Xtromirit at 10:37, 20 April 2025

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{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name=44 Field Regiment
|image=
|caption=
|dates= 1948 – present
|allegiance= {{flag|India}}
|branch=[[File:Flag of Indian Army.svg|23px]] [[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=44 Fd Regt
|identification_symbol_label=Abbreviation

|nickname= Fighting Forty Four
|patron=
|motto= Sarvatra, Izzat-O-Iqbal (Everywhere with Honour and Glory)
|colors= Red & Navy Blue
|march=
|mascot=
|battles=
|anniversaries= -
|decorations=
|battle_honours=
}}
'''44 Field Regiment''' is part of the [[Regiment of Artillery (India)|Regiment of Artillery]] of the [[Indian Army]].

== Formation and history==
The regiment was raised as '''44 Anti-Tank Regiment''' in 1948 with a class composition of [[South India]]n Classes. At raising, the unit was equipped with [[Ordnance QF 6-pounder|6-pounder]] anti-tank guns.<ref>{{cite book|last=Gulati|first=YB|title=History of the Regiment of Artillery, Indian Army|publisher=Leo Cooper Ltd|year=1973|page=102|isbn=978-0850521184}}</ref> The regiment has since been converted to a heavy mortar regiment, a light regiment, a medium regiment and is presently a field regiment. The unit consists of 69, 70 and 71 field batteries.<ref name="DJ">{{cite web|url= https://samsshopping.com/product/diamond-jubilee-44-field-regiment/ |title=Diamond Jubilee APO cover|date=2009-10-01|access-date=2024-01-09}}</ref>

==Operations==
The regiment has taken part in the following operations<ref name="DJ"/>–
[[File:1959 North-East Frontier Agency by Elwin from Philosophy for NEFA.jpg|thumb|right|Map of North East Frontier Agency by Verrier Elwin, 1959]]
*[[Sino-Indian War|Sino-Indian War of 1962]] – The regiment was deployed in [[North-East Frontier Agency]] (NEFA), (presently [[Arunachal Pradesh]]) during the war. The [[Lohit district|Lohit]], [[Siang district|Siang]] and [[Upper Subansiri district|Subansiri]] Frontier Divisions of NEFA were the responsibility of 5 Infantry Brigade (which was under [[4th Infantry Division (India)|4 Infantry Division]] of [[IV Corps (India)|IV Corps]], located at [[Tezpur]]). 44 Heavy Mortar Regiment was deployed in this large area, with their regiment headquarters at Tezpur in support of 5 Infantry Brigade. 69 Heavy Mortar Battery was deployed in Subansiri frontier division at [[Daporijo]] and then in Taliha in support of [[Jammu and Kashmir Rifles|2 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles]]. 70 Heavy Mortar Battery was in Siang frontier division at [[Tuting]] and [[Mechuka|Menchuka]] in support of [[Madras Regiment|2 Madras]]. 71 Heavy Mortar Battery was in Lohit Frontier Division at [[Walong]] in support of [[Kumaon Regiment|6 Kumaon]] and later with [[Sikh Regiment|4 Sikh]]. In spite of firing all their mortars, they were overrun by the vastly superior Chinese numbers, ammunition and equipment.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usiofindia.org/publication-journal/1962-war-the-unknown-battles-operations-in-subansiri-and-siang-frontier-divisions.html|title=1962 War - The Unknown Battles : Operations in Subansiri and Siang Frontier Divisions|date=2014-07-01|access-date=2024-01-10}}</ref><ref name="Sandhu 2015">{{cite book|last=Sandhu|first=PJS|title=1962: A View from the Other Side of the Hill|date=1992|publisher=VIJ Books (India) Pty Ltd |isbn= 978-9384464769}}</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> The regiment lost one officer and four men during the operations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiaofthepast.org/sites/indiaofthepast.org/files/pdf/1962war/kia1962list.pdf|title=EXTRACT OF MIA/KIA LIST – 1962|access-date=2024-01-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://fnvaworld.org/download/war1962/war-chapter6.pdf|title=Official history, Chapter 6|access-date=2024-01-11}}</ref>
*[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]] – 44 Light Regiment took part in Operation Ablaze and Operation Riddle. It lost four men during the operations in the [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]] sector.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/amarjawan/index.php?qname=&qwar=1965%20India%20Pakistan%20War&cur=0&qunit=44%20Light%20Regiment&qnum=&qregt=Regiment%20Of%20Artillery&qdate=|title=1965 war - Amar-Jawan - A database of Indian Armed Forces Martyrs 1947-1997|date=|access-date=2024-01-10}}</ref>
*[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]] – During Operation Cactus Lily, 44 Light Regiment was part of 54 Artillery Brigade under [[54th Infantry Division (India)|54 Infantry Division]] in the western sector.<ref name="Jagjit">{{cite book|last=Singh|first=Jagjit|title=Indian Gunners at War: The Western Front 1971|date=1994|publisher= Spantech & Lancer|isbn=978-1897829554|page=131}}</ref> The regiment lost officer and one Junior commissioned officer during the war.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/amarjawan/index.php?qname=&qwar=1971%20Bangladesh%20War&cur=0&qunit=44%20Lt%20Regt&qnum=&qregt=Regiment%20Of%20Artillery&qdate=|title=Amar-Jawan - A database of Indian Armed Forces Martyrs 1947-1997|access-date=2024-01-09}}</ref>
*Operation Sunflower – 1972
*[[Operation Blue Star]] – 1984
*[[Operation Brasstacks|Operation Trident]] – 1986-1987
*[[Indian Army operations in Jammu and Kashmir|Operation Rakshak]] – 1995
*[[Operation Meghdoot]] – 1995-1997
*[[Kargil War|Operation Vijay]] – 1999
*[[2001–2002 India–Pakistan standoff|Operation Parakram]] – 2001-2002
*Operation Falcon and Operation Rhino – 2006-2009 – The regiment was actively involved in counter-terrorism operations in [[Assam]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/latest-headlines/story/ulfa-tries-to-blow-up-train-on-raising-day-24292-2008-04-07|title=ULFA tries to blow up train on raising day|date=2008-04-07|access-date=2024-01-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/northeast-briefs/cid/603203|title=Northeast Briefs|date=2009-08-05|access-date=2024-01-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://assamtimes.org/node/1170|title=Encounter in North Lakhimpur: 2 ULFA cadres killed|date=2008-03-15|access-date=2024-01-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-ulfa-targets-security-forces-triggers-3-grenade-attacks-1144941|title=ULFA targets security forces, triggers 3 grenade attacks|date=2013-11-19|access-date=2024-01-10}}</ref>
*Flood relief operations ([[2018 Kerala floods]]) – Columns from the regiment weren't actively involved in rescue efforts during the devastating floods affecting the state of Kerala in 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oneindia.com/amphtml/india/kerala-flood-army-constructs-35-feet-long-footbridge-2757088.html|title=Kerala flood: Army constructs 35 feet long footbridge|date=2018-08-16|access-date=2024-01-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://lifebeyondnumbers.com/operation-sahyog-indian-army-builds-40-foot-bridge-from-fallen-trees-in-kerala/|title= Operation Sahyog: Indian Army Builds 40-Foot Bridge From Fallen Trees In Kerala|date=2018-08-16|access-date=2024-01-10}}</ref>

==Equipment==
The regiment has used the following weapon systems over the years<ref name="DJ"/>–
*1948 – [[Ordnance QF 6-pounder|6-pounder]] anti-tank guns
*1956 – [[ML 4.2-inch mortar|4.2-inch mortar]]
*1963 – 120 mm E1 Mortar
*1972 – Mortar (type ?)
*1981 – [[130 mm towed field gun M1954 (M-46)|M-46 130 mm guns]]
*2006 – [[Indian Field Gun|105 mm light field guns]]

==Gallantry awards==
The regiment has won the following gallantry awards–
{{Incomplete list|date=January 2024}}
*[[Vir Chakra]]
**Second Lieutenant (later Brigadier) Pradeep Singh Bhandari<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.gallantryawards.gov.in/awardee/2895|title= Second Lieutenant Pradeep Singh Bhandari|access-date=2024-01-11}}</ref>
*[[Shaurya Chakra]]
**Major (now Brigadier) Sukhmeet Singh, while serving with [[Assam Rifles]]<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.gallantryawards.gov.in/awardee/497|title= MAJ SUKHMEET SINGH, SC|access-date=2024-01-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://archive.org/details/in.gazette.2003.111/|title=Gazette of India, No 12, page 462|date=2003-03-22|access-date=2024-01-10}}</ref>
*[[Sena Medal]]
**Colonel Zohair Ibn Salma Yazdani<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pib.gov.in/newsite/erelcontent.aspx?relid=69354|title=440 Republic Day Gallantry and other Defence Decorations Announced|date=2011-01-25|access-date=2024-01-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/in.gazette.central.w.2011-04-02.075/|title=Gazette of India, No 14, page 707|date=2011-04-02|access-date=2024-01-10}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of regiments of the Indian Army#Artillery|List of artillery regiments of Indian Army]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1948]]
[[Category:Artillery regiments of the Indian Army after 1947]]

44 Field Regiment India - Revision history

Xtromirit at 10:37, 20 April 2025