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6th Armoured Division (Pakistan)

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6th Armoured Division
6 Armoured Division Insignia
Active1965- Present
Country Pakistan
Branch Pakistan Army
TypeArmoured Division
RoleStrategic Reserve
Size15,000 men approximately (though this may vary as units are rotated)
Part ofI Strike Corps
HeadquartersGujranwala, Punjab Province
Nickname(s)Shahsawar, Men of Steel
ColorsBlack and Gold
  
EquipmentArmour:
Artillery:
Mechanised:
Engineering:
Air defence:
EngagementsIndo-Pakistani War of 1965
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Gulf War 1991[citation needed]
Somali Civil War[citation needed]
Battle of Mogadishu[citation needed]
Indo-Pakistani War of 1999[citation needed]
War on terror[citation needed]
Commanders
General Officer Commanding
Maj. Gen. Abu bakr Sheraz
Brigadier Staff
Brig. N/A
Notable
commanders		Lt. Gen Gul Hassan Khan
Lt. Gen Mian Muhammad Afzaal HI(M) SI(M) OA(M) SBt (Shaheed) (Then Maj. Gen & Later CGS)
Lt. Gen Zarrar Azim HI(M) (Then Maj. Gen)
Lt. Gen Fazle Haq(Then Maj. Gen)
Lt. Gen Shah Rafi Alam SJ (Then Maj. Gen)
Maj. Gen Abrar Husain
Maj. Gen Iftikhar Janjua
Maj. Gen S Wajahat Hussain
Maj. Gen Jamshed Malik
(Late) Maj. Gen Muhammad Ali Khan

The 6th Armoured Division is a Pakistan Army armoured division currently based in Gujranwala, in Punjab Province.

History

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Formation

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The division was originally an armoured brigade known as the 100 Independent Armoured Brigade Group. In 1964, it was decided to use the headquarters and other assets of this formation to create a new armoured division.[3] It was still in the process of raising when the 1965 war against India broke out.

1965 War

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Further information: Battle of Phillora and Battle of Chawinda

The formation would see its first taste of action in Operation Grand Slam in Chamb sector where it was the armoured contingent. However the general weakness of Pakistan Army defence around Sialkot and the fact that war was expected to break out over the international border, meant that the division would see only a few days of fighting before it was sent to Sialkot, where it would earn its spurs at a village called Chawinda.[4] On 8 September the Indian attack came and thus began the Battle of Chawinda. Initially the division was surprised and outflanked by the Indians who chose an unexpected axis to attack.[3] Desperate holding actions by some individual units, famously, the 25th Cavalry (of the 15th Infantry Division), would hamper the Indian advance. A battle ensued against the Indians at Phillora (Phillaurah)[5] resulting in a loss of 66 tanks.[6][7][8] The 6th Armoured Division then settled in defensive positions around Chawinda alongside other divisions, withstood multiple corps-sized attacks by the Indian I Corps,[9] until the biggest on 18 September when the Indian 1st Armoured and 6th Mountain divisions attacked, and would be destroyed. The Indians then went on the defensive as the 6th and its sister formations steadily and remorselessly forced them back across the international border, a task which was mostly (though not entirely)[9] completed by the ceasefire on 23 September.

The divisions' action at Chawinda remains its most famous action. This battle was the largest tank battle since Kursk in 1943 and has been forever associated with the 6th. Amongst the many commendations received was one by the President which read:

The President of Pakistan has commanded that his personal congratulations be conveyed to All Ranks under your command for the exemplary, successful and courageous battle that they have fought. The President and the whole Nation are proud of these untarnishable deeds of valour.[5]

Present Order of Battle

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The division is at present stationed in Gujranwala and has four armoured brigades attached.[citation needed]

  • HQ 6 Armoured Division, Gujranwala
    • 7th Armoured Brigade, Gujranwala
    • 9th Armoured Brigade(Asad-al-lilah), Gujranawala
    • 11th Armoured Brigade, Gujranwala
    • 8th Armoured Brigade Group, Mangla (wartime only, normally under corps control)
    • 106 Air Defence Brigade

One of the regiments of the division is reportedly the 29th Cavalry. In addition the following units are attached and stationed in Kharain.

  • 6 Armoured Division Support troops (a brigades worth of troops, mostly engineers, signal and other logistic troops)
    • 313 Assault Engineers battalion
    • 314 Assault Engineers battalion
  • 6 Armoured Division Artillery (Equivalent to a Brigade)
  • 6 Armoured Div Aviation Air Brigade (wartime only, ordinarily units are dispersed)

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Pakistan Day Parade - 23 March 2022 Full Version ISPR" (video). youtube.com (in Urdu). ISPR Official. 24 March 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Pakistan Day Parade 23 March 2018 Full HD Part 2 of 3" (video). youtube.com (in Urdu). ISPR Official. 24 March 2018.
  3. ^ a b The Pakistan Army-War 1965-Shaukat Riza-Army Education Press-1984
  4. ^ Brian Cloughley- A History of the Pakistan Army, ISBN 0-19-579507-5
  5. ^ a b Husain, Abrar (2005), Men of Steel: 6th Armoured Division in the 1965 War, OUP Pakistan, ISBN 978-969-8125-19-6[page needed]
  6. ^ Prabhakar, Peter Wilson (2003). Wars, proxy-wars and terrorism: post independent India. Mittal Publications, 2003. p. 84. ISBN 978-81-7099-890-7.
  7. ^ James Rapson, Edward; Wolseley Haig; Sir Richard Burn; Henry Dodwell; Robert Eric Mortimer Wheeler; Vidya Dhar Mahajan. "Political Developments Since 1919 (India and Pakistan)". The Cambridge History of India. Vol. 6. S. Chand. p. 1013.
  8. ^ Singh, Lt.Gen Harbaksh (1991). War Despatches. New Delhi: Lancer International. p. 147. ISBN 81-7062-117-8.
  9. ^ a b History of Indo-Pak War of 1965. Lt Gen Mahmud Ahmed (ret) ISBN 969-8693-01-7
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