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Many factors led to Army giving up in 1962. But psychological collapse played a big role

beijingwalker

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Many factors led to Army giving up in 1962. But psychological collapse played a big role​

The Army had studied PLA tactics in the Korean War and knew the antidote to its strategy. But on ground, it violated all the fundamentals.

LT GEN H S PANAG (RETD)
17 November, 2022 12:31 pm IST
Remembering-1962.jpg



The defeat of the Army in Phase 1 — 20 to 27 October — of the 1962 India-China war can be attributed to flawed political decisions, based on the premise that China will not initiate a war, and the acquiescence of the military leadership. Aggressive competitive flag-marking and a foolhardy plan to throw the Chinese out of Thagla Ridge led to the war. Isolated troops fighting from non-tactical defences without adequate logistics put up a heroic fight but were defeated in a matter of a few hours of actual fighting.


In Phase 2 — 14 to 20 November — there was little to no political interference. The Army was defending the ground of its own choosing with one divisional and two brigade-defended sectors. Main defences were connected by road except for Walong and air supply continued uninterrupted. All sectors were prepared for 7 to 10 days of battle. Yet, this formidable force was routed within two days of actual fighting.

At Sela-Dirang-Bomdila, 4 Infantry Division “psychologically collapsed” and disintegrated virtually without a fight in 24 hours. At Chushul, 114 Infantry Brigade inexplicably withdrew with a loss of only two companies out of 12. Only 11 Infantry Brigade at Walong fought a cohesive battle for 48 hours before withdrawing.

Flawed appreciation of enemy, terrain and weather, and psychological collapse of the leadership, which had a cascading effect on the rank and file, were the primary reasons.

Adverse terrain and weather

The campaigning season in the high-altitude areas of Ladakh and the North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA) is from June to November. Logistics and the troop built up for Phase 2 of the war were completed only by mid-November, leaving only 15 days for effective military operations. December onwards, operations get severely restricted due to the extreme cold and snow. There was no way the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) could have sustained a large force in winter over tenuous and lengthening lines of communication with then-available infrastructure. The relative advantage was with the defender.

Our communications had shortened, and additional troop buildup was rapidly taking place. All that the Army had to do was to hold fast for two weeks to force a winter pause and possible withdrawal by the PLA. The Indian military leadership — from the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) to brigade commanders — failed to appreciate the terrain and weather factor and also lacked the will to defend resolutely. That the Chinese, obliged by our psychological collapse, announced a unilateral ceasefire and withdrawal to begin on 21 November and conveyed it to the Indian chargé d’affaires on 19 November, only proves the point. Ironically, on that very day, 4 Infantry Division was abandoning its defences without a fight and an intact 114 Infantry Brigade began its withdrawal from Chushul.

Enemy strength

The commanders had little to no knowledge of the enemy strength. In Ladakh, the PLA had only one division available for operations as is now known from Chinese accounts. Given the vast sector, it had to regroup to attack Chushul with barely one reinforced regiment. Hence, at best, it had the capacity to capture three to four infantry company-defended localities. In reality, it captured only two. It did not have any residual force to progress further. Yet, such was the moral ascendency of the PLA that 114 Infantry Brigade was ordered to withdraw to defend Leh.

At Sela-Dirang-Bomdila, 4 Infantry Division did not appreciate the fact that the PLA could build up to three divisions for the offensive, which was a remarkable feat as it was operating over the same area where we could barely commit one brigade. Consequently, the simultaneous envelopment, isolation and attack on all three brigades led to the collapse of 4 Infantry Division without a fight.

PLA tactics

The PLA was a seasoned army that had won a prolonged civil war lasting for two decades. It also fought the Japanese from 1937 to 1945 on the mainland and in erstwhile Burma. In Korea, from 1950 to 1953, it evicted the United States and United Nations forces from North Korea to ensure a stalemate along the 38th parallel. It had mastered the art of manoeuvre. Infiltration, outflanking, and isolation tactics to envelope enemy defences were its forte.

Sela, was attacked from all directions with one division. Simultaneously, from the east, a division minus one regiment using the 161 km-long Bailey Trail over very treacherous terrain, isolated and attacked Dirang and Bomdila and cut off the road axis. Another division infiltrated from the shorter western flank, and so did a battalion from the eastern flank to isolate Sela, assist in its capture and also attack Dirang and Bomdila. Thus, the divisional defended sector was cut into three parts with all routes of escape blocked.

At Walong, the PLA preemptively outflanked the defences to secure the higher features in the west to attack from a position of advantage and also threatened the rear of the brigade, making the defences tactically untenable to force a withdrawal. At Chushul, the two flank companies were captured to make the rest of the Kailash Range tactically untenable and also threatened the only road axis, from Rechin La.

Indian Army tactics
The Army had studied PLA tactics in the Korean War in detail and knew that the antidote to infiltration, envelopment and isolation, was to remain steadfast in main defences, keep the flanks and infiltration routes under surveillance to prevent or delay enemy advance along these approaches, and maintain an adequate reserve for spoiling/counterattacks. However, on ground, it violated all these fundamentals.

There was a fundamental flaw in the deployment of 4 Infantry Division. As per all appreciations done over the years, the Bomdila-Mandala complex was considered the best defensive position as it stretched the enemy’s lines of communications and shortened ours and could not be easily bypassed. The altitude was 9,000 to 10,000 feet. A compact divisional defended sector would have forced the PLA to attack from lower to higher heights. If Sela had to be defended, there was a requirement for an additional brigade to cater for the outflanking movements.

No viable effort was made to delay or defend the outflanking/infiltration manoeuvre of the PLA via Poshing La to Dirang and Bomdila or around Sela defences. Fire brigade actions at a late stage only led to denuding the defences of Dirang and Bomdila. As a result, the PLA was able to attack and threaten all brigade-defended sectors with a division-size force. All defended sectors were stocked for 7 to 10 days. A determined fight would have forced the culmination of the PLA’s attack as the bulk of its forces was operating on a man-pack basis. Instead of a determined fight, the divisional commander panicked, and the corps commander also lost his nerve to order a withdrawal that turned into a disorganised flight to the rear. The Chief of Army Staff, Eastern Army Commander and the Director General of Military Operations were present at the corps headquarters as mute spectators when this fatal decision was taken. For the Indian Army, 17 November 1962 was a disgraceful day.


At Chushul, 114 Infantry Brigade failed to secure the dominating feature called Black Top, which was initially not held, allowing the enemy to attack Gurung Hill from higher ground. No attempt was made to secure the eastern spurs of Kailash Range or carry out a covering action or aggressive patrolling to prevent the buildup of the enemy. The main effort was to defend the Spanggur Gap approach, which tactically was least likely to be used. More so when we also had six tanks to guard the same.

There was a yawning gap of 10 km between Magar Hill and Rezang La, and the most dominating feature, Mukhpari, was not held, allowing both to be isolated and attacked from flanks and rear. Rezang La on limb without fire support was literally set up for slaughter. Despite the odds, two of the most heroic battles of the war were fought at Rezang La and Gurung Hill. Inexplicably, one battalion, which was in depth and not even shelled, and the troops in the valley were not used for a counter-attack. The PLA had no capacity to progress further operations beyond the Kailash range or in any other sector, let alone to advance Leh. The corps commander took counsel of his fears and withdrew an intact brigade after a loss of only two companies to defend Leh, 160 km behind.

At Walong, the fundamental error was not to hold the higher features on the western flank, allowing the brigade to be attacked from higher to lower ground and also isolate the entire sector. However, 11 Infantry Brigade fought a cohesive battle. Apart from aggressive patrolling, a heroic spoiling attack was launched by the 6 Kumaon and 4 Dogra to preempt the use of the vulnerable western approach. Unfortunately, once it failed, the brigade defences became untenable, and a relatively, better-organised withdrawal followed within 12 hours of the main attack.

Psychological collapse

It is empirical wisdom that the outcome of battle lies in the minds of the commanders and the troops. Both the attacker and the defender endeavour to create rapidly changing situations to make the adversary perceive that they can not cope with them. This brings about a psychological collapse and defeat. In attack, this is created by relatively higher mobility, manoeuvre, isolation, firepower, and finally, tactical battle for dominating ground. The defender tries to neutralise all these factors by aggressively interfering with and delaying the buildup and manoeuvre from the flanks, prevent isolation by deployment in depth, spoiling attacks, determined fight at the main defences and counterattack. As brought out earlier, the PLA tactics exploited all these factors, and the Indian Army remained passive in defensive positions. The outcome was inevitable.

The moral factor played a big role. The rout and destruction in Phase 1, particularly, the complete decimation of the 7th Infantry Brigade, adversely affected the psyche of the commanders and the troops. The PLA’s moral ascendency was absolute. How else can one explain the disintegration of 4 Infantry Division even before the battle began and the withdrawal of an intact 114 Infantry Brigade from Chushul? The Indian Army, despite all odds, had the capability to defeat the PLA in Phase 2 of the war, but it psychologically collapsed and gave up without a fight.

 
Most Indians believe they defeated the Chinese PLA in 1962 war, so they havent learned the lesson and will definitely try to invade Chinese land again in the future just as they did it again in 2020 Galwan incident. The supa pawa needs to be taught a real hard lesson by PLA.
 
Most Indians believe they defeated the Chinese PLA in 1962 war, so they havent learned the lesson and will definitely try to invade Chinese land again in the future just as they did it again in 2020 Galwan incident. The supa pawa needs to be taught a real hard lesson by PLA.

Don't agree. India learnt the lesson and that is why, there has been no major conflict, between China and India, after 1962.
 
Do u know what... The PLA unit send to face India is not even an elite of PLA. The elite are position near Korea and Russia.
 
Most Indians believe they defeated the Chinese PLA in 1962 war, so they havent learned the lesson and will definitely try to invade Chinese land again in the future just as they did it again in 2020 Galwan incident
Sir, why doesnt pla patrol to finger 4 in pangong any more (59 claim line)? Why no more patrols to burtse (59 claim line) in depsang? Why pla withdrawn 26 miles into its own side of galwan while nearest indian base is 2 miles away? Why pla have buffer zone on its own side in hot spring?
Why did ccp suppress public funerals for pla soldiers killed in galwan? Why didn't ccp confirm or deny us intelligence claim that 35 chinese soldiers died in galwan?
If china had a upper hand it would have escalated in ladakh rather than withdrawing from pangong tso and continuing to be denied access to its patrol line near burtse in depsang. In depsang india is blocked from its patrol points 8km east of y-junction while china is blocked from its point 7km west of y-junction. Both deny each other access.
India's on paper LAC claim is 18km east of y-junction in what is historically Pla controlled territory. Which is why Indian troops only asserted control up to 8km east of y-junction via patrols.
In pangong tso for example china claims & patrolled up to finger 4 and india to finger 8. current buffer is f4 to f8. And China used to patrol till F-4. They can no longer come there either
 
@beijingwalker @etylo @SIPRA @Beast


India is presently constructing nine tunnels, including the strategic Sela tunnel, which will offer all-weather connectivity between Guwahati in Assam to Tawang in AP. This will be highest bi-lane tunnel in the world once its completed. Eleven more ones are in the pipeline. Alternative connectivity to Western Ladakh from Manali that covers 298 km is 65 per cent complete

[/URL]

https://t.co/t6X0DC1aCW


 
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Most Indians believe they defeated the Chinese PLA in 1962 war, so they havent learned the lesson and will definitely try to invade Chinese land again in the future just as they did it again in 2020 Galwan incident. The supa pawa needs to be taught a real hard lesson by PLA.
I am yet to come across an indian who believes that. Maybe that's what they tell you in global times
 
62 war was lost due to lack of boldness in commanders, poor planning, non comprehension of gains made by enemy on ground and lack of situational awareness. After the flanking move along the Bailey's trail the 4 div AoR was cut into 3 pockets which were isolated and cut off from the main div HQ. This caused them to lose their eyes and ears. Also the IA never went all out for counter attacks and remained purely defensive which made them passive to any enemy actions However IA has learnt its lessons well from 62.
 
1962 was close shave and good lesson for isolationist Indian Govt, things could have gone much worse

Himalayan winter and planning of PLA to start the war in October worked in India's favor

India responded in kind in 1975 by integrating Chinese claimed Sikkim as an Indian state.
Indian Govt expected a military conflict and even tested nukes one year before. Without a single bullet being fired Hans lost over 2500 sqkm territory Chinese claimed territory to India.
Indian Govt and military were surprised at PLA and CCP inaction and how much Chinese feared the Soviets. CCP was so afraid of creating another front that they signed an agreement with India to have no arms on both sides at the border.
 
I am yet to come across an indian who believes that. Maybe that's what they tell you in global times

This is your ex-foreign secretary talking,
trying hard to put a twist on historical facts.
Claiming some Chinese themselves admit China lost.

It's timestamped.



@Beast @SIPRA @etylo
 
Why did ccp suppress public funerals for pla soldiers killed in galwan? Why didn't ccp confirm or deny us intelligence claim that 35 chinese soldiers died in galwan?
LoL, Who told you this crap? China provided lots of photos and video evidence of that clash, do you want to see them agian? and why India side couldn't provide any of them besides lying words?
 
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