Kargil War Artillery OP Officer: Kargil comes in the name of Tiger Hill, Tollling and Point 5140, first when it comes to war. But there were also some soldiers in this war, whose name was very little people heard, while their role became the strongest foundation of victory. These were the Artillery Observation Post (OP) Officer of the Indian Army. During the Kargil war, the Pakistani fauj was first targeted, as the OP officers monitored their activities, they found the gesture of the Indian artillery.
Kargil War Artillery OP Officer: Why most were at risk in Cargil War OP Officer
One such officer was the Captain Satish Kumar of 15 field regiment. He was whole Cargill War While staying on the front in advance, not only guided the artillery, but also saved the death on three different occasions from the very close. His story is included in those unheard chapters of the Kargil War without which the image of the success of the Indian Army is not complete.
During the Kargil war, Indian Cannons were deployed several kilometres behind the mountains. The bunkers of the enemy from there were not visible directly. The responsibility of giving correct direction and correct distance to the cannons in such a was the Artillery Observation Post (OP) officers.
A OP team generally consisted of three people. The first was the OP officer, who monitored the activities of the enemy with the help of telescopes and maps. The second technical assistant was, which analyzed the place of the shells falling. The third radio operator had access to the battery commander behind through the wireless.
The small team during the war was positioned on high hills extremely close to the enemy. They had telescopes, radio sets, batteries and maps, making their identity easily. The Pakistani army knew that if the OP team was active, in a few minutes the Indian cannon’s ammunition would be so precise that their bunkers won’t be safe. That was why Pakistani sniper, mortar and artillery first tried to target the OP team. (Kargil War Artillery OP Officer)
Tokhana’s Eyes Saying OP Officer
As per the officers of the Army, OP Officer any Artillery Regiment consists of "eye". In the way that the laser designer in modern weapons identifies the target, the work in the Cargill War carried out the OP officer.
They saw the shells falling on the bunkers of the enemy from the height of the hill and immediately showed improvements on the radio. As if a few meters from the ammunition fell to the left, he described the new direction. The next ammunition fell to the more accurate location than ever before. After a few rounds the ammunition began to occur directly on the bunkers of the enemy.
That was why the OP officer in the Kargil war was not only the Observer, but the most important parts of the entire Artillery action were considered. (Kargil War Artillery OP Officer)
The most difficult in the Batalik sector was the responsibility
The posting of Capton Satish Kumar was in the Batik sector. It is counted in the toughest war zones of Ilaka Kargil. The more focus of the media during the Cargill War was on Dras, Tollling and Tiger Hill, but Batalik Even the extremely hard battle was fought. The hills here were more high, the slopes were more steep and the way was extremely hard.
That’s why the plain land was very low to deploy the cannons here. Many places had to keep the cannons in such a situation, from which they had to stain the shells on the high angle. It is called high angle fire.
Why was High Angle Fire Challenge
The 105 mm Indian Field Gun (IFG) of the Indian Army in the Batalik Sector was included in the main weapons. These cannons were deployed several kilometres behind the Indus River in the Dah region. In general conditions, the cannons fire from a relatively straight angle, but due to the high hills of Batalik, the shells had to be stained with a high angle.
The shella in the high angle fire reaches the target by taking more height. It is possible to reach bunkers made in the rocks and caves of the enemy, but it is extremely difficult to maintain its accuracy. The role of the OP officer in the same would become even more important.
Captain Satish Kumar, climbing the hills with his team, monitored every activity of the enemy and constantly sending the correct instructions to Artillery. (Kargil War Artillery OP Officer)
15 Field regiment rains 45 thousand shells
During the Kargil War, 15 field regiment scored tremendously in the Batalik sector.
Retired Major General Sanjay Saran, who was the commanding officer of 15 field regiment at that time and chordinating the artillery operation in the Batalik-Turtuk sector. He pointed out that about 45,000 shells were stained from 105 mm IFG only in 45 days.
There was so much firing that the barrel of many cannons had to be replaced in the war zone. He told that the new joining gunners in the regiment during the war also went on to the Kargil War, more rounds than the rounds that were not in their entire military career.
Captain Satish Kumar was awarded Chief of Army Staff Comment Card after the war for this outstanding contribution. (Kargil War Artillery OP Officer)
1/11 Gorkha Rifles played with Ahmad role
Batalik Captain Satish Kumar in Sector worked with advance fighter units like 1/11 Gorakh Rifles, 12 J&K Light Infantry and 22 Grenderiers. Captain Satish Kumar, before the infantry had to attack a Pakistani quartet or bunker, came to the height of the hill with his OP team to explore the enemy status.
On the basis of the instructions sent on their behalf, Indian cannons carried out an exact movement from several kilometres away. When the enemy weakened after a heavy catastrophe, the Indian infantry went ahead and captured them.
This rapport between Artillery and Infantry in the Cargill War made the largest strength of the Indian Army. During the Kargil war, the Indian Army scored more than 2.5 lakh shells and rockets. Artillery’s role in destroying strong bunkers built on high peaks of the enemy remained the most important. (Kargil War Artillery OP Officer)
Three-time deaths returned by Captain Satish Kumar
कारगिल युद्ध के दौरान कैप्टन सतीश कुमार तीन बार मौत के बेहद करीब पहुंचे, लेकिन हर बार बाल-बाल बच निकले। मई 1999 में गनासोक हाइट्स पर वह अपनी ओपी टीम के साथ 1/11 गोरखा राइफल्स को आर्टिलरी सहायता दे रहे थे। दुश्मन के बंकरों पर नजर रखते हुए उन्हें अचानक लगा कि उनकी मौजूदा पोजीशन सुरक्षित नहीं है। उन्होंने अपनी टीम को तुरंत वहां से हटने का आदेश दिया। कुछ ही सेकंड बाद उसी स्थान पर पाकिस्तानी सेना का मोर्टार गोला गिरा और लगातार गोलाबारी शुरू हो गई।
जून 1999 में एरिया स्प्रिंग में लेफ्टिनेंट जी.एस. घुमन के साथ तैनाती के दौरान एक पाकिस्तानी स्नाइपर की गोली उनके बालों को छूते हुए निकल गई, लेकिन वे सुरक्षित बच गए।
वहीं जुलाई 1999 में खालूबर रिज पर 22 ग्रेनेडियर्स के साथ अभियान के दौरान उनके कान के पास से लगातार तीन गोलियां निकलीं। कैप्टन सतीश कुमार ने तुरंत साथियों को सतर्क किया। तलाशी में एक पाकिस्तानी सैनिक जी-3 राइफल के साथ छिपा मिला, जो पीछे छूट जाने के बाद किसी भारतीय अधिकारी को निशाना बनाना चाहता था।
इन्हीं अभियानों के दौरान उन्होंने एक ऐसी घटना भी देखी, जिसमें चट्टान की गुफा में शरण लेने वाले एक भारतीय जवान के ऊपर सीधे पाकिस्तानी गोला गिरा और उसकी मौके पर ही मौत हो गई, जबकि उसके आसपास मौजूद अन्य सैनिक सुरक्षित बच गए। (Kargil War Artillery OP Officer)
प्वाइंट 5203 पर एक साथ लगाए गए तीन ओपी
बटालिक सेक्टर में स्थित प्वाइंट 5203 भारतीय सेना के लिए सबसे कठिन लक्ष्यों में से एक था। इस ऊंचाई पर बने पाकिस्तानी बंकरों पर प्रभावी गोलाबारी सुनिश्चित करने के लिए कैप्टन सतीश कुमार को एक नहीं, बल्कि तीन अलग-अलग ऑब्जर्वेशन पोस्ट तैनात करनी पड़ीं।
अलग-अलग एंगल से दुश्मन की स्थिति देखने के बाद ही तोपों को सही निर्देश दिए जा सके। इससे भारतीय गोलाबारी की सटीकता बढ़ी और इन्फैंट्री को आगे बढ़ने में मदद मिली। (Kargil War Artillery OP Officer)













