Captured Pakistani Patton tank stands at Dharamshala memorial

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A Pakistani Patton tank captured during the 1965 India-Pakistan war is displayed at the State War Memorial in Dharamshala, serving as a reminder of the Indian Army’s role in the Battle of Chawinda.

Retired Colonel KKS Dadhwal, Chairman of the State War Memorial Dharamshala, said the tank was used during the 1965 battle, when India’s First Armoured Division faced Pakistan’s Sixth Armoured Division. The conflict saw several tanks captured, including the Patton tank now displayed at the memorial.

According to Dadhwal, the Patton was considered one of the world’s most modern and advanced tanks in 1965. The Indian Army, despite having comparatively older tanks at the time, fought against Pakistan’s modern armoured equipment.

After its capture, the Indian Army installed the tank at the war memorial at the state government’s request, he said.

The tank’s main gun points downwards, a feature viewed as a symbol of Pakistan’s defeat in the conflict. Dadhwal said the exhibit reminds visitors of the Indian Army’s courage, bravery and valour.

The tank also attracts visitors to the memorial, who seek information about its history and significance.

Dadhwal highlighted another symbolic feature within the war museum. The Vijayanta tank’s main gun installed there points upward, in contrast to the Patton tank’s lowered gun.

He said the guns’ directions convey different symbolic messages, describing the contrast as an interesting detail few people know about.

The Patton tank’s crew comprised four members: the gunner, loader, radio operator, and commander.

The display preserves a military artefact associated with the 1965 war and offers visitors an opportunity to learn about the Battle of Chawinda and the armoured divisions involved in the conflict.

The State War Memorial in Dharamshala houses the captured tank as a reminder of the conflict and the Indian Army’s military history.