Page 158 - Leadership in the Indian Army

gave his consent. However, it was obvious that the advance would have
little chance of success unless they had some artillery support, and by the
end of the day, some field guns were brought up. The company of 3 Para

MLI, which had been pinned down, was extricated after last light and its
command given to Sinha. Usman spent the next day preparing for the attack
on Phir Thal Naka. He decided to attack with two battalions, with both
artillery and air support. 3 Para MLI was to attack from the right, while 1
Patiala was to go in from the left. A company of 3/1 Punjab was to divert
the enemy’s attention by engaging the feature from the south, while 3 Para
Rajput was to be kept in reserve. The IAF was requested to soften up the

objective before the assault went in, and light tanks were to operate along
the road to Jhangar. The route to the objective was reconnoitred by junior
officers, both during the day and by moonlight at night.
The attack on Phir Thal Naka commenced at 0730 hrs on 17 March 1948.
For this operation, Usman had managed to muster a considerable amount of
artillery—24 field guns and the mortars of all three battalions that had been

brigaded. He had arranged for an intense 15-minute barrage to cover the
move of the assaulting troops. The fire lifted just as the troops reached the
forward trenches of the enemy who, taken by surprise, fled without offering
any resistance. When the assaulting troops reached the enemy bunkers, they
found food being cooked and kettles on the boil. 3 Para MLI did not suffer a
single casualty in this attack. A major factor in the success of this operation
was the intelligent use of artillery. Usman had concentrated all his artillery

on a very limited front, covering the highest point of the feature, which was
attacked first. He had also brigaded all mortars of the infantry battalions,
and placed them under the CO of his artillery regiment. As a result, the fire
could be concentrated and used effectively. Lieutenant Colonel Virk and
Major Chopra were awarded the MVC for this operation, while Captain
Sucha Singh, who led the final successful assault, was given the VrC.

3 Para MLI did not rest after capturing Phir Thal Naka. Taking a company
of 3 Para Rajput along, the battalion set off towards Susloti Dhar, which
they captured at 1300 hrs. Meanwhile, the advance of 19 Infantry Brigade
was well under way and, by 17 March, they had cleared Gaikot forest. The
way was now clear for the attack on Jhangar, and both brigades prepared for
the final assault on the next day. At 0830 hrs on 18 March, 3 Para Rajput
took Uparli Karhali, and by 1000 hrs, Usman had reached there with his

HQ. The brigade now advanced on a two-battalion front, with 1 Patiala on