Regiment of Artillery (India)
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[edit] Regiment of Artillery History
The Regiment of Artillery constitutes a formidable operational arm of Indian Army Historically it takes its lineage from Moghul Emperor Babur who is popularly credited with introduction of Artillery in India, in the Battle of Panipat in 1526. However evidence of earlier use of gun by Bahmani Kings in the Battle of Adoni in 1368 and King Mohammed Shah of Gujrat in fifteenth century have been recorded.
Regiment of Artillery in India was raised on 28 September 1827 with the raising of Bombay Artillery which was later renamed as 5 Bombay Mountain Battery. This day is celebrated by the Regiment of Artillery as the “Gunners Day”. The first Indian War of Independence was sparked off at Meerut on 10 May 1857, primarily by native artillery of Bengal Army. This resulted in total ban on Indian artillery units except mountain artillery batteries till British Government later relented on this order and thus on 15 January 1935, `A’ Field Brigade was formed, which later became 1st Indian Field Regiment.
The advent of the First World War gave Indian Artillery an opportunity to show their real mettle. Fighting as far apart as East Africa, Gallipoli, Mesopotamia and Palestine, Indian gunners acquitted themselves with rare courage and enterprise. The Second World War saw Indian Gunners in action in East and North Africa, Middle East when Havildar Umrao Singh took on Japanese soldiers with his gun rammer in an effort to save his gun. Individual honours apart, it was the collective valour and dedication of Indian gunners that caused Sir Winston Churchil to rise from his seat in the House of Commons to pay tribute to them for their decisive role in the Battle of Bir Hachiem against Rommel’s Panzer Army. By the end of Second World War Indian gunners had won one Victoria Cross, One George Medal, 15 Military Crosses, two IOMs, 22 IDSMs, 18 Military Medals, five OBEs, One MBE, three BEMs, 13 Burma Gallantry Medals and 467 “Jangi Inams”. In acknowledgement of their contribution Indian Artillery earned the covert title of `Royal’ in 1945. Indian Artillery during independence consisted of Field, Air Defence, Counter Bombardment, Coastal, Air Observation Post branches and was allotted eighteen and half all types of artillery regiments while remaining nine and half units went to Pakistan.
Participation of Indian Artillery in Jammu and Kashmir operations during 1947-48 commenced with the first flights of civil and Royal Indian Air Force Dakotas, which transported 1 SIKH Battalion to Srinagar on the morning of 27 October 1947. Personnel of 2 Field Regiment (SP) and 13 Field Regiment donned uniform of 1 SIKH and proceeded as a composite company of the battalion under Capt RL Chauhan of 13 Field Regiment. It operated as infantry till first week of November 1947 when four 3.7 inch howitzer reached the area. Thereafter they took over the guns and assisted the infantry to drive out the infiltrators along Srinagar - Baramula road. Later artillery proved to be battle winning factor in defence of Srinagar airfield and subsequent route of Pakistani tribesmen in Jammu region and Kashmir Valley. Artillery played a dominant role in recapture of Poonch, Rajauri, Thangdar, Tithwal, Dras and Kargil during 1947-48.
Chinese Army attacked Indian positions on 10 October 1962 in general area of Tawang in Kameng Frontier Division. Support of artillery was immediately called for and Indian Gunners responded with gusto - notwithstanding the fact that the guns had the daunting task of reaching upto Bum La Pass in high altitude to give cover to Tawang town. On 23 October Chinese came through Bum La Pass and attacked 1 SIKH position. They were immediately engaged by the guns of 7 (Bengal) Mountain Battery directed by Capt Gosal which broke the attack. Artillery kept supporting the infantry till Tawang was abandoned. Subsequently guns of 116 Mortar Battery, 34 Heavy Mortar Battery, 5 Field Regiment, 22 Mountain Regiment and 6 Field Regiment provided covering fire to the infantry units of 4 Mountain Division to extricate themselves and launch counterattacks. Similar support were provided by guns of 17 Para Field Regiment and 71 Heavy Mortar Battery in Walong sector. In Ladakh Sector too artillery of 13 Field Regiment and 38 Field Battery played significant role to hold the enemy and defend Chushul heights.
Major restructure of Indian Artillery took place after the Chinese Aggression of 1962. This included fresh raising and induction of newer equipment. In 1964 Coastal Artillery was handed over to Indian Navy. Prior to Indo-Pakistan War of 1965 Indian Artillery was called upon to thwart Pakistani designs in the Rann of Kutch. During this operation 11 Field Regiment, 17 Para Field Regiment and Air Observation Post did the Regiment proud. These actions were followed by artillery actions to prevent large scale Pakistani infiltrators during August 1965. Haji Pir Pass in Kashmir was considered to be strategically and tactically vital feature. This pass was captured after heavy fighting due to support of 164 Field Regiment, a battery from 7 Field Regiment, a medium and a mountain battery. Thereafter gunners excelled in all operations from the frozen deserts of Ladakh to Gujrat to the west. Air defence artillery, locators and air observation post all rose to the occasion whenever they were called to support.
1971 Indo-Pakistan War was more challenging for the Regiment of Artillery than ever before. It was for the first time that Indian Army was fighting full fledged war on two fronts. In the Eastern Sector, artillery had to improvise extensively to get guns ammunition and vehicles across various major and minor rivers. It ensured that not once did infantry or armour had to look over their shoulders for artillery support. During these operations 49 Para Field Battery took part in para drop with 2 Para Battalion to capture Pongli bridge on Lohaganj river near Tangail which expedited surrender by Pakistani Army in East Pakistan. 2 Para was first to enter Dacca around 11.30 AM on 16 December 71 followed by 851 Light Battery. Soon 563 Mountain Battery also entered Dacca. With this a new nation was born. In the Western sector artillery played major role in capture of important Pakistani piquets in Ladakh, Kashmir, Rajauri, Jammu, Punjab and Rajasthan. It was also instrumental in defeating Pakistani designs to capture large Indian territories in the Western Sector to subsequently use it for negotiations, specially in the areas of Poonch and Chamb in Jammu and Kashmir, Hussainiwala and Fazilka in Punjab and Laungwala in Rajasthan.
Presently the Regiment of Artillery is in the forefront of fighting in Siachen - the highest battlefield in the world. The guns for the sector were initially dismantled and air dropped in 1983-84. Medium and field guns are providing close support to infantry in Siachen while artillery observation post officers are manning the piquet along with infantry. Here too the gunners have distinguished themselves and won many laurels including Mahavir Chakra. In its peace time duties the Regiment is undertaking infantry type tasks in Jammu and Kashmir and in the North Eastern States of Assam, Manipur, Nagaland. Air Observation Post and Air Defence branches bifurcated in 1986 and 1994 respectively and formed new arms of Indian Army.
The first division formed ever by Artillery was done in 1996 and was conceptualized by Major General P R Misal.
[edit] Regimental Crest
The crest of the Regiment of Artillery is largely a legacy of the Royal Artillery. Their crest depicted a gun with a crown above it, separated by the world UBIQUE (Latin for everywhere). Below the gun was emblazoned the motto; Quo Fas Et Gloria Ducant; "where right and glory lead". In the Royal Indian Artillery, the crown was replaced by a star - representing the Star of India and instead of UBIQUE the crest carried the world India to distinguish the Royal Indian Artillery from the Royal Artillery. The motto below was also changed to IZZAT-O-IQBAL. After independence, the word INDIA was dropped from the regimental crest and replaced with SARVATRA.
[edit] Regimental Motto
The motto, Izzat-o-Iqbal, was retained but not without controversy. In 1954, as part of the process of Indianisation of the armed forces, the government ordered that regimental mottos be changed to Hindi or Sanskrit. The final decision was, however, left with the then Chief of the Army Staff, General Rajendra Sinhji. The Regiment of Artillery made a forceful case for retaining its motto as it was felt the most suitable in content and meaning. It was finally decided to retain the motto though it was in Persian.
[edit] Regimental Flag
A distinctive red and navy blue background the official colours of the Artillery flag forms an ideal setting for the golden gun (the Gunner crest) which forms the centerpiece of the flag. Gunner folklore had it, that the red and blue represents the flash and the smoke of the gun, though this is not quite true. Red has been traditionally common to all combat arms - Infantry, Armour and Artillery. The blue in the Artillery flag was taken from the ribbon of the 'Star of India' which had been incorporated into the Artillery crest. The original colour was light blue but since a similar shade was adopted by the Crops of Signals, it was changed to navy blue to avoid confusion.
[edit] Gallantry Awards During Operation Vijay
[edit] Vir Chakra
- IC-48654 Maj Amrinder Singh Kasana, 41 Fd Regt.
- SS-37033 Capt R Jery Prem Raj, 158 Med Regt (Posthumous).
- 15119305 Gnr Sanjeev Gopala Pillai, 4 Fd Regt (Posthumous).
[edit] Yudh Seva Medal
- IC-19063 Brig Lakhwinder Singh, Cdr 8 Mtn Arty Bde.
[edit] Sena Medal (Gallantry)
- IC-34423 Col Alok Deb, 197 Fd Regt.
- IC-36955 Col Prabhat Ranjan, 108 Med Regt.
- IC-37050 Lt Col Girish Kumar Mediratta, 1889 Lt Regt.
- IC-41803 Maj Ambrose Xavier Amalaraj, 108 Med Regt.
- IC-51498 Maj Amitabh Roy, 108 Med Regt.
- IC-50475 Capt Ganesh Bhat, 1889 Lt Regt.
- IC-50609 Capt Kamath Prashant Narayan, 1889 Lt Regt.
- IC-54099 Capt Mridul Kumar Singh, 197 Fd Regt.
- IC-54362 Capt PV Vikram, 141 Fd Regt (Posthumous).
- SS-36929 Capt Saju Cherian, 307 Med Regt.
- SS-36937 Capt Amit Sharma, 197 Fd Regt.
- IC-57422 Lt Sanjay Barshilia, 286 Med Regt.
- 14404805 Gnr Jagdish Prasad Gupta, 286 Med Regt.
[edit] Awards Other Than OP Vijay
[edit] Shaurya Chakra
- IC-40413 Maj Kishan Bahadur Thapa, 14 RR Bn.
[edit] Bar to Sena Medal (Gallantry)
- IC-53809 Capt Rajesh Singh Jasrotia, SM** , 167 Fd Regt.
[edit] Sena Medal (Gallantry)
- IC-49654 Maj Satyabir Shorot, 311 Fd Regt.
- IC-51034 Capt Mohan Ponna, 15 RR.
- IC-53694 Lt Anubhav Raj, 11 Fd Regt.
- IC-57497 Lt Manoj Kumar, 12 Fd Regt.
- 14491749 Nk Dalip Kumar, 168 Fd Regt.
- 14416147 Gnr T Vijay Bapu Rao, 1905 Lt Regt (Posthumous)
[edit] Unit Citation
Following units were awarded Unit Citation by the COAS for their performance in OP Vijay.
- 108 Med Regt. 108 Medium Regiment was raised on 01 March 81 at Bagrakot (West Bengal) by Lieutenant Colonel BJ Oberoi. In a short span of 18 years, the unit had had the distinction of serving in different areas like the East; Leh-Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir in the North along Line of Control; and, in Central India. The unit as a fledling was blooded into OPERATION MEGHDOOT in 1984. The Chief of Army Staff has made a special instant award of 'Unit Citation' to 108 Medium Regiment, for their valour and indomitable resolve during OPERATION VIJAY.
- 141 Field Regiment. 141 Field Regiment was raised on 01 Jul 1979 at Talbehat. The first Commanding Officer was Lieutenant Colonel Vinay Shankar. The unit has mixed class composition of troops. The unit had been awarded the COAS's 'Unit Citation' for their spendid performance during OPERATION VIJAY. Late Captain PV Vikram has been awarded Sena Medal in recognition to his gallant action during OPERATION VIJAY.
- 197 Field Regiment. 197 Field Regiment was raised on 01 Jun 1968 at Bangalore as a mixed unit. The first Commanding Officer was Lieutenant Colonel CS Murthy. The unit has held varying equipments like 76 mm (YUGO), 105 mm IFG, 100 mm Guns and 122 mm HOW. Besides participation in Bangladesh operations under 23 Mountain Division, the unit has served in the Eastern, Western and Northern Sectors including being a part of the strike Corps. The unit has been awarded COAS's 'Unit Citation' for their splendid performance during OP VIJAY.
