76 Field Regiment (India) Explained

Unit Name:	76 Field Regiment
Dates:	1966 – present
Country:	India
Allegiance:	India
Branch:	Indian Army
Type:	Artillery
Size:	Regiment
Identification Symbol:	76 Fd Regt
Identification Symbol Label:	Abbreviation
Motto:	Sarvatra, Izzat-O-Iqbal (Everywhere with Honour and Glory)
Colors:	Red & Navy Blue
Anniversaries:	1 July – Raising Day

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

Formation and history

The regiment was raised on 1 July 1966 at Secunderabad. The first commanding officer was Lieutenant Colonel A Kaul.^[1] The regiment consists of 761, 762 and 763 field batteries.

Class Composition

The regiment at formation had a fixed class composition of Ahirs, Rajputs and Sikhs. In 1999, the regiment was converted to a mixed class unit.^[1]

Operations

The regiment has taken part in the following operations^[1] –

• Operation Cactus Lily – 76 Medium Regiment was part of 7 Artillery Brigade of 7 Infantry Division in the western front. During the war, it was allotted to 21 (Independent) Artillery Brigade. It saw action under 15 Infantry Division. The unit was in support of 86 Infantry Brigade in the battle for Dera Baba Nanak. It then provided fire power to 96 Infantry Brigade during the capture of Burj and Fatehpur.^[2] The regiment lost Gunner Balwinder Singh during the war.^[3]
• Operation Blue Star – 1984 -1985
• Operation Trident – 1987
• Operation Rakshak – Counter terrorist operations in Jammu and Kashmir between 1992 and 1995 and between 2005 and 2007. The regiment lost Havildar Makhan Singh and Gunner Rakesh Kumar during the operations.^{[4] [5]}
• Operation Parakram – 2001- 2002
• Operation Rhino – Counter terrorist operations in Assam between 2010 and 2013

Gallantry awards

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

• Ati Vishisht Seva Medal – 2
• Vishisht Seva Medal – 1
• Sena Medal – 5
  • Gunner Ranjeet Kumar^[6]
• Mentioned in dispatches – 2
  • Havildar Chandra Bhan Singh (Operation Rakshak)^{[7] [8]}
• Commendation cards – 20

Other achievements

• The regiment was awarded the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (South Western Command) unit citation on 14 January 2016.
• Naib Subedar (later Subedar Major) Paramjeet Singh of the regiment, while posted to School of Artillery, broke the 33 year old British world record of Gerry Breen^[9] in powered hang gliding by covering a distance of 380 km between Sri Ganganagar and Sanderav near Jodhpur.^[10] He was awarded the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award for the year 2012.^[11] Image (External link) https://dpl.presidentofindia.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/13177/35/31082013_PFRB_1_17.JPG
• Mohan Damor from the regiment won the 21 km Half Marathon event during the Ahmedabad Marathon in 2017.^[12] He secured the third prize for same event during the Vasai-Virar marathon in 2017.^[13]

See also

• List of artillery regiments of Indian Army

Notes and References

1. Web site: 76 Field Regiment Golden Jubilee APO postal cover. 2016-07-01. 2023-06-04.
2. Book: Singh, Jagjit . Indian Gunners at War: The Western Front 1971. 1994. Spantech & Lancer. 978-1897829554.
3. Web site: Amar-Jawan - A database of Indian Armed Forces Martyrs 1947-1997. 2023-06-05.
4. Web site: Havildar Makhan Singh. 2023-06-05.
5. Web site: Gunner Rakesh Kumar . 2023-06-05.
6. Web site: List of personnel being conferred gallantry awards on the occasion of Independence Day-2018. 2018-08-15. 2023-06-05.
7. Web site: Gazette of India, 50, page 774. 2018-12-15. 2023-06-05.
8. Web site: Independence Day gallantry awards-Here is the complete list. 2018-08-15. 2023-06-05.
9. Web site: Gerry Breen. 2023-06-05.
10. Web site: Ludhiana man breaks world record in hang-gliding. 2012-02-18. 2023-06-04.
11. Web site: National Sports Awards Presented. 2013-08-31. 2023-06-05.
12. Web site: City stands with braves for long run. 2017-11-27. 2023-06-04.
13. Web site: Army steal the show in Vasai-Virar marathon. 2017-09-30. 2023-06-04.