator with the CG has an Uzi dangling from his webbing)

All look to be the Supressed Micro Uzi

(why Suppressed weapons havnt permeated the bulk of SF Small arms is a different topic)

 

[rkhanna]

Nice article on the SOF and Conventional Forces dichotomy (my pet peeve topic of overutlizing SF units for non SF tasks)

"Special’ warfare is a relatively new concept. The tactics employed are not. Raids and reconnaissance are as old as warfare itself. During WWII, regular infantry often had to step up and accomplish missions that would today have entire AORs locked down so that TF Whatever can swoop in and clear the target. The assumption is that ‘mere’ grunts can’t handle that level of mission."

" The officer corps is comfortable, and the bureaucracy is entrenched. Much of the SOF community likes having plenty of work and being able to wear the ‘special’ tag. Unfortunately, in many cases, this does result in runaway egos, which can be a serious problem. The foremost personal attribute of the professional warfighter has to be humility, otherwise, how can he be honest with himself and his teammates when something has to be corrected?"

"As small wars and hybrid wars proliferate and the Great Game asserts itself once again, does it really make more sense to put an increasing burden on a relatively small percentage of the military, while the rest sits on its hands and begs for work? Or would it make more sense to lift the rest of our warfighters to the level where they can take up the same burdens many of their forefathers took, without being ‘special,’ but just because they were the men in the time and place to do the job?"

https://sofrep.com/84893/best-sofrep-sof-conventional-forces-dichotomy-obsolete/

 

[Indian Sniper.001]

The whole article isn't necessary for this thread, but this one point caught my eye -
"In a Sino-Russian joint military drill, it was said that Chinese paratroopers were quite afraid of parachuting into a mock battlefield from a high altitude."
Now, in the recent SF competition it was China who won it, but this is something which also should be considered. Prolly, one point which can be made is that these paratroopers were new and were afraid, or the only other theory is the same feeling is widespread, and they are just a showpiece.

Those interested - http://www.ejinsight.com/20170105-why-the-chinese-army-is-a-paper-tiger/

 

[Vinod DX9]

SPECIAL GROUP aka Mavericks
Commando
Rifle : IWI TAVOR 21
sight : Mepro 21

 

[rkhanna]

Computer headphones still??? Come on I have been seeing these for almost 10 years.

 

[aditya g]

Nicely researched one there. Thanks

Actually if you troll through old pictures (mid 2000s) you will see alot of SF and RR Cdo pictures with suppressed Uzi's - IA Ghataks still use them. The Suppressed Uzi's used widely to do Silent entry work / take out sentries.

Historically Uzi's in a SF team were given to the the Heavy Weapons operator (RCL) or the Comms operator - Both Carrying a heavier combat load. - PDWs have always been part of Army SF Orbat.

Supressed Uzi and M-4

Para's with Uzi during an Encounter

Para SF

10SF (Operator with the CG has an Uzi dangling from his webbing)

All look to be the Supressed Micro Uzi

(why Suppressed weapons havnt permeated the bulk of SF Small arms is a different topic)

 

[rkhanna]

FINALLY somebody saying it as it is. What I have been saying previously on this thread . Similar sentiment my relatives who are vets have said to me.

http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.co ... rds-chaos/

Too many sniper rifles, not enough snipers!
T Lt General H S Panag

In the Indian Army up to late 50s there used to be Sniper Section of 10 men, in each Infantry Battalion, that operated directly under the Commanding Officer. The weapon authorised was the Lee Enfield .303 No 4 Mark 1(T) Rifle considered one of the greatest sniper rifles and had earned a name for itself during the Second World War. A very tough Sniper Course was also run at the Infantry School upto l970. When we switched over to semi automatic 7.62 mm Rifle in the 60s, no replacement was found for the old sniper rifle. Both the sniper rifle and the sniper section just disappeared from the army for 30 years.
In the late early 90s the Dragunov SVDN Sniper Rifle with range of 1300 meters was introduced into the army. India has approximately 360 Infantry Battalions, 50 Assam Rifles Battalions and 62 Rashtriya Rifles Battalions ie a total 472 battalions. Each battalion is authorised 10
Sniper Rifles. Thus, the Indian Army has 4720 sniper rifles. There is no military trade of “sniper” but any soldier with limited training mans the sniper rifle. Generally two snipers are trained in each of the four rifle companies and two are part of the Ghatak Platoon. Sniper rifles are also authorised to SF units.
The Sniper Course was restarted but remains a poor cousin of the former course. The Indian Army’s strength is the regimental ethos and élan. The skill levels are average and assumed to be compensated by motivation and ethos. Adequate attention is not paid to selection, training and sustainment of specialists like the snipers. Indian Infantry does not follow the specialist trade system and a jack of all trades is just not good enough for specialist tasks.
The universal test of a sniper is to score a first shot “head shot” at 600 meters and first shot “body(chest) shot” at 1000 meters and that too after an indefinite wait in a hide. If a sniper can not pass this test he can not be called a sniper and remains a marksman or a sharp shooter. To the best of my knowledge no “sniper” of the Indian Army can pass this test. If there are a few exceptions they will only prove the rule.

 

[debspark90]

FINALLY somebody saying it as it is. What I have been saying previously on this thread . Similar sentiment my relatives who are vets have said to me.

http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.co ... rds-chaos/

Too many sniper rifles, not enough snipers!
T Lt General H S Panag

In the Indian Army up to late 50s there used to be Sniper Section of 10 men, in each Infantry Battalion, that operated directly under the Commanding Officer. The weapon authorised was the Lee Enfield .303 No 4 Mark 1(T) Rifle considered one of the greatest sniper rifles and had earned a name for itself during the Second World War. A very tough Sniper Course was also run at the Infantry School upto l970. When we switched over to semi automatic 7.62 mm Rifle in the 60s, no replacement was found for the old sniper rifle. Both the sniper rifle and the sniper section just disappeared from the army for 30 years.
In the late early 90s the Dragunov SVDN Sniper Rifle with range of 1300 meters was introduced into the army. India has approximately 360 Infantry Battalions, 50 Assam Rifles Battalions and 62 Rashtriya Rifles Battalions ie a total 472 battalions. Each battalion is authorised 10
Sniper Rifles. Thus, the Indian Army has 4720 sniper rifles. There is no military trade of “sniper” but any soldier with limited training mans the sniper rifle. Generally two snipers are trained in each of the four rifle companies and two are part of the Ghatak Platoon. Sniper rifles are also authorised to SF units.
The Sniper Course was restarted but remains a poor cousin of the former course. The Indian Army’s strength is the regimental ethos and élan. The skill levels are average and assumed to be compensated by motivation and ethos. Adequate attention is not paid to selection, training and sustainment of specialists like the snipers. Indian Infantry does not follow the specialist trade system and a jack of all trades is just not good enough for specialist tasks.
The universal test of a sniper is to score a first shot “head shot” at 600 meters and first shot “body(chest) shot” at 1000 meters and that too after an indefinite wait in a hide. If a sniper can not pass this test he can not be called a sniper and remains a marksman or a sharp shooter. To the best of my knowledge no “sniper” of the Indian Army can pass this test. If there are a few exceptions they will only prove the rule.

Well I hope with purchase of 5000 of .338 snipers and another 1500 .50 Cal AMR snipers, the training changes soon enough and instead of shoving it out, the Army really does take care of it..!!

Meantime this piece of article by now will become a treasure for Pakis..

 

[COLDHEARTED AVIATOR]

FINALLY somebody saying it as it is. What I have been saying previously on this thread . Similar sentiment my relatives who are vets have said to me.

http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.co ... rds-chaos/

Too many sniper rifles, not enough snipers!
T Lt General H S Panag

In the Indian Army up to late 50s there used to be Sniper Section of 10 men, in each Infantry Battalion, that operated directly under the Commanding Officer. The weapon authorised was the Lee Enfield .303 No 4 Mark 1(T) Rifle considered one of the greatest sniper rifles and had earned a name for itself during the Second World War. A very tough Sniper Course was also run at the Infantry School upto l970. When we switched over to semi automatic 7.62 mm Rifle in the 60s, no replacement was found for the old sniper rifle. Both the sniper rifle and the sniper section just disappeared from the army for 30 years.
In the late early 90s the Dragunov SVDN Sniper Rifle with range of 1300 meters was introduced into the army. India has approximately 360 Infantry Battalions, 50 Assam Rifles Battalions and 62 Rashtriya Rifles Battalions ie a total 472 battalions. Each battalion is authorised 10
Sniper Rifles. Thus, the Indian Army has 4720 sniper rifles. There is no military trade of “sniper” but any soldier with limited training mans the sniper rifle. Generally two snipers are trained in each of the four rifle companies and two are part of the Ghatak Platoon. Sniper rifles are also authorised to SF units.
The Sniper Course was restarted but remains a poor cousin of the former course. The Indian Army’s strength is the regimental ethos and élan. The skill levels are average and assumed to be compensated by motivation and ethos. Adequate attention is not paid to selection, training and sustainment of specialists like the snipers. Indian Infantry does not follow the specialist trade system and a jack of all trades is just not good enough for specialist tasks.
The universal test of a sniper is to score a first shot “head shot” at 600 meters and first shot “body(chest) shot” at 1000 meters and that too after an indefinite wait in a hide. If a sniper can not pass this test he can not be called a sniper and remains a marksman or a sharp shooter. To the best of my knowledge no “sniper” of the Indian Army can pass this test. If there are a few exceptions they will only prove the rule.

We need men like him who talk straight.There is no harm in criticizing yourself coz thats the only way you improve.Even i wanted to say this line...

The universal test of a sniper is to score a first shot “head shot” at 600 meters and first shot “body(chest) shot” at 1000 meters and that too after an indefinite wait in a hide. If a sniper can not pass this test he can not be called a sniper and remains a marksman or a sharp shooter. To the best of my knowledge no “sniper” of the Indian Army can pass this test. If there are a few exceptions they will only prove the rule.

But i held myself coz this forum has its share of extremists who dont understand positive criticism and are too defensive of somethings.

A section of well trained snipers can halt an entire Infantry brigade easily.Motivation and ethos can only take you so far.

Today,we are in a situation where both of our neighbors have better trained and equipped snipers.And to doubt the motivation of your enemies is a mistake of fools.

Back in 2001 i have seen US Sniper instructors in MHOW.I used to think that things would get better but it didnt.We need to set up a Specialist Sniper School like the SF school we have.

And the IA is not serious about it which can also be seen that we have no SNipers badge in the IA.I hope things change soon.

 

[COLDHEARTED AVIATOR]

Well I hope with purchase of 5000 of .338 snipers and another 1500 .50 Cal AMR snipers, the training changes soon enough and instead of shoving it out, the Army really does take care of it..!!

Meantime this piece of article by now will become a treasure for Pakis..

Pakistanis should worry about their SF slaughtered like pigs in a abattoir.

They have no leadership qualities as an Army and a nation.