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{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name=169 Medium Regiment (OP Hill)
|image=
|caption=
|dates= 1963 – present
|country={{flag icon|India}} [[India]]
|allegiance=India
|branch= [[File:Flag of Indian Army.svg|24px]] [[Indian Army]]
|type= [[File:Regiment of Artillery Insignia (India).svg|20px]] [[Artillery]]
|role=
|size= Regiment
|command_structure=
|equipment=

|Past Commanders=
|ceremonial_chief=
|colonel_of_the_regiment=
|notable_commanders=

|identification_symbol=169 Med Regt
|identification_symbol_label=Abbreviation

|nickname=
|patron=
|motto= ''SARVATRA, IZZAT-O-IQBAL'' “Everywhere with Honour and Glory”.
|colors= "Red & Navy Blue"
|march=
|mascot=
|battles=
|anniversaries=
|decorations= [[Shaurya Chakra]] 2<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gallantryawards.gov.in/awardee/409|title=G Segan SC at gallantryawards.gov.in|date=|access-date=2022-02-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gallantryawards.gov.in/awardee/447|title=GS Grewal SC at gallantryawards.gov.in|date=|access-date=2022-01-05}}</ref> [[Sena Medal]] 17<ref>{{cite web|url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2003/W_12_2011_152.pdf|title= G Segan SC, SM, Virender Singh SM, Upinder Singh Anand SM, MR Jadhav SM- citation in the Gazette of India No 12|date=2003-03-22|access-date=2020-10-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2004/W_1_2011_156.pdf|title=Maj Hanumant Singh Jamwal SM and Subedar Vinayak Ram Rao Aher SM- citation in the Gazette of India No 1|date=2004-01-03|access-date=2020-10-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2002/O-2517-2002-0026-114214.pdf|title=Nb Sub Balwan Singh SM and Col Arun Chugh SM- citation in the Gazette of India No 26|date=2002-06-29|access-date=2020-10-24}}</ref> [[Mention in Despatches]] 3<ref>{{cite web|url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2015/163364.pdf|title=Sub RS Lavhate MID in Op Megh Rahat in the Gazette of India No 14|date=2015-10-04|access-date=2020-10-24}}</ref> COAS Commendation Card 45 VCOAS Commendation Card 4 GOC-in-C Commendation Card 64 <ref>{{cite web|url=http://sainiksamachar.nic.in/englisharchives/2008/nov01-08/h7.html|title=Sainik Samachar Nov 2008|date=2008-11-01|access-date=2020-10-24}}</ref>

|battle_honours= OP Hill
}}

'''169 Medium Regiment (OP Hill)''' is part of the [[Regiment of Artillery (India)|Regiment of Artillery]] of the [[Indian Army]].

== Formation ==
The regiment was raised as '''169 Field Regiment''' in [[Nowshera, Jammu and Kashmir|Naushera]] on 1 November 1963 under the command of Lieutenant Colonel HS Dhaliwal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sainiksamachar.nic.in/englisharchives/2008/nov01-08/h7.html|title=Sainik Samachar Nov 2008|date=2008-11-01|access-date=2020-10-24}}</ref> The class composition of this unit is ‘[[Maratha]]’ with the war cry ‘Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Ki Jai’. The regiment is presently a medium regiment.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/IaSouthern/status/1441960738801680398/photo/2|title=Sure Swift Strikers of Agnibaaz Division Sudarshan Chakra Corps organised a 75 km cycle rally from Aurangabad to Ellora & back to commemorate 75 years of Independence.|date=2021-09-26|access-date=2021-10-04}}</ref>

==Operations==
;[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]]:

The '''Battle of OP Hill (NL1053)''' took place after the ceasefire came into effect on 23 September 1965. OP Hill was a Border Observation Post in the [[Bhimber]]-Gali-[[Mendhar Tehsil|Mendhar]] Sector, 20 km south west of [[Poonch (town)|Poonch]]. This Observation Post (OP) was being used by the Pakistanis to direct accurate artillery fire. To avoid isolation of [[Balnoi]] from [[Mendhar Tehsil|Mendhar]] and Krishna Ghati, capture of OP Hill was imperative.

120 Infantry Brigade was tasked to evict the enemy from this strategic location. Following a failed battalion level offensive by [[Garhwal Rifles|2 Garhwal]] on 6 and 7 October 1965, a full-fledged brigade attack was mounted on 2 November 1965.<ref name="The Gallant Dogras: An Illustrated History of the Dogra Regiment">{{cite book|last=Prasad|first=Shankar|title=The Gallant Dogras-An Illustrated History of the Dogra Regiment|date=2008|publisher=Lancer International|isbn=978-8170622680|page=}}</ref> After a grim battle lasting 2 days, the enemy was dislodged. For its actions, the 169 Mountain Regiment along with 5 [[Sikh Light Infantry]], 2 [[Dogra Regiment|Dogra]], 7 [[Sikh Regiment|Sikh]] and [[23 Field Regiment (India)|23 Mountain Composite Regiment]] were awarded the battle honour ''OP Hill''.<ref name="Hours of Glory: Famous Battles of the Indian Army 1801-1971">{{cite book|last=Das|first=CN|title=Hours of Glory|date=1997|publisher=Vision Books Pvt.Ltd|isbn=978-8170940692|page=137}}</ref><ref name="Harbaksh Singh 2012">{{cite book|last=Singh|first=Harbaksh |title=War Despatches: Indo-Pak Conflict 1965|date=2012|publisher= Lancer Publishers LLC|isbn=978-8170621171|page=}}</ref>

;Counter Insurgency Operations:
169 Field Regiment was inducted in the [[Kashmir Valley]] in July 1992 when militancy was at its peak. In the atmosphere as was prevailing then, the unit adapted itself to face the gauntlet thrown by the terrorists within an impressive timeframe. It carried out multifarious operations including cordon and search, raids, ambushes, road opening duties, protection of a sensitive army petroleum depot and higher headquarters, as also neutralization of militants in its area of responsibility. The unit was able to achieve commendable results in its drive against the terrorists. In one of its numerous successful operations, the unit apprehended Mohammed Sheikh Yaqoob, the self-styled Divisional Commander of Al-Jehad for [[Anantnag]] and [[Pulwama]] districts. The arrest created a vacuum in the ranks of Al-Jehad, which became a defunct group. The unit was instrumental in apprehension of 128 local terrorists who were in the process of crossing over to Pakistan in August 1993, for training in terrorist camps in the [[Pakistani-administered Kashmir]].<ref>{{cite web |url= https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/203255/7/chapter%205.pdf |title=Anjan Mukherjee in Evolution of Indian Artillery and its Impact on India's Comprehensive Military Power, chapter IV, page 171|date=|access-date=2020-10-24}}</ref> The unit had earned the [[List of governors of Jammu and Kashmir|J & K Governor's]] Silver Salver in 1995.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sainiksamachar.nic.in/englisharchives/2008/nov01-08/h7.html|title=Sainik Samachar Nov 2008|date=2008-11-01|access-date=2020-10-24}}</ref> The Regiment received the [[Chief of the Army Staff (India)|COAS]] unit citation for [[Indian Army operations in Jammu and Kashmir|Operation Rakshak]] in 1996.

During its counter-insurgency operations in [[Assam]], the [[Shaurya Chakra]] was awarded to Major Gautam Segan<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gallantryawards.gov.in/awardee/409|title=G Segan SC at gallantryawards.gov.in|date=|access-date=2022-02-05}}</ref> and Major Gurtej Singh Grewal in 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gallantryawards.gov.in/awardee/447|title=GS Grewal SC at gallantryawards.gov.in|date=|access-date=2022-01-05}}</ref> Along with other medals and other honours, it was also awarded the Unit Appreciation by Army Commander, [[Eastern Command (India)|Eastern Command]] in 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2003/W_12_2011_152.pdf|title= G Segan SC, SM, Virender Singh SM, Upinder Singh Anand SM, MR Jadhav SM- citation in the Gazette of India No 12|date=2003-03-22|access-date=2020-10-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20030815/nation.htm|title= 'Honour for defence personnel' in The Tribune|date=2003-08-15|access-date=2020-10-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2004/W_1_2011_156.pdf|title=Maj Hanumant Singh Jamwal SM and Subedar Vinayak Ram Rao Aher SM- citation in the Gazette of India No 1|date=2004-01-03|access-date=2020-10-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2002/O-2517-2002-0026-114214.pdf|title=Nb Sub Balwan Singh SM and Col Arun Chugh SM- citation in the Gazette of India No 26|date=2002-06-29|access-date=2020-10-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.philamart.com/Listing/Details/3024089/One-Six-Nine-Field-RegimentIndian-Army-Postal-Cover-APO|title=169 Field Regt Golden Jubilee Army Postal Cover |date= |access-date=2020-10-24}}</ref>

;United Nations:
The Regiment was the first Indian Artillery unit to be nominated on a UN Mission.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sainiksamachar.nic.in/englisharchives/2008/nov01-08/h7.html|title=Sainik Samachar Nov 2008|date=2008-11-01|access-date=2020-10-24}}</ref> The Regiment took part in the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission ([[MONUSCO]]) in the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]] in 2008-2009 and [[United Nations Disengagement Observer Force]] (UNDOF) in [[Golan Heights]] in 2009–2010.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://undof.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/Golan%20Journal%20122%2C%20January%20-%20March%202010.pdf|title=GOLAN- The UNDOF Journal, No 122, Jan to Mar 2010, page 14 |date=|access-date=2020-10-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/40013373.pdf|title= Garren Mulloy in 'Japan Self-Defense Forces' Overseas Dispatch Operations in the 1990s: Effective International Actors?' |date=|access-date=2020-10-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://undof.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/Golan%20Journal%20124%2C%20July%20-%20September%202010.pdf|title=GOLAN- The UNDOF Journal, No 124, Jul to Sep 2010, page 20 |date=|access-date=2020-10-24}}</ref> The Regiment was awarded the Force Commander's Unit Appreciation in 2010 during its tenure in Golan Heights.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.philamart.com/Listing/Details/3024089/One-Six-Nine-Field-RegimentIndian-Army-Postal-Cover-APO|title=169 Field Regt Golden Jubilee Army Postal Cover|date= |access-date=2020-10-24}}</ref>

==Achievements==
*The Regiment had the honour of participating in the annual [[Delhi Republic Day parade|Republic Day parade]] in 1990 with their [[Indian Field Gun]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://archive.org/details/DTIC_ADA362886
|title=JPRS Report, Near East & South Asia, page 53|date=1990-03-16|access-date=2020-10-24}}</ref>
*It is one of the highest decorated regiments of the Indian Artillery.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/first-indian-artillery-unit-to-join-un-peace-mission_476896.html|title=' First Indian artillery unit to join UN peace mission' in Zee News|date=2008-10-17|access-date=2020-10-24}}</ref>
==See also==
[[List of regiments of the Indian Army#Artillery|List of artillery regiments of Indian Army]]
==References==
{{reflist}}

{{#seo:
|keywords=Military units and formations established in 1963, Artillery regiments of the Indian Army after 1947
|description=
}}

[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1963]]
[[Category:Artillery regiments of the Indian Army after 1947]]

169 Medium Regiment India - Revision history

MetaBOT at 13:13, 8 July 2023