44 Field Regiment (India)
| 44 Field Regiment | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1948 – present |
| Allegiance |  India |
| Branch |  Indian Army |
| Type | .svg){kind=small} Artillery |
| Size | Regiment |
| Motto(s) | Sarvatra, Izzat-O-Iqbal (Everywhere with Honour and Glory) |
| Colors | Red & Navy Blue |
| Anniversaries | - |
| Insignia | |
| Abbreviation | 44 Fd Regt |
44 Field Regiment is part of the Regiment of Artillery of the Indian Army.
Formation and history
[edit]The regiment was raised as 44 Anti-Tank Regiment in 1948 with a class composition of South Indian Classes. At raising, the unit was equipped with 6-pounder anti-tank guns.[1] The regiment has since been converted to a heavy mortar regiment, a light regiment, a medium regiment and is presently a field regiment. The unit consists of 69, 70 and 71 field batteries.[2]
Operations
[edit]The regiment has taken part in the following operations[2]–
- Sino-Indian War of 1962 – The regiment was deployed in North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA), (presently Arunachal Pradesh) during the war. The Lohit, Siang and Subansiri Frontier Divisions of NEFA were the responsibility of 5 Infantry Brigade (which was under 4 Infantry Division of IV Corps, located at Tezpur). 44 Heavy Mortar Regiment was deployed in this large area, with their regiment headquarters at Tezpur in support of 5 Infantry Brigade. 69 Heavy Mortar Battery was deployed in Subansiri frontier division at Daporijo and then in Taliha in support of 2 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles. 70 Heavy Mortar Battery was in Siang frontier division at Tuting and Menchuka in support of 2 Madras. 71 Heavy Mortar Battery was in Lohit Frontier Division at Walong in support of 6 Kumaon and later with 4 Sikh. In spite of firing all their mortars, they were overrun by the vastly superior Chinese numbers, ammunition and equipment.[3][4][5] The regiment lost one officer and four men during the operations.[6][7]
- Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 – 44 Light Regiment took part in Operation Ablaze and Operation Riddle. It lost four men during the operations in the Jammu and Kashmir sector.[8]
- Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 – During Operation Cactus Lily, 44 Light Regiment was part of 54 Artillery Brigade under 54 Infantry Division in the western sector.[9] The regiment lost officer and one Junior commissioned officer during the war.[10]
- Operation Sunflower – 1972
- Operation Blue Star – 1984
- Operation Trident – 1986-1987
- Operation Rakshak – 1995
- Operation Meghdoot – 1995-1997
- Operation Vijay – 1999
- Operation Parakram – 2001-2002
- Operation Falcon and Operation Rhino – 2006-2009 – The regiment was actively involved in counter-terrorism operations in Assam.[11][12][13][14]
- Flood relief operations (2018 Kerala floods) – Columns from the regiment weren't actively involved in rescue efforts during the devastating floods affecting the state of Kerala in 2018.[15][16]
Equipment
[edit]The regiment has used the following weapon systems over the years[2]–
- 1948 – 6-pounder anti-tank guns
- 1956 – 4.2-inch mortar
- 1963 – 120 mm E1 Mortar
- 1972 – Mortar (type ?)
- 1981 – M-46 130 mm guns
- 2006 – 105 mm light field guns
Gallantry awards
[edit]The regiment has won the following gallantry awards–
 |
- Vir Chakra
- Second Lieutenant (later Brigadier) Pradeep Singh Bhandari[17]
- Shaurya Chakra
- Major (now Brigadier) Sukhmeet Singh, while serving with Assam Rifles[18][19]
- Sena Medal
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Gulati, YB (1973). History of the Regiment of Artillery, Indian Army. Leo Cooper Ltd. p. 102. ISBN 978-0850521184.
- ^ a b c "Diamond Jubilee APO cover". 2009-10-01. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
- ^ "1962 War - The Unknown Battles : Operations in Subansiri and Siang Frontier Divisions". 2014-07-01. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
- ^ Sandhu, PJS (1992). 1962: A View from the Other Side of the Hill. VIJ Books (India) Pty Ltd. ISBN 978-9384464769.
- ^ Singh, Jagjit (2006). Artillery: The Battle-Winning Arm. Lancer Publishers, New Delhi. ISBN 978-8176021807.
- ^ "EXTRACT OF MIA/KIA LIST – 1962" (PDF). Retrieved 2024-01-10.
- ^ "Official history, Chapter 6" (PDF). Retrieved 2024-01-11.
- ^ "1965 war - Amar-Jawan - A database of Indian Armed Forces Martyrs 1947-1997". Retrieved 2024-01-10.
- ^ Singh, Jagjit (1994). Indian Gunners at War: The Western Front 1971. Spantech & Lancer. p. 131. ISBN 978-1897829554.
- ^ "Amar-Jawan - A database of Indian Armed Forces Martyrs 1947-1997". Retrieved 2024-01-09.
- ^ "ULFA tries to blow up train on raising day". 2008-04-07. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
- ^ "Northeast Briefs". 2009-08-05. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
- ^ "Encounter in North Lakhimpur: 2 ULFA cadres killed". 2008-03-15. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
- ^ "ULFA targets security forces, triggers 3 grenade attacks". 2013-11-19. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
- ^ "Kerala flood: Army constructs 35 feet long footbridge". 2018-08-16. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
- ^ "Operation Sahyog: Indian Army Builds 40-Foot Bridge From Fallen Trees In Kerala". 2018-08-16. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
- ^ "Second Lieutenant Pradeep Singh Bhandari". Retrieved 2024-01-11.
- ^ "MAJ SUKHMEET SINGH, SC". Retrieved 2024-01-10.
- ^ "Gazette of India, No 12, page 462". 2003-03-22. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
- ^ "440 Republic Day Gallantry and other Defence Decorations Announced". 2011-01-25. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
- ^ "Gazette of India, No 14, page 707". 2011-04-02. Retrieved 2024-01-10.