Air Defence Gunners at War

The India-Pakistan War of 1971 was the third round between the two South Asian neighbours, but this war was different in many ways from the earlier conflicts. It was not a long drawn slugfest as the three services operated together in perfect sync in what was a lightning campaign that ended with a clear victory for India and the liberation of Bangladesh. It was a victory made possible by the contributions of all arms and services.

As the war started on 3 December with the preemptive strikes by the Pakistani Air Force, Air Defence Gunners were the first to fire. Throughout the fourteen day campaign, the Air Defence Artillery played a vital role, from ensuring the defence of strategic assets to defending the field formations from enemy air attacks.

While many books have been written about the war, all of them have overlooked the role of Air Defence Artillery, relegating its contributions to the margins. For the first time, this book narrates the story of Air Defence Artillery in the 1971 war as it looks at the performance of Air Defence Artillery and highlights both its achievements and failings. This is the story of the unsung heroes of the Indian and Pakistani Air Defence Artillery, who performed valiantly during the war, fighting against all odds.

The narrative is woven together, making use of official records and personal recollections, as it tells the captivating story of the Air Defence Artillery in the biggest military conflict fought between India and Pakistan to date.