First Battle of Elephant Pass
This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (October 2017) |
First Battle of Elephant Pass | |||||||
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Part of the Sri Lankan civil war | |||||||
Improvised armored bulldozer of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam used in the battle. Today, it is one of the Sri Lankan Civil War memorials. | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Military of Sri Lanka | Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
800 (10,000 reinforcements) | 5,000 | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
202-400+ killed[1] 156 killed, 748 wounded (SL claim)[2] | 602 killed |
The First Battle of Elephant Pass (Codenamed Operation Aakaya Kadal Veli, which means 'Air-Sea-Plain' by LTTE) was fought in July 1991 for the control of the Sri Lankan military base of
Battle
On July 10, 1991, the LTTE launched a massive attack at Elephant Pass. The battle was, up until that time, the most violent and bloody confrontation that ever took place between the LTTE and the
Helicopters were not able to land at the base because of heavy fire. Eventually, the Rest House camp in the southern sector of the base fell into the hands of the LTTE. Sustaining heavy losses, the Sri Lankan troops fell back to the rearward positions. As dusk fell the LTTE launched several attacks with hundreds of fighters and surrounded the army's fortifications. The defending troops were shocked by the sight of a hitherto unknown bulldozer covered with armoured plates that looked like a huge tank. It was equipped with a machine gun on top of it and contained a large supply of arms and ammunition inside.
Operation Balavegaya
Fierce fighting continued for four days before reinforcements were able to be sent. A force of 10,000 troops was dispatched to the defenders' aid. An amphibious landing was conducted at Vettilaikerni, just 12 kilometres east of the base. However, much resistance was encountered from the Tigers, and it took the relief force 18 days to reach the Elephant Pass base.
The troops finally reached the Elephant Pass base on the evening of August 3. Fighting continued until August 9, when the LTTE began to retreat. They suffered 950 fighters killed, according to Sri lankan military.The army gave the number of its soldiers killed at 156 killed and 748 wounded,
See also
- Second Battle of Elephant Pass
- Third Battle of Elephant Pass
- List of Sri Lankan Civil War battles
- Gamini Kularatne
References
This article needs additional citations for verification. (October 2014) |
- ^ a b Asia Times
- ^ a b Humanitarian Operation Factual Analysis July 2006 – May 2009 (PDF). Ministry Of Defence Democratic Socialist Republic Of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 9 September 2021.