861 Missile Regiment (India)

861 Missile Regiment (Laleali & Picquet 707) is a missile equipped regiment which is part of the Regiment of Artillery of the Indian Army.

861 Missile Regiment (Laleali & Picquet 707)
Active1963 – present
CountryIndia India
AllegianceIndia
Branch Indian Army
Type Artillery
SizeRegiment
Motto(s)Sarvatra Izat O Iqbal (Everywhere with Honour and Glory)
“Do it right - First time – Every time”
Colors"Red & Navy Blue"
EquipmentBrahMos
DecorationsSena Medal 1
COAS Commendation Card 4
VCOAS Commendation Card 7
GOC-in-C Commendation Card 9
Battle honoursLaleali
Picquet 707
Insignia
War Cry"Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa"

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 Congo

121 Heavy Mortar Battery participated in the Indian Army United Nations peacekeeping mission in Congo under 99 Infantry Brigade.[2][3]

Brahmos missiles of 861 Missile Regt during the 2009 Republic Day parade
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

References
  1. "861 Missile Regiment - Indian Army Postal Cover". Retrieved 2020-10-21.
  2. Sharma, SK (1997). Indian Army: United Nations Peacekeeping Operations. Lancer Publishers. p. 28. ISBN 978-1897829011.
  3. "Congo – First African War And Indian Soldiers (1960-64).doc". Retrieved 2020-10-21.
  4. Singh, Jagjit (1994). Indian Gunners at War: The Western Front 1971. Spantech & Lancer. p. 76-100. ISBN 978-1897829554.
  5. Khullar, Darshan (2017). Themes of Glory: Indian Artillery in War. VIJ Books (India) Pty Ltd. ISBN 978-9385563973.
  6. Chandar, Col Y Udaya (2018). Independent India's All the Seven Wars. Notion Press. ISBN 978-1948473217.
  7. "Hindustan Times article "Sitrep - A commander who led from the front"". 2017-03-26. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
  8. "Smash Hit". Force. 6 (9): 44–45. May 2009. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  9. "RCC BrahMos in survincity.com". 2013-09-28. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
  10. "Republic Day parade 2017 in the hindu.com". 2017-01-26. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
  11. "Highlights: 68th Republic Day Parade in primetimes.in". 2017-01-26. Retrieved 2020-10-21.


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