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{{About|the Indian Army unit|other regiments of the same name|20th Lancers (British Indian Army)|and|20 Lancers (Pakistan)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name=20th Lancers
|image=
|caption=
|dates= 1857 – 1937, 1956 – present
|country={{flag|British India}}<br />{{flag|India}}
|allegiance=
|branch= {{army|British India|23px}}<br>[[File:Flag of Indian Army.svg|24px]] [[Indian Army]]
|type= [[Armour]]
|role=
|size= Regiment
|command_structure=
|equipment=[[T-72]] tanks

|Past Commanders=
|ceremonial_chief=
|colonel_of_the_regiment = Lt Gen AS Kler<ref>{{cite web|url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2016/168493.pdf|title=Gazette of India, No 11|date=2016-03-12|access-date=2021-01-11}}</ref>
|notable_commanders= [[Shankar Roychowdhury|General Shankar Roy Chowdhury, PVSM, ADC]]<br/>Lt Gen Gurbachan Singh (Buch) PVSM<br/>Lt Gen Pradeep Khanna, PVSM, AVSM, ADC

|identification_symbol=20 L
|identification_symbol_label=Abbreviation

|nickname=
|patron=
|motto=
|colors=
|march=
|mascot=
|battles=
|anniversaries=
|decorations=
|battle_honours=
}}

'''20th Lancers''' is an armoured regiment in the [[Indian Army Armoured Corps|Armoured Corps]] of the [[Indian Army]].<ref name="Nath2009">{{cite book|last=Nath|first=Ashok|title=Izzat: historical records and iconography of Indian cavalry regiments, 1750-2007|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sGQeQwAACAAJ|year=2009|publisher=Centre for Armed Forces Historical Research, United Service Institution of India|isbn=978-81-902097-7-9|pages=581–583}}</ref> The regiment distinguished itself in operations with its defence of Chhamb in [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]] during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965|1965 Indo-Pakistan War]] and won one [[Maha Vir Chakra]].<ref name="Chakravorty1995">{{cite book|last=Chakravorty|first=B.|title=Stories of Heroism: PVC & MVC Winners|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uzizVBSb4YsC&pg=PA114|year=1995|publisher=Allied Publishers|isbn=978-81-7023-516-3|page=114}}</ref> It has provided one Chief of Army Staff and two Army Commanders.<ref name="AbidiSharma2007">{{cite book|last1=Abidi|first1=S. Sartaj Alam|last2=Sharma|first2=Satinder|title=Services Chiefs of India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k35_SlDMyUsC&pg=PA83|date=1 January 2007|publisher=Northern Book Centre|isbn=978-81-7211-162-5|page=83}}</ref><ref name="KhannaIE">{{cite web |url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/lt-gen-khanna-to-relinquish-command-today/755669/ |title=Lt Gen Khanna to relinquish command today |date=28 February 2011 |work=The Indian Express|accessdate=6 April 2014}}</ref>

==Origin==
The regiment was formed in 1921 by amalgamating [[14th Murray's Jat Lancers]] (raised 1857) with [[15th Lancers (Cureton's Multanis)]] (raised 1858). The regiment served till 1937, when it was removed from the order of battle and deactivated. It was converted into a training regiment of the 3rd Indian Cavalry group with a permanent station at [[Lucknow]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Jackson|first=Donovan|title= India's Army|date=1940|publisher= Sampson Low, Marston & Co Ltd|page=164-169}}</ref> This eventually evolved into the Indian Armoured Corps Training Centre at Lucknow. Following the [[Partition of India|partition of India and Pakistan in 1947]], the regiment was allotted to India. The centre moved in 1948 to [[Ahmednagar]] and merged with other establishments to become the Armoured Corps Centre and School.<ref name="Nath2009"/>

The regiment was re-raised by the Indian Army on 10 July 1956 at [[Jodhpur]], [[Rajasthan]].<ref name="Nath2009"/> The first Commanding Officer of the re-raised regiment was Lieutenant Colonel Umrao Singh.<ref name="Nath2009"/> The regiment was equipped with [[AMX-13]] tanks.<ref name="Nath2009"/> When the regiment was re-raised, the Officer's Mess Silver of the old 20th Lancers was handed over to it. The troops on raising were from the Sikhs of the [[6th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers (Watson's Horse)|6th DCO Lancers]] which were transferred to [[8th King George's Own Light Cavalry|8th Light Cavalry]] and half of the squadron of the [[Jodhpur Lancers]] which were transferred to the [[7th Light Cavalry]].<ref name="Nath2009"/> The present class composition is [[Jat people|Jats]] and [[Rajput]]s.<ref>{{cite book|last=Guatam|first=PK|title= Indigenous Historical Knowledge: Kautilya and His Vocabulary, Volume III|date=2016|publisher= IDSA/Pentagon Press |isbn= 978-81-8274-909-2|page=153}}</ref>

The Pakistan Army raised an armoured regiment called [[20th Lancers (Pakistan)|20th Lancers]] on 20 June 1956, which it considers to be the successor of the old [[20th Lancers (British Indian Army)|20th Lancers]] of the British Indian Army.<ref name="Nath2009A">Nath (2009), pp. 731–732.</ref>
==Regimental Insignia==
The Regimental insignia consists of crossed [[lance]]s with [[pennon]]s in red and white, overlaid with the [[State Emblem of India|Ashoka Lion Capital]] above and the Roman numeral "XX" below and a scroll at the base with the words ‘Lancers’.{{cn|date=May 2021}}

==Operations==
;[[ Sino-Indian War]]:
To counter the Chinese offensive against Indian forces in the western sector, it was decided to send six AMX-13 tanks (two troops) of the 20 Lancers to [[Chushul]] in south-eastern [[Ladakh]] using [[Antonov An-12]] transport aircraft. The first batch of tanks were loaded on to An-12 aircraft in [[Chandigarh]] on the intervening night of 24 and 25 October 1962 and landed in Chushul – 15,000 feet above the sea level – on the morning of 25 October 1962. The second batch was loaded the following night and airlifted to Chushul on 26 October. The troops were part of the 114 Infantry Brigade.
The army deployed tanks at the base of [[Gurung Hill]], a towering feature on one side of the [[Spanggur Tso|Spanggur Gap]] to deny the approach of the advancing Chinese Army and secure the crucial approaches leading to Chushul and [[Leh]]. The effectiveness of the Indian tanks prevented the Chinese advance towards the Chushul airfield, located between Chushul village and Gurung Hill.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://salute.co.in/memories-of-chushul/|title=Battle Of Chushul: Reminiscences Of 20 Lancers|date=2020-12-03|access-date=2021-01-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://usiofindia.org/publication/usi-journal/battle-of-eastern-ladakh-1962-sino-indian-conflict-2/|title=Battle of Eastern Ladakh : 1962 Sino-Indian Conflict|date=2005-04-01|access-date=2021-01-08}}</ref>
;[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]]:
The regiment saw action in Chhamb-[[Jourian]] in Jammu & Kashmir. 20 Lancers was under command of the [[10th Infantry Division (India)|10th Infantry Division]] during the 1965 operations. Pakistan's surprise attack on 1 September, 1965 ([[Operation Grand Slam]]) fell on 191 Infantry Brigade, which was supported by 'C' Squadron of the regiment under Maj Bhaskar Roy.<ref>{{cite book|last=Singh|first=Harbaksh |title=War Despatches: Indo-Pak Conflict 1965|date=2012|publisher= Lancer Publishers LLC|isbn=978-8170621171|page=}}</ref> The armoured attack comprised two regiments of medium tanks, [[M48 Patton|M-48]] Pattons and [[M36 tank destroyer|M-36]] Sherman B-2 tank destroyers.<ref name="Jogindar1993">{{cite book|last=Singh|first=Jogindar|title=Behind the Scene: An Analysis of India's Military Operations, 1947-1971|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=toheLRVgjLsC&pg=PA117|year=1993|publisher=Lancer Publishers|isbn=978-1-897829-20-2|page=117}}</ref> The attack began at 0805 hours and was strongly resisted. During the initial phases of the attack, Roy destroyed 6 Pattons, 3 recoil-less guns and captured a jeep. A second attack was launched by Pakistani armour at 1100 hours and contested by the AMX-13s of 20 Lancers, which despite being outgunned and outnumbered, destroyed a total 13 tanks that day and prevented the encirclement of 191 Infantry Brigade.<ref name="Chakravorty1995"/> The regiment later fought in the defence of Jaurian under 41 Infantry Brigade.<ref name="Bajwa2008">{{cite book|last=Bajwa|first=Kuldip Singh|title=India's National Security: Military Challenges and Responses|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hYLzW9BoJtAC&pg=PA235|year=2008|publisher=Har-Anand Publications|isbn=978-81-241-1389-9|pages=225–235}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://idsa.in/system/files/jds/jds_10_2_2016_revisiting-the-1965-war.pdf|title= Revisiting the 1965 War|date=2016-04-01|access-date=2021-01-08}}</ref> For the defense of Chhamb-Jaurian, the regiment was awarded a theatre honour and Maj Bhaskar Roy was awarded [[Maha Vir Chakra]] for his leadership in this action.<ref name="Chakravorty1995"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/cross-swords-division-pays-tribute-to-param-vir-chakra-major-roy/|title=Cross Swords Division pays tribute to Param Vir Chakra Major Roy|date=2015-09-01|access-date=2021-01-08}}</ref>

;[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]:
The regiment had moved from [[Akhnoor]] to [[Jaisalmer]] in 1967. It was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Bawa Guruvachan Singh and was under [[12th Infantry Division (India)|12 Infantry Division]] of [[Southern Command (India)|Southern Command]] and equipped with AMX -13 tanks.<ref name="Gill 2003">{{cite book|last=Gill|first=JH|title=An Atlas Of 1971 India Pakistan War - Creation of Bangladesh|date=2003|publisher=National Defense University, Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies|isbn=|page=88}}</ref> The regiment took part in the [[Battle of Longewala]], which began on night of 4th December 1971, halting the Pakistani attack and then advancing into Pakistani territory.
==Battle honours==
The battle honours of the regiment are:<ref name='Sarbans'>{{cite book |title=Battle Honours of the Indian Army 1757 - 1971 |last=Singh |first=Sarbans |year=1993 |publisher=Vision Books |location=New Delhi |isbn=8170941156 |pages=261, 262, 309 }}</ref>
;Pre-World War I{{refn|group=nb|Pre-World War I and World War I battle honours awarded to the 14th Murray's Jat Lancers and 15th Lancers (Cureton's Multanis) and inherited by the unit.}}
Charasiah - Kabul 1879 - Afghanistan 1878-80
; [[World War I]]
Neuve Chapelle - France and Flanders 1914-15 - Kut al Amara 1917 - Sharqat - Mesopotamia 1916-18 - Persia 1916-19 - NW Frontier India - 1915
;Indo-Pak Conflict 1965{{refn|group=nb|Awarded to the regiment after re-raising.}}{{refn|group=nb|Theatre honours are shown in ''italics''.}}
''Jammu and Kashmir 1965''
==Other awards and honours==
;[[President's Colour Award|President’s Standards]]
The regiment was presented the President’s Standards on at Sangrur, Punjab 1978 by the then [[President of India]], [[Neelam Sanjiva Reddy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rashtrapatisachivalaya.gov.in/rbtour/photos-gallery/95|title=President N.S. Reddy presenting colours to 20 Lancers, Sangrur, Punjab|date=|access-date=2021-01-08}}</ref>
;[[Maha Vir Chakra]] : Major Bhaskar Roy<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gallantryawards.gov.in/Awardee/bhaskar-roy|title=Bhaskar Roy, MVC|date=|access-date=2021-01-11|archive-date=4 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104065610/https://www.gallantryawards.gov.in/Awardee/bhaskar-roy|url-status=dead}}</ref>
;[[Vir Chakra]] : Captain Ashwani Kumar Dewan,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gallantryawards.gov.in/Awardee/ashwani-kumar-dewan|title=AK Dewan, VrC|date=|access-date=2021-01-11|archive-date=18 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118053317/https://www.gallantryawards.gov.in/Awardee/ashwani-kumar-dewan|url-status=dead}}</ref> Daffedar Harbir Singh{{refn|group=nb|Troop Daffedar of 20 Lancers AMX troop of 80 Armoured Delivery Regiment.}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gallantryawards.gov.in/Awardee/harbir-singh|title=Harbir Singh, VrC|date=|access-date=2021-01-11|archive-date=18 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718185904/http://gallantryawards.gov.in/Awardee/harbir-singh|url-status=dead}}</ref>
;[[Sena Medal]] : Acting Lance Daffadar Pritam Singh,<ref>{{cite web|url= http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1963/O-1838-1963-0007-83351.pdf|title=Gazette of India, No 7|date=1963-02-16|access-date=2021-01-09}}</ref> Naib Risaldar Richhapal Singh
;[[ Mentioned in dispatches]] : Lieutenant Kuldeep Singh, Lance Daffadar Bhanwar Singh, Sowar Kushal Singh, Sowar Mohan Singh<ref>{{cite web|url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1966/O-1665-1966-0045-75922.pdf|title=Gazette of India, No 45|date=1966-11-05|access-date=2021-01-09|archive-date=15 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115073154/http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1966/O-1665-1966-0045-75922.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
;[[Delhi Republic Day parade|Republic Day parade]] : The regiment with its T-72 tanks took part in the parade in 1990.<ref>{{cite book|title= Sainik Samachar The Pictorial Weekly of the Armed Forces. Volume 37|year=1990}}</ref>

==Notable personnel==
* Lieutenant General Gurbachan Singh, PVSM – Commanding Officer during the 1962 war, [[General Officer Commanding|GOC-in-C]] [[Northern Command (India)|Northern Command]] between 1 August 1978 and 31 December 1979.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.pib.gov.in/archive/ArchiveSecondPhase/DEFENCE/1978-APR-AUG-MIN-OF-DEFENCE-PART-2/PDF/DEF-1978-05-19_074.pdf|title=New Appointments in Army|date=1978-05-19|access-date=2021-01-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.asianage.com/india/how-20th-lancers-flew-tanks-battle-334|title=How 20th Lancers flew tanks into battle|date=2016-05-04|access-date=2021-01-11}}</ref>
*Major General A K Dewan, AVSM, VrC
*General [[Shankar Roychowdhury]], [[Param Vishisht Seva Medal|PVSM]], [[Aide-de-Camp|ADC]] - Commanding Officer of the Regiment between 1974-1976, [[General Officer Commanding|GOC-in-C]], [[Army Training Command (India)|Army Training Command]], [[Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army]], and a former [[Member of parliament#India|member of the Indian Parliament]].<ref name="AbidiSharma2007"/>
*Lieutenant General Pradeep Khanna PVSM, AVSM, ADC - GOC-in-C [[Southern Command (India)|Southern Command]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sainiksamachar.nic.in/englisharchives/2009/feb15-09/h011.html|title=Appointments|date=2009-02-09|access-date=2021-01-08}}</ref>

==External links==
* [https://hcvv.home.xs4all.nl/milweb/British-India/Cavalry/cav20.html ''Evolution and timeline of the 20 Lancers'']
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2u2CjpAu9M ''Battle of Chushul : 20 Lancers'']
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYLzAHmHWgw ''1965 : 20 Lancers Battle of Chhamb'']
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4Yvt1Snx04 ''20 Lancers Battle of Laungewala 1971'']
;Notes
{{reflist|group=nb}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Indian Army Armoured Corps}}

[[Category:Armoured and cavalry regiments of the Indian Army from 1947]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1956]]

20 Lancers India - Revision history

Bot at 12:35, 17 January 2022