Battle of Chawinda

The Battle of Chawinda was a major engagement between Pakistan and India in the Second Kashmir War as part of the Sialkot campaign. It is well known as being one of the largest tank battles in history since the Battle of Kursk, which was fought between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany in World War II.

Battle of Chawinda
Part of the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965

Sculpture showing the Indo-Pakistani War
45km
30miles
Degh
Samba
Jammu
Akhnur
Chawinda
Gujranwala
Wazirabad
Sialkot
Ravi river
MRL
MRL
Marala Headworks
Chawinda and surroundings
Date14 September 1965,
18–19 September 1965
(1 day)
Location
Chawinda, Punjab, Pakistan
32°23′03″N 74°43′30″E
Result Inconclusive
Belligerents
 Pakistan  India
Commanders and leaders
Units involved
Pakistan's I Corps
Cavalry units:
  • 10th Cavalry (44x M48 Pattons)
  • 11th Cavalry (44x M48 Pattons)
  • 22nd Cavalry (44x M48 Pattons)
  • 25th Cavalry (44x M48 Pattons)
  • 33rd TDU Sqdn. (15x Shermans)
  • 19th Lancers (44x M48 Pattons)
India's I Corps
Cavalry units:
Strength
  • 30,000–50,000 infantry
  • 132 tanks (plus reinforcements)
  • 80,000–150,000 infantry
  • 260 tanks
Casualties and losses
  • Tank losses:
    • Neutral claims: 60
    • Indian claims: 155
      (144 put out, 11 captured)
    • Pakistani claims: 44
  • Tank losses:
    • Neutral claims: 100
    • Indian claims: 70
      (29 destroyed, 41 damaged)
    • Pakistani claims: 120
Chawinda
Location of Chawinda in Pakistani Punjab
Chawinda
Location of Chawinda in Pakistan

The initial clashes in Chawinda coincided with the Battle of Phillora, and the fighting here intensified once the Pakistani forces at Phillora retreated. The battle came to an end shortly before the United Nations Security Council mandated an immediate ceasefire, which would formally end the hostilities of the 1965 war.

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