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PT-76 tank of the 45 Cavalry lying in wait to ambush the
Chaffees
on Delta, Bravo and Alpha Companies. The and fired at the charging tank. In no time, the
infantry-tank attack first came on Delta tank was ablaze. This NCO was awarded a
Company location at South Jagannathpur Vir Chakra (VrC).
around 6am. The Pakistani thrust lines In another engagement, one of our tanks
having become apparent, thanks to the which had by then moved to cover the
good work of the patrols operating ahead of developing threat hit another Chaffee which
the defences, readjustments to muster the turned out to be the enemy troop leader’s
recoilless guns (RCLs) and the PT-76 tanks at tank. The troop leader attempting to clamber
the required places had been carried out. out was shot by Capt Gill. In the close
The enemy attacked confidently and two fighting that ensued when the other Chaffees
of the enemy tanks were destroyed by own closed in, the Squadron Commander, Maj DS
armour. During the tank duel, a charging Narang, was hit and killed while directing
enemy tank sneaked through the fog close his tanks standing up in the tank cupola. In
to the Delta Company locality, within 25 the neighbouring troop, Lt Tejinder Singh,
metres of the positions. The enemy’s artillery the troop leader, was similarly hit and badly
and tank fire had forced the recoilless crew wounded.
back, but Havildar Lekh Raj, the RCL gun Under the cover of fog, a tank troop firing
detachment commander, reacted swiftly. He their MMGs and guns closed up to Delta
singlehanded loaded the RCL gun himself and Alpha Company FDLs but own troops
SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #17 | NOVEMBER 2020 25
