78 Field Regiment (India) Explained
| Unit Name: | 78 Field Regiment |
| Dates: | 1966 – present |
| Country: | India |
| Allegiance: | India |
| Branch: | Indian Army |
| Type: | Artillery |
| Size: | Regiment |
| Equipment: | 122 mm D-30 Howitzer |
| Identification Symbol: | 78 Fd Regt |
| Identification Symbol Label: | Abbreviation |
| Nickname: | 78 Very Fine |
| Motto: | Sarvatra, Izzat-O-Iqbal
(Everywhere with Honour and Glory)
सबसे बेहतर अठहत्तर
(Sabse Behtar Aṭhhattar) |
| Colors: | Red & Navy Blue |
| Anniversaries: | 1 July – Raising Day |
78 Field Regiment is part of the Regiment of Artillery of the Indian Army.
Formation
The regiment was raised on 1 July 1966 as 78 Medium Regiment at Delhi Cantonment. The first commanding officer was Lieutenant Colonel (later Major General) Nemi Chand Khanna.[1] It was the fourth unit of the Indian artillery to be equipped with the Soviet 130 mm towed guns.[2]
Composition
The regiment is a single class unit with men enlisted from the Ahir community.[2]
Equipment
The regiment has been equipped with the following guns[2] -
Operations
The regiment has taken part in the following operations[2] –
- Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 – The regiment fought in the South Western sector during the liberation of Bangladesh. It was the only artillery regiment in the eastern sector equipped with 130 mm guns.[3]
The regiment was part of 9 Artillery Brigade under 9 Infantry Division. One battery (783 Medium Battery) was with 4 Mountain Artillery Brigade under 4 Mountain Division.
The unit fought in the battles in Garibpur, Jessore and Khulna. It fired a total of 2200 rounds during the war. 783 Medium Battery took part in action in the Jhenida-Kushtia area.[4] [5] [6] [7] [8]
- Operation Blue Star - 1984
- Operation Meghdoot – The regiment was posted for a high altitude tenure in Siachen Glacier in 1989.
- Operation Ibex - 1989 – The regiment under the command of Colonel P Krishna Kumar took part in the operations to seize the Pakistani posts overlooking the Chumik Glacier as part of Operation Ibex. The unit fired 676 rounds during the operations. Captain Rajendra Singh was awarded the Sena Medal for gallantry.
- Operation Rakshak – 1995 to 1999
- Operation Parakram – 2001 to 2002
- Operation Rakshak III - 2004 to 2008
Honours and achievements
The regiment has been awarded the following awards[2] –
- Sena Medal – 3
- Mentioned in despatches – 2[9]
- COAS Commendation Cards – 13[10] [11] [12] [13]
- Vice COAS Commendation Cards – 1
- GOC-in-C Commendation Cards – 25
- The regiment was awarded the COAS Unit Citation in 2022.
Motto
The motto of the regiment is सबसे बेहतर अठहत्तर (Sabse Behtar Aṭhhattar), which translates to Seventy Eight – the best.[2]
See also
- List of artillery regiments of Indian Army
Notes and References
- Web site: Cycling event marks 78 Field’s golden jubilee. 2018-10-16. 2022-03-11.
- Web site: 78 Field Regiment Golden Jubilee APO postal cover. 2016-10-13. 2022-03-11.
- Web site: Indian Army deployment in Bangladesh. 2022-03-14.
- Book: Praval, KC. The Red Eagles, a History of Fourth Division of India. 1985. Vision Books Pvt. Ltd. 978-1851270705. 363.
- Web site: Anjan Mukherjee in Evolution of Indian Artillery and its Impact on India's Comprehensive Military Power, chapter II. 2022-02-11.
- Book: Wahab, Major General ATM Abdul. Mukti Bahini Wins Victory - Military Oligarchy Divides Pakistan in 1971. Pan Pacific Venture . 2004. 310. 978-9847130446.
- Web site: ‘The Battle of Garibpur’ in Journal of Defence Studies, Vol. 15, No. 4, October–December 2021, pp. 107–129. 2021-10-01. 2022-03-11.
- Web site: Official History 1971 War. 2022-03-14.
- Web site: President approves 384 Gallantry Awards and other defence decorations to Armed Forces personnel on Republic Day. 2022-01-25. 2022-03-11.
- Web site: COAS Commendation Card. 2004-01-15. 2022-03-11.
- Web site: COAS Commendation Card. 2010-01-15. 2022-03-11.
- Web site: COAS Commendation Card. 2016-01-15. 2022-03-11.
- Web site: COAS Commendation Card. 2017-08-15. 2022-03-11.
