Tiger Hill, Kargil


Tiger Hill traditionally known as Gangz La is a mountain in the Drass-Kargil area of Ladakh, India. It is one of the highest peaks in the area and was the subject of a battle during the 1999 Kargil War.

Strategic importance

Since Tiger Hill is the highest peak in the sector, it overlooks National Highway 1D, a road that connects Srinagar to Kargil, and is the main supply route of the Kargil sector. Any enemy atop the peak would have a direct line of sight onto the headquarters of 56 Brigade, the main Indian unit in the area, and could also direct artillery fire onto 25 km stretch of the national highway, thus hindering the movement of Indian troops and supplies. The peak also offered a surveillance point onto other nearby peaks.

Battle

Tiger Hill was held by elements of the Pakistan Army's Northern Light Infantry. The 8th battalion, Sikh Regiment attempted to assault Tiger Hill in late May 1999, but they were unsuccessful due to poor coordination, inadequate artillery support and an entrenched enemy. Further assaults were also repulsed, and Indian troops dug in around the hill. The final assault began on 3 July at 17:15 with an artillery bombardment. 8 Sikh advanced up the left flank of the mountain, the 2nd Battalion, Naga Regiment advanced up the right flank, and 200 troops from the Ghatak platoon, Alpha and Charlie Companies of the 18th Battalion, The Grenadiers scaled a 1,000-foot vertical cliff on the rear side of the mountain. After days of heavy fighting on the peak, 18 Grenadiers seized the mountaintop on the morning of 8 July.