Jaisalmer Diary – The story of 14 C&MU

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 VijayStambh-Jaisalmer

Inaguration of Vijay Stambh memorial at Jaisalmer (Above) and as it is seen today (Below)

Vijay Smarak and Vijay Stambh at Jaisalmer AFS

 

POINTS TO BE EXAMINED

  1. NIGHT RAIDS -This Station had no night interception capability. L/ 70 Anti Aircraft Guns were not available. Enemy attempted a total of 11 night raids (3 low level and 8 high level). All low level raids met with hot, reception from L/60 guns. On high level raids no fire was opened in order to conceal location. A very negligible damage was caused by low level raids.
  2. GROUND DEFENCES – The domestic area had no ground defence element and had to be arranged locally through personal liaison.
  3. FORCE AVAILABILITY – Inadequate force vas made available to the Station till 7 Dec 71. Had the enemy mounted day light raids and provided air cover for his advancing Amour, perhaps the course of battle in this sector would have been different.
  4. MANPOWER AND EQUIPMENT – Inadequate man—power and equipment vas available due to Sqn’s double commitments at JAMNAGAR AND JAISAILMER and second line facility at JAMNAGAR. The man-power had to be supplemented on the spot by releasing unskilled BORDER ROAD Labours to help the Armament Trade to cope up with pressure of work.
  5. WEAPONS – The Station mostly used HC-T-10 Rockets and 30 mm HE Bullets. On examination of the destroyed tanks it was revealed that the 30 mm caused maximum damage and vas solely responsible for setting the tanks on fire. The T 59 tanks carried extra barrel of fuel and fuel In their tanks which vas easily exposed to the front gun fire. A sequence belting with SAP/HE/Incendiary bullets be examined.
  1. BASE ACTIVATION – Activation of these C&MU’s and MEMU’s in the absence of their turning into regular MINI WINGS be more closely examined. Where heterogeneous man power from all over is to be pumped in, allied facilities, in regard to class IV be kept in mind. Inview of security and discipline on these forward bases no civilians Class IV be routed, only NC’sE be thought of.

On imminence of hostilities automatic grants/ sanctions for operating Officers and SNCOs messes be given to prevent any initial hardship and unnecessary paper work.

  1. COUNTER AIR MISSIONS – Two aircraft strikes at airfields are considered tactically unsound. The strikes should be not less than four aircraft and if the rockets are to be carried an escort be thought of , as the rocket launchers seriously impare the fighting capability of the aircraft.

 

TOTAL EFFORTS, AMN AND DAMAGES ENEMY AND OWN AT A GLANCE

Total No. of sorties  – 222

Total Qty. of Amn Exp – 30 mm HE – 26238 Rds.

……………………Rocket T-10-1196

……………………Bombs 1000 Lbs – 2

Own Losses            – NIL

Enemy Losses          – Destroyed: –

……………………41 Tanks
……………………2 Aircraft
……………………126 Vehicles
……………………13 Arty Guns
……………………1 RCL gun
……………………18 Goods Trains
……………………190 Goods Wagons
……………………2 Railway Engines
……………………2 Godowns
……………………10 Oil Tankers 
……………………2 Ammunition dumps 
……………………130 Camels.

Enemy Damages         – 37 Tanks

……………………10 Vehicles
……………………10 Goods Trains
……………………1 Mil Spl Train
……………………4 Train Engines
……………………34 Goods Wagons
……………………3 Factories

AWARDS & DECORATION

SI      Service      Rank      Name & Initials    Unit       Decorations/
No.     No.                                                   Award Earned

  • 4494 WG CDR   MS BAWA, WM         14 C&MU     AVSM
  • 4340 WG CDR    MN SINGH            “        M-in-D
  • 4692 WG CDR   DM CONQUEST         122 SQN     AVSM, VrC
  • IC-7470     MAJOR     ATMA SINGH         12 A O P     VrC
  • 5059 SQN LDR   RN BALI             122 SQN     VrC
  • 5270 SQN LDR   SDL TULLY           122 SQN      M-in-D
  • 4956 SQN LDR   FJ MEHTA             “           VrC
  • 5008 SQN LDR   GV HINGORANI         “           M-in-D
  • 5783 SQN LDR   JAGBIR SINGH         “           VrC
  • 6334 SQN LDR   DK DASS               “           VrC
  • IC-15466 CAPT       D MATHUR           12 A O P     M-in-D
  • IC-22304 CAPT       KC SHARMA           105 GLSEL     SM
  • 6742 FLT LT     KS SURESH           122 SQN       VrC
  • IC-16285 CAPT       PPS SANGHA         12 A O P     VrC
  • 8991 FLT LT     D YADAV             “             M-in-D
  • 8392 FLT LT     G KAPUR             “             M-in-D
  • 9447 FLT LT     R GOSAIN           “             VrC
  • 8378 FLT LT     MP PREMI           HTS           VrC
  • 14884  WO         GOSWAMI             122 SQN      M-in-D
  • 213462 SGT       HARIHARAN           12 A O P     M-in-D
  • 231205 CPL       VALADHANDAYUTHAN   “             M-in-D
  • 247447 CPL       PILLAI BP           “             M-in-D

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