861 Missile Regiment (India) Explained
Unit Name: | 861 Missile Regiment (Laleali & Picquet 707) |
Dates: | 1963 – present |
Country: | India |
Allegiance: | India |
Branch: | Indian Army |
Type: | Artillery |
Size: | Regiment |
Equipment: | BrahMos |
Identification Symbol Label: | Abbreviation |
Identification Symbol 2: | "Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa" |
Identification Symbol 2 Label: | War Cry |
Motto: | Sarvatra Izat O Iqbal (Everywhere with Honour and Glory) “Do it right - First time – Every time” |
Colors: | "Red & Navy Blue" |
Decorations: | Sena Medal 1 COAS Commendation Card 4 VCOAS Commendation Card 7 GOC-in-C Commendation Card 9 |
Battle Honours: | Laleali Picquet 707 |
861 Missile Regiment (Laleali & Picquet 707) is a missile equipped regiment which is part of the Regiment of Artillery of the Indian Army.
History
Formation
861 Missile Regiment (Laleali & Picquet 707) traces its origin from the Border Scouts Battalion. It was raised as the 863 Light Battery by amalgamating a nucleus of 121 (Independent) Heavy Mortar Battery (Congo) and a battery of 35 Heavy Mortar Regiment on 20 June 1963. Lieutenant Colonel Sewa Ram was the first Commanding Officer. 86 Light Regiment was eventually formed with three batteries – 121 Heavy Mortar Battery, 862 Light Battery and 863 Light Battery.[1] This eventually evolved to become the 861 Missile Regiment.
Operations
- United Nations Operation in the Congo121 Heavy Mortar Battery participated in the Indian Army United Nations peacekeeping mission in Congo under 99 Infantry Brigade.[2] [3]
- Indo-Pak War (1965)
86 Light Regiment participated in Operation Ablaze and Operation Riddle.
- Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
The Regiment provided fire power to 28 Infantry Brigade of 10 Infantry Division in the Battle of Chamb. The devastating shelling by the Regiment on 3 and 4 December 1971 helped beat back the attack on Picquet 707. The shelling on 6 and 7 December 1971 similarly prevented the attack on Laleali.[4] The Regiment along with 8 Jammu and Kashmir Militia (now Light Infantry) were awarded the battle honours Laleali and Picquet 707.[5] [6] [7]
- Other operations: The Regiment has also taken part in Operation Meghdoot, Operation Vijay and Operation Parakram.
BrahMos
The Regiment was the first Army unit to get inducted with the BrahMos medium-range ramjet supersonic cruise missile in June 2007.[8] [9] It is presently part of the 40 Artillery Division.
The Regiment had the honour of participating in the annual Republic Day parade in 2008, 2009, 2011, 2014 and 2017.[10] [11]
See also
- List of artillery regiments of Indian Army
Notes and References
- Web site: 861 Missile Regiment - Indian Army Postal Cover . 2020-10-21.
- Book: Sharma, SK. Indian Army: United Nations Peacekeeping Operations. 1997. Lancer Publishers. 978-1897829011. 28.
- Web site: Congo – First African War And Indian Soldiers (1960-64).doc. 2020-10-21.
- Book: Singh, Jagjit . Indian Gunners at War: The Western Front 1971. 1994. Spantech & Lancer. 978-1897829554. 76-100.
- Book: Khullar, Darshan . Themes of Glory: Indian Artillery in War. 2017. VIJ Books (India) Pty Ltd. 978-9385563973.
- Book: Chandar, Col Y Udaya. Independent India's All the Seven Wars. 2018. Notion Press. 978-1948473217.
- Web site: Hindustan Times article "Sitrep - A commander who led from the front" . 2017-03-26 . 2020-10-21.
- Force. May 2009. 6. 9. 44–45. Smash Hit. 2020-10-22. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20130726000515/http://www.scribd.com/doc/43562945/Force-Vol-6-No-9-05-2009. 26 July 2013. dmy-all.
- Web site: RCC BrahMos in survincity.com. 2013-09-28. 2020-10-21.
- Web site: Republic Day parade 2017 in the hindu.com. 2017-01-26. 2020-10-21.
- Web site: Highlights: 68th Republic Day Parade in primetimes.in. 2017-01-26. 2020-10-21.