Indian Army photos

[ATV]

[ATV]

OPERATION KHUKRI : Joint Excellence .(Sierra Leone)




Operation (Op) KHUKRI was an unique multinational operation launched in the United Nations Assistance Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), involving India, Ghana, Britain and Nigeria. The aim of the operation was to break the two month long siege laid by armed cadres of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) around two companies of 5/8 Gorkha Rifles (GR, INDIA) Infantry Battalion Group at Kailahun by affecting a fighting break out and redeploying them with the main battalion at Daru. Its successful execution displayed the effectiveness of the United Nations and brought it kudos from every corner of the globe. The professionalism and the dedication of the Indian Armed Forces was yet again reiterated for the world to see.

Background to the Conflict

Sierra Leone (see Map I) is located on the west coast of Africa, bounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the Republic of Guinea and the Republic of Liberia. It was a home for slaves and ruled by the British till 1961. Thereafter, it was wracked by tribal strife, which culminated in full-scale civil war in 1991. The participants in this bloody and savage conflict were the RUF and ECOMOG (ECOWAS Monitoring Group. ECOWAS is an abbreviation for Economic Community of West African States). The RUF gained a notorious reputation for brutality and using drugged child soldiers who were particularly savage. This was brought to world attention when on 5 January 1999, the rebels attacked Freetown and held it till 12 January 1999. During their offensive in Freetown, the rebels indulged in indiscriminate slaughter of families, mass rape, burning buildings with people inside, and worst of all, amputated the hands of hundreds of children including infants.


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^^^^^^^Indian BMP-2s and troops arrive in Freetown's port on May 21, 2000.







^^^^^^ Chinook was used to Airlift the Troops.Faro, Portugal: A RAF Boeing Vertol Chinook coming from Sierra Leone en route to UK. These aircraft were not given UN colours, since the British troops were not under the UN mandate.







^^^Indian Soldiers of Gorkha Rifles in Sierra-Leone





Immediately after the release of the 21 Indian soldiers from their camp at Kuiva, the UN set in motion a plan to rescue the two companies of the 5/8 Gurkha Rifles (Mechanized Company-1 and Motorised Rifle Company-1), surrounded at Kailahun. The company commanders were able to talk regularly with their commanders back at base, and before the assault were given the broad outline of the plan along with their duties.

The forces involved would include the Indian QRC (troops of 5/8GR, 14 Mechanised Infantry, 23 Mechanised , and 9 PARA (SF)), a company from 2 PARA (SF). Support was to be provided by Indian Mi-8s, Chetaks, and Mi-35s, two companies of African troops (one each from Ghana and Nigeria), and RAF Chinook C.1 helicopters, as well as elements of the D Squadron SAS. Against this force was a battle-hardened but utterly undisciplined RUF rag-tag force armed with AK-47s, RPG-7s, and MANPADs.

Phase I of the operation Khukri began on the 13 July with the deployment of the combat elements from their bases in Freetown and Hastings to Kenema and Daru. The movement phase was conducted using Indian Air Force (IAF) Mi-8s and Mi-26s, as well as RAF Chinooks and a Hercules C.1 transports. By the evening of the 14 the first phase was complete and all forces in their designated positions.

^^Three Mi-35 Gunships on the ground in Sierra Leone.
Two temporary UN serial numbers alotted to the aircraft are visible - UN110 and UN112.



At dawn on the 15 June, two helicopters landing site outside of Kailahun was sanitized by forces in place there. At 0615hrs two RAF Chinook helicopters, guided by SAS troops who had been monitoring rebel forces since some time, landed two kilometres south of Kailahun and dropped off soldiers from 2 PARA (SF) to take care of any RUF fighters that decided to contest the breakout. The Chinooks carried on to Kailahun and at 0620hrs landed and extracted 33 personnel suffering from illness, as well as eleven Military Observers, plus different stores and flew them back to Freetown.

Once the Chinooks had departed, the two Kailahun companies began their assault on the town, supported by rocket launchers and 51mm mortar fire that lasted ten minutes. Mech-1 captured the town square, to be used as the Forming Up Place (FUP), and Mot-1 an RUF checkpoint on the road from Kailahun to Daru. Mot-1 took heavy fire from the checkpoint but they quickly assaulted the position and secured it. At this time the column departed the town with Ghatak (Commando) Platoon in the lead.

At 0730hrs the Daru, column (5/8GR) moved out, having been relieved in place by two companies of the Nigerian Battalion (NIBATT). At the same time the QRC was airlifted by two waves of three Mi-8s each to Area 3 Bridges. At 0738hrs the Kailahun companies linked up with 2 PARA (SF) and began moving towards Giehun with 2 PARA pulling rearguard duty and taking care of snipers along the way. Around 0930hrs Indian Mi-35s had arrived to provide security for the column.

At 0945hrs, 18 Grenadiers of INDBATT-2 were airlifted to a position northeast of Giehun and awaited the arrival of the Kailahun column, linking up with them by 1030hrs. The column then entered the town. One hour later a company from the Kailahun column was airlifted to Daru.



^^Colonel Khushal Thakur, YSM, CO 18 Grenadiers, with his team after the successful rescue operation of the trapped soldiers from Kalaihun, Sierra Leone, July 15, 2000.
Operation Khukri was initially code-named Operation Kassava.


^^Defence Minister George Fernandes congratulating Colonel Khushal Thakur at Hastings, Sierra Leone on July 20, 2000.




Detailed Analysis - http://www.usiofindia.org/article_oct_dec02_6.htm

Jai Hind

[Halcyon]

Which vehicle is this?

[ggk]

Singaporean Bionix

[sheroo]

[QUOTE=ATV;4344680]NSG



HEy ATV where did you get this picture.
Is this what they are aiing for then this is going to be another money waste if this is how they are going to spend it.
nomex overalls, helmet, knee pads shoes, can all be made and provided by domestic manufacturers for half the cost. the money saved can go for something better than an AK-47 as the primary weapon. Who is the dumbass reporter.

[Sabertooth05]

[QUOTE=sheroo;4345532]

NSG

HEy ATV where did you get this picture.
Is this what they are aiing for then this is going to be another money waste if this is how they are going to spend it.
nomex overalls, helmet, knee pads shoes, can all be made and provided by domestic manufacturers for half the cost. the money saved can go for something better than an AK-47 as the primary weapon. Who is the dumbass reporter.

1. The first priority is protection for the soldiers. Better protection and armaments bring a motivation to take more risks, resulting in higher success rates. NIJ IV level is essential. No more level III. Stereo night vision systems, kevlar gloves, CQB boots, nomex flight suits (in place of shirt & pant concept), ballistic kneepads, a NIJ level IV plates (front, back + sides), Kevlar helmet + ballsitic goggles (options available including power correction for eyes), Ballistic face helmets, Helmet mounted LED lights & video Camera, Pistol carrier with ammo and Knife carrier. Tactical radio with data, video and voice can be used for continuous contact. Integrated GPS and IFF methodology would be useful as well.

2. No terrorist is using 9mm submachine guns. SO it doesnt make sense for the good guys to carry 9mm as well in all situations. Its an option. But shouldnt be made the only option. The terrorist guys are using 7.62x39 mm aka AK47 series. These penetrate NIJ III level protective equipment. The armament has to be light but effective. Too much power like 7.62x51 mm NATO round often leads to overpenetration in urban environment and may not be effective. Iraq and afghanistan lessons teach us to not use 5.56 mm as these are not effective as well. 6.8 SPC seems to be the future in CQB. NSG / SWAT should standardize on 2 rounds for regulars - .45 Calibers + 6.8 SPC. .45 is better than a 9mm IF the higher recoil is managed. New systems are very effective today. 6.8 SPC is already used with good effectiveness in various theatres. Remember that these equipment are only going to be used for Internal operations. Hence strategic issues need not be taken into account.

3. Similarly the next item should be the surveillance systems, UAVs, microUAVs, UGVs, Thermal / IR cameras, remote controlled surveillance and sniping systems ensure higher enemy mortality rates ensuring quick close to hostage situations. Cellphone jammers, Broadband RF Jammers, GPS Jammers, ensure that the terrorists cannot communicate and in a hostage situation, the terrorist is made to feel alone. Then a single channel of communication is used for negotiations. Its really effective.

4. Breach weapons for breaking through walls, steel doors, ceilings, floors, or taking out entire blocks of builings is essential for quick hostage operations. Non-lethal rounds is also an option in case of a compulsion to make arrests.

5. Vehicles are the 5th in the priority. Fully armoured MRAP Trucks can be used both as protection as well as for establishing a perimeter. Mumbai episode shows that setting up perimeters is an absolute vital. This ensures keep tally of every person coming in & out of a hostage building or area. Breaching vehicles capable of taking SWAT/NSG to say 10 floors would be a nice addition. MI 17 helicopters are just too big for urban operations. ALH would be ideal carrying 5-6 troops to building tops. It also reduces casualities in case one of the helicopters is hit.

So the lessons from Mumbai attacks should be learnt quickly and we prepared the next time something similar is attempted. The terrorists would be upping the game everytime and the only way to beat the terrorists is to jump in the game. Better equipment, better & realistic training and most of all better situation management is highly essential for success in antiterror operations.

[ATV]

[ATV]

^^Army Rescue Effort during Kashmir Earth Quick



GHATAK PLATOON TRAINING

[ATV]

[ATV]

IAF in Maldive

[vande matrum]

^^Army Rescue Effort during Kashmir Earth Quick



GHATAK PLATOON TRAINING

real snake?

[vande matrum]

whats on the helmets? some kind of sensors?

[Dark Avenger]

Yes, laser receivers (on the vests too), part of a MILES like system allowing two way training (emitters on the guns).

[ayanami_tard]

afaik air dominance term only apply to F-22

[Hyde]

afaik air dominance term only apply to F-22

So the F22 is the only fighter which role it is to achieve air dominance?