Chapter 13: Indra's Thunder (4)

  Article 4

  On 28 April 2004, at the annual Indian Army Commanders' Conference, then Chief of Army Staff General N C Vij formally announced the Indian Army's new doctrine of "Cold Start". Marking a milestone, after more than a decade of effort, the Indian Army's doctrine finally emerged from the shadows.

  Based on the study of US military high-tech conditions "Air-Ground Integrated Operations" and "Rapid Decisive Operations" theories, India established its preemptive strike warfare ideology in modern warfare, taking into account its surrounding environment and military strength. The Indo-Eastern War that broke out on December 8, 2007 (after which there are multiple views among historians: Chinese scholars tend to call the conflict between December 8 and December 24, 2007, the Indo-Eastern Alliance War) is the best interpretation of this warfare concept.

  Cold Start

  " Blitzkrieg theory, as the name suggests, requires national troops to quickly complete mobilization, assembly and deployment like a computer cold start in the shortest time, and launch a preemptive strike against the enemy at the first opportunity. Its basic connotation is:

  I. Pre-emptive Strike: According to the understanding of the Indian Army's high command, in the process of implementing the "Cold Start" doctrine, India can fully take the initiative to launch a surprise attack on the enemy before international intervention, and quickly achieve its military objectives. Within 24 hours before the start of the Indo-Pakistani War, all three branches of the Indian Armed Forces had received orders to go into battle. In fact, the war began more than 24 hours ahead of the declaration of war.

  Two, "Lightning" offensive operations: The Indian Army should complete mobilization, assembly and deployment in the shortest time according to the "Cold Start" doctrine of warfare, but in fact its forward preparations have been carried out for more than a month. Therefore, in the first wave of "lightning war" offensive - rapid attack on the enemy, the Indian army can completely use fierce firepower and precise strikes to maximize the paralysis of the ASEAN military's living forces and deprive them of their counterattack capability.

  However, in reality the Indian Army was still largely on the move four hours after the start of hostilities. The nearest ASEAN troops to the Indian Army's launch point at Bengkayang were elements of the Cambodian 41st Construction Engineer Battalion stationed some 500 km away in Rantau, while most units of India's northern wing - the 9th Mechanised Infantry Division and the 93rd Armoured Brigade - spent the first day marching to their destinations in a show of force. This scenario was almost replayed during the early stages of the Sumatran land war in Indo-East Asia.

  Third, rapid maneuvering and multi-point attacks. The Indian military requires its elite combat troops to rapidly maneuver into enemy territory, striking at different targets within the enemy's territory, putting the enemy on the defensive. According to the original battle plan drafted by Air Marshal Arup Raha, Commander-in-Chief of India's Far Eastern Theatre Command, the Indian ground forces deployed in Bangladesh should have launched a main force landing operation across the Malacca Strait, directly igniting the flames of war on the ASEAN military's home turf, while using a small portion of troops to engage in ground combat on Sumatra Island, pinning down the ASEAN army. However, due to international environmental factors and the risks associated with large-scale amphibious operations, the Indian government ultimately chose a more conservative tactic of frontal advance.

  According to the "Cold Start" doctrine, special forces with rapid mobility and strike capabilities should take on more tasks in war. Within two hours of the start of the war, India's two-pronged special forces - the Army Para Commandos and Navy MARCOS - set out from their secret base in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to launch a special attack deep within Thailand and Malaysia.

  The Parachute Regiment of the Indian Army is one of the oldest airborne units in the world. The first Indian parachute unit was formed on 15 May 1941

  With the approval of the British colonial government at that time, the 50th Indian Parachute Brigade was established in October 1941, which included the 152nd Parachute Battalion (India), the 151st Parachute Battalion (Britain) and the 153rd Parachute Battalion (Gurkha).

  In 1944, the British Government decided to form an airborne division (44th Indian Airborne Division) and at the same time the Parachute Regiment was recognized as a separate entity. The partition of India in 1947 resulted in the parachute units being divided between India and the newly formed Pakistan. The 50th Indian Parachute Brigade was immediately involved in the Kashmir War from 1947 to 1949.

  During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, a special and independent guerrilla unit emerged. On July 1, 1966, the 9th Parachute Battalion was formed. A year later, part of the 9th battalion broke away to form the 10th battalion, with each battalion having three company-level sub-units named 'Groups'. In 1969 both units added 'Commando' to their names and became the 9th and 10th Commandos respectively.

  Within 24 hours of the outbreak of the Indo-Pakistani War, the Indian Air Force launched thousands of sorties to gain air superiority over the battlefield and cover the advance of ground troops. Under the cover of a large number of aircraft, the 9th and 10th Parachute Commandos boarded Russian-made Il-76MD transport planes and parachuted into Chumphon Province and Ranong Province in southern Thailand. Chumphon is known as the "Gateway to the South" in Thailand, while Ranong is located west of Chumphon, bordering Myanmar.

  The Isthmus of Kra is located within the borders of these two provinces, near 10° N latitude; it borders the Gulf of Thailand to the east and the Andaman Sea to the west. The narrowest point of the isthmus is approximately * km wide, with an elevation of only 5 meters above sea level. In ancient times, this area was a busy trade route between East and West. Since the 19th century, there have been repeated international proposals to dig a canal here to shorten the navigation distance from the Middle East to the Pacific Ocean, but so far none have come to fruition.

  Indian Army paratroopers landed in the area, their strategic objective clear - to cut off Thailand's overland connections with Malaysia and Singapore while threatening the Thai government's prized tax-free oil port and free trade zone on the Gulf of Thailand coast as well as Southeast Asia's energy land bridge and the Kra Isthmus pipeline.

  The Indian Navy's special operations forces are primarily composed of the Marine Commando Force (MCF). The force is modeled after the US Navy SEALs and consists of three action groups, each with a specific area of operation. There are approximately 2000 personnel in total, divided into ten companies of 200 men each. Within each company, only 120 personnel directly engage in special operations, while the remaining 80 personnel form the "support and security team" that provides logistical support. Additionally, each action group has a Quick Reaction Team (QRT) for counter-terrorism duties.

  Long-term stationed in three regions in southern India. Mainly trained to bear the strategic tasks of reconnaissance, control and destruction of ports and coastal facilities, disruption of enemy sea transportation and secret infiltration into enemy territory before combat.

  This unit is considered the most daring and strongest among all special forces in India, with an extremely high adaptability. To become a true member of the Indian Navy's MARCOS, volunteers must first undergo 11 months of selection and training courses. The first month is the most crucial, with intense training and difficulty. The main purpose of "Hell Week" is to test the endurance of candidate members, with a dropout rate as high as 85%.

  After that, the 9-month frogman school training began. Candidate members need to learn how to use various weapons and equipment, master various plans for transporting assault troops to the enemy's rear to carry out subversive sabotage actions. In the tactical training phase, the most important content is the joint exercise with the army special forces, which is particularly valued by leaders at all levels. At the end of the course, a joint exercise between the navy and land special forces will be held. Elimination continues in this stage, but the proportion will not exceed 10%. The main standard is the mastery of lightweight diving training. Students who have passed the comprehensive assessment will receive the Navy Assault Team badge, namely the super-meritorious sleeve emblem and gold-plated hat badge, and will be assigned to a certain action team of the Navy Assault Team for further training, while starting to perform tasks.

  After being incorporated into the combat team, they continued to receive targeted training under the strict requirements of the instructor for a period of 1 year, mainly learning tactics such as special reconnaissance, assault, sabotage, organizing enemy rear uprising troops, counter-guerrilla warfare, and desert and mountainous terrain assault special operations. Within 4 hours of the start of the Indo-Pakistani War, more than 4 companies of Indian Navy Marine Special Forces infiltrated and landed in the 100-kilometer coastal area of Malaysia centered on Penang, with their main target being the city of Penang, which is the most important naval and air base in the east.

  Compared to the tasks and progress of the Army and Special Forces, the Indian Navy and Air Force had the most daunting task in the initial stages of the war. The Indian Air Force's Su-30MKI Flankers, MiG-29A Falcons and Mirage 2000H Vajra fighter jets flying from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands base would form the first wave of attack heading towards the Malacca Strait, followed by the less advanced but numerous MiG-27M

  Warriors, the MiG-27s. And before Indian fighter jets arrived in the war zone, 60 Russian-made "Club" cruise missiles launched by the Indian Navy's INS Vikramaditya carrier battle group had already flown to their predetermined targets, proclaiming India's voice to the world.