AFOVA New Letter 2 of Year 2021

Section 5 – War Diary CV 2 No. 02 / 2021 Page 76 of 332 the eye by combat troops was its ability to create the sheer shock effect on the target which not only quadrupled own troops morale but shattered the enemy’s resolve The Ural trucks prime mover of the rocket launch system were stoic beasts, lithe predators. They would swallow potholes / craters / tracks and climb gradients upto 38 degrees with absolute ease even when moving armed and loaded. Their silent V8 aluminum 93MT petrol engines leisurely churned a Herculean and brawny 47.5 kgm torque at less than 1300 rpm making them tomcats who could bolt scamper scurry hasten and dart in and out of firing positions with the ease of that of a sports car. Mobility and their ability to redeploy in extremely telescoped and shrunk timings to deliver very heavy quantum of ammunition onto multiple targets in less time frame set new parameters of expectations for the Commanders. On quite a few occasions four different targets were engaged simultaneously by splitting the troops to fire from multiple roving positions. The MBRLs Cannonades were like the proverbial horsemen of the Apocalypses to dance at the Enemy Localities and petrified him with fear and horror. The Mission On the night of 03 Jul 1999, I received orders to re-deploy one troop in adjoining Batalik sector to deliver fire assaults to support the attack the first Battalion, the Bihar Regiment to reclaim the humongous Jubar Hill. Divisional Headquarters personally requested me to move the troop and oversee the mission as the time of attack (Hotel Hour /H hour was barely 46 hours away). The Move from Drass to Kargil Fire Control Centre (H minus 44) From own hide location at Drass, Kargil zero point was about 85 kilometers. We moved within two hours after receiving order in pitch darkness with three loaded launchers, also carrying an additional 240 rockets in 05 logistics carrying trucks. Minimum essentials such as line cable, field telephone exchange, batteries for radio sets booster antennae, generators, spare fuel and a small cookhouse detachment for the 40 of us proceeding were carried in the balance 03 trucks. In all we were a convoy of nine vehicles including my Jonga Jeep. A insignificant small convoy, yet one carrying special goodies for the Intruders which would subsequently tear, maul and impale them alive transmitting such shivers down their subconscious memory that for years the fear of the attack would be deeply Hamotingla Gun Position for where240 rockets were delivered on to Jubar Hill – Jul 1999