The battalion was deployed in September 1965 as part of Operation Grand Slam, relieving the 13th Punjab battalion near Dalpat-Chak Kirpal. According to Brigadier Rizvi, the battalion attacked towards Fatwal along with 13 Lancers, advancing up to 6 miles near Kasur and suffering 9 killed and 21 wounded. However, records list the battalion as losing either 9, 11, or 10 killed. The battalion had little impact as it joined the war late when the focus had shifted, and did not receive any awards despite actions in the Rann of Kutch prior to the war.
2. 2
2
The battalion was part of 8 Divisions 6 brigade which was
moved to Kharian in September 1965. 6 Brigade was
allotted to 7 Division for Operation Grand Slam.
3. 3
3
The battalion was deployed on night 7th
/8th
September
1965 when it relieved 13 Punjab at Dalpat-Chak Kirpal area
.1
1
Page-111- HISTORY OF INDO PAK WAR-1965-Op cit
5. 5
5
Brigadier Rizvi stated that the battalion attacked towards
Fatwal along with a squadron of 13 Lancers, closing up to
6 miles near Kasur,suffering 9 killed and 21 wounded in
this attack.2
The 2017 official history of Punjab regiment
stated that the battalion lost 9 killed in 1965 war, because
the tenth man Subedar Amir Jan, that it listed was killed
in Rann of Kutch before the actual war broke out. 3
The battalion suffered 11 killed and 26 wounded 4
as per
brigadier Rizvi’s book.
The battalion lost no officer in the war . This illustrates
that officers were not fighting from the front .In exactly
the same sector 13 Lancers lost two squadron
commanders fighting alongside 6 Punjab.
2
Page-203- VETERAN CAMPAIGNERS-A HISTORY OF THE
PUNJAB REGIMENT-1759-1981-Op cit.
3
Page-350- THE STORY OF PUNJAB REGIMENT- Op cit.
4
Page-509- VETERAN CAMPAIGNERS-A HISTORY OF THE
PUNJAB REGIMENT-1759-1981-
6. 6
6
The battalion joined battle in the last stages of operation
Grand Slam and did not see much action. Although it had
won two SJs in Rann of Kutch before the war , it did not
receive any award in 1965 war.
Operation Grand Slam was a strategic failure and had no
positive impact on the war . Thus it may be stated that
the battalion had a zero net impact in 1965 war.
The battalion joined the war when the centre of gravity
had already shifted away to the south and had little
impact on the war.