Accidentally came across this post on Usenet this evening, and thought of sharing it:
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.culture.indian/browse_thread/thread/8041501c1869f13d/6c342e98398e3832?lnk=st&q=Goa+India&rnum=4#6c342e98398e3832 want information on India's capture of goa Only 1 message in topic - view as tree Marlon E Menezes May 28 1997, 12:00 pm show options Newsgroups: soc.culture.portuguese, soc.culture.indian From: Marlon E Menezes <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> - Find messages by this author Date: 1997/05/28 Subject: want information on India's capture of goa Reply to Author | Forward | Print | Individual Message | Show original | Report Abuse I'm in the process of trying to set up a land-sea battle animation of India's capture of Goa to put on the web (inspired in no doubt by my addiction to war games). I've tried to do some research on the logistics of the attack, but have not come up with very much. If you have information (technical details) of the attack, I would very much appreciate you sharing it with me. Note that I am **NOT** interested in political opinion of the battle. Pictures, sound recordings and easily accessible references would be be highly appreciated. I would like to make it an audio+animation display to be put on the web. D-day: 18 Dec 1961, approx. 01:00 hours IST Theater of operations: Goa, Diu and Angediva (??) India utilized the following in its attack: ------------------------------------------------------------------ Goa === India Portugal ----- -------- Land Approx 30,000 soldiers (17th infantry div) 3000 Sherman tanks - (need info on #s) nil Ground forces entered Goa from 3 points, with the main armoured thrust coming from the north west (Karnataka?). Air Canberra (Fighter/Bomber) Hunter (classification???) nil Attacks concentrated on airstrips and radio station in Panjim as well as carpet bombing of leaflets informing citizens of attack. Sea Aircraft carrier INS Vikrant Alfonso de Albuquerque Several smaller frigates (frigate) and a cruiser (need more info on these) The outgunned Portuguese frigate was badly damaged as a result of engaging the Indian navy from a distance of 5 miles. This was the only incidence of Portuguese resistance in the Goa theatre of operations. Other info: Most of N.Goa was captured by dusk on the first day, with only the Mandovi river preventing Indian troops entering Panjim. By 8:45am, the next day (19th), the Indian forces had set up pontoon bridges and entered Panjim(**). By then, the only area held by the Portuguese was the port of Mormugoa. By the evening of the 19th, it too fell to the advancing Indian forces. (**)(Perhaps, Goa could do with another invasion by the Indian armed forces across the Zuari river, now that the Zuari bridge seems it is about to collapse :-) Any more information (technical details) on India's attack on Goa will be highly appreciated. I am **NOT** interested in the political aspects of the battle. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Diu (as well as islands of Ghoghla and Passo Covo) === (another Portuguese enclave in the state of Gujrat located several hundred miles north of Goa.) India Portugal Land 3000 + 400 (4th Madras Company and the 20th Battalion of the Rajput Regiment) (I have no idea what a "company" or "regiment" is) Sea INS Delhi (cruiser) Folque Vega Folque was sunk after engaging an Indian aircraft. INS Delhi was used to shell the airport and Portuguese fortifications in Diu. Air Hunter (classification??) nil Canberra (Fighter/Bomber) Other info: It was here that the Portuguese put up the most resistance. The 4th Madras attacked the neighbouring island of Ghoghla at 01:30 hours on the 18th of Dec, but were beaten back by the Portuguese, with no loss of life on either side. Meanwhile the Rajput Regiment attacked Passo Covo, but got bogged down in the marshes in the face of Portuguese machine gun fire, resulting in it suffering some casualties. Here too, the Indian forces were forced to withdraw. At 16:00 hours, the 20th Rajput Regiment regrouped with the 4th Madras and attacked Ghoghla again - this time it fell. The ground forces was also assisted by shelling from INS Delhi. Concurrent with this, air attacks were planned for Diu at 11:00 hours. Indian pilots saw white sheets swaying near the Portuguese fortifications and assumed that the Portuguese had surrendered and dumped their bombs in the sea. It turned out that those sheets were actually put there by "dhobis" (a hindi word for people who wash clothes) to dry and were not flags of surrender!! At 14:00 hrs, the airforce launched a second attack, destroying the Portuguese control tower and radio station. The Portuguese ship the "Folque" was also sunk. By 16:30 hours the heavily outgunned Portuguese surrendered. Total casualties from the Goa/Diu/Angiva operations were 40 dead or injured (cumulative figure for both sides). Other info: The actual attack on Goa was planned for the 14th of Dec., but was delayed as a result of last minute discussions and American pressure. Portugal was fully aware of the impending attack on the 18th (as a result of intentional or unintentional leaks from Nehru's cabinet). In any case, the build-up by Indian forces at Goa's border was public knowledege.Portugal tried to send in reinforcements, but some of its ships were detained at the Suez canal by Egypt (which supported India's action). Britian refused Portugal access to its airbases. Many Portuguese civilians were evactuated to Karachi, Pakistan a few days before the attack. International responses to India's attack: USSR: full support China: "just action" (of course China then went on to attack India the same year, resulting in India's greatest military defeat and loss of territory since independence.) Arab League: "wholehearted support" USA: "sincere regret" W. Germany: "ill advised" Canada: "grave dissapoinment" Pakistan: example of "Indian double standards" Brazil: "a matter between Portugal and India" __ Marlon Menezes (217)244-6852,333-6466(w) 1304 W Green St. (217) 328-4353 (h) Urbana, Il. 61801 e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] U. Of Illinois, Materials Science http://www.students.uiuc.edu/~ menezes/
