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India-Pakistan
Gurkas deploy to Sudan
2006-02-21
New Delhi: 1/5 Gorkha Rifles (Frontier Force), an elite infantry battalion of the Indian Army, earmarked for the United Nations Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) on Tuesday.

India is contributing two Infantry Battalions to this mission in addition to certain support elements. The Force Commander in the Mission is also an Indian General, Lieutenant General J.S. Lidder.

It is for the first time in any UN Mission that an entire battalion has been earmarked as the Force Reserve Air Mobile Battalion.

Incidentally, this is the third foray of the battalion info the African continent, the first two having been during World War I and World War II. This highly decorated battalion has been awarded 23 Battle Honours and four Victoria Crosses in the pre- dependence period and the Battle Honours of Zojila, Kargil and Sehjra and Theatre Honours of Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab in the post independence period amongst many other awards and decorations.

It is also a recipient of the coveted Chief of the Army Staff’s Unit Citation three times for outstanding achievements while serving in the North East during ‘Operation Bagrang’, in Jammu and Kashmir in ‘Operation Rakshak’ and on the Siachen Glacier during ‘Operation Meghdoot’.
Posted by:john

#6  I grew up in a little village in India. I don't remember there being any cops, but we had 1 (one) Gurkha watchman and virtually no crime.

I used to lie awake listening for his footsteps going past our house. To this day, the sound of boots on gravel gives me a safe feeling.
Posted by: xbalanke   2006-02-21 23:35  

#5  Oh boy! Don't fuck with the gurkas! I would love to see them let off the leash in Sudan. Muzzies would be running for the hills and for the apologiest at the UN in a day.
Posted by: mmurray821   2006-02-21 23:25  

#4  Some photos of Indian Army Gurhka recruits in training







Posted by: john   2006-02-21 22:03  

#3  Hope they have reasonable Rules of Engagement. I would hate to see good men wasted because of the blue fog that seems to cloud the judgement and sap the testosterone of UN commanders.
Posted by: RWV   2006-02-21 22:00  

#2  Gurkhas, huh?

Heh.

I'd suggest the bad guys in Sudan surrender now -to beat the rush. ;-p
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2006-02-21 21:43  

#1  Oh boy. Ghurkas have a well-deserved reputation as badasses. The Argentinians in the Falklands were willing to hold their trenches against all sorts of British Army until they heard the Ghurka regiment was being deployed, then they bugged out in droves.

In WWII, a favorite Ghurka trick was to sneak into an enemy trench at night and find two Japanese soldiers sleeping back-to-back. Then they would slit one of their throats and let the other one be the next morning's alarm clock for his unit.

The Kukri knife they use is quite large, and when used from behind, is used to split an enemies' head in half, vertically. If they are wearing a helmet, then they are beheaded. The Ghurkas are nothing if not efficient.

In one instance, a team of five Ghurkas obtained the surrender of an entire Japanese batallion on an island, purely through psychological means. They snuck into their new barracks at night and painted the bottom of every soldier's right boot. The next morning, one Ghurka boldly walked out of the jungle to greet the Japanese in formation, and pointed to their boots until they looked.

They surrendered on the spot.
Posted by: Anonymoose   2006-02-21 21:36  

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