52 Medium Regiment Explained

Unit Name:52 Medium Regiment
Dates:1961 – present
Country: India
Allegiance:India
Branch: Indian Army
Type: Artillery
Size:Regiment
Identification Symbol:52 Med Regt
Identification Symbol Label:Abbreviation
Motto:Sarvatra, Izzat-O-Iqbal (Everywhere with Honour and Glory)
Colors:Red & Navy Blue
Anniversaries:1 March – Raising Day
3 September – Battle honour day
Battle Honours:Sanjoi Mirpur

52 Medium Regiment (Sanjoi Mirpur) is part of the Regiment of Artillery of the Indian Army.

Formation and history

The regiment was raised as 52 Mountain Regiment on 1 March 1961 at Bareilly Cantonment. The first commanding officer was Lieutenant Colonel (later Brigadier) NR Subramaniam and the unit was equipped with 3.7 inch howitzers.[1] 145 Mountain Battery of the regiment moved to 56 Mountain Composite Regiment (Pack), when the latter was raised in April 1964.[2] The regiment was subsequently converted to a field regiment and is presently a medium regiment.

Operations

The regiment has taken part in the following operations –

Indo-Pakistani War of 196552 Mountain Composite Regiment (Pack) was part of 15 Corps artillery.[3] The regiment took part in Operation Riddle and was awarded the honour title Sanjoi Mirpur for its determined and devastating actions in battles at Sanjoi Top and Mirpur Bridge.[4]

138 (Dehradun) Mountain Battery (Pack) of the regiment took part in operations in the Tithwal sector in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir. The battery was commanded by Major Shyam Sunder Wadhwa. It fought intensely in the heroic battles of Sanjoi, Mirpur, Point 9013 (Kumaon Hill), Bugina Bulge and Jura Bridge. The battery equipped with howitzers along with 25-pounder guns of 17 Field Battery from 7 Field Regiment ably supported 1 Sikh less two companies during the attack and capture of the Pakistani post on Richhmar Ridge on 24 August 1965. The battery used direct fire from temporary positions to destroy bunkers at Upper and Lower Sanjoi. It then supported 3/8 Gorkha Rifles during the capture of Sanjoi on the night of 3 September and helped deflect the two furious counter-attacks on nights of 4/5 September and 6/7 September. The battery helped support the capture of Mirpur heights. It supported 4 Kumaon during the capture of Point 9013 on the night of 20 September. The capture of Point 9013 gave Indian troops complete domination of the Mirpur area up to Jura Bridge on the River Kishanganga. The battery then provided fire support to 4 Kumaon during the infiltration and destruction of Jura bridge.[5] [6]

The regiment lost two officers, one Junior Commissioned Officer and 19 soldiers during the operations.[7] In addition to the honour title, it was awarded one Sena Medal (Captain Prakash Gadre),[8] two Mentioned in dispatches and six commendation cards.[1]

Indo-Pakistani War of 1971The regiment saw action during Operation Cactus Lily between 9 November and 28 December 1971 in the Eastern Sector. It saw actions in the battles at Bhurungamari and Lalmonirhat. During the Bhurungamari operations, it was part of the 6 Mountain Division operations and under 9 Mountain Brigade.[9] During this operation, Captain Tirath Singh was awarded a Vir Chakra for bravery.[10] [11] The regiment also won a Sena Medal.[1]
Disaster managementThe regiment was involved in firefighting operations at Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary in 1986. It was awarded eight Chief of Army Staff Commendation Cards and one GOC-in-C Commendation Card for its resourceful efforts.[1]
  • Counterterrorism operationsThe regiment was involved in counterterrorism operations in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir as part of Operation Rakshak[1] -
    • Operation VijayThe regiment was posted in the desert sector during the Kargil war and did not see active action.[1]
  • Operation RhinoThe regiment was posted for anti-terrorist operation in the plains of Assam between December 2003 and January 2005. It was awarded two GOC-in-C Commendation Cards for arresting a terrorist.[1]

    • Gallantry awards

    The regiment has won the following gallantry awards[1] –

    Notable Officers

    See also

    Notes and References

    1. Web site: 52 Medium Regiment Golden Jubilee APO postal cover. 2015-09-03. 2022-10-19.
    2. Web site: 56 Field Regiment Golden Jubilee APO postal cover. 2014-04-15. 2022-10-20.
    3. Book: Singh, Harbaksh . War Despatches: Indo-Pak Conflict 1965. 2012. Lancer Publishers LLC. 978-8170621171.
    4. Web site: History of Artillery. 2022-10-20.
    5. Book: Gokhale . Nitin A . 1965 Turning the Tide, How India won the war . 2015 . Bloomsbury publishing India Pvt Ltd . 978-93-85436-84-0 .
    6. Book: Singh, Brigadier Jasbir. Roar of the Tiger: Illustrated History of Operations in Kashmir by 4th Battalion the Kumaon Regt in 1965 War. 2013. VIJ Books (India) Pty Ltd. 978-9382652038. 145–147.
    7. Web site: Amar-Jawan - A database of Indian Armed Forces Martyrs 1947-1997. 2022-10-20.
    8. Web site: Gazette of India, No 1, page 49. 1967-01-07. 2022-10-20.
    9. Book: Khullar, Darshan . Themes of Glory: Indian Artillery in War. 2017. VIJ Books (India) Pty Ltd. 978-9385563973.
    10. Web site: Captain Tirath Singh. 2022-10-20.
    11. Web site: Gazette of India, No 34, page 927. 1972-08-19. 2022-10-20.
    12. Web site: COAS Commendation Card. 2016-08-15. 2022-10-20.
    13. Web site: COAS Commendation Card. 2019-01-15. 2022-10-20.
    14. Web site: Chinese capers in Ladakh – How to stand upto a bully: Part 1. 2020-06-16. 2022-10-19.

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