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Full of technical details, which we haven't discussed in a long time.
Link at the end of the article.
====
Doctrine of Offensive-Defense
The Pakistan Army (PA) strategy against India calls for 'offensive-defense', also known as the Strategy of Riposte. This strategy calls for the armor heavy Strike Corps of Pakistan Army to seize initiative and attack across a narrow front. This is aimed at both unhinging Indian offensive plans in other sectors as well as seizing territory for later bargaining at the negotiating table. The holding Corps of the Pakistan Army are expected to absorb and delay the Indian offensive. And while the armor divisions are concentrated in the Strike Corps, holding corps have also evolved Corps Reserves centered around independent armor brigades and mechanized brigades for countering Indian offensive as well as for counter-penetration.
While it can be correctly argued that Pakistan Army has broadly followed 'offensive-defense' strategy as witnessed in 1965 war, General Mirza Aslam is credited with crystallizing this strategy. The strategy was demonstrated during 1989 army exercise 'Zarb-e-Momin', which was the biggest exercise of the Pakistan Army at the time. And followed the massive Indian Army exercise of late 196-early 1987 'Brasstacks'.
The Pakistan Army is faced with a dilemma - creating strong armor/mechanized strike elements against a much larger adversary while also maintaining enough resources for absorbing/countering Indian offensive. And this needs to be done with less than 1/10th resources of its main adversary. This dilemma becomes still more acute when a comparison is done between mechanized resources of the two armies.
As against Pakistan Army's 2 x Strike Corps, Indian Army has 3 x Strike Corps. Further, while Holding/Pivot Corps in both armies have independent armored brigades, not only are Indian armored formations bigger in terms of armored regiments and no of tanks, IA also has a unique formation known as RAPID - Re-organized Army Plains Infantry Division.
Each RAPID has an armored brigade apart from 2/3 infantry brigades. The armored brigade has 2 x armored regiments + 2 x mechanized regiments. This structure greatly increases the fire-power of a division in question. There is an offensive and defensive RAPID.
Take IA's 10 Corps for example - It has 1 x independent armored brigade (3 x armored regiments + 1 x mechanized infantry regiment) and 2 x RAPIDs ( 4 x armored regiments + 4 x mechanized infantry regiments). In all, this single 'Pivot' Corps has almost the same number of armored regiments as a Strike Corps of Pakistan Army!
Though, over past decade, PA has raised new armor regiments and armor brigades and mechanized more infantry battalions, armor and mechanized elements in IA have also seen expansion.
To offset IA's superiority in the armor/mechanized assets, the Pakistan Army undertakes the following measures:
Anti-tank battalions are a relatively cheap and cost-effective option to counter a superior mechanized force. It relieves the armor from undertaking defensive tasks and allows the higher formation to preserve it's own armor for offensive and counter-penetration tasks. And wherever required, it helps to strengthen the existing anti-tank capabilities.
(A.1) Light Anti-Tank Battalions (LAT)
During the 1965 war, some infantry battalions, at the scale of one battalion per division, were converted into Reconnaissance & Support Battalions (R&S). These battalions had about 60% manpower as compared to standard infantry battalion but were equipped with much higher firepower. Apart from their standard role of reconnaissance, these units were also used to hold the ground through fire-power and act as screening forces.
Sometime in early 90s, the R&S battalions with Infantry divisions were converted into anti-tank battalions. Pakistan Army today has dedicated LAT battalions. LAT battalions are held at Division HQ level and are most likely allocated to infantry brigades under the division at the scale of 1 x LAT Company/Brigade.
The LAT battalions are equipped with Bakhtar-Shikan anti-tank guided missiles; these missiles are mounted on a 4 x 4 vehicle. However, during 2017 Pakistan Day Parade, an APC mounted contingent of Baktar-Shikan missiles from 27 Baloch Regiment was mentioned as LAT battalion. It is likely that some LAT battalions, especially which are part of partially Mechanized Divisions of PA are mounted on M-113 APCs or locally produced Pakistani versions of the same.
Example of some of the LAT battalions are as under:
Pakistan Army also has the concept of Heavy Anti-tank (HAT) Battalions which are are held at Corps HQ level. This includes the two Strike Corps - Army Reserve North (ARN, I Corps, Mangla) and Army Reserve South (ARS, II Corps, Multan). Apart from HAT battalions, there exist Independent HAT Companies as well.
While I don't have the details of exact number of such battalions (I do have names of some battalions), it highly likely that most Corps facing eastern border have a HAT battalion. And some divisions ( mechanized ones in Strike Corps or those in sensitive sectors where large Indian armored offensive is expected) also have HAT Companies.
The HAT battalions and companies are equipped with TOW ATGM missiles and the same are mounted on M-113 APCs or Pakistan's versions/derivatives of this venerable armored personnel carrier. Considering the relatively limited number of TOW missiles imported by Pakistan, some HAT battalions are also equipped with Baktar-Shikan missiles.
Example of some of the HAT battalions are as under:
M-113 APCs of 39 AK (HAT) battalion. The formation sign on the APCs is that of 1 Corps or Army Reserve North (ARN). The number 87 next to the 'Up Arrow' sign means this vehicle entered PA in 1987!(source: defense.pk)
Contingent of 228 AK (HAT) Independent Company with M-113 APC and TOW-2 ATGMs from 2015 Pakistan Day Parade. Formation sign on the APCs looks like that of Jhelum based 23 Division under Rawalpindi based X Corps. (source: internet)
(A.2.1) M-901 Improved Tow Vehicle
In the early 80s, Pakistan Army also imported 24 M-901 Improved Tow Vehicles from USA. These are dedicated TOW missile platforms based on M-113 APCs. Each vehicle has 2 x 'ready to fire' missiles along with 10 reloads. The reloading is done under the armor.
All them are concentrated under Multan based 2 Corps or Army Reserve South (ARS). ARS is Pakistan Army's premier armor and mechanized heavy strike formation. Given the number of units, these are most likely held by a single HAT battalion.
Pakistan Army officer standing in front of M-901 ITV. The formation sign on the vehicle is that of Multan based 2 Corps or Army Reserve South. (Source: **********)
(A.3) Organization Structure
While I do not have the details of the organizational structure of such anti-tank battalions (LAT or HAT), one can draw a fairly good approximation considering two main points as mentioned below:
(a) Most formations below a brigade have company, platoon and section structure. And number of companies, platoons and sections varies as per the role & nature of the unit.
(b) A missile launcher along with ready-to-fire missiles and first set of reloads will constitute a basic fire unit.
Keeping the above two points in mind, the following deductive reasoning can be applied:
Link at the end of the article.
====
Doctrine of Offensive-Defense
The Pakistan Army (PA) strategy against India calls for 'offensive-defense', also known as the Strategy of Riposte. This strategy calls for the armor heavy Strike Corps of Pakistan Army to seize initiative and attack across a narrow front. This is aimed at both unhinging Indian offensive plans in other sectors as well as seizing territory for later bargaining at the negotiating table. The holding Corps of the Pakistan Army are expected to absorb and delay the Indian offensive. And while the armor divisions are concentrated in the Strike Corps, holding corps have also evolved Corps Reserves centered around independent armor brigades and mechanized brigades for countering Indian offensive as well as for counter-penetration.
While it can be correctly argued that Pakistan Army has broadly followed 'offensive-defense' strategy as witnessed in 1965 war, General Mirza Aslam is credited with crystallizing this strategy. The strategy was demonstrated during 1989 army exercise 'Zarb-e-Momin', which was the biggest exercise of the Pakistan Army at the time. And followed the massive Indian Army exercise of late 196-early 1987 'Brasstacks'.
The Pakistan Army is faced with a dilemma - creating strong armor/mechanized strike elements against a much larger adversary while also maintaining enough resources for absorbing/countering Indian offensive. And this needs to be done with less than 1/10th resources of its main adversary. This dilemma becomes still more acute when a comparison is done between mechanized resources of the two armies.
As against Pakistan Army's 2 x Strike Corps, Indian Army has 3 x Strike Corps. Further, while Holding/Pivot Corps in both armies have independent armored brigades, not only are Indian armored formations bigger in terms of armored regiments and no of tanks, IA also has a unique formation known as RAPID - Re-organized Army Plains Infantry Division.
Each RAPID has an armored brigade apart from 2/3 infantry brigades. The armored brigade has 2 x armored regiments + 2 x mechanized regiments. This structure greatly increases the fire-power of a division in question. There is an offensive and defensive RAPID.
Take IA's 10 Corps for example - It has 1 x independent armored brigade (3 x armored regiments + 1 x mechanized infantry regiment) and 2 x RAPIDs ( 4 x armored regiments + 4 x mechanized infantry regiments). In all, this single 'Pivot' Corps has almost the same number of armored regiments as a Strike Corps of Pakistan Army!
Though, over past decade, PA has raised new armor regiments and armor brigades and mechanized more infantry battalions, armor and mechanized elements in IA have also seen expansion.
To offset IA's superiority in the armor/mechanized assets, the Pakistan Army undertakes the following measures:
- Smaller size of formations: The size of armor formations (brigades/division) in PA is relatively smaller as compared to India. For example, armor division of Pakistan and India consist of 5 and 6 armored regiments, respectively. Indian independent armored brigades have 3+1 structure - 3 x armored regiments + 1 x mechanized infantry battalion. Pakistan Army has 2+1 structure. There is also likely slight variation (2-3 tanks) in number of tanks held per armored regiment with IA having a higher number.
- Anti-Tank battalion: Pakistan Army has dedicated anti-tank battalions which are classified as Light Anti-Tank (LAT) battalion and Heavy Anti-Tank (HAT) battalions. These AT battalions are in addition to the anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM) held at an individual infantry battalion level.
Anti-tank battalions are a relatively cheap and cost-effective option to counter a superior mechanized force. It relieves the armor from undertaking defensive tasks and allows the higher formation to preserve it's own armor for offensive and counter-penetration tasks. And wherever required, it helps to strengthen the existing anti-tank capabilities.
(A.1) Light Anti-Tank Battalions (LAT)
During the 1965 war, some infantry battalions, at the scale of one battalion per division, were converted into Reconnaissance & Support Battalions (R&S). These battalions had about 60% manpower as compared to standard infantry battalion but were equipped with much higher firepower. Apart from their standard role of reconnaissance, these units were also used to hold the ground through fire-power and act as screening forces.
Sometime in early 90s, the R&S battalions with Infantry divisions were converted into anti-tank battalions. Pakistan Army today has dedicated LAT battalions. LAT battalions are held at Division HQ level and are most likely allocated to infantry brigades under the division at the scale of 1 x LAT Company/Brigade.
The LAT battalions are equipped with Bakhtar-Shikan anti-tank guided missiles; these missiles are mounted on a 4 x 4 vehicle. However, during 2017 Pakistan Day Parade, an APC mounted contingent of Baktar-Shikan missiles from 27 Baloch Regiment was mentioned as LAT battalion. It is likely that some LAT battalions, especially which are part of partially Mechanized Divisions of PA are mounted on M-113 APCs or locally produced Pakistani versions of the same.
Example of some of the LAT battalions are as under:
- 21 Punjab (LAT) battalion
- 23 Punjab (LAT) battalion
- 26 Punjab (LAT) battalion
- 19 Baloch (LAT) battalion - this is also the parent battalion of Special Service Group (SSG)
Pakistan Army also has the concept of Heavy Anti-tank (HAT) Battalions which are are held at Corps HQ level. This includes the two Strike Corps - Army Reserve North (ARN, I Corps, Mangla) and Army Reserve South (ARS, II Corps, Multan). Apart from HAT battalions, there exist Independent HAT Companies as well.
While I don't have the details of exact number of such battalions (I do have names of some battalions), it highly likely that most Corps facing eastern border have a HAT battalion. And some divisions ( mechanized ones in Strike Corps or those in sensitive sectors where large Indian armored offensive is expected) also have HAT Companies.
The HAT battalions and companies are equipped with TOW ATGM missiles and the same are mounted on M-113 APCs or Pakistan's versions/derivatives of this venerable armored personnel carrier. Considering the relatively limited number of TOW missiles imported by Pakistan, some HAT battalions are also equipped with Baktar-Shikan missiles.
Example of some of the HAT battalions are as under:
- 39 Azad Kashmir (Heavy Anti Tank) battalion or 39 AK (HAT) battalion
- 40 AK (HAT) battalion
- 226 AK (HAT) Company
- 227 AK (HAT) Company
M-113 APCs of 39 AK (HAT) battalion. The formation sign on the APCs is that of 1 Corps or Army Reserve North (ARN). The number 87 next to the 'Up Arrow' sign means this vehicle entered PA in 1987!(source: defense.pk)
Contingent of 228 AK (HAT) Independent Company with M-113 APC and TOW-2 ATGMs from 2015 Pakistan Day Parade. Formation sign on the APCs looks like that of Jhelum based 23 Division under Rawalpindi based X Corps. (source: internet)
(A.2.1) M-901 Improved Tow Vehicle
In the early 80s, Pakistan Army also imported 24 M-901 Improved Tow Vehicles from USA. These are dedicated TOW missile platforms based on M-113 APCs. Each vehicle has 2 x 'ready to fire' missiles along with 10 reloads. The reloading is done under the armor.
All them are concentrated under Multan based 2 Corps or Army Reserve South (ARS). ARS is Pakistan Army's premier armor and mechanized heavy strike formation. Given the number of units, these are most likely held by a single HAT battalion.
Pakistan Army officer standing in front of M-901 ITV. The formation sign on the vehicle is that of Multan based 2 Corps or Army Reserve South. (Source: **********)
(A.3) Organization Structure
While I do not have the details of the organizational structure of such anti-tank battalions (LAT or HAT), one can draw a fairly good approximation considering two main points as mentioned below:
(a) Most formations below a brigade have company, platoon and section structure. And number of companies, platoons and sections varies as per the role & nature of the unit.
(b) A missile launcher along with ready-to-fire missiles and first set of reloads will constitute a basic fire unit.
Keeping the above two points in mind, the following deductive reasoning can be applied:
- In case of LAT battalion, it is a division level asset.
- Each infantry division in PA generally has 3 x infantry brigades (some divisions are larger)
- Therefore, an assumption can be made that each LAT battalion will most likely provide 1 x LAT Company per brigade with 1 x HQ Company.
- Therefore, a LAT battalion most likely has five (05) companies - 1 x HQ Company, 3 x LAT Companies and 1 x Support Company (for technical support to LAT companies). If each LAT Company has organic technical support elements, than the technical support company can be ruled out. Then each LAT battalion has four (04) companies
- Each LAT company further likely has between 2 or 3 missile platoons
- Missile platoons will be further broken down in missile sections. Each platoon likely has 2 or 3 missile sections.
- Each missile section is equipped with 1 x missile launcher and with 1 ready-to-fire missiles and 3 reloads + 4 x reserves for total of 08 missiles per section/launcher.
- CASE 1
- 3 x Missile Companies with 3 x Missile Platoons/Company and 3 x Missile Sections/Platoon
- 3 x 3 x 3 - 27 launchers
- @ 8 missiles/launcher - 216 missiles
- 3 x Missile Companies with 3 x Missile Platoons/Company and 3 x Missile Sections/Platoon
- CASE 2
- 3 x Missile Companies with 3 x Missile Platoons/Company and 2 x Missile Sections/Platoon
- 3 x 3 x 2 - 18 launchers
- @ 8 missiles/launcher - 144 missiles
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