Misplaced Pages

44 Field Regiment
Active	1948 – present
Allegiance	India
Branch	Indian Army
Type	Artillery
Size	Regiment
Motto(s)	Sarvatra, Izzat-O-Iqbal (Everywhere with Honour and Glory)
Colors	Red & Navy Blue
Anniversaries	-
Insignia
Abbreviation	44 Fd Regt

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

Formation and history

The regiment was raised as 44 Anti-Tank Regiment in 1948 with a class composition of South Indian Classes. At raising, the unit was equipped with 6-pounder anti-tank guns. The regiment has since been converted to a heavy mortar regiment, a light regiment, a medium regiment and is presently a field regiment. The unit consists of 69, 70 and 71 field batteries.

Operations

The regiment has taken part in the following operations–

• Sino-Indian War of 1962 – The regiment was deployed in North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA), (presently Arunachal Pradesh) during the war. The Lohit, Siang and Subansiri Frontier Divisions of NEFA were the responsibility of 5 Infantry Brigade (which was under 4 Infantry Division of IV Corps, located at Tezpur). 44 Heavy Mortar Regiment was deployed in this large area, with their regiment headquarters at Tezpur in support of 5 Infantry Brigade. 69 Heavy Mortar Battery was deployed in Subansiri frontier division at Daporijo and then in Taliha in support of 2 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles. 70 Heavy Mortar Battery was in Siang frontier division at Tuting and Menchuka in support of 2 Madras. 71 Heavy Mortar Battery was in Lohit Frontier Division at Walong in support of 6 Kumaon and later with 4 Sikh. In spite of firing all their mortars, they were overrun by the vastly superior Chinese numbers, ammunition and equipment. The regiment lost one officer and four men during the operations.
• Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 – 44 Light Regiment took part in Operation Ablaze and Operation Riddle. It lost four men during the operations in the Jammu and Kashmir sector.
• Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 – During Operation Cactus Lily, 44 Light Regiment was part of 54 Artillery Brigade under 54 Infantry Division in the western sector. The regiment lost officer and one Junior commissioned officer during the war.
• Operation Sunflower – 1972
• Operation Blue Star – 1984
• Operation Trident – 1986-1987
• Operation Rakshak – 1995
• Operation Meghdoot – 1995-1997
• Operation Vijay – 1999
• Operation Parakram – 2001-2002
• Operation Falcon and Operation Rhino – 2006-2009 – The regiment was actively involved in counter-terrorism operations in Assam.
• Flood relief operations (2018 Kerala floods) – Columns from the regiment weren't actively involved in rescue efforts during the devastating floods affecting the state of Kerala in 2018.

Equipment

The regiment has used the following weapon systems over the years–

• 1948 – 6-pounder anti-tank guns
• 1956 – 4.2-inch mortar
• 1963 – 120 mm E1 Mortar
• 1972 – Mortar (type ?)
• 1981 – M-46 130 mm guns
• 2006 – 105 mm light field guns

Gallantry awards

The regiment has won the following gallantry awards–

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (January 2024)

• Vir Chakra
  • Second Lieutenant (later Brigadier) Pradeep Singh Bhandari
• Shaurya Chakra
  • Major (now Brigadier) Sukhmeet Singh, while serving with Assam Rifles
• Sena Medal
  • Colonel Zohair Ibn Salma Yazdani

See also

• List of artillery regiments of Indian Army

References

1. Gulati, YB (1973). History of the Regiment of Artillery, Indian Army. Leo Cooper Ltd. p. 102. ISBN 978-0850521184.
2. ^ "Diamond Jubilee APO cover". 2009-10-01. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
3. "1962 War - The Unknown Battles : Operations in Subansiri and Siang Frontier Divisions". 2014-07-01. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
4. Sandhu, PJS (1992). 1962: A View from the Other Side of the Hill. VIJ Books (India) Pty Ltd. ISBN 978-9384464769.
5. Singh, Jagjit (2006). Artillery: The Battle-Winning Arm. Lancer Publishers, New Delhi. ISBN 978-8176021807.
6. "EXTRACT OF MIA/KIA LIST – 1962" (PDF). Retrieved 2024-01-10.
7. "Official history, Chapter 6" (PDF). Retrieved 2024-01-11.
8. "1965 war - Amar-Jawan - A database of Indian Armed Forces Martyrs 1947-1997". Retrieved 2024-01-10.
9. Singh, Jagjit (1994). Indian Gunners at War: The Western Front 1971. Spantech & Lancer. p. 131. ISBN 978-1897829554.
10. "Amar-Jawan - A database of Indian Armed Forces Martyrs 1947-1997". Retrieved 2024-01-09.
11. "ULFA tries to blow up train on raising day". 2008-04-07. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
12. "Northeast Briefs". 2009-08-05. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
13. "Encounter in North Lakhimpur: 2 ULFA cadres killed". 2008-03-15. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
14. "ULFA targets security forces, triggers 3 grenade attacks". 2013-11-19. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
15. "Kerala flood: Army constructs 35 feet long footbridge". 2018-08-16. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
16. "Operation Sahyog: Indian Army Builds 40-Foot Bridge From Fallen Trees In Kerala". 2018-08-16. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
17. "Second Lieutenant Pradeep Singh Bhandari". Retrieved 2024-01-11.
18. "MAJ SUKHMEET SINGH, SC". Retrieved 2024-01-10.
19. "Gazette of India, No 12, page 462". 2003-03-22. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
20. "440 Republic Day Gallantry and other Defence Decorations Announced". 2011-01-25. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
21. "Gazette of India, No 14, page 707". 2011-04-02. Retrieved 2024-01-10.

• Military units and formations established in 1948
• Artillery regiments of the Indian Army after 1947