65 Medium Regiment (India) Explained

Unit Name:	65 Medium Regiment
Dates:	1962 – present
Country:	India
Allegiance:	India
Branch:	Indian Army
Type:	Artillery
Size:	Regiment
Identification Symbol:	65 Med Regt
Identification Symbol Label:	Abbreviation
Motto:	Sarvatra, Izzat-O-Iqbal (Everywhere with Honour and Glory)
Colors:	Red & Navy Blue
Anniversaries:	1 November – Raising Day

65 Medium Regiment is part of the Regiment of Artillery of the Indian Army.

Formation and history

The regiment was raised as 65 Mountain Regiment on 1 November 1962 at Belgaum, Karnataka. The first commanding officer was Lieutenant Colonel HR Roach, who was the pioneer of the famous Roach equipment, which had been used to fire the 25-pounder guns in arc of 360 degrees in a high angle. The troop composition was of Jat soldiers, the first pure Jat artillery regiment of the Indian Army.^[1] The regiment has been subsequently designated as a Field Regiment and is presently a Medium Regiment.

Operations

The regiment has taken part in the following operations –

• North-East Frontier Agency - The regiment, in November 1965, manually handled their guns at the treacherous mountain terrain of Se La. During these operations, the regiment lost Naik Hanuman Singh and Lance Naik Ram Phul Singh.^[2]

• Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 – the regiment was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel DS Bahl, equipped with 75/24 Pack Howitzers and was part of Operation Nutcracker and Operation Cactus Lily.^[3] On 15 October 1971, prior to the onset of war, the regiment along with 24 Medium Regiment was in support of Mukti Bahini and 10 Bihar in the attempted capture of Saldanodi.^[4] It was part of 57 Mountain Division^[5] and moved about its guns by dismantling it and transporting it by country boats across the Titas River to support 311 Mountain Brigade's advance towards the Meghna. It also used the Mil Mi-4 helicopters of 110 and 105 Helicopter Units to cross the Meghna towards Dacca.^{[6] [7] [8]} On 14 December, one gun of the regiment was dismantled and carried manually forwards to bombard targets in Dacca and announce the arrival of 57 Division to the gates of the capital. It was the first artillery regiments to enter Dacca along with 4 Guards and 5 Independent Squadron.^{[9] [10]} During the war, the regiment lost Captain K S Sundaram, Gunners Ziley Singh, Iqbal Singh, Dharam Pal and Ram Kumar Singh.^{[11] [12]}

Other operations^[1]

• • Operation Trident Operation Rakshak – counter-terrorist operations in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.
• Operation Vyavastha
• Operation Rhino I and II - counter-terrorist operations in Assam – The regiment during its two tenures was successful in apprehending a large number of insurgents.^{[13] [14] [15]} During the operations, it lost Havildar Sahab Singh, Lance Naik Randhir Singh, Gunner Sudesh Kumar and Gunner Ram Niwas.^[16]
  • Operation Parakram Operation Meghdoot – Siachen Glacier, 2016

Gallantry awards

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

• GOC-in-C (Eastern Command) Unit Citation – 15 January 2011 for Operation Rhino II.
• Sena Medal – 7 (2nd Lieutenant Sreejith K, Havildar Sahab Singh (posthumous)), Major Gaurav Bhatia, Captain Kelshikar Shamsher Kiran, Lance Naik Rajendra Kumar, Gunner Satyavir, Naib Subedar Rajbir Singh)^{[17] [18] [19] [20]}
• Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) – 1 (Colonel Ajit Kumar Borah) ^[18]
• Chief of Army Staff Commendation Cards – 2
• Vice Chief of Army Staff Commendation cards – 1
• GOC-in-C Commendation cards – 37

War Cry

The war cry of the regiment is चढ़ जा छोरे (Charh-Ja-Chhore). This loosely translates to Go up Boys! or Climb up Boys!.^[1]

Other achievements

The regiment has excelled in sports, with Gunner Vibhav Ahlawat representing the Army team in long jump in the 2021 inter-services athletics championships.^[21]

See also

• List of artillery regiments of Indian Army

Notes and References

1. Web site: 65 Field Regiment Golden Jubilee APO postal cover. 2012-11-01. 2022-03-25.
2. Web site: Amar-Jawan - A database of Indian Armed Forces Martyrs 1947-1997. 2023-03-26.
3. Web site: No Bed Of Roses. 2018-06-07. 2023-03-25.
4. Web site: Operation Bangladesh. 2023-03-25.
5. Web site: Indian Army deployment in Bangladesh. 2023-03-25.
6. Web site: Artillery and its creative thinking. 2014-01-18. 2023-03-25.
7. Web site: March to free Dhaka. 2021-06-17. 2023-03-25.
8. Web site: ‘Deep Operations’ Theory: 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. 2016-12-15. 2023-03-25.
9. Web site: The Schanberg Story And Dacca’s Liberation. 2021-01-12. 2023-03-25.
10. Book: Singh, Lachhman. Victory in Bangladesh. 1991. Natraj Publishers. 978-8181580382. 240–241.
11. Web site: Amar-Jawan - A database of Indian Armed Forces Martyrs 1947-1997a. 2023-03-26.
12. Web site: Amar-Jawan - A database of Indian Armed Forces Martyrs 1947-1997b. 2023-03-26.
13. Web site: SF recovered an IED in Assam's Baksa district. 2009-08-03. 2023-03-26.
14. Web site: Darrang (Assam): Timeline (Terrorist Activities) -2010. 2010-01-05. 2023-03-26.
15. Web site: Two IEDs found, NDFB ultras killed in Assam. 2010-01-24. 2023-03-26.
16. Web site: Roll of Honour. 2023-03-26.
17. Web site: Gazette of India, No 48, page 654. 1998-11-28. 2023-03-26.
18. Web site: 440 Republic Day Gallantry and other Defence Decorations Announced. 2011-01-25. 2023-03-26.
19. Web site: Republic Day Gallantry and other Defence Decorations. 2010-01-25. 2023-03-26.
20. Web site: Republic Day Gallantry and other Defence Decorations. 2009-01-25. 2023-03-26.
21. Web site: Team wise list. 2023-03-26.