Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Jul 27: A historic T-55 battle tank of the Indian Army, which played a decisive role in the 1971 India-Pakistan War, was officially unveiled on Sunday at the War Memorial in Kadri Hills, Mangaluru, as part of the Kargil Vijay Diwas commemorations.
The battle tank was unveiled by Dakshina Kannada MP Capt Brijesh Chowta. Speaking on the occasion, he said the decommissioned T-55 battle tank, which had served in the 1971 war, had been installed at the memorial to mark Kargil Vijay Diwas. He described the tank as a symbol of the courage, sacrifice, and dedicated service of Indian Army personnel. He also appealed to the public to visit the memorial and draw inspiration from the traditions and legacy of the country's armed forces.
Retired senior Army officer Brigadier I N Rai, who had participated in the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War and served at frontline positions during the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) operations in Sri Lanka, shared his experiences during the programme. Former president of the Dakshina Kannada Ex-Servicemen's Association Colonel N Sharath Bhandary spoke about the Kargil War. Floral tributes were also paid to soldiers who laid down their lives in service of the nation.
Vice-president Colonel A K Jayachandran, treasurer CPO Sudheer Pai, former MLC Capt Ganesh Karnik, MLA D Vedavyas Kamath, MLC Kishore Kumar Puttur, and president of the Dakshina Kannada District Ex-Servicemen's Association and retired Indian Air Force officer Shrikanth Shetty Bala were present on the occasion. Secretary Captain Deepak Adyanthaya proposed the vote of thanks, while PO Vikram Dutt compered the programme.
The T-55 battle tank was inducted into the Indian Army in the mid-1960s and served as the backbone of the Armoured Corps for more than four decades before being retired in May 2011. It played a key role in securing India's victories in the Battles of Garibpur, Nainakot, and Basantar during the 1971 Indo-Pak War.
The tank weighs 36 tonnes and is armed with a 100 mm rifled gun, a 7.62 mm PKT coaxial machine gun, and a 12.7 mm anti-aircraft gun. It is powered by a V-55 V-12 water-cooled diesel engine producing 520 to 580 horsepower, enabling it to attain a maximum speed of 50 kmph. The tank has an operational range of 510 km, which can be extended up to 600 km with additional fuel tanks, and is operated by a crew of four soldiers.