What's new

Pakistan Army Information

. . .
hi i am a beginner in this field,so i don’t know more about this,but i get some more valuable information through this site.
 
. . .
Al Khalid Main Battle Tank – the armoured fist

ALI OSMAN

The Armoured Corps is rich in tradition, with storied units still included in its order of battle.

If the tanks succeed, then victory follows

-Heinz Guderian

Armoured units are the primary force multipliers utilised by ground forces for offensive actions conducted using the fundamental elements of speed and firepower.

Although tanks were introduced towards the tail-end of the Great War, the fundamentals of armoured warfare came in on their own during the German blitz across Europe and North Africa during World War II, and were later used by the Red Army with the same devastating effect in their march towards Berlin.

Pakistan Army’s Armoured Corps came into being with the creation of Pakistan, and inherited six regiments from the old British Indian Army. The Armoured Corps is rich in tradition, with storied units still included in its order of battle. It is a proud fighting arm of the Pakistani army.

The MBT

The Al-Khalid Main Battle Tank (MBT) forms the backbone of Pakistan Army’s Armoured Corps.

The tank is a result of close collaboration between Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT) of Pakistan and China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO), with the first prototype developed in the early '90s.

The Al-Khalid is a further development of the Chinese Type 90-II tank. The tank is locally produced at the HIT complex, and an estimated 600 vehicles are in service.

Al-Khalid MBT incorporates Russian and Chinese design philosophy in its manufacture. The tank itself is considerably lighter and smaller, incorporating a lower profile when compared to its Western counterparts.

Race across the desert

The Al-Khalid is powered by a Ukrainian 6TD-2 liquid-cooled diesel engine which delivers 1,200 horsepower, propelling the tank to a maximum speed of 70 kilometres per hour. The engine utilises pistons arranged horizontally in an opposed piston configuration, which reduces the size of the engine and fits well inside the medium-sized hull of the vehicle. The same engine is also mounted on Pakistan’s T-80UD MBTs.


During the design phase, special emphasis was laid on high-performance cooling and air filtering systems to counter the high ambient temperatures and the fine sand which would be encountered in operational areas of Pakistan’s Thar and Cholistan deserts, enabling it to race across the desert to engage the enemy.

Ukrainian 6TD-2 liquid-cooled diesel engine propels the tank to a maximum speed of 70 kilometres per hour

The Al-Khalid is able to cross water obstacles 1.4 metres deep without preparation, and can cross water obstacles to a maximum depth of 5 metres with a snorkel attached.

Armoured fist

The primary task assigned to any MBT is to penetrate enemy lines using violence of action and wreak havoc in the enemy’s rear.

The Al-Khalid is equipped with a 125mm smoothbore main gun, capable of firing a variety of rounds and the 9M119M Refleks (Nato reporting name AT-11 Sniper) anti-tank guided missile, a tandem warhead missile with a range of five kilometres, also fired through the main gun.

The main gun is capable of shooting six to eight rounds per minute. The tank is equipped with a laser rangefinder and a computerised fire control system, with the main gun stabilised on a dual-axis, enabling it to shoot accurately on the move.


The gunner and commander have dual day/night sights with thermal imaging, in order to lay accurate fire on both stationary and moving targets at any time of the day. The commander also has a panoramic hunter-killer sight at his disposal, which is used to designate targets for the gunner.

The Al-Khalid also comes equipped with an autoloader, reducing the crew to three, another facet of Russian tank design philosophy which was incorporated into the tank. The Al-Khalid has a 12.7mm heavy machine gun placed on the commander’s cupola, with a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun placed next to the main gun.

The tank is capable of firing the Pakistani Naiza 125mm depleted uranium (DU) round, which maintains a one-shot kill capability.

In short, if the Al-Khalid meets the T-90S Bhisma on the plains of Punjab or the deserts of Sindh, it is more than capable of achieving a one shot kill on its adversary.

Steel plated beast

In terms of protection, the Al-Khalid’s hull is made of hardened steel armour plates placed over Rolled Homogenous Armour (RHA), while the sides and the turret incorporates modular armour, allowing the operator to change damage armoured modules with ease.

The tank is also equipped with Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA) bricks for added protection. ERA bricks cover the turret front, roof, sides and hull glacis.


In addition to the capable armour protection, the crew is also protected by a collective NBC (nuclear, biological and chemical) system. The tank incorporates internal fire extinguisher and explosion-suppression systems in order to add to crew survivability.

Tanks can be manufactured; it is the crew that needs to be protected, as a trained tank crew takes a significant amount of time and resources to train.


Al-Khalid also comes equipped with a laser warning system, which detects incoming ATGMs and provides the crew with better threat perception. The tank is itself coated in IR (infrared) reflective paint to lower the thermal signature, along with launchers which can launch thermal smoke, chaff and fragmentation grenades.

The latest model of the tank is also rumoured to be equipped with an Active Protection System (APS), which can defeat incoming anti-tank missiles and rocket-propelled grenades (RPG).

New challenges

The Al-Khalid is a capable tank, and would be an adequate match for any adversary it faces in a conventional conflict.

The Al-Khalid is a capable tank, and would be an adequate match for any adversary it faces in a conventional conflict.

As is the case with any modern MBT, protection levels need to be kept up to pace with developments in the field of anti-tank weapons. With the modern battlefield constantly evolving, tanks are now more vulnerable than ever to both conventional and unconventional forces.

With the massive proliferation of advanced anti-tank weapons, mostly now in the hands of irregular and militant forces (e.g Syria), protecting the tank and especially the crew has become the need of the hour.

As stated earlier, if the later models of the Al-Khalid are not equipped with an APS, it needs to be sourced and installed, or remain quite vulnerable.
 

Attachments

  • 1447213775586.jpg
    1447213775586.jpg
    78.1 KB · Views: 94
  • 1447213792675.jpg
    1447213792675.jpg
    71.4 KB · Views: 84
. .
to all the army experts
What is the difference between armored infantry and mechanized infantry?
Im not an expert.

Armored Infantry and Mechanized Infantry is same thing : troops mounted on APC or IFV.

British use term Armored Infantry. Most of the world uses Mechanized Infantry.
 
.
Modern Pakistani Army

By Dan Fraser.

Pakistan1950+
The main foil for India on the sub-continent, this army follows the British model but is more involved in the internal politics of Pakistan and the international politics of Islam. A tough fighting army it has reputation holding on no matter what the cost and has become extensively involved in UN Operations at the battalion level.

Pakistani Infantry Brigade Headquarters(Commands 3 Infantry Battalions)
HQ 1 HQ
Anti Aircraft Company 6 SA7, 6 Truck
Anti Tank Company 3 SPAT

Note Before 1970 replace the M577 with a Truck.
SPAT is:
M36B1 (1950 to 1965)
Jeep/106 (1965 to 1980)
Jeep/Cobra (1980 to 1990)
Jeep/TOW (1990+)
Jeep/Red Arrow (1995+)

Pakistani Armored Brigade Headquarters(Commands 3 Tank Battalions, 1 Mechanized Infantry Battalion, 1 Artillery Battalion Self Propelled)
HQ 1 HQ
Anti Aircraft Company 4 SA7 or RBS70, 4 APC (Stinger is available in limited amounts after 1988)
Engineer Company 2 Engr, 2 APC, 1 PT54
Anti Tank Company 3 SPAT

Note APC is:
M113 (1970+)
M3HT (1950 to 1969)

SPAT is:
M36B1 (1950 to 1960)
Jeep/106 (1960 to 1975)
Jeep/Cobra (1975 to 1985)
Jeep/TOW (1980+)
Jeep/Red Arrow (1985+)
M901 (1990+)

Pakistani Infantry Battalion 1950 to 1965
HQ
1 HQ
3 Infantry Companies each 3 Rifle, 1 MG
1 Anti Tank Company 2 75RR, 2 Truck
1 Mortar Company 2 76M, 2 Truck

Pakistani Infantry Battalion 1966+
HQ
1 HQ
3 Infantry Companies each 3 Rifle, 1 MG
1 Anti Tank Company 2 Jeep/106
1 Mortar Company 2 81M, 2 Truck

Pakistani National Guard Infantry Battalion(local defense units that do not serve outside their locality)
HQ 1 HQ
3 Infantry Companies each 3 Rifle, 1 RPG7
1 Mortar Platoon 1 82M, 1 Truck
Note This organization holds for irregular “liberation”forces engaged in Kashmir

Pakistani Special Services Group Commando Battalion
HQ
1 HQ
3 Infantry Companies each 3 Cdo, 1 RPG7, 1 MG
1 Anti Tank Company 1 Cobra, 1 82RR, 2 Truck
1 Mortar Company 2 81M, 2 Truck

Note 3 SSG battalions form the SSG Group.

Pakistani Mechanized Infantry Battalion 1950 to 1969
HQ
1 HQ
3 Infantry Companies each 3 Rifle, 1 MG, 4 APC
1 Mortar Platoon 1 81M, 1 Truck

Note Before 1970 replace the M577 with a Truck. APC is:
M113 (1970+)
M3HT (1950 to 1969)

Pakistani Mechanized Infantry Battalion 1970+
HQ
1 HQ
3 Infantry Companies each 3 Rifle, 1 RPG7, 1 MG, 4 M113
1 Support Company 1 81M, 1 Cobra, 1 82RR, 3 Truck

Note

Pakistani Tank Battalion
HQ
1 HQ
1 Recon Company 1 Jeep/MG, 1 Jeep/106
3 Tank Companies each 3 Tank

Note Tank types are:
M4/76 (1950 to 1965)
M48 (1960 1990)
M47 (1975+)
Type 59 (1975 to 1990)
M48A5 (1980+)
Type 69 (1985+)
Al Kalhid (1993+)
T80U (2002+)

Pakistani Divisional Cavalry Battalion
HQ
1 HQ
1 Recon Company 3 A/C
3 Tank Companies each 3 Tank

Note Tanks are usually light tanks, although Main battle tanks have been used. Again there are no hard and fast rules for this. Light tanks used are:

M24 (1950 to 1965)
M41 (1960 to 1985)
AMX13 (1966 to 1976)
PT76 (1975 to 1990)
Type 63 (1980+)

Armored cars used in the recon company are:
M8 (1950 to 1969)
M20 (1950 to 1969)
AML90 (1970 to 1990)

Pakistani Artillery Battalion(Light and Medium)
4 Batteries each 1 FAO, 2 How, 2 Truck

Note Howitzers is
Light Guns
3.7H (mountain units)
75H
25H
105H (after 1960)
122H (after 1965)

Medium Guns
5.5H
130H (after 1965)
155H (after 1960)

Pakistani Artillery Battalion(Self Propelled)
4 Batteries each 1 FAO, 2 SPH

Note Units were re-equipped from 1980 at a very slow pace. Self-propelled howitzers used are:
M7 HMC (1950 to 1995)
M109A2 (1980+)

Pakistani Mortar Battalion
HQ
1 FAO
3 Batteries each 2 120M, 2 Truck

Note Available mortars are 120mm and 107mm. 107mm is the WW2 British mortar and is considered obsolete but was in general use before 1965.

Pakistani Anti Aircraft Artillery Battalion
2 Batteries each
2 AAG, 2 Truck

Note Available anti aircraft guns are:
14.5AA (after 1965)
23AA (after 1970)
37AA (after 1965)
40AA (after 1950)
57AA (after 1965)

Pakistani Engineer Battalion
HQ
1 HQ
2 Engineer Companies each 2 Engr, 2 Truck
1 Bridging Company 2 Bridge, 2 Engr, 4 Truck, 1 MLG

Pakistani Attack Helicopter Squadron
2 Flights each
2 AH-1S/F

Large Units:
Infantry Division
– 2 to 4 Infantry Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade (3 Battalions Light, 1 Battalion Medium, 1 Mortar Battalion), 1 Engineer Battalion, 1 Cavalry Battalion

Armored Division– 3 Armored Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade (3 Battalions Light, 1 Battalion Medium, 2 Anti Aircraft Artillery Battalions), 1 Engineer Battalion, 1 Cavalry Battalion

this data is roughly from 2002. kindly update if possible:

Most of the Data shown here is pasted like default to formation organization from NATO standard. I have underlined the changes.

Pakistani Infantry Brigade Headquarters(Commands 3 Infantry Battalions)
HQ 1 HQ
Anti Aircraft Company (Battery) 6 SA7( Now Stinger), 6 Truck
Anti Tank Company 3 SPAT (Now Green Arrow on Defenders, usually 4 )

Pakistani Armored Brigade Headquarters(Commands 3 Tank Battalions, 1 Mechanized Infantry Battalion, 1 Artillery Battalion Self Propelled) (This is default NATO Org)

If Independent Armored Brigade Group
(Commands 2 Armor regiments, 1 Mech Inf Battalion(may or maynot be present), 1 Artillery SP Regiment which may or may not be present in all formations)


HQ 1 HQ
Anti Aircraft Company (Battery) 4 SA7 or RBS70, 4 APC(usually 6 weapon systems) (Stinger is available in limited amounts after 1988)
Engineer Company 2 Engr, 2 APC, 1 PT54
Anti Tank Company 3 SPAT (M-901 or TOW M113, usually 4)


Pakistani Infantry Battalion 1966+
HQ
1 HQ
3 Infantry Companies each 3 Rifle, 1 MG
1 Anti Tank Company 2 Jeep/106 ( 106mm RR is replaced with Green Arrow Defender jeep, 6-8 weapon systems, defender jeeps may be less in number)
1 Mortar Company 2 81M, 2 Truck ( usually 3-4 mortars)

Pakistani Mechanized Infantry Battalion 1970+
HQ
1 HQ
3 Infantry Companies each 3 Rifle, 1 RPG7, 1 MG, 4 M113 (6-8+ M113, many formations have more M-113 otherwise truck transport)
1 Support Company 1 81M, 1 Cobra, 1 82RR, 3 Truck ( 4 TOW M-113)

Pakistani Tank Battalion (Regiment)
HQ
1 HQ (2 Tank + 1 M113) ( CO and 2 IC have tanks, Adjutant has M113 Usually, also one M-113 from Signals comm maybe present )
1 Recon Company 1 Jeep/MG, 1 Jeep/106 (Green Arrow Defender jeeps, M-113 maybe present)
3 Tank Companies(Squadrons) each 3 Tank (14 tanks each)


Pakistani Artillery Battalion(Light and Medium)
4 Batteries each 1 FAO, 2 How, 2 Truck (3 Batteries usually, 6 guns each battery, some regiments have 4 batteries with 6 guns each) (for every gun 2 trucks, one for towing + crew, one for ammunition generally)

Large Units:
Infantry Division
– 2 to 4 Infantry Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade (3 Battalions Light, 1 Battalion Medium, 1 Mortar Battalion), 1 Engineer Battalion, 1 Cavalry Battalion

Some divisions have 4 brigades, This 4th Brigade is called AD-Hoc Brigade. 14th Infantry Div,23rd Infantry Division,and either its 8th or 15th infantry Division which have 4 brigades. 12 Infantry Division has 6 Brigades.

Cavalry battalion is actually Divisions Recon and Anti Tank Battalion.

A supply and transport battalion is present with more than 50 trucks usually.

Artillery Brigade has usually 2 medium regiments and a field regiment.
Mortar battalions are non existent now.


Armored Division– 3 Armored Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade (3 Battalions Light, 1 Battalion Medium, 2 Anti Aircraft Artillery Battalions), 1 Engineer Battalion, 1 Cavalry Battalion

2 Armor Brigades totalling 4 armor regiments.These Armor brigades have no infantry battalions

Infantry support is provided with supporting infantry division which is why the infantry division is transformed to Mechanized Infantry.

Cavalry battalion is usually a 5th Armor Regiment of the division.It has MBT, not light tanks but has recon capability.

There are 3 SP AD Regiments
 
.
Im not an expert.

Armored Infantry and Mechanized Infantry is same thing : troops mounted on APC or IFV.

British use term Armored Infantry. Most of the world uses Mechanized Infantry.

Sounds good to me
 
.
Most of the Data shown here is pasted like default to formation organization from NATO standard. I have underlined the changes.

Pakistani Infantry Brigade Headquarters(Commands 3 Infantry Battalions)
HQ 1 HQ
Anti Aircraft Company (Battery) 6 SA7( Now Stinger), 6 Truck
Anti Tank Company 3 SPAT (Now Green Arrow on Defenders, usually 4 )

Pakistani Armored Brigade Headquarters(Commands 3 Tank Battalions, 1 Mechanized Infantry Battalion, 1 Artillery Battalion Self Propelled) (This is default NATO Org)

If Independent Armored Brigade Group
(Commands 2 Armor regiments, 1 Mech Inf Battalion(may or maynot be present), 1 Artillery SP Regiment which may or may not be present in all formations)


HQ 1 HQ
Anti Aircraft Company (Battery) 4 SA7 or RBS70, 4 APC(usually 6 weapon systems) (Stinger is available in limited amounts after 1988)
Engineer Company 2 Engr, 2 APC, 1 PT54
Anti Tank Company 3 SPAT (M-901 or TOW M113, usually 4)


Pakistani Infantry Battalion 1966+
HQ
1 HQ
3 Infantry Companies each 3 Rifle, 1 MG
1 Anti Tank Company 2 Jeep/106 ( 106mm RR is replaced with Green Arrow Defender jeep, 6-8 weapon systems, defender jeeps may be less in number)
1 Mortar Company 2 81M, 2 Truck ( usually 3-4 mortars)

Pakistani Mechanized Infantry Battalion 1970+
HQ
1 HQ
3 Infantry Companies each 3 Rifle, 1 RPG7, 1 MG, 4 M113 (6-8+ M113, many formations have more M-113 otherwise truck transport)
1 Support Company 1 81M, 1 Cobra, 1 82RR, 3 Truck ( 4 TOW M-113)

Pakistani Tank Battalion (Regiment)
HQ
1 HQ (2 Tank + 1 M113) ( CO and 2 IC have tanks, Adjutant has M113 Usually, also one M-113 from Signals comm maybe present )
1 Recon Company 1 Jeep/MG, 1 Jeep/106 (Green Arrow Defender jeeps, M-113 maybe present)
3 Tank Companies(Squadrons) each 3 Tank (14 tanks each)


Pakistani Artillery Battalion(Light and Medium)
4 Batteries each 1 FAO, 2 How, 2 Truck (3 Batteries usually, 6 guns each battery, some regiments have 4 batteries with 6 guns each) (for every gun 2 trucks, one for towing + crew, one for ammunition generally)

Large Units:
Infantry Division
– 2 to 4 Infantry Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade (3 Battalions Light, 1 Battalion Medium, 1 Mortar Battalion), 1 Engineer Battalion, 1 Cavalry Battalion

Some divisions have 4 brigades, This 4th Brigade is called AD-Hoc Brigade. 14th Infantry Div,23rd Infantry Division,and either its 8th or 15th infantry Division which have 4 brigades. 12 Infantry Division has 6 Brigades.

Cavalry battalion is actually Divisions Recon and Anti Tank Battalion.

A supply and transport battalion is present with more than 50 trucks usually.

Artillery Brigade has usually 2 medium regiments and a field regiment.
Mortar battalions are non existent now.


Armored Division– 3 Armored Brigades, 1 Artillery Brigade (3 Battalions Light, 1 Battalion Medium, 2 Anti Aircraft Artillery Battalions), 1 Engineer Battalion, 1 Cavalry Battalion

2 Armor Brigades totalling 4 armor regiments.These Armor brigades have no infantry battalions

Infantry support is provided with supporting infantry division which is why the infantry division is transformed to Mechanized Infantry.

Cavalry battalion is usually a 5th Armor Regiment of the division.It has MBT, not light tanks but has recon capability.

There are 3 SP AD Regiments

Thanks for the update mate
 
. . . .

Pakistan Defence Latest Posts

Pakistan Affairs Latest Posts

Back
Top Bottom