Bot at 12:55, 26 November 2022

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{{EngvarB|date=November 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| width = 380px
| image = File:Sculpture showing Indo-Pak war.jpg
| image_size = 300px
| caption = Sculpture showing the Indo-Pakistani War
{{clear}}
{{OSM Location map
| coord = {{coord|32.3|N|74.7|E}} 
| float = center
| zoom = 8
| width = 290 
| height = 300
| caption = {{center|Phillora and surroundings}}
| nolabels = 1
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| mini-file =
| mini-width =
| mini-height =
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| minipog-y =
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| map-data-light = Q6754702

| mark-coord1 = {{Coord|32|40|24|N|74|27|50|E}}
| mark1 = Blue pog.svg
| mark-size1 = 7
| label1 = Marala Headworks
| label-size1 = 10
| label-color1 = blue
| label-pos1 = top
| mark-title1 = [[Marala Headworks]]
| mark-description1 = Beginning of the Marala Ravi Link Canal

| mark-coord2 = {{coord|32.3746|N|74.4153|E}}
| mark2 = AS-rzeka-icon.svg
| mark-size2 = 10
| label2 = MRL
| label-size2 = 10
| label-color2 = blue
| label-pos2 = right
| mark-title2 = Marala-Ravi Link Canal
| mark-description2 = Stated objective of the Indian campaign

| mark-coord3 = {{coord|32.2308|N|74.6031|E}}
| mark3 = AS-rzeka-icon.svg
| mark-size3 = 10
| label3 = MRL
| label-size3 = 10
| label-color3 = blue
| label-pos3 = right
| mark-title3 = Marala-Ravi Link Canal
| mark-description3 = Stated objective of the Indian campaign

| mark-coord4 = {{coord|31.89798|N|74.62616|E}}
| mark4 = Blue pog.svg
| mark-size4 = 7
| label4 = Ravi river
| label-size4 = 10
| label-color4 = blue
| label-pos4 = right
| mark-title4 = Ravi river
| mark-description4 = Bottom of the Marala Ravi Link Canal

| mark-coord5 = {{Coord|32|29|33|N|74|31|52|E}}
| mark5 = Red pog.svg
| mark-size5 = 8
| label5 = Sialkot
| label-size5 = 10
| label-color5 = black
| label-pos5 = bottom
| mark-title5 = [[Sialkot]]
| mark-description5 = [[Sialkot]]

| mark-coord6 = {{Coord|32.4417427|74.1182117}}
| mark6 = Red pog.svg
| mark-size6 = 8
| label6 = Wazirabad
| label-size6 = 10
| label-color6 = black
| label-pos6 = bottom
| mark-title6 = [[Wazirabad]]
| mark-description6 = Town in Pakistani Punjab on the [[Grand Trunk Road]]

| mark-coord7 = {{Coord|32|9|24|N|74|11|24|E}}
| mark7 = Red pog.svg
| mark-size7 = 8
| label7 = Gujranwala
| label-size7 = 10
| label-color7 = black
| label-pos7 = bottom
| mark-title7 = [[Gujranwala]]
| mark-description7 = [[Gujranwala]]

| mark-coord8 = {{coord|32.380976|N|74.719686|E}}
| mark8 = Red pog.svg
| mark-size8 = 6
| label8 = Phillora
| label-size8 = 10
| label-color8 = black
| label-pos8 = bottom
| mark-title8 = Phillora
| mark-description8 = The site of the first battle

| mark-coord10 = {{coord|32.9019451|74.7347398}}
| mark10 = Red pog.svg
| mark-size10 = 7
| label10 = Akhnur
| label-size10 = 10
| label-color10 = black
| label-pos10 = right
| mark-title10 = [[Akhnur]]
| mark-description10 = Town in Indian-administered Kashmir, the target of Pakistan's [[Operation Grand Slam]]

| mark-coord11 = {{coord|32.73|N|74.87|E}}
| mark11 = Red pog.svg
| mark-size11 = 9
| label11 = Jammu
| label-size11 = 10
| label-color11 = black
| label-pos11 = right
| mark-title11 = [[Jammu]]
| mark-description11 = City in Indian-administered Kashmir

| mark-coord12 = {{coord|32.57|N|75.12|E}}
| mark12 = Red pog.svg
| mark-size12 = 8
| label12 = Samba
| label-size12 = 10
| label-color12 = black
| label-pos12 = right
| mark-title12 = [[Samba, Jammu and Kashmir|Samba]]
| mark-description12 = Town in Indian-administered Kashir, the base for the 1st Armoured Division

| mark-coord13 = {{coord|32.3863|74.8988}}
| mark13 = AS-rzeka-icon.svg
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| label13 = Degh
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| mark-title13 = Degh river
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}}
| conflict = Battle of Phillora
| partof = [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]]
| date = 7–11 September 1965<br />({{Age in years, months, weeks and days|month1=9|day1=7|year1=1965|month2=9|day2=11|year2=1965}})
| place = Phillora in [[Sialkot]] ([[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab, Pakistan]])
| coordinates = {{coord|32.3810|N|74.7197|E}}
| result = Indian victory<ref name=Wilson>{{cite book|last = Prabhakar |first = Peter Wilson |title = Wars, proxy-wars and terrorism: post independent India|year = 2003|publisher = Mittal Publications, 2003|isbn = 978-81-7099-890-7 |page=84 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qYK0BhcgwaQC&pg=PA84}}</ref><ref name=Cambridge>{{cite book |title=The Cambridge History of India |volume=6 |last=James Rapson|first=Edward |author2=Wolseley Haig |author3=Sir Richard Burn |author3-link=Richard Burn (Indologist) |author4=Henry Dodwell |author5=Robert Eric Mortimer Wheeler |author6=Vidya Dhar Mahajan |author6-link=Vidya Dhar Mahajan |publisher=S. Chand |chapter=Political Developments Since 1919 (India and Pakistan)|page=1013}}</ref><ref name=Saxena>{{cite book|last = Saxena|first = K. C.|title = Pakistan, her relation with India 1947-1966|publisher = Vir Pub. House|asin = B003GB2IFU}}</ref><ref name=Sainik>{{cite book|title = Sainik samachar: the pictorial weekly of the Armed Forces, Volume 28|publisher = Directorate of Public Relations, Ministry of Defence|asin = B0000CRWSD}}</ref><ref name=Berindranath>{{cite book|last = Berindranath|first = Dewan|title = The war with Pakistan: a pictorial narration of the fifty days which rocked the sub-continent|publisher = Asia Press|asin = B0007JEFFA}}</ref>
|territory = India captures {{convert|470|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} of Pakistani territory<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/big-picture-1965-fifty-years-later/lite/|title=Big Picture: 1965, fifty years later|date=5 September 2015|publisher=Indian Express}}</ref>
| combatant1 = {{flag|India}}
| combatant2 = {{flag|Pakistan}}
| commander1 = {{plainlist|
*{{flagicon|India|army}} [[Lieutenant general|Lt. Gen.]] [[Harbakhsh Singh]]
*{{flagicon|India|army}} [[Lieutenant general|Lt. Gen.]] Pat Dunn
*{{flagicon|India|army}} [[Major general|Maj. Gen.]] [[Rajinder Singh Sparrow|Rajinder Singh]]
*{{flagicon|India|army}} Lt. Col. [[Ardeshir Tarapore]]
}}
| commander2 = {{plainlist|
* {{flagicon|Pakistan|army}} [[Lieutenant general|Lt. Gen.]] [[Bakhtiar Rana]]
* {{flagicon|Pakistan|army}} [[Major general|Maj. Gen.]] [[Abrar Hussain (General)|Abrar Hussain]]{{efn|"[Abrar Hussain] had fought in the World War II and won the [[Order of the British Empire|MBE]] due to his bravery as a young army lieutenant. Later in the 1965 War, he was awarded the gallantry award, [[Hilal-i-Jurat]], for leading an infantry brigade as part of the 6th Armoured Division that fought the famous tank battle with the Indian Army at Chawinda in Sialkot and halted the advance of the invading Indian troops in Pakistan’s territory."{{citation needed|date=April 2021}}}}
}}
| units1 = [[1st Armoured Division (India)|1st Armoured Division]]
* 1st Armoured Brigade
** 16th Cavalry Regiment
** [[Poona Horse|17th Horse Regiment]]
** [[4th Duke of Cambridge's Own Hodson's Horse|4th Horse Regiment]]
** 62nd Cavalry Regiment
*43rd Lorried Brigade<ref name="Amin">{{cite web|last=Amin|first=Agha.H|title=Situation Leading to and Battle of Phillora|url=http://pavocavalry.wordpress.com/2008/11/17/situation-leading-to-and-battle-of-phillora-click-to-enlarge-maps-1965-1965-war-map-conceived-and-drawn-by-ah-amin-indian-army-pakistan-army-pa/|work=Major|publisher=A.H Amin|access-date=11 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009110841/http://pavocavalry.wordpress.com/2008/11/17/situation-leading-to-and-battle-of-phillora-click-to-enlarge-maps-1965-1965-war-map-conceived-and-drawn-by-ah-amin-indian-army-pakistan-army-pa/|archive-date=9 October 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| units2 = [[6th Armoured Division (Pakistan)|6th Armoured Division]]
* [[10th Cavalry (Pakistan)|10th Cavalry Regiment]]
* [[11th Cavalry (Pakistan)|11th Cavalry Regiment]]
33rd TDU<br>4th Frontier Force<br>14th Para Brigade<ref name="Amin"/>
| casualties1 = 6 tanks destroyed<ref name="History">{{cite web|last=History|first=Official|title=Operations in Sialkot sector|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Army/History/1965War/PDF/1965Chapter07.pdf|work=Official history|publisher=Bharat-Rakshak.com|access-date=11 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609073555/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Army/History/1965War/PDF/1965Chapter07.pdf|archive-date=9 June 2011|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="Singh 1991 147">{{cite book|last=Singh|first=Lt.Gen Harbaksh|title=War Despatches|year=1991|publisher=Lancer International|location=New Delhi|isbn=81-7062-117-8|pages=147}}</ref>
| casualties2 = 66 tanks destroyed <ref name=Wilson/><ref name=Cambridge/><ref name="Singh 1991 147"/>|
}}
{{Campaignbox Indo-Pakistani War of 1965}}
{{Campaignbox Indo-Pakistani Wars}}

The '''Battle of Phillora''' was a large tank battle fought during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]]. It commenced on 10 September when the Indian 1st Armoured Division, with four armoured regiments and supporting forces under command, attacked positions in the [[Sialkot]] sector held by Pakistani 6th Armoured Division. After three days the Pakistanis withdrew with the loss of 66 tanks. The Indians admitted to the loss of 6 [[Centurion (tank)|Centurions]].

The battle coincided with the [[Battle of Asal Uttar]] where the Indians were again successful. It was followed by the [[Battle of Chawinda]], where the Indian offensive was halted. On 22 September a ceasefire came into force.

==Battle==
The battle commenced on 10 September 1965 when Indian troops launched a massive attack in the Phillora sector headed by Indian 1st Armoured Division. Equipped with four armoured regiments, and with a motorised infantry brigade attached, the division faced stiff opposition from the Pakistani 6th Armoured Division. Pakistani aircraft attacked the Indian forces. Their tanks suffered little damage while the supporting transport and infantry columns were harder hit. Over the next two days there was intense fighting before the outnumbered Pakistani troops made a tactical retreat towards [[Chawinda]]. At this point India claimed to have destroyed 6 Pakistani tanks.<ref name=Steve>Zaloga, Steve (1999) ''The M47 and M48 Patton tanks'' {{ISBN|1-85532-825-9}} pg.34-35.</ref>

According to ex-Pakistan Army Major and military historian A.H. Amin the Pakistani armour failed at the battle of Phillora:
{{quote|6 Armoured Division ordered Guides (10th) Cavalry and 14 FF to mount an attack from Bhagowal-Bhureshah area against the right flank of the Indians aimed at area Libbe-Chahr at 1130 hours on 11th September. The aim of this attack was to relieve pressure on 11th Cavalry. The Guides had a severe firefight with 16th Light Cavalry losing many tanks as well as destroying some enemy tanks but were unable to make any impression and the main Indian attack against 11th Cavalry holding Phillora proceeded smoothly. Phillora was captured by the Indians on 1530 hours on 11th September. The 11th Cavalry fought well and lost so many tanks that from 11th September onwards it ceased to function as a complete tank regiment.<ref name="pavocavalry.wordpress.com">{{cite web|last=Amin|first=Major Agha H.|title=Situation Leading to and Battle of Phillora|url=http://pavocavalry.wordpress.com/2008/11/17/situation-leading-to-and-battle-of-phillora-click-to-enlarge-maps-1965-1965-war-map-conceived-and-drawn-by-ah-amin-indian-army-pakistan-army-pa/|work=Think Tank|publisher=AH Amin|access-date=11 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009110841/http://pavocavalry.wordpress.com/2008/11/17/situation-leading-to-and-battle-of-phillora-click-to-enlarge-maps-1965-1965-war-map-conceived-and-drawn-by-ah-amin-indian-army-pakistan-army-pa/|archive-date=9 October 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>}}
Major Amin also criticised India for its strategic miscalculation:
{{quote|The Indians fought well but in the overall strategic context the capture of Phillora was of little consequence. Had the Indians shown similar resolution and a little more ''[[coup d'œil]]'' and modified their plans at the brigade and divisional level on 8 September, by 11 September they would have been leisurely holding the east bank of the MRL ([[Marala–Ravi link canal]]).<ref name="pavocavalry.wordpress.com">{{cite web|last=Amin|first=Major Agha H.|title=Situation Leading to and Battle of Phillora|url=http://pavocavalry.wordpress.com/2008/11/17/situation-leading-to-and-battle-of-phillora-click-to-enlarge-maps-1965-1965-war-map-conceived-and-drawn-by-ah-amin-indian-army-pakistan-army-pa/|work=Think Tank|publisher=AH Amin|access-date=11 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111009110841/http://pavocavalry.wordpress.com/2008/11/17/situation-leading-to-and-battle-of-phillora-click-to-enlarge-maps-1965-1965-war-map-conceived-and-drawn-by-ah-amin-indian-army-pakistan-army-pa/|archive-date=9 October 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>}}

==Result==
On 12 September the battle ended in a decisive victory for the Indian Army with the Pakistani forces retreating and regrouping to put up a last stand at Chawinda<ref>{{cite book
|last = Wilson
|first = Peter
|title = Wars, proxy-wars and terrorism: post independent India
|year = 2003
|publisher = Mittal Publications, 2003
|isbn = 978-81-7099-890-7}}</ref><ref name=Steve>Zaloga, Steve (1999) ''The M47 and M48 Patton tanks'' {{ISBN|1-85532-825-9}} pg.34-35.</ref> A day before, the Indian Army had experienced another victory at Asal Uttar when they successfully thwarted a Pakistani offensive in the Khem Karan sector. The continued thrust by the Indian Army into Pakistani territory finally culminated in the [[Battle of Chawinda]], where the Indian army's advance was halted.<ref name="Allan">{{cite book|last=Fricker|first=John|title=Battle for Pakistan: the air war of 1965|year=1979|publisher=I. Allan|location=University of Michigan|pages=128|url =https://books.google.com/books?id=RPttAAAAMAAJ&q=+chawinda
|isbn=978-0-71-100929-5}}</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=6f2opVxRGDcC&pg=PA1971&dq=chawinda+pakistan+victorious&hl=en&sa=X&ei=hs2RVIbdC8iVyASh8YDoAg&ved=0CFMQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=chawinda%20pakistan%20victorious&f=false Arming without Aiming: India's Military Modernization By Stephen P. Cohen, Sunil Dasgupta pg. 1971]</ref><ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=ZsdjJZWqtg4C&lpg=PA35&pg=PA36#v=onepage&q=%22In%20contrast%2C%20both%20proved%20adept%20with%20smaller%20forces%22&f=false The M47 and M48 Patton Tanks By Steven J. Zaloga Pg. 36 ]</ref> On 22 September the [[United Nations Security Council]] unanimously passed a resolution that called for an unconditional ceasefire from both nations.<ref name=Pradhan>{{cite book
|last = Pradhan
|first = R.D.
|title = 1965 war, the inside story
|year = 2007
|publisher = Atlantic Publishers & Distributors, 2007
|isbn =978-81-269-0762-5}}</ref> The same day a ceasefire agreement was signed and hostilities ceased.<ref>Barua, Pradeep (2005) ''The state at war in South Asia'' {{ISBN|0-8032-1344-1}} pg.192.</ref> The war ended the following day. India still retained almost 200 square miles (500 square kilometres) of Pakistani territory in the Sialkot sector including the villages of Phillora, Pagowal, Maharajke, Gadgor and Bajagrahi. They were returned to Pakistan after the [[Tashkent Declaration]].<ref name="History">{{cite web|last=History|first=Official|title=Operations in Sialkot sector|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Army/History/1965War/PDF/1965Chapter07.pdf|work=Official history|publisher=Bharat-Rakshak.com|access-date=11 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609073555/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/Army/History/1965War/PDF/1965Chapter07.pdf|archive-date=9 June 2011|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="Singh 1991 147" />

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Tank battles|style=wide}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Phillora}}
[[Category:Battles of Indo-Pakistani wars]]
[[Category:Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]]
[[Category:1965 in India]]
[[Category:Tank battles involving India]]
[[Category:Tank battles involving Pakistan]]
[[Category:September 1965 events in Asia]]

Battle of Phillora - Revision history

Bot at 12:55, 26 November 2022