75th Armoured Regiment (India)

75 Armoured Regiment is an armoured regiment of the Indian Army.

75 Armoured Regiment
Active1972 – present
CountryIndia India
AllegianceIndia
Branch Indian Army
TypeArmoured Corps
SizeRegiment
Motto(s)साहसं विजयते
“Sahasam Vijayate (Courage Wins)”
Colors"Canary Yellow over Bottle Green"
EquipmentMBT Arjun[1]
Battle honoursTheatre Honour ‘Sindh’
Commanders
Notable
commanders
Lt Gen Vijai Singh
Insignia
Abbreviation75 Armd Regt
MBT Arjun of 75 Armoured Regiment at Republic Day Parade 2013
The Chief of Army Staff, General Dalbir Singh presenting the President's ‘Standard’ to 75 Armored Regiment, at Jaisalmer Military Station, in Rajasthan on March 16, 2016

Formation

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75 Armoured Regiment was raised on 12 March 1972 under the command of Lt Col (later Lt Gen) Vijai Singh. It has a unique distinction of being the only unit of the Indian Army to be raised on captured Pakistani Territory in Sakna, Sindh; which is 26 kilometres inside Pakistan.[2]

The Regiment was formed by an amalgamation of three Independent Armoured Squadrons - 3 (Independent) Armoured Squadron (Skinner's Horse), 4 (Independent) Armoured Squadron (Deccan Horse) and 6 (Independent) Armoured Squadron.[3]

The Regiment is a part of 140 Armoured Brigade, 12 Infantry Division, XII Corps.[4][5]

History

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4 (Independent) Armoured Squadron took part in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 as part of the 67 Infantry Brigade Group under XI Corps[6] and in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 as part of F Sector under XI Corps,[7][8] whereas 3 and 6 (Independent) Armoured Squadrons saw combat in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.[8]

During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, the Regiment had the honour of carrying out the deepest ground penetration in the Western Front. 3 (Independent) Armoured Squadron penetrated till Naya Chor in Sindh.[8][9] 6 (Independent) Armoured Squadron fought in the Battle of BP 638 (immediately following the Battle of Longewala). The attack by the squadron forced the troops of the Pakistani 18th Infantry Division to pull back across the International Border.[10][11] 4 (Independent) Armoured Squadron fought in the Fazilka sector. The Regiment returned to India in 1972 with 2 Vir Chakras, 2 Sena Medals, 3 Mention in Despatches and a Theatre honour.[12]

The Regiment was presented the ‘President’s Standards’ at Jaisalmer in 2016 by General Dalbir Singh, Chief of the Army Staff, on behalf of the President of India, Mr Pranab Mukherjee.[13]

The Regiment which had the T-55 tanks since its inception was inducted with the MBT Arjun in 2011.[14] The tanks of the 75 Armoured Regiment took part in the 2013, 2022 and 2023 Republic Day Parades.[15]

Other operations

The regiment has also participated in Operation Vijay, Operation Rakshak and Operation Parakram.

Regimental Insignia

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The Regimental insignia consists of crossed lances with pennons of Canary Yellow over Bottle Green, the numeral "75" inscribed on the crossing of the lances and a scroll at the base with the regimental motto (Sahasam Vijayate) inscribed in Devanagari script on it. The shoulder title consists of the numeral "75" in brass.

References

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  1. ^ "75 Armoured Regiment – Arjun Induction". Retrieved 2020-09-25.
  2. ^ "Sainik Samachar Apr 2016". 2016. Retrieved 2020-09-25.
  3. ^ "75 Armoured Regiment - Indian Army Postal Cover". Retrieved 2020-09-25.
  4. ^ Joshi, Saurabh (25 May 2009). "Army gets first Arjun regiment". StratPost – South Asian Defense and Strategic Affairs. Archived from the original on 29 May 2012. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
  5. ^ Som, Vishnu. "Blog: Why The Army's Arjun Tank May Be Its Best Bet Yet". NDTV.com. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  6. ^ Singh, Harbaksh (2012). War Despatches: Indo-Pak Conflict 1965. Lancer Publishers LLC. ISBN 978-8170621171.
  7. ^ Singh, Jagjit (1994). Indian Gunners at War: The Western Front 1971. Spantech & Lancer. ISBN 978-1897829554.
  8. ^ a b c Praval, KC (2009). Indian Army After Independence. Lancer Publishers. ISBN 978-1935501107.
  9. ^ "Guest Talk / Capt Shekhar Dutt in corporatecitizen.in". July 16–31, 2017. Retrieved 2020-09-25.
  10. ^ "Lord Of The BP 638". 2014-12-16. Retrieved 2020-09-25.
  11. ^ "Military Digest: Army honours 1971 war hero Col Gurjeet Singh Bajwa, names auditorium after him in Jaisalmer". 2023-10-22. Retrieved 2024-01-03.
  12. ^ "No. 6 Independent Armoured Squadron: The Battle History of 'C' Sqn 75 Armoured Regiment at sagatshaunik.com". Retrieved 2020-09-25.
  13. ^ "75 Armoured Regiment - Presidents-Standards". Retrieved 2020-09-25.
  14. ^ "75 Armoured Regiment – MBT Arjun inducted". 2011. Retrieved 2020-09-25.
  15. ^ "Republic Day 2023, The detachment of the Main Battle tank Arjun of 75 Armoured Regiment marches down the Kartavya Path". 2023-01-26. Retrieved 2023-01-26.