Kargil Operation and Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering

25 years ago ,527 soldiers made supreme sacrifice while recapturing the Kargil heights, a mission impossible. A matter of pride for all of us as Indian, as part of great Indian Army. Due to geopolitical and geostrategic compulsions Armed Forces were not ordered to cross the line of control forcing Infantry assaults at heights of 15000 to 17000 feet with temperature going to -60 Degree Celcius.
The sacrifices and valour of the soldiers and leaders will remain unmatched in military History who lived and fought for “Naam, Namak and Nishan”. Infantry ably supported by The Regiment of Artillery and Air Force really won the battle in such inhospitable terrain.
Yes Infantry, Artillery and Air Force got all the kudos for success which they really deserved because they faced the bullets. But the irony of any battle is that appreciation of Logistics (Engineering Support to modern sophisticated equipment, road clearance, Communication, Medical, supply chains etc.) so vital for war effort fails to get due credit that it deserves. Yes, Infantry fights and secures ground but his effectiveness would get compromised if his rifle, mortor, communication systems do not work. Bofors have been very effective in this operation.
But what if some failed? Who ensured its reliability and availability back in the hands of troops as far forward as possible? Pilots flew Helicopters and were very effective in supply and evacuation. Who ensured its battle worthiness?
I being an EME Officer and having had firsthand experience managing and ensuring engineering support to Northen Command under the dynamic leadership of Maj Gen Anukul Chandra, can emphatically say that every commander do appreciate effort of EME personnel as an individual and sub units but due credit to EME as an organisation leaves much to ponder about.
In the glory of 25th year of Kargil operation EME would at best find a line or at best small paragraph if some authors or writers have big heart.

1. Behind the Scenes: Contribution of Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering (EME) in Kargil Operation Part -2 By Col Mukteshwar Prasad (Retd), M Tech,CE,FIE (I), FIETE,FISLE,FInstOD,AMCSI

2. Food for Thought Famous “Tooth to Tale “ratio doctrine has cut the tale to the extent that it is without tale and is used as an unwanted spare part. With proliferation of Technology , every soldier will have to be Technical and every Officer will have to be Tech savvy or Engineering graduate. Concept of being user and repairer do not go hand in hand. Our own strategy of short duration war akin to Bangladesh no more stands logical in view of ensuing Russia Ukraine War, Israel Hamas and our own experience of standoff with China. Hence need to rethink “ Shekatkar Committee “ , “Tooth to tail ratio” and disbandment of Base Wksps and Static EME units.

3. Points to Ponder We did talk about Corps of EME ‘s contribution to Kargil from Field units like EME Bn , Fd and Wksps . In the glory of 25th year of Kargil operation, EME has not found any place in its history neither officially nor by many writers and experts who have written innumerable books and write up . So many TV discussion have taken place and are taking place now to celebrate glory of Kargil on it 25 th year ,but no one has talked about role of Logistics. Every one has talked about how men have braved with just 1% possibilities of success Like any other units we also lost brave soldiers performing their solemn duties My friend Lt Gen Vinod Bhatia has rightly said that Power that be must understand the difference between “Cost to money ” and “Value of money” . In similar connotation I say power that be ( Inf,Arty , Armd ,) who ultimately run Army must understand and recognise difference between “Success acclaimed and glorified “ and “Value of sweat and blood and Sacrifice and labour behind the scene ” whose contribution is no less and do deserve at least a Pat. Like reservation Services have been taken for granted and as a right. Rethink attachment Policy of EME Officers with Inf Let us now talk about role played by 4 th Echelon EME units like Ad Base Wksps and Base Wksps .

4. Attachment of EME Officer with Inf Units All EME Officers on commission are attached and remain integral part of Infantry Bns for 2 years , so as to have younger age profile and increased availability of officers to Inf Units. Laurels earned by them in operation never comes to EME. This was a brain child of Power that be of recent times. After 2 years he goes for YOs and briefly is attached with EME units before he goes for Eqpt Course/Degree/M Tech By the time he comes back to EME units he is senior enough to become OC Engineering can not be learnt late and not by soiling hands. Their affiliation remains with Inf Units and manages environment with his NW Officers have become Managers, managing environment for good ACR and marking time for their tenure to remain event free. Professionalism has been left to HMTs and JCOs. All station non productive jobs are his headache Learns to manage for 2 years and goes for promotion

5. What is compromised ? Saga of rich heritage, innovation and technological excellence . Demand of high proliferation of high technology and modernisation and odyssey of E nhancing professionalism, A ssimilating technology, M anaging new technology, P roviding intimate engineering support and F ield deployment of state of Art equipment

6. Brief about EME Earlier mentioned tasks are being achieved through UROs/LRWs /FRIs(1 st echelon of repair and maintenance) attached with all units, EME Bn/Field repair Workshop ( Wksps )(2 nd Echelon of repair and maintenance ensuring high availability reliability of all equipment) , EME Bn/ Corps Zone Wksps (3 rd echelon of repair and specialised repair facilities ) , Advance Base Wksps , Army Base Wksps (4 th Echelon of repair undertaking Equipment Overhaul, spares part manufacture and specialised equipment manufacturer) Station Wksps providing Engg Support both repair and recovery to Static Units/Formations (Now disbanded on recommendation of Shekatkar Committee. Then very important job of recovery is being undertaken by Recovery Coys or Recovery Vehs attached to various EME units.

7. Shekatkar Committee Report of Shekatkar Committee in 2016 had recommended disbanding all Station Wksp , Advance Base Wksp and Army Base Wksp leaving only Field EME units. “ Restructuring of repair echelons in the Army to include Base Workshops, Advance Base Workshops and Static / Station Workshops in the field Army. ” On ground situation is really grave even at Field Units where reduced EME manpower are pooled for unproductive routines which were being undertaken by static units. Job undertaken by Station Wksps are now being done by Field Units over and above their own commitment.

8. Army Base Wksp and Their Contribution to Kargil 3 Advance Base Wksp and Contribution in Kargil Operation 1 Advance Base Wksp and 3 Advance Base Wksp Udhampur have since been disbanded. 3 Advance Base Wksp played an important role in providing engineering support during Kargil Operation . Facilities to repair and overhaul all sophisticated equipment were created over years . Both Advance Base Wksp had mostly combatant manpower from Corps of EME who used to be sent detachments depending upon equipment and type of repair needed. These two Advance Bsae Wksps were under direct control of MGEME Eastern and Northern Command. All emergency requirement and higher level of repair facilities needed depending upon equipment prifile of the command were created with massive investment over years. In actual operation scenario like Kargil it supplemented Field EME units interms of manpower, spares ,advance repair facilities, fast rotable repairs ,PCB testing and repairs etc to enhance fighting capabilities of Northern Army. Backward flow of repairable was arrested at this level . One has to be in it to understand the contribution of 3 Advance Base Wksp . Unfortunately huge extra ordinary resources so created over years have been destroyed. Hope and pray someone including original committee members would have taken in to consideration investment done and its repercussions on future engagement with China or Pakistan .

9. Army Base Wksp and Their Contribution to Kargil Out of Eight Army Base Workshops (ABWs), Seven are responsible for repair and overhaul of equipment/weapons, eighth (515 ABW) is tasked with the responsibility of indigenisation and manufacture of spares. All these are to be disbanded or to be operated on Government Owned Contractor Operated (GOCO) Model. It was also mandated to hold conferences/consultations with interested industry participants.   The major reasons cited for Army’s reluctance are: Inefficiency and unpredictability Contracts can fail anytime because of many unseen reasons including unionism and profitability Increased cost. Stabilisation will have its own time line Private companies in India do not have the necessary skills to implement this work. The model will deplete the army’s capabilities built over the years to overhaul equipment . Even suggested PPP Guide for Practitioners issued by Department of Economic Affairs of the Ministry of Finance states may not be adequate: “A PPP means an arrangement between Government or statutory entity or Government owned entity on one side and a private sector entity on the other, for the provision of public assets and/or related services for public benefit, through investments being made by and/or management undertaken by the private sector entity for a specified period of time, where there is a substantial risk sharing with the private sector and the private sector receives performance linked payments that conform (or are benchmarked) to specified, pre-determined and measurable performance standards.” 

10. 515/508 Army Base Wksp and Kargil Operation Skid Board 1500 mm*750mm*12mm for PRATAP MI-8 Helicopter MI 8 Pratap Helicopter is a Russian built Helicopter used by IAF, which is generally used in hostile environment and remote destination with carrying capacity of 4 tonnes of cargo in its large rear loading cargo hold or as a slung load or 24 personnel. Due to typical inhospitable terrain in anticipated war zone ,MI 8 had to be exploited to the hilt for carrying all types supplies needed by Troops operating before, during and after operation. Just before commencement of actual operation. Indian Army realised that Skid Board 1500 mm*750mm*12mm for PRATAP MI-8 Helicopter was either very less as compared to actual requirement or even if they were available, it may not be in serviceable condition. After Bangladesh operation, this equipment was only used for training or for limited war exercise or dropping of supplies during emergency like flood. Kargil Operation was initially envisaged as a long drawn and extended operation. Besides infrastructure in terms of roads and reachability was quite inadequate. Hence there was urgent need to manufacture Skid Boards before commencement of operation. Outsourcing to civil would take its own time besides being unreliable. It was decided to task 515 Army Base Wksp and 508 Army Base Wksp for manufacture of 2000 each. Technically it required large work force of carpenter, metal Smith, machining, forging. Procurement of material with in Commandant’s Financial power of Rs 20000 Per day per item was stumbling block. Right quality of huge quantity of seasoned wood was a night mare. We had few wood turning and cutting machines lying unutilised since ages. Revamping and operationalisation were task by itself. On receipt of Drawing on priority from Ordnance and work order from Base Wksp Gp , process of Methodisation commenced. Complete Method Engineering Department stopped their routine work and full manpower was diverted to this Work Order to generate tentative Bill of Material and processes involved. We had civilian work force of variety of trades but not the trade we required.

11. 515/508 Army Base Wksp and Kargil Operation Skid Board 1500 mm*750mm*12mm for PRATAP MI-8 Helicopter Challenge was Procurement of raw materials with in Commandant’s power Procurement of tools in large quantity Training and reskilling of manpower of other trades and their employment in current WO Manufacturing parts so needed Ensuring Quality and its battle worthiness Despatch few lots as soon as possible before commencement of operation I was General Manager (Production) at 515 ABW. Brig S K Gupta was the Commandant. It was to his credit that along with Material Control Officer Lt Col Sharma ensured procurement of materials needed breaking all rules. Lt Col Crososto and Lt Col C S Pillai, Gp Officers along with Sub Yadav started pooling manpower, training, process setting and production line alignment. My interaction with Union, Works Committee along with Welfare Commissioner Geroge Kadavan regarding urgency set the tempo. PCD (Production Controller) Executive Engineer Manoj Chakraborty looked at each process critically and gave many suggestions. The then Supervisor and now Foreman(GAZ) Joginder Naidu and Venkatesh kept strict vigil and kept the pace going.

12. 515/508 Army Base Wksp and Kargil Operation Skid Board 1500 mm*750mm*12mm for PRATAP MI-8 Helicopter Every civilian worker irrespective of their trade volunteered to contribute their humble might towards national cause. Kargil Operation was already on with jai ghosh of “Bharat Mat ki Jai” . Hundreds of workers running, hammering, assembling. packing was a sight to be believed. No overtime, no complaint, no leave, no break. What a scene! Sound, cheers, hung bung still rings in my ear on remembering it. Believe it or not within 15 days first few lots were air lifted as our humble effort to Kargil. Commandant 508 Army Base Wksp was surprised and wanted to know how could we achieve this miracle. Well, all credit to all my colleagues, workers who made me proud.

13. HEAVY DROP SYSTEM P-7 Developed By DRDO ---New Avtar of Old platform The photograph is just to show utility of Skid Boards ,whose functions are same except its size 1500mm*750mm*12 mm suitable for PRATAP which was retired from service in 2017 after service of almost 47 years.  

14. Below the knee prosthetic Joint Just when Kargil operation was on, large no of causality was reported. Many of them required Below the knee prosthetic joint. Import cost of the same was above Rs 1.2 to 1.5 Lakhs then. At that time Defence Bioengineering and Electromedical Laboratory ( DEBEL ) designed one such model of stainless steel and alloys with reinforced Carbon rods, state of art then. 515 ABW came forward to manufacture the same being Spares manufacturing ABW. Unfortunately, precision turning, machining, slotting, milling and spark erosion operations of stainless steel was not our forte then. Special facilities and tools like special cutter, turning tools had to be explored, procured and tested. We explored the market at Bangalore with little success. Then Israel made cutters and some special tools were specially brought by hand from Bombay and manufacturing started in real earnestness. With trial and error, we were successful in manufacturing the same with cost less than Rs 20000. I took the sample to Artificial Limb Centre personally for its evaluation. The then Comdt Brig Jain probably was very impressed and conveyed our exploits to Lt Gen Oberoi who was staying at centre for refitment and evaluation of his own joint. He was very happy and proud of Corps of EME as it was yeomen service to our colleagues who were battle causality. My personal experience of being involved with R&D is that we as EME are solution finders and have enough capability to think ahead. But our hierarchical system and long processing lives at lurch.515 ABW has moved ahead since then and is an ongoing process. From 1999 to 2001 quantity 3117 at an approximate cost of Rs 24650 were manufactured and deposited to concerned Depot. Way forward they have added other ALC items as on required basis on order/recommendation of Artificial Limb Centre, Pune. A great service to our war casualties. My suggestion is why can’t 515 or any other ABW be permitted to manufacture such items for public as a humanitarian concern. A question those who matter must necessarily ponder. Some items for ALC is shown below

15. Below the Knee Prosthetic joint and components

16. Spares of Bofors We are all aware of Bofors fiasco which resulted in fall of Shri Rajiv Gandhi and CBI trying to nail the alleged recipients of payoffs in the controversial Bofors gun deal. The result was an excellent Gun had no spares backing. Exploitation of Gun in training or operation would certainly require spares which were not coming from its country of origin. DGQA is responsible for indigenisation and vendor selection and development. All organisation moves at their own pace. Fortunately, Corps of EME had Indigenisation cell under HQ TG . Drawing and specification of spares were not available. CODs responsible for spares procurement have tendency to give bulk order (One spares with larger volume) to civil firms for reasons best known to them and will give us low volume work orders to us in spite of our personal interaction. Well, we had to move ahead and do what best can be done. Our strong methodisation team at5 515 ABW and production complemented it with fastest possible production time. These spares certainly came handy during Kargil and contributed its humble might in war machinery of Army and encouraged us to pursue further. It is a continuous effort and ongoing exercise. It is to the credit of all our workers and staff that concept of old work order went out of our Production Dictionary and reached highest ever production of spares of varieties of over 7000 Sus. 515 ABW since then added many components Indigenisation cell, under HQ TG has since been upgraded and carved out as Drawing and Specification Wing, Pune, under Dte of Indigenisation under Master General (Sustenance) new avtar of MGO. Few Indigenisation effort for Bofors spares by 515 ABW(Not necessarily Kargil Vintage) are as under