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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name=40 Field Regiment (Asal Uttar)
|image=
|caption=
|dates= 1943 – present
|country=[[India]]
|allegiance={{flag|British India}}<br />{{flag|India}}
|branch= {{army|British India|23px}}<br />[[File:Flag of Indian Army.svg|23px]] [[Indian Army]]
|type= [[File:Regiment of Artillery Insignia (India).svg|20px]] [[Artillery]]
|role= Field Regiment
|command_structure=
|equipment= [[Indian Field Gun]]

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

|identification_symbol=40 Fd Regt (Asal Uttar)
|identification_symbol_label=Abbreviation

|nickname=Roaring Forty
|patron=
|motto=''SARVATRA, IZZAT-O-IQBAL'' "Everywhere With Honour and Glory".
|colors= "Red & Navy Blue"
|march=
|mascot=
|battles=
|anniversaries=Raising day - 1 February
|decorations=
|battle_honours= Asal Uttar
}}
'''40 Field Regiment (Asal Uttar)''', nicknamed the ''Roaring Forty'' is part of the [[Regiment of Artillery (India)|Regiment of Artillery]] of the [[Indian Army]].

== Formation ==
The Regiment was raised at [[Risalpur]] (presently in [[Pakistan]]) as '''8 Indian Field Regiment''' on 1 February 1943 with the troop nucleus being of South Indian classes.<ref name="Palit1973">{{cite book|last=Palit|first=DK|title=History of the Regiment of Artillery – India|date=1971|publisher=Palit & Dutt Publishers, Dehradun|isbn=978-0850521184|page=53}}</ref><ref name="SIC class troops’">{{cite web |url=https://idsa.in/system/files/jds_7_4_PKGautam.pdf/|title= The Cholas Some Enduring Issues of Statecraft, Military Matters and International Relations, P.K. Gautam, page 55|access-date=2020-09-06}}</ref> The Regiment was then equipped with [[Ordnance QF 25-pounder|25 Pounder guns]].

== History ==
The Regiment became the first medium regiment of the Indian Army on 1 October 1944, when it was re-equipped with [[BL 5.5-inch medium gun|5.5" guns]].<ref name="Mukherjee">{{cite web |url=https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/203255/5/chapter%203.pdf|title=Anjan Mukherjee in Evolution of Indian Artillery and its Impact on India's Comprehensive Military Power, chapter II|access-date=2022-02-01}}</ref> It was later re-designated as '''40 Medium Regiment'''.<ref name="Adams 1948">{{cite book|last=Adams|first=EG Phythian|title=The Madras Soldier 1746-1946|date=1948|publisher=The Superintendent Government Of Madras|page=193}}</ref> The regiment was awarded with the prestigious ''Asal Uttar'' honour title for its exemplary display in the [[Battle of Asal Uttar]] in the [[1965 Indo-Pak War]].<ref name="Lehl1997">{{cite book|last=Lehl|first=LS|title=Missed Opportunities : Indo-Pak War 1965|date=1997|publisher=Natraj Publishers, New Delhi|isbn=978-8181585004|page=63–71}}</ref><ref name="Singh2006">{{cite book|last=Singh|first=Jagjit|title=Artillery: The Battle-Winning Arm|date=2006|publisher=Lancer Publishers, New Delhi|isbn= 978-8176021807}}</ref> It acquired the status of a medium [[Self-propelled artillery|self propelled]] unit, when it was equipped with the [[M-46 Catapult]], which had 130 mm guns mounted on a [[Vijayanta]] chassis. The regiment has subsequently converted to a field artillery regiment and is now equipped with [[Indian Field Gun]]s.{{fact|date=April 2022}}

The Regiment also had the honour of carrying [[Mahatma Gandhi|Mahatma Gandhi's]] ashes for immersion in the [[Damodar River]] in Ramgarh on one of its guns in 1948.{{fact|date=April 2022}}

The regiment had the honour to participate in the [[Delhi Republic Day parade|Republic Day Parade]]s in 1979 with their 130 mm towed guns and in 1987 and 1989 with their Catapults.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuaFwr-uEFI|title=Republic Day Parade 1987|date=|access-date=2021-05-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNmbL_BPYZ0|title=Republic Day Parade 1989|date=|access-date=2021-06-12}}</ref>

===Operations===

Some of the major operations undertaken by the Regiment include:

;[[Annexation of Hyderabad|Hyderabad Police Action]] (1948): 2nd Medium battery moved to [[Hyderabad State|Hyderabad]] in May 1948 in support of Smash Force / [[1st Armoured Division (India)|1 Armoured Division]] to quell an armed insurrection aimed against the formal union of this princely state with the Union of India.<ref name="Operation Polo: The Liberation Of Hyderabad">{{cite web |url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/archives/MONITOR/ISSUE2-3/lns.html|title= Operation Polo: The Liberation Of Hyderabad at Bharat Rakshak Volume 2-3, November-December 1999|access-date=2020-09-06}}</ref> Two guns recovered during the action, are exhibited at the unit's Quarter Guard.

;[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948]]: 1 Medium Battery participated in the J & K Operations to counter the armed incursion into the State. The [[BL 5.5-inch medium gun|5.5" guns]] were dismantled and air-lifted in [[Douglas C-47 Skytrain|Dakotas]] to [[Kashmir]]. Exemplary courage and gallantry was displayed by Capt. Dara Dinshaw Mistri in the [[Nowshera, Jammu and Kashmir|Naushera Sector]] on 15 December 1948. He was posthumously awarded the [[Maha Vir Chakra]] (MVC) for display of bravery and gallant action.<ref name="Mistri at gallantryawards.gov.in">{{cite web |url=https://www.gallantryawards.gov.in/Awardee/dara-dinshaw-mistri|title=DD Mistri MVC at gallantryawards.gov.in|access-date=2020-08-16}}</ref><ref name="Mistri at indianarmy.nic.in">{{cite web |url=https://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=HZNpjXeLGm8VRwaURlu88g==&ParentID=K0Ttn78vb4iBGLTnIK0ikQ==|title=DD Mistri MVC at indianarmy.nic.in|access-date=2020-08-16}}</ref> (This was the first MVC in the Regiment of Artillery).

The official citation reads:

{{Quotation|
Captain DARA DINSHAW MISTRI (IC-1857), 1st Medium Battery—40 Medium Regiment Artillery. (Posthumous)

''On 15 Dec 48, at Chhawa Ridge ia the Naushera Sector, Capt. D. D. MISTRI was the Observation Officer of the forwardmost picquet, when the hostiles relentlessly shelled his position using every type of artillery from 3.7 howitzer to 5.5" mortar guns.''

''In spite of this murderous fire, Capt. MISTRI stuck to his post, and it was due to his fearless conduct that the hostile guns were pinpointed in that sector. He was also able to confirm the presence of enemy Sherman Tanks in the Sandoa village area and remained at his post when these tanks engaged his picquet for more than two hours.''

''He would not listen to the entreaties of the platoon commander to seek safety but continued to observe and pass back the information to the guns.''

''On one occasion more than a dozen shells straddled his O.P. but still undaunted he remained there till a 75 m.m. shell hit his position killing him instantaneously.''

''By day and by night this gallant officer continued to be the watch dog; of the picquet. His personal courage, unparalleled gallantry and devotion to duty with utter disregard for personal safety was a source of inspiration to all ranks on the picquet and worthy of the highest praise.''

|author=Gazette Notification: 5 Pres/43, 439-40.21-06-1950.<ref name="Gazette 21-06-1950">{{cite web |url=http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1950/E-2350-1950-0043-109060.pdf|title= Extraordinary Gazette dated 21-06-1950|access-date=2020-09-11}}</ref>
}}

;[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965|Indo-Pak War (1965)]]: In September 1965, the Regiment was located in [[Meerut]], when it received the mobilisation orders. The Regiment was part of Operation Riddle in the [[Khemkaran]]-Kasur Sector in which [[Pakistan]]'s 1 Armoured Division advanced towards East of the [[Bambawali-Ravi-Bedian Canal|Icchogil Canal]]. The Regiment with its [[BL 5.5-inch medium gun|5.5" guns]] fired over 13,000 rounds at [[Kasur]] town, which halted the Pakistani advance for a day.<ref name="The Tribune Article on 1965 Asal Uttar battle">{{cite web |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/comment/50-years-ago-this-day-130572|title=The Tribune Article on 06-09-2015|access-date=2020-09-06}}</ref> The regiment lost two officers (2nd Lieutenant IK Gupta and 2nd Lieutenant LS Modi) in this operation.<ref name="40 Medium in Indo-Pak War (1965)">{{cite web |url=http://www.indiastrategic.in/topstories4237_A_Gunner_Remembers.htm|title=Indo-Pak War (1965)|access-date=2020-09-06}}</ref><ref name="2nd Lt IK Gupta in Times of India article ‘His heroic move kept enemy on toes’">{{cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/amritsar/His-heroic-move-kept-enemy-on-toes/articleshow/48880615.cms|title= 2nd Lt IK Gupta in Times of India article 'His heroic move kept enemy on toes' dated 09-09-2015|access-date=2020-09-06}}</ref>

;[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]: The Regiment's batteries were located at 3 different places when it received its mobilisation orders. One Battery (403 Medium Battery) stuck to their guns in [[Sikkim]] which could not be diverted to participate in the Operations. Without the 403 Medium Battery, 28 Medium Battery headed towards [[Dhaka|Dacca]] from [[Agartala]] RHQ and 29 Medium Battery entered the then [[East Pakistan]] (present day [[Bangladesh]]) from [[Tetulia Upazila|Bhajanpur]].<ref name="28 Battery of 40 Medium Regiment – Hindustan Times article 18/01/2014">{{cite web |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/artillery-and-its-creative-thinking/story-KsvjDePJdggdp2MN69KixH.html|title=28 Medium Battery in Dacca|access-date=2020-09-06}}</ref><ref name="No bed of roses in ‘Salute’">{{cite web |url=https://salute.co.in/no-bed-of-roses/|title=No bed of roses in 'Salute' dated 07-06-2018|access-date=2020-09-06}}</ref><ref name="Battle of Pachagarh">{{cite web |url=http://www.indiandefencereview.com/spotlights/battle-of-pachagarh-enemy/|title= Battle of Pachagarh in IDR 16 Nov, 2018|access-date=2020-09-06}}</ref> The Regiment was the first Artillery Regiment to reach [[Dhaka|Dacca]].

;[[1973 Provincial Armed Constabulary revolt]]: On 22 May 1973, the Regiment was deployed for internal security duties at [[Varanasi]] to aid the civil authorities to quell the armed insurrection by the [[Uttar Pradesh Provincial Armed Constabulary]] (PAC) at [[Ramnagar, Varanasi|Ramnagar]] and [[Chunar]]. One officer (Major N. N. Jally) and 10 other ranks were killed, but the rebellion was successfully quelled. Four [[Sena Medal]]s were awarded to the Regiment. 500 PAC personnel surrendered to the Commanding Officer during the operation.

;Others: The Regiment has participated in counter insurgency operations in [[Punjab]], in the [[2001–02 India–Pakistan standoff|Operation Parakram (2002)]], in the [[Siachen Glacier|Siachen conflict]] in 2006 and Operation Rhino ([[Assam]]).

== Equipment ==
The regiment has had the following guns in chronological order -

*[[Ordnance QF 25-pounder|25 Pounder guns]]
*[[BL 5.5-inch medium gun|5.5 Inch Gun]] - from 1943
*[[130 mm towed field gun M1954 (M-46)|M-46 130 mm Field Gun]] - from 1978
*[[M-46 Catapult]] - from 1984
*[[Indian Field Gun]]

==See also==
[[List of regiments of the Indian Army#Artillery|List of artillery regiments of Indian Army]]
== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Artillery regiments of the Indian Army after 1947]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1943]]

40 Field Regiment India - Revision history

Delinker at 11:19, 31 July 2023