41 Field Regiment (India) Explained

Unit Name:	41 Field Regiment (Kargil)
Dates:	1940 – ?, 1948 – present
Allegiance:	India
Branch:	Indian Army
Type:	Artillery
Size:	Regiment
Identification Symbol:	41 Fd Regt
Identification Symbol Label:	Abbreviation
Nickname:	The Pathfinders Rajaon Ki Palton^[1]
Motto:	Sarvatra, Izzat-O-Iqbal (Everywhere with Honour and Glory)
Colors:	Red & Navy Blue
Anniversaries:	15 July – Raising Day
Battle Honours:	Kargil

41 Field Regiment is part of the Regiment of Artillery of the Indian Army.

Formation and history

The regiment was initially raised in 1940 as part of the Royal Indian Artillery (RIA) as 14th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment. It was subsequently designated 3rd Indian Medium Regiment and finally as 41 Medium Regiment.^[2] It was later re-raised on 15 July 1948 by Lieutenant Colonel Kalyan Singh (of 2nd Indian Field Regiment, RIA) at Jhansi comprising a newly raised Regimental Headquarters and three artillery batteries from the princely states of Bikaner, Gwalior and Patiala.^{[3] [4] [5]} The three batteries are –

83 (Bikaner) Field BatteryThe Bikaner artillery traces its origins to 1670. During its early years, under Maharaja Anup Singh, it participated in several Mughal campaigns in the Deccan region, including the Siege of Golconda in 1687. It took part in the First Sikh War (1845–46); Second Sikh War (1848–49) and the Mutiny (1857–58) in support of the East India Company. Bikaner Bijey Battery was formed from select pieces of Bikaner artillery in 1906. The name comes from Prince Bijey Singh, the son of General Maharaja Sir Ganga Singh. It was organised as a camel pack battery in 1924 and equipped with breech-loading guns. It was later equipped with BL 2.75-inch mountain guns. The unit was re-organised as a mountain battery in 1941 and equipped with 3.7-inch howitzers and trained at Quetta.^{[6] [7]} During World War II, the battery under command of Major Kishen Singh was moved from Kohat in 1943 to join 25th Mountain Regiment. It proceeded to Arakan to join 7th Indian Infantry Division in the Burma theatre. It saw extensive action in Assam and Burma in 1944 and 1945, and returned to the State in 1946.^{[8] [9] [10]}

84 (Scindia) Field BatteryThis Battery was raised as 3rd Company Artillery in 1861. It was converted into the 3rd Horse Artillery in 1853 and later in the same year as the 2nd Horse Artillery. In 1898, it was renamed as 'B' Battery Gwalior Horse. The unit was equipped with 15-pounders and re-organised as ‘B’ Battery, Gwalior Horse Artillery. In 1934, it was re-equipped with QF 18-pounder guns. From 1942, it was known as Scindia's Field Battery.^[6] Prior to independence, the battery saw action in World War II in the Burma campaign. It was attached to the 1st Indian Field Regiment and fought in the Battle of Meiktila in 1945.^{[11] [12]} The battery saw action in the Kashmir Operations during Indo-Pakistani war of 1947–1948.^[13]

85 (Patiala) Field BatteryRaised from Faridkot Sappers in 1948, which itself was raised in 1900 in the erstwhile Faridkot State. The sappers saw action in the East African campaign of World War I, Third Anglo-Afghan War and in World War II in the Burma campaign. ^{[6] [14]} The guns of the battery were one of the first to see action during the Kashmir Operations in October 1947. Four 3.7-inch howitzers belonging to the Patiala State Forces were flown and deployed near Pattan along the Srinagar – Baramulla road. The guns were taken over by the artillery men attached with 1 Sikh battalion and fired, causing the Pakistani raiders to flee.^[15]

Operations

The regiment has taken part in the following operations following its raising^[3] –

• Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 – During Operation Riddle, the regiment was part of the 7 Infantry Division sector and took part in the Battle of Burki.^[16] The regiment lost one officer and six men during the war.^{[17] [18]}
• Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 –Operation Cactus Lily.
• Operation Bajrang and Operation Rhino – Between 1988 and 1992, the regiment took part in counter terrorism operations in Assam.^[19]
• Operation Vijay – The unit was de-inducted from the Kashmir valley along with 8 Mountain Artillery Brigade for Operation Vijay in 1999. ^[20] It was commanded by Colonel GS Mann and equipped with 105 mm Indian Field Guns.^{[21] [22] [23]} The regiment provided close range, accurate and timely fire support in the Battle of Tololing, Point 5140 from Thasgam, Battle of Point 4700 (Mushkoh), Battle of Point 4875 (now named as Gun Hill), Battle of Zulu Top and gave a decisive blow in the Battle of Tiger Hill from Drass.^{[4] [24] [25]}
• Operation Parakram – 2001

Gallantry awards

The regiment has won the following gallantry awards–

• The regiment was awarded the honour title Kargil for its valour during Operation Vijay.
• Vir Chakra – Major Amrinder Singh Kasana^[26]
• Mentioned in dispatches – Major RS Chaudhary, Havildar Ram Lakhan Singh^[27]

Notable Officers

• Lieutenant General K Ravi Prasad – Colonel Commandant of the Regiment of Artillery. Retired as the Director General Artillery in 2021.^{[28] [29]}

See also

• List of artillery regiments of Indian Army

Notes and References

1. Web site: Raising Day celebrated. 2018-07-04. 2023-12-21.
2. Book: Adams, EG Phythian. The Madras Soldier 1746-1946. 1948. The Superintendent Government Of Madras. 193.
3. Web site: 41 Field Regiment – Brochure. 2008-07-15. 2023-12-20.
4. Web site: Field Regiment Celebrates Diamond Jubilee. 2008-07-13. 2023-12-20.
5. Web site: POW 1971. 2023-12-20.
6. Book: Singh, Man. A history of the Indian state forces. 1967. Orient Longmans. 19-39. 9780850520163.
7. Book: Rajputana And Ajmer Merwara . 1937. Government of India Press. 61.
8. Book: Graham, Brigadier General C.A.L.. The history of the Indian Mountain Artillery. Gale and Polden Ltd. 1957.
9. Book: Roberts, Michael. Golden Arrow: the story of the 7th Indian Division in the Second World War, 1939-1945. 1952. Gale & Polden. 17.
10. Book: Sainik Samachar, Volume 37. 18-20. 1990. Director of Public Relations, Ministry of Defence.
11. Book: Das, Chand N. Hours of Glory: famous battles of the Indian army, 1801-1971. Vision Books. 1997. 128-9. 978-8170940692.
12. Book: Farndale, Sir Martin. History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery: The Far East Theatre, 1941-46. 2002. Brassey's (UK) Ltd. 358. 978-1857533316.
13. Book: Prasad. SN. Pal. Dharm. Operations In Jammu And Kashmir 1947-48. 1987. History Division Ministry Of Defence Government Of India. 229.
14. Web site: East African Campaign 1914 – 1918 Faridkot Sappers & Miners. 2023-12-22.
15. Web site: The men who saved the Kashmir valley. 2012-10-27. 2023-12-22.
16. Web site: Official history. 2023-12-21.
17. Web site: Lt HK Raina, SM. 2023-12-21.
18. Web site: Amar-Jawan - A database of Indian Armed Forces Martyrs 1947-1997. 2023-12-21.
19. Web site: Anti-ultra operation launched along the border. 2012-04-06. 2023-12-20.
20. Book: Puri, Mohinder . Kargil: Turning the Tide . Lancer Publishers LLC . 2015 . 978-8170623120.
21. Book: Mayadas, Lt Gen M. How the Bofors Affair Transformed India, 1989-1999. 1999. Lancer Publishers. 978-1897829646. 23.
22. Book: Puri, Mohinder . Kargil: Turning the Tide . Lancer Publishers LLC . 2015 . 978-8170623120 .
23. Book: S Ludra, Kuldip. The Kargil strike: A study of the failure of Indian strategic thought. 2000. T.K.S. Ludra. 978-81-901218-9-7. 180.
24. Book: Verma. Ashok Kalyan. Kargil, Blood on the Snow: Tactical Victory, Strategic Failure : a Critical Analysis of the War. 2002. Manohar Publishers and Distributors. 978-8173044113. 112. 2023-12-20. en.
25. Book: Malik, General VP. Kargil-From Surprise to Victory. 978-8172239671. 2020. Harper Collins.
26. Web site: Brigadier Amrinder Singh Kasana (Then Major). 2023-12-20.
27. Book: Sainik Samachar, Volume 42. 17. Director of Public Relations, Ministry of Defence.. 1995.
28. Web site: Op Vijay: Tribute to Guns & Gunners: Point 5140 at Dras Sector renamed as Gun Hill. 2022-07-30. 2023-12-24.
29. Web site: Gazette of India, No 45, page 1745. 2020-11-07. 2023-12-24.