Tangail Airdrop

Tangail Airdrop
Part of the Bangladesh Liberation War and the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971

A C-119 Boxcar of the Indian Air Force - the Tangail Airdrop relied heavily on these during the drop.
Date11th - 12th December 1971
Location
Tangail, East Pakistan
Result

Indian victory:

  • Indian forces capture and hold Poongli Bridge
  • Smooth advance of 95th Mountain Brigade towards Dhaka facilitated
  • Pakistani 93rd Brigade eliminated as a fighting formation and unable to reinforce Dhaka
Belligerents
 India  Pakistan
Commanders and leaders
India Lt Col K.S. Pannu Pakistan Brig. Abdul Qadir Khan  Surrendered
Units involved

95th Mountain Brigade

2 Para

  • A Company
  • B Company
  • C Company
  • D Company

Indian Air Force

93rd Infantry Brigade

Strength

2 Para
750 men in 4 Companies

1 Maratha Light Infantry
~750-1000 men

93rd Brigade (Severely Understrength)

  • 200-300 regular infantry
  • 100-200 Rangers
  • 600 Razakars + paramilitary
Casualties and losses

2 Para
3 KIA
20 MIA (lost during drop)
1 WIA

1 Maratha Light
None		 93rd Brigade + Razakars
282 KIA
42 POW

The Tangail Airdrop (11 December 1971) was an airborne operation conducted by the Indian Army in order to seize Poongli Bridge and ferry in the Tangail area. The operation, involving 2 Para of the Indian Army's Parachute Regiment is often regarded as one of the largest - if not the largest - airborne operation following World War 2. The operation saw the capture of all objectives and the repulsion of the Pakistan Army's 93rd Infantry Brigade which was attempting to withdraw to Dhaka to bolster its defence.[1]

Pakistani Eastern Command plan for the defence of East Pakistan from 1967 to 1971 (generic representation—some unit locations not shown.
  1. ^ MoD, History Division (1992). "Official History of the 1971 India Pakistan War" (PDF).