Mine Warfare in High Altitude Warfare

13 Aug, 1999    ·   241

Brig. S. S. Chandel details the difficulties of mine warfare in high altitude and explains it with reference to the Kargil conflict.
Brig. SS Chandel
Pakistan 's regulars used mines in Kargil causing us casualties. It should not have come to us as a surprise because all professional armies lay mines as part of preparation of defences. In 'Hasty Defence' after 6 hours of digging trenches, protective mine fields are laid in the immediate vicinity i.e. up to about 3-500 meters from the defended localities and covered by fire from within the defended localities. Other varieties are defensive minefields which are laid in large gaps between defended areas; tactical minefields which are expected to channelise the attacker in to killing fields. This is an area where maximum amount of fire is brought to bear on the attacker. Nuisance minefields as the name suggests are meant to disrupt smooth functioning of the attackers battle procedures.

 

 

Three types of mines can be used in the high areas of the Kargil. The non-metallic mine which is capable of blasting the foot of an infantry man if he steps on it; metallic, which is tripped by the wire attached to it and can cause extensive casualties (about 8 to 10 men) if tripped. Pakistan uses four types of non metallic and two types of metallic mines. The third variety is the claymore mine, which is unidirectional and can be activated by a wire or by remote control. This did not appear to have been used by the Pakistanis. Improved Explosive Devices (IEDs) perfected by the LTTE were not used in high altitude although these are employed sporadically on the
Kargil-Leh Road
.

 

 

Problem of Mine warfare in high altitude–  Mines can cause considerable casualties if laid in density of three per yard of frontage. But nobody between us and the Pakistanis have that many number of mines nor the time to lay them. Even density one per yard of front is difficult to achieve in high altitude lay them. Even density one per yard of front is difficult to achieve in high altitude which dictates its own rules due to extreme cold (minus 30 degree Celsius in most areas between Muskoh to Turtuk). Second problem is nature of ground. In the uneven rocky and craggy terrain laying mines implies digging in of angle iron pickets, wire, digging of holes for the mines and making of minefield charts (which are inescapable unless you don't want to move forward of the defences at all.) The laying of minefields in Kargil area of operations was extensive but not intensive and not well executed except in Tiger Hill, Marpola and Tololing or perhaps one or two more places.

 

 

The third problem area in the altitude area is the snow. If laid before the snowfall, the mines are covered by snowfall, the mines are covered by snow and therefore rendered ineffective. If laid after the snowfall and on the accumulated snow, these may be overlaid by more snowfall. Two, If the snow drifts then mines tend to drift too.

 

 

Another formidable problem in mine laying operations is the carriage of mines and conducted stores needed to cover the desired frontage. Thousands and even lakhs of mine are needed with similarly huge numbers of angle iron picquets,  barbed wire and other accessories. These heavy loads have to vie with the need for transporting ammunition, rations and kerosene for heating for the defending infantry man. Therefore, Pakistan obviously allotted low priority to the mines.

 

 

Hence, at the best of times laying of minefield in the high altitude is a vexatious proposition. Yet they serve to impose caution on the altitude is a vexatious proposition. Yet they serve to impose caution on the attackers which is what Pakistan had hoped. But it did not work.

 

 

Breaching of Minefield was easy – For a simple reason. The attacking infantry is mentally trained to rush the minefields disregarding the casualties stoically. Our men did just that and got clean of the time fields such as they were.

 

 

Second method was to take the approach which was no approach at all It was scaling cliffs and rocks and getting at the enemy from an entirely unexpected direction. This way there were no minefields.

 

 

Of course there are no regular manual or mechanical methods of breaching minefields for assaulting infantry which is done later on by the following echelons of infantry pioneers and men of combat Engineers. They go about their tasks methodically and thoroughly, the aim being to clear the approach for the reinforcements and the logistical echelons. This is done once the objective has been carried and the combat engineers can commence their work without being disturbed by small arms fire.

 

 

It appears that the Pakistanis did not do too through a job of mine laying. Perhaps the high altitude can take a bit of credit. So as regards mine warfare thank god for the high altitude

 

 

 

 

 

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