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INTRO

1. ATGM is a man portable A tk wpn sys. It is mainly used to attk tks and other
armoured tgts at rgs b/w 100-3000 ms. It can also be used to destroy stationary tgts
such as bunkers, field fortifications and other tactical installations. It an accurate and
long rg A tk launcher that provides the firer with guided armr pen capability. Generations
of ATGM are as fol: -

a. MCLOS (Manually comd line of sight)

b. SACLOS (Semi-auto comd line of sight)

c. ACLOS (Auto comd line of sight)

2. ATGM is being used in diff ops of warfare. Specifically, it plays an imp role in
attk, def and wdr. Due to its long rg and accuracy, it can engage en armr at longer rgs.
Due to this, it can cause max destruction and attrition to the en.

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AIM

1. To brief about emp of ATGM in Def Ops.

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SEQ

1. This paper will unfold in fol seq: -

a. Part I - Chars of ATGM

b. Part II - Principles of emp of ATGM

c. Part III - Emp of ATGM in Def Ops

d. Part IV - Methods of emp ATGM a/w other anti tank wpns

e. Analysis

f. Recoms

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PART-I

Chars of ATGM

1. Capabilities

a. Range and Accuracy. Baktar Shikan can fire with perfect accuracy
upto 3000 metres. There is no need of applying range or lead on the sight.
The Gunner aligns the cross hair on the target and keeps it there till
missile impact. All targets with a range of 100 metres to 3000 metres can
be engaged with near perfect accuracy. Against moving targets, tracking
rate, which commensurates with the speed of the target, has to be
maintained i.e the weapon is traversed and elevated by the gunner target
and the missile flies along the gunner's line of sight till impact.

b. Mobility. It is a light weight weapon which can be man carried by a

crew of four men. It's total weight with one missile is 88 Kilograms. It is
highly mobile when mounted on a jeep or Armoured Personnel Carrier and
can fire and operate in any terrain. It can be easily switched from one
place to another even in the thick of battle, either to engage targets or for
self protection when spotted by the enemy.

c. Flexibility. Being highly mobile and very accurate at long ranges, this
weapon can be effectively employed in all operations of war. It cannot only
kill tanks but can be used against strong points, pill boxes, concrete
weapon emplacements, and other pinpoint targets. It can also engage
targets from almost any direction.

d. Penetration. Warhead is made on the hollow charge principle and

penetration in armour is in excess of 800 millimetres at 90° angle. The
warhead even functions and maintains 90 per cent penetration if the
impact angle is 65°.

e. Recoilless Operation. On firing, the weapon does not produce even

slightest recoil, thus even after firing there is no displacement in the

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position of the weapOn. Since there is no recoil, it causes no gun shyness

to a new anti tank gunner while firing.

f. Simplicity. Despite the fact that the weapon system is composed of

highly technical instruments, it is extremely simple and easy to operate.
The instruments are fixed in the weapon system in such a manner that the
user handles them in the form of four major assemblies. For the user there
are a few knobs, latches and clamps with the help of which he assembles
end operates the launcher. Beyond this, the user needs to have no
scientific knowledge to handle and use the weapon.

2. Limitations

a. Back Blast. The Baktar Shikan missile has a back blast which extends
upto 40 metres to the rear of the launcher. On firing, back blast is caused
which can be dangerous for anything/persons directly behind the launcher.
The back blast forms a 90° area and is divided into two zones, most
dangerous of 20 metres and a caution zone of 20 metres.

b. Vulnerability. In the ground and jeep mounted role the weapon and
its crew are vulnerable to all types of fire. During movement the weapon is
even more vulnerable. It is therefore, necessary that the weapon is
carefully sited, concealed and is located in a defiladed position.

c. Silhouette. It gives a peculiar shape when mounted on the jeep which

must be broken by proper camouflage and concealment.

d. Time of Flight. Peculiar to this weapon system is the characteristic

that after firing, the gunner has to keep the cross hair of the optical sight
on the target till missile impact. At maximum range (3000 metres) the time
of flight of the missile is approximately 15 seconds. Owing to this, weapon
crew must have steady nerves particularly after the missile is launched
and counter action by artillery etcetera is also in progress.

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PART-II

PRINCIPLES OF EMP OF ATGM

3. Principles of emp of ATGM. Principles of emp ATGM are as fol:-

a. Cam & Clt. Wpn should be emp in suvch a way that it should be covered
from gr and arial obsn. Natural cover can be used for this purpose.

b. Use of gr. In our cty, land is of diff catg at diff locs. A firer must know
about the land on which he is going to emp the wpn.

c. Mutual sp. This aspect should be taken care of with great concern that
sec should be able to provide mutual sp to each other. If a det is firing
then other det should loading the msl or searching the tgt in its AOR. In
this way, security of complete area can be ensured.

d. Local protection. Inf should be emp for local protection of ATGM.

e. Rg and accuracy. ATGM is an A tk wpn which can engage en upto

3000ms accurately. It provides us a protective angle against en tks.

f. Flanking fire. Frontal fire on en tks must be avoided at every cost.

En should be engaged from flks. It will save the wpn from en frontal fire as
well as there will be less chances of its detection by the en.

g. Clear area for back blast. Back blast of ATGM covers an area 40 ms
behind the wpn which is dangerous for anything which is in this area.

h. Alternate posn. Alternate posn should be sel according to land

structure, gr obsn and en route of adv. It must be prep before war. It
should be 300ms away from main posn

i. Supply of Ammo. Continuous supply of ammo must be maint. On gr or

jeep role, there would be 4 msls with the wpn. It is nec that concelead
routes must be used for maint supply of ammo.

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PART-III

EMP OF ATGM IN DEF OPS

4. Def Ops. ATGM is basically a defensive weapon. From the evaluation of its
characteristics and limitations the conclusion drawn is that the major advantage this
weapon enjoys over other A tk weapons is its long range coupled with accuracy, which
must be exploited to the fullest advantage of the defender. Its effective range is more
than a tank. Therefore, to make use of this strength of Baktar Shikan, it has to be
deployed in areas where good visibility and clear field of fire is available, covering the
likely tk apch. A tk defence is designed to fight successfully against large number of
attacking armoured vehicle supported with infantry (mounted or dismounted), artillery
and fighter aircraft. The aim of A tk defence is to wear down the attacker by fighting
from mutually sp posns in depth throughout the def area.

5. Roles. The following roles/tasks may be given to ATGM in defence:-

a. Emp with protective detachments:-

(1) Reconnaissance Elements.

(2) Covering Troops.

(3) Advance position.

(4) Screens.

b. Emp at Main def.

c. Emp with Res.

6. Protective Detachments. With delay mission against enemy armoured

formations, the protective detachments should have as its nucleus, enough long range
A tk wpns in conjunction with tanks etcetera, will fight a delaying battle usually in a
specified area or a given sector for a specified time.

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7. Reconnaissance Elements. In this role: -

a. ATGM should be positioned to cover the most likely avenues of armr

apch.

b. ATGM should be so posn to allow engagement of en armr at max rgs thus

forcing en to dep and react.

c. Time gained by forcing en to dep allows recce elems to accomplish their

task.

d. When recce elems are req to be pulled out, ATGM should mov back first
to cover mov of recce elems.

8. Covering Troops. In this role:-

a. ATGM force the enemy to deploy because of the maximum range and
accuracy thus cause delay in the enemy advance.

b. On Withdrawal of C tps, ATGM must be pulled out first in order to cover

the withdrawal of C tps & tanks which are part of the force

c. On withdrawal of covering troops from a position Baktar Shikan must be

pulled out first in order to cover the withdrawal of tanks which are part of
the force. The number of Baktar Shikan weapon systems to be employed
in covering troops will depend on the terrain, likely enemy tank threat and
time upto which the delay is desired by the formation commander.

9. Advance Positions. As part of adv posn:-

a. ATGM will engage from covered and concealed battle positions and
engage the enemy armor at long ranges.

b. Cause temporary delay in Adv of en armr

c. ATGM help in directing en armr towards killing gr

d. On Withdrawal of tps from Adv Posns, ATGM must be pulled out first in
order to cover the withdrawal of tps

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10. Screens. ATGM help in delaying en attk by engaging en at longer rgs. It will
help screen in achieving its tasks which are: -

a. Prevent en to carry out recce of main posns

b. Gain info about en

c. Destroy en by engaging it at longer rgs

11. Main Positions. In the main defence, ATGMs are concentrated against the
enemy main effort. A tk pl commander must make maximum use of their mobility and
strength of the ground to fight decisive engagements. When emp in Main Def, ATGM
will help in fol tasks:-

a. Reinforce Bn and Bde A Tk Def (A Tk Nest)

b. Covering Tk apchs against tk threat on FDLs

c. Forming part of BOF for own C Attk

d. Occupy C Pen Posns

e. Flk Protection

12. Reserve.

a. Most of the Baktar Shikan will be positioned in sp of fwd bns covering the
armour apch. Some Baktar Shikan, however should be positioned with the
reserve to provide the commander a more flexible response to enemy
action.

b. ATGM in reserve can be so positioned or relocated that they provide a

base of fire to the counter attack force.

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PART-IV
Methods of emp ATGM a/w other anti tank wpns
13. A tk wpns. Fol are the ctgs of inf A tk wpns which are being used against
armr:-
a. Light A tk wpn sys (LAWS)
b. Medium A tk wpn sys (MAWS)
c. Heavy A tk wpn sys (HAWS)
14. Methods of emp ATGM a/w other anti tk wpns at diff stages of def are as fol: -
 a. Layer Method. In this method, when en would be in KG then all A tk
wpns will open fire at once and destroy the en.

Killing
EN
Area

b. Horse shoe pattern. In horse shoe pattern, KG is covered from front

and flanks.

Killing EN
Area

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c. Inverted U shaped. In this method, wpns are placed according to

their rg. When en would be in KG, all A tk wpns will open fire at once. Its emp
would be as fol: -

(1) Long rg wpns would be in depth and on flanks

(2) Medium rg wpns would be in middle and on flanks

(3) Short rg wpns would be in middle and at front

Killing EN
Area

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ANALYSIS

1. ATGM should not be employed in conc

2. Lack of experienced firers due to non-aval of sufficient prac msls

3. Not all SIBs are in possession of trg smls

4. Evolution in field of armr overwhelm ATGM abilities

5. A lot of effort is req during cbt to maint ammo supply of ATGM

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RECOM
1. ATGM emp in conc may inc the chances of detection and make A tk pl vuln to en
indirect/direct fire

2. All the ATGMs should not be emp in a close vicinity. There should be a dist of
300ms b/w wpns. By emp it in separate areas but targeting the same loc thus achieving
conc fire on tgts.

3. Trg cadres/courses at fmn lvl with max emphasis on actual firing practices.

4. At least one ATGM sml in SIBs should be provided for fire prac to make firers
proficient.

5. To ctr latest tks like Merkava Mk.4, T-14 Armata and owing to en’s war hysteria,
Adv ATGMs must be inducted.

6. Third gen ATGMs which works on “fire and forget” principle, must be inducted.

7. Capacity of ATGM ammo carrier must be increased.

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SI REMARKS

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OC REMARKS

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CI RENARKS

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