Battle of Asal Uttar
| Battle of Asal Uttar आसल उत्ताड़ का युद्ध |
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| Part of Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 | |||||||
 Captured Pakistani tanks on display near Bhikhiwind, India |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 India |
 Pakistan |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 Lt. Gen. Harbaksh SinghLt. Gen. JS DhillonMaj. Gen. Gurbaksh SinghLt Gen Hanut Singh Rathore
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| Strength | |||||||
| 45 Centurion tanks, 45 M4 Sherman tanks, 8th Light Cavalry (45 AMX-13 tanks) |
4th Cavalry(44 Patton tanks) 5th Horse (44 Patton tanks) 6th Lancers (44 Patton tanks) 24th Cavalry (44 Patton tanks) 12th Cavalry (44 M24 Chaffee tanks) 19th Lancers (44 Patton tanks) |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 10 tanks destroyed or damaged | Over 99 tanks destroyed | ||||||
Maj. Gen. Nasir Ahmed Khan
4th Cavalry(44 Patton tanks) 5th Horse (44 Patton tanks)
6th Lancers (44 Patton tanks)
24th Cavalry (44 Patton tanks)
12th Cavalry (44 M24 Chaffee tanks)
The Battle of Asal Uttar (Hindi : असल उत्तर,Punjabi: ਆਸਲ ਉਤਾੜ) was one of the largest tank battles fought during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. It was fought from 8 to 10 September 1965, when the Pakistan Army thrust its tanks and infantry into Indian territory, capturing the Indian town of Khem Karan 5 km from the International Border. The Indian troops retaliated, and after three days of bitter fighting, the battle ended with the Pakistani forces being repulsed near Asal Uttar. Factors that contributed to this were the fierce fight put up by Indian army, conditions of the plains, better Indian tactics and a successful Indian strategy.
This battle is compared with the Battle of Kursk in the Second World War for how it changed the course of the India Pakistan war of 1965 in India's favour. War historians, including Dr. Philip Towle, regard the Indian resistance near Khem Karan as one of the key turning points of the war, one which tilted the balance of the war in favour of India. Peter Wilson states that the defeat of Pakistan Army in the battle of Asal Uttar was one of the greatest defeats suffered by Pakistan forces in the course of the Indo-Pakistan war of 1965.
The battle is described as one of the greatest tank battles since the Battle of Kursk in the second world war. Pakistan's invading force, consisting of the 1st Armoured Division and 11th Infantry Division, crossed the International Border and captured the Indian town of Khem Karan. Considering the situation, GOC Indian 4th Mountain Division (Maj. Gen. Gurbaksh Singh) immediately ordered the division to fall back and assume a horseshoe shaped defensive position with Asal Uttar as its focal point.
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Wikipedia