| Battle of Gurung Hill Battle of No.16 Indian Post in Ngari Chinese:阿印16号据点作战 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part ofSino-Indian War andBattle of Bangongluo [zh] | |||||||||
.jpg) General location ofGurung Hill | |||||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||||
 India |  China | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| 2Lt. SD Goswami[3] | Captain Cao Furong[4] | ||||||||
| Units involved | |||||||||
| 1 Company of 1st Battalion,8 Gorkha[3][5] | Company-sized task force, 10th Infantry Regiment[4] | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| Indian source: 70~80 men Chinese source:[4] ~50 men | 112 men[4] | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| 29 killed[4] | 46 dead 33 wounded[note 2] | ||||||||
TheBattle of Gurung Hill, also known asBattle of No.16 Indian Post of Ngari(Chinese:阿印16号据点作战)was an engagement during theSino-Indian War of 1962.
Gurung Hill is a mountain near theLine of Actual Control (LAC) between the Indian- and Chinese-administered portions of Ladakh near the village of Chushul and the Spanggur Lake. LAC runs on the north–south ridgeline of Gurung Hill.
The Battle of Gurung Hill, along withBattle of Rezang La were collectively known asBattle of Bangongluo [zh] in Chinese perspective.
TheSino-Indian War broke out in 1962 overdisputed border regions between India and China.Ladakh, with its high-altitude terrain and strategic locations, became a key battleground. The Chinese launched aseries of attacks across the front, aiming to seize Indian positions in the region. Gurung Hill, located near the Spanggur Gap in Ladakh, was a vital position for both sides, offering a commanding view of the surrounding area and control over approaches into southern Ladakh. It became the target of Chinese assaults.
PLA formed a company-sized task force, mostly from elements of 10th Infantry Regiment:[4]
Despite unspecified, it can be concluded the assault element contained 112 men in total as each squad contains 9 men.[4] They were commanded by the Commanding Officer of the 4th Rifle Company, Captain Cao Furong (Chinese:曹福荣). Meanwhile, 2 batteries of 82mm mortars (12 guns in total) were deployed to support the assault element.[4]
On 18 November 1962, Chinese forces launched a determined attack onGurung Hill. Indian forces, heavily outnumbered and lacking artillery support, faced overwhelming odds. However, the Indian Army employed innovative tactics to bolster their defenses, including the use of tanks airlifted into theLadakh region, which played a critical role in the battle. The Indian Air Force carried out one of the most extraordinary operations of the war by airlifting AMX-13 tanks to the Ladakh front.[3] These tanks helped solidify Indian positions at Gurung Hill and contributed to repelling Chinese forces. The Chinese launched several waves of attacks but faced stiff resistance from the Indian defenders. After the Chinese captured the "No.16 Indian Post", 15 Indian survivors[note 3] of the forward locality had fallen back on their depth platoon and there were still 45 Indians standing.[3]
In the eyes of India, in the face of fierce hand-to-hand combat and heavy casualties, Chinese forces were unable to capture the hill.
The battle had wider strategic implications, helping to stabilize the defense in the region.[7]
In Chinese perspective, despite the victory at No.16 Indian Post, researchers of PLA Military Science Academy concluded the heavy casualties were mainly resulted from the following reasons:[1]
It can also be concluded that the Chinese significantly underestimated the number of Indian soldiers who were at the positions and the firepower Indian could provide from No.19 Post.[1]
In Indian perspective, the Battle of Gurung Hill remains an important episode in the history of theSino-Indian War, highlighting the role of determination and innovation in the face of overwhelming odds. It stands as a testament to the resolve of theIndian Army to defend its territory during one of themost challenging conflicts in its history.
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