The Battle of Tiger Hill encompasses the battles fought in and around the peak of Tiger Hill

Tiger Hill, Kargil

Tiger Hill or "Point 5353" is a mountain in the Drass-Kargil area of Jammu & Kashmir. It is the highest peak in the area and was the subject of the most famous battle during the 1999 India-Pakistan Kargil War...

 between Indian Army

Indian Army

The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...

 and Pakistani force from the final week of May till second week of June, 1999 during the Kargil War

Kargil War

The Kargil War ,, also known as the Kargil conflict, was an armed conflict between India and Pakistan that took place between May and July 1999 in the Kargil district of Kashmir and elsewhere along the Line of Control...

 in 1999. The Battle, with the concomitant battle for the adjoining peak of Tololing

Battle of Tololing

The Battle of Tololing was one of the pivotal battles in the Kargil War between India's armed forces and troops from the Northern Light Infantry who were aided by other Pakistan backed irregulars in 1999. The Tololing is a dominant position overlooking the Srinagar - Leh Highway and was a vital link...

, culminated in Indian forces capturing it. However, the adjoining peak - 5353 could not be taken back.

Indian forces involved in the operation included the 18 Grenadiers

The Grenadiers

The Grenadiers are an infantry regiment of the Indian Army, formerly part of the Bombay Army and later the pre-independence Indian Army, when the regiment was known as the 4th Bombay Grenadiers. It has distinguished itself during the two world wars and also since the Independence of India...

 and the 8th Sikh Regiment. The battle was one of the costliest operations for the Indian forces in the entire conflict, with casualties of nearly forty personnel killed and nearly a hundred wounded in the entire operation. Pakistan at the time denied regular troop involvement but Indian figures estimated twenty one killed in the battle for the peak itself.

Main Battle

Indian artillery started shelling Tiger Hill to keep the enemies head down, while the 18 Grenadiers, 2 Naga, and 8 Sikh Regiment of the Indian Army got ready to attack Tiger Hill. The assault team had 200 men, with some 2000 troops providing rear support. Such was the determination of the Indian soldiers that most of the Grenadiers eschewed their rations to carry extra ammunition. In the 36 hour operation, the first meal they had were the dates left behind by the retreating Pakistani defenders.

While the Alpha, Charlie, and Ghatak companies of the Grenadiers attacked from the rear, the Nagas were on the left flank, and the Sikhs on the right. The assault began at 5:15pm on July 3, with India shelling the Pakistani positions. The Pakistanis returned fire.

While this was happening, the Grenadiers had moved into position, and at 4am, attacked. 10 Pakistani soldiers were killed, and 2 escaped; 5 Indian soldiers were also killed.

Yogendra Singh Yadav of 18th Grenadier was awarded the highest military honour of India, Param Vir Chakra, for bravery during the retaking of Tiger Hill.