Indian XI Corps: Orbat September 1965
v. 1.2 April 14, 2002
Ravi Rikhye & Dave Sandhu
Source: 1965 War: Role of Tanks in India-Pakistan War by Lt. Col. (Retired) Dr. Bhupinder Singh, BC Publishers, Patiala 147001, Punjab, India. 1982. Also unpublished official history of 1965 War, provided by Mr. Jagan Pillarsetti.
XI Corps [Lt.-Gen. J.S. Dhillion]
29th Infantry Brigade [Brig. Pritam Singh] – Dera Baba Nanak sector
- 2nd Rajputana Rifles [Lt. Col. Vohra]
- 1/5th Gorkha Rifles [Lt. Col. S.N.S. Gurung]
- B/14th Horse
- 5th Field Regiment
- 16th Battalion, Punjab Armed Police
In mid-September 2nd Raj. Rif. and 16th PAP are put in charge of this sector and the rest of the brigade is pulled out to become a corps reserve at Bhikkiwind.
Three infantry battalions – Patti, corps reserve
15th Infantry Division [Maj.-Gen. Niranjan Prasad; Maj.-Gen. Mohinder Singh from September 9] – Atari-Dograi axis
- 1st Horse [Lt. Col. B.S. Sidhu]
- 14th Horse [Lt.-Co. Raghubir, replaced] Sherman V
54th Infantry Brigade [Brig. M.S. Rikh, wounded, later Brig. Niranjan Singh wef September 12]
- 3rd Jat [Lt. Col. D. E. Hayde]
- 13th Punjab [OC replaced]
- 15th Dogra [OC replaced]
38th Infantry Brigade [Brig. Pathak, Brig. U.K. Gupta takes over September 13th ]
- 1st Jat
- 3rd Garhwal Rifles
- 1/3 Gorkha Rifles
96th Infantry Brigade [Brig. Malhotra]
- 6th Kumaon
- 7th Punjab
- 16th Dogra
50th Independent Parachute Brigade [Brig. Nambiar] – arrives September 10
- 2nd Parachute [Lt. Col. Ram Singh Yadav]
- 3rd Parachute
- 6th Parachute
- 17th Parachute Field Regiment
- 411th Parachute Field Company
41st Mountain Brigade [Brig. M.R. Rajwade] – arrives September 12 – leaves September 19 for 4th Division
- 1/8th Gorkha Rifles
- 6th Rajput
- 9th Mahar
The brigade, when the reserve for XV Corps, originally had 1/8th Gorkha Rifles, 3rd Kumaon, and 6/5th Gorkha Rifles. When it shifted to Akhnur, it took only the first of the three battalions with it. It was given 6th Rajput from 163rd Brigade (Sri Force, ex- 3rdD ivision, and 9th Mahar from 26th Division. We dont know for a fact that it kept these battalions when it went to XI Corps.
7th Mountain Brigade – arrives September 19 from 4th Division
Rajatal Force [Lt.-Col. Mohan Lal] – to cover gap between 15th and 7th Divisions
- 1st Dogra less two companies, 2nd Armored Brigade’s motor battalion
- Fighting Troop 2 Armored Brigade (two Shermans)
- C/3rd Cavalry [Captain Naginder Singh], less HQ and two troops (6 Centurions)
September 14 replaced by:
Bharat Force [Col. Bharat]
- 1st Dogra less two companies
- 1st Horse
- 14th Horse
- B/7th Cavlary
- A/8th Cavalry
- Troop/3rd Cavalry
7th Infantry Division [Maj.-Gen. S.K. Sibbal] – Khalra-Barki axis
- Central India Horse [Lt.-Col. S.C. Joshi, KIA September 12]
- 19th Rajput [Lt.-Col. J.S. Gill]
29th Infantry Brigade
Detached to Dera Baba Nanak sector, north of 15th Infantry Division
48th Infantry Brigade [Brig. Shahane, replaced by Brig. Piara Singh]
- 3rd Guards [Lt.-Col. Sondhi]
- 6/8th Gorkha Rifles
65th Infantry Brigade [Brig. L. Farras]
- 4th Sikh [Lt.-Col. Anant Singh] Detached to 4th Mountain Division September 11th.
- 9th Madras
- 16th Punjab [Lt.-Col. J.S. Bhullar] (Arrived from Northeast without vehicles, RCL, or radio sets; vehicles arrived at war’s end. The battalion had one map of the area.]
4th Mountain Division [Maj.-Gen. Gurbakhsh Singh] – Khem Karan sector
- Discussed under Battle of of Assul Utter
67th Independent Infantry Brigade – Fazilka sector, discussed under 67 Infantry Brigade at the Battle of Fazilka.
2nd Independent Armored Brigade [Brig. T.K. Theograj] – corps reserve
- 3rd Cavalry
- 7th Cavalry [Lt. Col. D.S. Jind]
- 8th Cavalry
Corps Artillery
- one 7.2 inch heavy regiment
- one locating regiment