45th Cavalry (India)

45 Cavalry is an armoured regiment in the Armoured Corps of the Indian Army.[4] The regiment distinguished itself in operations during the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War winning one Maha Vir Chakra.[5]

45 Cavalry
Active1918-19, 1941-1946, 1965-present
Country British India
 India
Branch British Indian Army
Indian Army
TypeArmoured Regiment
Nickname(s)Paintalis Risala
Motto(s)वीर भोग्या वसुंधरा
Veer Bhogya Vasundhara (The World is for the Brave)
EquipmentT-90 Main Battle Tank
EngagementsIndo-Pakistani War of 1971
Battle of Garibpur
DecorationsMaha Vir Chakra 2
Vir Chakra 1
Sena Medal 2
Battle honoursDarsana[1]
Commanders
Colonel of the RegimentLt Gen Ajai Singh[2]
Notable
commanders		Lt General Amit Sharma[3]

Raising

The first 45th Cavalry was formed in August 1918 from[6]

It was disbanded in 1919.[7]

It was re-raised in April 1941 at Meerut under Major CPJ Prioleau.[8] The troops were Sikhs, Pathans and Dogras drawn from the 13th Lancers, Scinde Horse & Guides Cavalry and equipped with Stuart light tanks. They served in Burma as part of 50th Indian Tank Brigade, entering Burma in December 1944 in the Arakan and returning in March 1945 to India to upgrade to Sherman tanks. Post war, the regiment was disbanded in April 1946.[9][10]

The Regiment was raised again as an Indian Cavalry Regiment at Kandahar Lines, Delhi Cantonment by Lieutenant Colonel SK Candade on May 16, 1965.[1]

Composition

The troops of the regiment presently comprises two thirds South Indian Classes (SIC) and one third Others Indian Communities (OIC).[11][12]

Equipment

Between 1941 and 1946, the regiment had the Stuart light tanks followed by the Sherman tanks. On re-raising, it was equipped with the amphibious PT-76 tanks. B squadron was converted to T-55 tanks. In due course, the aging warhorses, the PT-76 tanks were phased out, the regiment re-equipped and subsequently converted all its squadrons to the up-gunned version of the T-55 main battle tanks. The regiment is presently equipped with the T-90 tanks.

Operations
The regiment during the 1971 war
Indo-Pakistani War of 1965

During the 1965 war, it was designated as an Armoured Delivery Regiment of the Indian Army.[1]

Indo-Pakistani War of 1971

The unit took part in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 in East Pakistan (now independent Bangladesh). The regiment with its B and C squadrons were under the command of 9th Infantry Division, whereas A squadron was under 4 Mountain Division .[13] The regiment was then equipped with Russian PT-76 light battle tanks and fought in the Battles of Garibpur, Kushtia and Jessore.[14]

The Battle of Garibpur fought on 20 – 21 November 1971 by the 14th Battalion, the Punjab Regiment (Nabha Akal) along with ‘C’ Squadron, 45 Cavalry would go down in history as one of the few battles in which a Battalion (usually numbering around 350 - 600 men) was able to defeat a vastly numerically superior Brigade (usually numbering around 2000 - 3500 men). Both sides were supported by tanks and aircraft.[15][16]


For conspicuous gallantry, the Regiment was awarded Battle Honour Darsana and Theatre Honour East Pakistan.[1] The gallantry award winners include -

Other operations

The regiment has taken part in counter insurgency operations in Jammu & Kashmir.[1]

Achievements
T- 90 (Bhishma) of 45th Cavalry passes through the Rajpath, at the 70th Republic Day Celebrations, 2019

The Regiment holds the proud distinction of being the first armoured regiment to be bestowed with both the 'Guidon' and the 'Standard' for meritorious service to the nation in both war and peace.[1] The Regiment had the honour of participating in the Republic Day parade in 2019 with their T-90 tanks.[20]

Regimental Insignia

The cap badge of the regiment between 1941 and 1946 consisted of the numeral ‘45’ with a scroll above with the words ‘Indian Armoured Corps’ and one below with the word ‘Cavalry’.[21] The present insignia consists of the PT-76 tank with a scroll below, inscribed with the regimental motto.

The motto of the regiment is वीर भोग्या वसुंधरा (Veer Bhogya Vasundhara), which translates to ‘The World is for the Brave’.


References
  1. "45 Cavalry Celebrates Its Golden Jubilee". 1 March 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  2. "Gazette of India No 45" (PDF). 7 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  3. "Commander-in-Chief of Strategic Forces Command appointed". 16 June 2014. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  4. Nath, Ashok (2009). Izzat: historical records and iconography of Indian cavalry regiments, 1750-2007. Centre for Armed Forces Historical Research, United Service Institution of India. ISBN 978-81-902097-7-9.
  5. "Mahavir Chakra (MVC)Awardee: Maj Daljit Singh Narang, MVC". The War Decorated India & Trust. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
  6. Perry 1993, p. 174
  7. Gaylor 1996, p. 336
  8. Indian Army List For October 1945, Part 1. Defence Department, Government of India. 1945. p. 1232.
  9. Sandhu, GS (1981). History of the Indian Armoured Corps, 1941-1971: The Indian armour. Vision Books. p. 198. ISBN 978-8170940043.
  10. Evans, Geoffrey Charles (1969). Slim as Military Commander. Angus and Robertson. p. 167.
  11. Gautam, PK (2016). Indigenous Historical Knowledge: Kautilya and His Vocabulary, Volume III. IDSA/Pentagon Press. p. 153. ISBN 978-81-8274-909-2.
  12. "1971 India-Pakistan war veterans to get their due". 14 November 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  13. John H. Gill, An Atlas of the 1971 India - Pakistan War: The Creation of Bangladesh, Near East South Asia Centre for Strategic Studies (National Defense University), p.71
  14. "Bharat Rakshak :: Land Forces Site - Battle of Garibpur". Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  15. "Revisiting the Battle of Garibpur, a Precursor to the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War". 20 November 2020. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  16. "Battle of Bayra 1971 War". 14 November 2020. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  17. "Maj Daljit Singh Narag MVC". Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  18. "Nb Ris Ram Parikashan Singh VrC". Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  19. "Gazette of India, No 19" (PDF). 11 May 1974. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  20. "Republic Day: Women power, military might and Mahatma Gandhi's life on showcase at parade". 26 January 2019. Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  21. "Indian Army Badge Collection". Retrieved 6 December 2020.

Bibliography
  • Gaylor, John (1996). Sons of John Company: The Indian and Pakistan Armies 1903–1991 (2nd ed.). Tunbridge Wells: Parapress. ISBN 1-898594-41-4.
  • Perry, F.W. (1993). Order of Battle of Divisions Part 5B. Indian Army Divisions. Newport: Ray Westlake Military Books. ISBN 1-871167-23-X.

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