44 Field Regiment (India) Explained

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.^[1] 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.^[2]

Operations

The regiment has taken part in the following operations^[2] –

• 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.^{[3] [4] [5]} The regiment lost one officer and four men during the operations.^{[6] [7]}
• 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.^[8]
• 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.^[9] The regiment lost officer and one Junior commissioned officer during the war.^[10]
• 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.^{[11] [12] [13] [14]}
• 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.^{[15] [16]}

Equipment

The regiment has used the following weapon systems over the years^[2] –

• 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–

• • • Vir Chakra Second Lieutenant (later Brigadier) Pradeep Singh Bhandari^[17]
• Shaurya Chakra
  • Major (now Brigadier) Sukhmeet Singh, while serving with Assam Rifles^{[18] [19]}
    • Sena Medal Colonel Zohair Ibn Salma Yazdani^{[20] [21]}

See also

• List of artillery regiments of Indian Army

Notes and References

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