Armour Corps of Pakistan Army

[ghazi52]

Armour Corps​

After taking over some share of stores, equipment and funds, assets were moved to Pakistan and Nowshera was selected for the Armoured Corps Centre and School. The advance party arrived at Nowshera in November 1947 and the main body followed a month later. The Sikh Regimental Training Centre and British Military Hospital lines were taken over. Considerable difficulties were experienced both in India and on arrival here, but due to the sheer hard work, initiative and dedication displayed by the officers, junior commissioned officers and other ranks, all difficulties were overcome and the Armoured Corps Centre and School was established at Nowshera Cantonment.

The journey from Ahmednagar to Nowshera commenced with the announcement of independence of Pakistan as made by Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. On the same day, the Pakistan Armoured Corps was born. At that time, there was no Armoured Corps training institution in any area which later on became part of Pakistan. All such training institutions were located at four different places in India. These are:-

• Armoured Corps Officers Training School at Ahmednagar.
• Armoured Corps Training Centre No.1 at Lucknow.
• Armoured Corps Training Centre No.2 at Ferozepur.
• Armoured Corps Training Centre No.3 at Babina.

Under the Independence Act, it was decided that the Indian Army, including the Armoured Corps, will be divided at the ratio of 2:1 between India and Pakistan. The Armoured Corps School at Ahmednagar had to stay with India, and the Muslim instructors were allowed to opt for the newly born state of Pakistan. In addition, the training equipment at the School was also to be distributed as per the decided ratio. To carry out this colossal task of distribution, a board composed of British, Muslim, Sikh and Hindu officers was constituted under the chairmanship of Brigadier Gimson, who was the Commandant of the Armour School at that time. On similar lines, other boards were constituted, for all other training Centres.

After the arrival of Mountbatten, as Viceroy of India, the partition date was announced. Time was precariously short. The C-in-C, Field Marshall Sir Claude Auchinleck and his staff produced the plan for the division of the Army. The division of the Indian Armoured Corps was based upon the principle that regiments with ethnic majorities would be allotted to their respective ethnicities. Pakistan's share was 6 regiments, (5 H, 6 L, 11 C, 13 L, 19 Land Scinde Horse). Since Guides had one Dogra and one Sikh squadron, it was allotted to India. Scinde Horse with one KK (Khaim Khani) and one Pathan squadron was earmarked for Pakistan. Because of the Guide's association of over 90 years with Mardan, the CO requested for it to be allocated to Pakistan. The C- in- C refused, however, a miraculous freak changed our fate. The KK squadron of Scinde Horse decided to remain in India as their homes in Rajputana were now part of India. This happy decision of the KK squadron brought the Guides to Pakistan. It received the Pathan squadron from Scinde Horse and the PM squadron from Hodson's Horse, giving its Sikh squadron to Hodson's Horse and its Dogra squadron to Scinde Horse.

"On Partition, the Indian Army retained what was the Centre and School of the Indian Armoured Corps along with a majority of the officer cadre, most of whom were non-Muslims, in accordance with the British policy. Consequently, with very few officers in Armoured Corps, all below the rank of lieutenant colonel, and with the GHQ placing emphasis mostly on the Corps of Infantry, the organization of the Armoured Corps was adversely affected in the initial period preceding Partition. The overall situation was so pathetic that there was no existence of even a Directorate for the Armoured Corps, which is so vital for regulating the affairs and solving the evolutionary problems of the Corps, there being just a Grade-2 staff officer who was a British officer named Major Ritter.

The Armoured Corps Directorate was established at a much later stage when Brigadier Idrees, Commander 3rd Armoured Brigade was appointed Director Armoured Corps and was later replaced with the rank of a Major General. The Armourtd Corps Centre and School were established at Nowshera. Matters at these institutions progressed slowly till Colonel Ihsanullah Babar took over as Commandant, after which things began to improve considerably at a quicker pace as procedures, drills and training policies were streamlined.

The Muslim element of the Indian Armoured Corps Centres at LUCKNOW, BABINA and AHMED NAGAR formed the nucleus of the Pakistan Armoured Corps Training Regiment. After collecting a token share of stores, equipment and funds they moved to Nowshera - Pakistan. The advance parties arrived in August 1947 while the main parties followed a month later. The Sikh Regimental Training Centre and British Military Hospital Lines were occupied. Needless to say that considerable difficulties were experienced both in India and on arrival in Pakistan, but due to remarkable patience and energy displayed by all ranks, the obstacles were sur-mounted with the untiring efforts and hard work of those few who laid the foundations of this elite corps.

In April 1948, Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah visited this establishment and addressed a Durbar which is an honor for the Armoured Corps. The first attestation parade was held for the first batch of recruits to pass out and since then a steady flow has been maintained. On 13th April 1948, the founder of Pakistan, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah visited the AC Centre and addressed a durbar which is a unique honour and cannot be claimed by many in Pakistan. Quaid-e-Azam spoke about cavalry said: "Cavalry has always been the spearhead of the army. This is no less true in these days of mechanization that it was in the days of horses. To carry out their role cavalry must have the very best in officers and men. Whether they do in fact attain this level depends very largely on you. You produce the recruit and turn him out as trained soldier. Upon this training and teaching depends the efficiency of the Armoured Corps as a whole"

The proof of combat efficiency of the corps was the action taken in 1948 during Kashmir War. Later the major operational participation by Armoured Corps was during Indo-Pak War of September 1965. It stood the test in a most splendid and praiseworthy manner. The men fought with valour and determination unparalleled in recent history. Many laid down their lives for the country. A total of 53 gallantry awards were bestowed upon Officers, Junior Commissioned Officers and Soldiers of the Corps in recognition of their deeds in the battle field including the most coveted gallantry award of Nishan-e-Haider. Over sixty Imtiazi Sands were also awarded to the personnel of the Corps. After the Indo-Pak War 1965, a few more regiments were raised / re-organised.

During the War of 1971 individual regiments took part in Chammb and Sind. Again the regiments came upto the expectations and proved once again that Pakistan Armoured Corps is a force to reckon with.

The equipment has now changed much, to include some of the latest of the family of tanks. What's more, a high standard of training has been achieved at all levels. The Armoured Corps Stands today as most hard-hitting, mobile force ready to perform its role for the defence of Pakistan both in peace and War.

The Corps has since grown in size to the extent that it would barely be recongisable to the founding fathers of 1947. This besides other factors has only been possible due to vigorous efforts of the Armoured Corps Centre in maintaining a steady flow of manpower to be absorbed in different Armour Regiments.

 

[ghazi52]

The Armoured Corps (Urdu: ﺁرمرڈ كور) of the Pakistan Army is a combat branch tasked with armoured warfare. Equipped with more than 3,742 main battle tanks, the corps is headquartered in the garrison town of Nowshera, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The corps has only administrative control of its component regiments. The regiments are deployed in a number of field formations including two armoured divisions, two mechanised divisions, and a number of independent armoured brigades.

The corps has a history going back to September 1773, when its oldest unit, the Governor General's Bodyguard, was raised in British India. The corps maintains a number of units, who earned fame in numerous wars and engagements as part of the British Indian Army including in the two World Wars. At the time of the independence, Pakistan inherited six armoured regiments from the old British Indian Army.

Since then, the corps has expanded into more than forty regiments. Many of these new regiments have also earned accolades for their performance in wars fought with India. The corps played a minor role in 1947-48 and a major role in the 1965 and 1971 wars with India. Later on, the Corps played a crucial part in terms of deterrence when the Pakistani Army has mobilised repeatedly in the face of various Indian build-ups on the border. These include Operation Brasstacks in 1986-87 and Operation Parakram in 2001–02. The Corps also took part in Operation Zarb-e-Azb against terrorist groups in the North-Western part of Pakistan.

The Corps has a major presence along the India-Pakistan border and a minor presence along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

 

[ghazi52]

Size 52 regiments
Regimental Centre Nowshera Cantonment, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Nickname(s) Men of Steel
Colors Red and Yellow

Engagements
Indo-Pakistani War of 1947
Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
Battle of Chawinda
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Operation Desert Storm
Operation Brasstacks
Operation Parakram
Operation Zarb-e-Azb

Commander
Colonel Commandant Lieutenant General Nadeem Zaki Manj

Notable commanders
Major General Bilal Omer Khan
GEN Zia-ul-Haq
Lt. Gen. Mian Muhammad Afzaal (Shaheed) (CGS)
GEN Jehangir Karamat
Gen. Shamim Alam Khan
Lt. Gen. Nadeem Zaki Manj [EX CCC]
GEN Ahsan Saleem Hayat
Lt. Gen. Gul Hassan Khan
Lt. Gen. Hameed Gul

 

[Signalian]

The fist- the punch- the horse that can reach anywhere- Pride of Pakistan Army, The Armored Divisions of Pakistan Army.

The Armored Division is expected to cross into enemy territory, leading the assault and wreak havoc in enemy lines. Its the main offensive power which when used en-massed can become a nightmare for the enemy. This is why in the event of war, the enemy tries it best to know the location of Armored Divisions to save itself from the costly nightmare of an Armored Division showing up unexpectedly in an undefended area. In the history of conflicts, especially 1965 and 1971, the Armored Divisions proved decisive only when defending an area from enemy onslaught. The vulnerable area of Sialkot-Chawinda-Zafarwal-Shakargarh axis in north-east of Pakistan was saved in 1965 war from Indian Army's 1st Armored Division's onslaught by hastily raised 6th Armored Division of Pakistan Army, ex-100 Independent Armored Brigade Group. This area was then reinforced by remnants of Pakistan Army's 1st Armored Division, which faced a tough resistance from Indian Army in Khem Karan and had to withdraw. The 1971 war saw none or negligible use of Armored Divisions.


As noted above, Pakistan Army has two Armored Divisions.

1. 1st Armored Division , as part of II Strike Corps

2. 6th Armored Division, as part of I Strike Corps


1st Armored Division is covering the central and south-eastern areas of Pakistan, basically the semi-desert and desert regions. Its accompanied by two Infantry Divisions, 14th and 40th Infantry Division. Its equipped with T-80 UD MBT which have been bought specially for Operations in the desert due to good mobility and firepower.


6th Armored Division is covering the North-East areas of Pakistan, plains of Punjab region and hilly areas of Southern Kashmir. Its accompanied by two Infantry Divisions, 17th and 37th Infantry Division. Its equipped with Upgraded AL-Zarrar MBT which has decent mobility in plains and hilly areas and has the necessary firepower to lead an offensive.


I will lay down the structure and then the desired revamps.



The Armored Brigades:


Each Armored Division has only 2 Armored Brigades. Each Armored Brigade has only 2 Armored Regiments. This is a pretty small number of four (4) Armored Regiments in the Brigade structure of Armored Division. Equipped with 44-45 MBT in each regiment, the Brigades have 176-180 MBT’s in total. Both brigades have similar type of MBT for ease in logistics, spare parts, maintenance, ammunition and trained crews who have thorough familiarization with the MBT they operate.


These Brigades are used in conjunction with each other for an effective utilization in the war zone; they supplement each other in same sector. Further distributing/dividing them will reduce their efficiency.



The Armored Division can be supplemented with an Independent Armored Brigade Group when the need arises in war. That’s a further addition of 88-90 MBT in 2 Armor Regiments and a mechanized Infantry Battalion along with Artillery and Air Defense Regiments. This is to beef up numbers to conduct operations with a more flexible approach during an offense or defense.



The Artillery Brigade:


The self propelled tracked Guns like M-109 A2/5 pride themselves amongst the ranks of Armored formations. 155mm in caliber with shoot and scoot tactics, these howitzers are very effective against infantry fortifications, counter battery fire and can cause all sorts of damage to enemy. The ability to keep up with MBT’s advancing ahead makes these Guns an invaluable part of the Armor Division.


A heavier gun can also find itself with in ranks of an Armored Formation, the M110A2 which is 203mm in caliber and is specially used for counter battery fire.


2-3 Artillery Regiments form the Brigade, 18 Howitzers each, totaling 54 Howitzers in the Armored Division.



Air Defense Brigade:


Providing defense against air threats like ground attack aircrafts , UCAV’s and Gunships, the Air Defense Brigade is an essential arm of the Armored Division. Equipped with Talha APC (M-113 variant) equipped with RBS-70 SAM, used with the GIRAFFE Radar, there are 2-3 Regiments forming this Brigade.


Medium to High Altitude Air Defense is provided by Corps Assets and Air Force.


The Armored Regiment:

There is a 5th Armored Regiment, directly under command of the Divisional HQ. This can be a Recce Regiment however Recce Regiments used Light Tanks like M-24 in the past and used to perform recon for the M-4 Shermans and M-47/48 Pattons equipped Armored Regiments. Usually now, this Armored Regiment is equipped with MBT, and functions in the role of a standard Armored Regiment.


Inclusion of this Armored Regiment brings the total of MBT in Armored Division to 220-225.



Assault Engineers Regiment:

More resourceful and better equipped than their Infantry counterparts, these troops are equipped with AVLB’s (Armored vehicle launched Bridge) and other Bridge laying boats and vehicles, mine laying vehicles, mine clearing vehicles etc, the job of Assault engineers is to ensure that no natural or un-natural obstacle can obstruct the path of the Armored Division.


The regiment can also be equipped with ARV’s (Armored Recovery Vehs) however ARV is also found in Armored Regiments themselves too.


Signals Battalion:


Tasked to provide a communication network for the whole Division, its equipped with at least 1 APC but otherwise has necessary equipment and tools.


EME- Mobile Workshop

The EME unit provides repairs to the armored vehicles in the field. The decisive action demanded from an Armored Division requires the knocked out and damaged armored vehicles be put back in action as soon as possible through field repairs. It has mobile set up and can be deployed wherever required. It’s costly and time consuming to bring the MBT’s and other armored vehicles back to the peace time workshops.


Ordnance Unit:

Since MBT’s and other armed armored vehicles use different kind of ammunition from 155mm to 125mm and then 12.7mm rounds, an ordnance unit in an Armored Division is tasked to distribute ammunition throughout the Division.

Performing side by side with POL (petroleum Oil Lubricant) Dets, the fuel supply is also maintained through fuel tankers.

The FIU, Medical and other Divisional units function more or less in the same manner.



The Big question – Where is the Infantry?

One would expect an Armor Division to have its own dedicated infantry assets with IFV’s and APC’s accompanying MBT’s but the infantry is provided by the assigned Infantry Divisions of the same Corps. It becomes important sometimes for any formation to operate independently to show desirable results which cannot be affected through delays caused by merging of formations and acquiring assets from any other formation for support. 220 MBT’s in a formation is a formidable strength, but the necessary echelon of infantry riding along them cannot be ignored. Squeezing assets from other formations like Infantry Division also weakens those other formations as most of their strength gets attached with Armor Division. This may lead to compromises at some stage of another. Pakistan Army attaches many battalion sized units with bigger formations in war time as it has done so in the past.


The plus point is that both the Armor and Infantry Divisions work in cohesion with each other and can share support elements easily between each other, with the Infantry Division supporting Armor Division as it advances into enemy territory.


The Independent Armored Brigade Group:

This is a very versatile Brigade, it’s the Corps Commander’s favourite trump card which he can flexibly use anywhere he desires. It can operate on its own and counter Indian CSD IBG’s. It can be assigned to an Armored Division. It can be assigned to support an Infantry Division. It can be held back in reserve until the very end and spring in action from any direction against an enemy offensive.

When assigned to the Armor Division, it beefs up the strength of Armor regiments instantly in the formation, taking them from 5 to 7. The enemy gets an unexpected surprise while the potential of operational capability of the Division rises.


Desirable – Full strength Brigade Structure

Most modern armies use 3 armor regiments per armored brigade, some use 3 armor regiments and 1 mechanised infantry battalion while others use 2 armor regiments and 1 mechanised infantry battalion. PA has 2 armor regiments per armored brigade, which needs to be increased in any of above combinations, preferably one more armor regiment, increasing numbers to 3 armor regiments per armored brigade.


Desirable – a Third Brigade

Instead of merging an independent Armored Brigade Group into an Armored Division, a mechanized infantry Brigade or a mix of Armor and mechanized unit brigade can be raised. This will bring in the infantry into perspective instead of grabbing infantry from Infantry Divisions. As it must be kept in mind that Infantry is to used to hold area, so any area captured will require infantry to dig in and defend that area instead of moving ahead in their APC’s with the advance of the MBT’s towards the next objective. Armor will require infantry to jointly attack an area for effective results.


Desirable – Anti Tank Units

Armor Division is not always expected to attack enemy’s armor formations, its expected to exploit weaknesses in enemy lines and make its way into enemy territory at weakly defended points which offer nor or little resistance and remove the enemy from the area so that the infantry can capture and hold it. However a MBT vs MBT scenario is very much possible and so the armor division should have dedicated support of Anti-Tank Infantry units like LAT/HAT as well as aerial assets like Gunships, UCAV’s etc.


Desirable – Dedicated Aviation units

Gunships and UCAV’s are not just anti-tank platforms, they can engage a wide variety of enemy targets and can soften the enemy positions before the Armor rolls in. The scout and recon helicopters along with UAV’s can give a full detailed view of the battlefield so the GOC can plan accordingly as the different variables in the situation of the battlefield keeps changing. MBT’s working closely with Gunships has been seen in exercises performed by Pakistan Army.


Desirable – The MLRS Regiment

Steel rain or MLRS can pour havoc on enemy strongholds, ammunition and fuel storage areas and depots, infantry positions and command/control/communication centers. A dedicated unit in Artillery brigade is a must.

 

[Joe Shearer]

Its equipped with T-80 UD MBT which have been bought specially for Operations in the desert due to good mobility and firepower.

Its equipped with Upgraded AL-Zarrar MBT which has decent mobility in plains and hilly areas and has the necessary firepower to lead an offensive.

So both have mobility, and both have firepower. So what's the difference, and why is one type better than the other in its terrain?

 

[ghazi52]

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[ghazi52]

T-55/Type-59

 

[ghazi52]

PA AC Tank commander scanning the desert with his binos.Type59 tank is visible in background.

 

[ghazi52]

 

[ghazi52]

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[Lion]

So both have mobility, and both have firepower. So what's the difference, and why is one type better than the other in its terrain?

I personally believe both should be withdrawn from desert combat given the lack of air conditioning in them, but maybe that’s just me being spoilt.

On a more serious note, the Al-Zarrar lacks the mobility of a modern MBT, hence it is kept out of the harsher terrain of the Deserts, and IMO the deployment of armor in the two armies has more to do with what the other side fields in the region and what the battle plan is than the terrain, it’s not like the UD will perform any worst in the plains than the Al-Zarrar, it will perform better than the AZ in any terrain, it’s simply the better tank, but in the plains the AZ might be able to use the infantry support and the terrain to its advantage to make up for its poorer mobility and armor protection. The AZ, much like the Indian T72M1s, is a tool of necessity, used wherever its shortcomings will be least apparent, in this case it just happens to be the plains.

 

[Joe Shearer]

I personally believe both should be withdrawn from desert combat given the lack of air conditioning in them, but maybe that’s just me being spoilt.

On a more serious note, the Al-Zarrar lacks the mobility of a modern MBT, hence it is kept out of the harsher terrain of the Deserts, and IMO the deployment of armor in the two armies has more to do with what the other side fields in the region and what the battle plan is than the terrain, it’s not like the UD will perform any worst in the plains than the Al-Zarrar, it will perform better than the AZ in any terrain, it’s simply the better tank, but in the plains the AZ might be able to use the infantry support and the terrain to its advantage to make up for its poorer mobility and armor protection. The AZ, much like the Indian T72M1s, is a tool of necessity, used wherever its shortcomings will be least apparent, in this case it just happens to be the plains.

Solid good reasoning.

 

[ghazi52]

 

[Hakikat ve Hikmet]

Insha'Allah some form of Altay tank, with indigenous engine, will be a part of the Pak armored in the near future....

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[ghazi52]