--- title: "That time 120 Indian troops destroyed an entire Pakistani tank battalion" date: "2018-04-02" modified: "2020-10-21" authors: - name: "Blake Stilwell" job_title: "Editor-In-Chief, Air Force Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/blake/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/that-time-120-indian-troops-destroyed-an-entire-pakistani-tank-battalion/" categories: - "History" --- # That time 120 Indian troops destroyed an entire Pakistani tank battalion ![]() In 1971, Pakistan launched a preemptive air strike against 11 Indian airbases, touching off that year's Indo-Pakistani War. The air attacks failed but dragged India into Bangladesh's (then called East Pakistan) Independence War from Pakistan. The Indo-Pakistan War was one of the shortest wars in history, lasting less than two weeks. --- The day after its surprise air attack, Pakistan moved 2,000 troops, a mobile infantry brigade, and 45 tanks to an Indian border post at Longewala. The post was manned by 120 Indian troops with an M-40 recoilless rifle – and access to strike aircraft. ![]() *(Indian Army photo)* The Indians were heavily outnumbered, outgunned, and surrounded. The Air Force couldn't help until dawn because the pilots didn't fly at night. The defenders were given the choice between abandoning the post or making a gutsy stand at their position. They decided to stay and fight. It was just after midnight, and dawn was at least six hours away. It was going to be a long night. Pakistan's artillery opened up on the Indians immediately. As the enemy infantry approached the Longewala outpost, the defenders held their fire until the tanks were 40-100 feet away. ![]() *(Indian Army photo)* They fired on the thinly-armored tanks with the 106mm recoilless rifle, which turned out to be a devastating weapon. Advancing infantry ran into the Indian's barbed wire and -- believing they had walked into a minefield -- freaked out. The burning and exploding tanks lit the battlefield for the defenders while the smoke added to the Pakistani's confusion on the ground. They wasted two hours waiting for sappers to clear mines that didn't exist. ![]() *A Pakistani T-59 tank, destroyed at Longewala (Indian Army photo)* With the field lit up and a full moon overhead, the tanks attempted to encircle the defenders but found themselves stuck in the soft sand -- east targets for the Indian M40. ![]() *One of the three HAL Marut used by the IAF against Pakistani armor at Longewala (used by permission)* The attackers were routed and their armored column became a turkey shoot for Indian pilots. They lost 500 vehicles, 34 of those were tanks. The infantry lost 200 troops. Indian armor soon launched their counteroffensive to relieve Longewala. The defenders lost only two men. After two weeks, Pakistan was forced to surrender to India, which led to the formation of an independent Bangladesh. Major Kuldip Singh Chandpuri was awarded India's second highest medal for gallantry for directing the defense of Longewala. The actions of the men in at Longewala were portrayed in the (slightly stylized) Bollywood film, "Border." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjxhnco4J5A ## Author Blake Stilwell is We Are The Mighty's Editor-in-Chief, covering military news, entertainment, and history, along with veteran education, employment and entrepreneurship. He is a former U.S. Air Force combat cameraman with degrees in Graphic Design, Television and Film, International Relations, Public Relations, Business Management and Middle Eastern Affairs. After leaving the military, he began working in film and television production in New York and Los Angeles, work that included ABC News, NBC Olympics, and HBO Sports. He then spent two years in Washington with White House Communications, before joining the Near East Foundation. At NEF he served as an International Development Fellow, then Communications Officer, and finally, Media Officer for the Middle East and Africa. Based in the Palestinian Territory, he coordinated strategic communications between eight country offices, international media, and government and NGO partners. He began a career focused on writing and editing in 2015 with We Are The Mighty. He left in 2019 for Military.com, but returned as Editor-in-Chief in 2025. Blake’s work has been seen on CBS News, Fox News, CBC, The Chicago Tribune, Task & Purpose, Military Times, Recoil, Skillset, American History, and was shockingly even used in a Supreme Court argument. He is an avid traveler and small business owner in Ohio, where he spends most of his energy fixing up a very old house. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Twitter]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()