6th Armoured Division (Pakistan)
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| 6th Armoured Division (Pakistan Army) (1965-present) | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1965 to present |
| Country |  Pakistan |
| Type | Armoured Division |
| Role | Armour |
| Size | 20,000 men (though this may vary as units are rotated) |
| Part of | I Corps |
| Garrison/HQ | Kharian |
| Nickname | Flying Horse |
| Colors | black and gold |
| Engagements | Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, Somalia |
The 6th Armoured Division is a Pakistan Army armoured division currently based in Kharian, in Punjab Province.
Contents |
[edit] History
The division was originally an armoured brigade known as the 100 Independent Armoured Brigade Group. In 1964, it was decided to use the headquarters and other assets of this formation to create a new armoured division[1]. It was still in the process of raising when the '65 war broke out.
[edit] 1965 War
The formation would see its first taste of action in Operation Grand Slam in Chamb sector where it was the armoured contingent. However the general weakness of Pakistan Army defence around Sialkot and the fact that war was expected to break out over the internationl border, meant that the division would see only a few days of fighting before it was sent to Sialkot, where it would earn its spurs at a village called Chawinda[2]. On 8th of September the Indian attack came and thus began the Battle of Chawinda. Initially the division was surpised and outflanked by the Indians as the enemy chose an unexpected axis to attack[3], desperate holding actions by some individual units, famously 25th Cavalry, would hat the advance outside Chawinda. A counter attack against the Indians at Phillarah would be badly mauled[4] resulting in the loss of 22 tanks. The division then settled in defensive positions around Chawinda, and it and other divisions than withstood multiple corps sized attacks by the Indian I Corps [5], until the biggest on the 18th of September when the Indian 1st Armoured and 6th Mountain divisions attacked, and would be destroyed. The Indians than went on the defensive as the 6th and its sister formations steadily and remorselessly forced them back across the international border; a task which was mostly (though not completely[6] completed by the ceasefire on 23rd of September.
The divisions' action at Chawinda remains its most famous action. This battle was the largest tank battle since Kursk in 1943 and has been forver associated with the 6th. Amongst the many commendations received was one by the President which read:
The President of Pakistan has commanded that his personal congratulations be conveyed to All Ranks under your command for the exemplary, succeessful and couragous battle that they have fought. The President and the whole Nation are proud of these untarnishable deeds of valour[7]
The division would lose over 200 killed and over a thousand wounded during the battle of Chawinda.[8]
[edit] 1971 War
In 1971 the division once again would see action in Chamb with its helping to capture Chamb and clear all the area uptil the river Tawi. At this point the division would be sent to the battle of Shakargarh, where another Indian attempt at Sialkot would be checked, though this time the Pakistan army would not be able to expel the Indians fully till the ceasefire.[9]
[edit] Somalia
The 6th would reenter combat in 1993 when it was dispatched to Somalia after the increse in the international presence in that country, becoming one of the two division level headquaters in theater (the other was the US 10 Mountain Division). Thus the division became only the second Pakistani division to serve overseas after the 7th Infantry Division[10]. The division uniquely came under the direct command of the United States Central Command, the first time in Pakistani history that a formation served outside Pakistan command[11]. It also had the command of foreign units, including for the first time since 1971, a Bangaldeshi battalion.[12]. In Somalia the division mostly undertook a counter insurgency role to help bring peace to that embattled country, iyts heavu armour contigent providing most of the heavy forepower for the International forces. It was in this role that units of this division took part in the Battle of Mogadishu (1993), notably, 19 Lancers, 15 FF and 7 FF.
[edit] Present ORBAT
The division is at present stationed in Kharian and has four armoured brigades attached.
- HQ 6 Armoured Division, Kharian
-
- 7th Armoured Brigade, Kharian
- 9th Armoured Brigade, Kharian
- 1st Armoured Brigade, Kharian
- 8th Armoured Brigade Group, Mangla (wartime only, normally under corps control)
In addition the following units are attached and stationed in Kharain.
-
- 6 Armoured Division Support troops (a brigades worth of troops, mostly engineers, signal and other logistic troops)
- 6 Armoured Division Artillery Brigade
- 6 Armoured Division Air Defence
- 6 Armoured Div Aviation Brigade (wartime only, ordinarily units are dispersed)
[edit] References
- Brian Cloughley: A History of Pakistan Army
- Orbat.com
