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{{Short description|Military unit - Indian Army Cavalry Regiment}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = 45 Cavalry
| image = Pin45Cav.png
| caption =
| dates = 1918-19, 1941-1946, 1965-present
| country = {{flag|British India}} {{flag|India}}
| allegiance =
| branch = {{army|British India|23px}} [[File:Flag of Indian Army.svg|24px]] [[Indian Army]]
| type = Armoured Regiment
| role =
| size =
| command_structure =
| garrison =
| garrison_label =
| nickname = ''Paintalis Risala''
| patron =
| motto = वीर भोग्या वसुंधरा Veer Bhogya Vasundhara (The World is for the Brave)
| colors =
| colors_label =
| march =
| mascot =
| equipment = [[T-90|T-90 Main Battle Tank]]
| equipment_label =
| battles = [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]] [[Battle of Garibpur]]
| anniversaries =
| decorations =[[Maha Vir Chakra]] 2 [[Vir Chakra]] 1 [[Sena Medal]] 2
| battle_honours = Darsana<ref name="Sainik Samachar Golden Jubilee">{{cite web|url=http://www.sainiksamachar.nic.in/englisharchives/2016/mar01-16/h8.htm|title=45 Cavalry Celebrates Its Golden Jubilee|date=2016-03-01|access-date=2020-12-06}}</ref>
| commander1 = Lt Gen Ajai Singh<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2020/223002.pdf|title=Gazette of India No 45|date=2020-11-07|access-date=2020-11-24}}</ref>
| commander1_label = Colonel of the Regiment
| commander2 =
| commander2_label =
| commander3 =
| commander3_label =
| notable_commanders = Lt General Amit Sharma<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.spsmai.com/military/?id=3038&q=Commander-in-Chief-of-Strategic-Forces-Command-appointed|title= Commander-in-Chief of Strategic Forces Command appointed|date=2014-06-16| access-date=2020-11-24}}</ref>

| identification_symbol =
| identification_symbol_label = Unit pin
| identification_symbol_2 =
| identification_symbol_2_label =
| identification_symbol_3 =
| identification_symbol_3_label =
}}
[[File:Tank T- 90 (Bhishma) passes through the Rajpath, at the 70th Republic Day Celebrations, in New Delhi on January 26, 2019.jpg|thumb|right|305x305px|T- 90 (Bhishma) of 45th Cavalry passes through the Rajpath, at the 70th Republic Day Celebrations 2019]]
'''45 Cavalry''' 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}}</ref> The regiment distinguished itself in operations during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971|1971 Indo-Pakistan War]] winning one [[Maha Vir Chakra]].<ref name="twdi">{{cite web|title=Mahavir Chakra (MVC)Awardee: Maj Daljit Singh Narang, MVC|url=http://twdi.in/node/1431|publisher=The War Decorated India & Trust |access-date=7 April 2014}}</ref>

==Raising==
The first 45th Cavalry was formed in August 1918 from<ref name=Perry174>{{harvnb|Perry|1993|p=174}}</ref>
*a squadron of [[20th Deccan Horse]]
*a squadron of [[34th Prince Albert Victor's Own Poona Horse]]
*a squadron of [[36th Jacob's Horse]]
*a squadron of [[38th King George's Own Central India Horse]]
It was disbanded in 1919.<ref name=Gaylor336>{{harvnb|Gaylor|1996|p=336}}</ref>

It was re-raised in April 1941 at [[Meerut]] under Major CPJ Prioleau.<ref>{{cite book|title=Indian Army List For October 1945, Part 1|date=1945|publisher=Defence Department, Government of India|page=1232}}</ref> The troops were Sikhs, Pathans and Dogras drawn from the [[13th Lancers#13th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers|13th Lancers]], [[14th Prince of Wales's Own Scinde Horse|Scinde Horse]] & [[Guides Cavalry]] and equipped with [[Stuart tank|Stuart light tanks]]. They served in Burma as part of [[50th Indian Tank Brigade]], entering Burma in December 1944 in the Arakan and returning in March 1945 to India to upgrade to [[Lend-Lease Sherman tanks|Sherman tanks]]. Post war, the regiment was disbanded in April 1946.<ref>{{cite book|last=Sandhu |first=GS|title=History of the Indian Armoured Corps, 1941-1971: The Indian armour|date=1981|publisher=Vision Books|isbn=978-8170940043|page=198}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last= Evans|first= Geoffrey Charles |title=Slim as Military Commander|date=1969|publisher=Angus and Robertson |page=167}}</ref>

The Regiment was raised again as an Indian Cavalry Regiment at Kandahar Lines, [[Delhi Cantonment]] by Lt Col SK Candade on May 16, 1965.<ref name="Sainik Samachar Golden Jubilee"/>

==Composition==
The troops of the regiment presently comprises two thirds South Indian Classes (SIC) and one third Others Indian Communities (OIC).<ref>{{cite book|last=Gautam|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><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/features/1971-india-pakistan-war-veterans-to-get-their-due-322739|title=1971 India-Pakistan war veterans to get their due|date=2016-11-14| access-date=2020-12-06}}</ref>
==Equipment==
Between 1941 and 1946, the regiment had the Stuart light tanks followed by the Sherman tanks. On re-raising, it was equipped with the amphibious [[PT-76]] tanks. B squadron was converted to [[T-54/T-55|T-55]] tanks. In due course, the aging warhorses, the PT-76 tanks were phased out, the regiment re-equipped and subsequently converted all its squadrons to the up-gunned version of the T-55 main battle tanks. The regiment is presently equipped with the [[T-90]] tanks.

==Operations==
;[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]]
During the 1965 war it was designated as an Armoured Delivery Regiment of the Indian Army.<ref name="Sainik Samachar Golden Jubilee"/>
; [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]
The unit took part in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 in [[East Pakistan]] (now independent [[Bangladesh]]). The regiment with its B and C squadrons were under the command of [[9th Infantry Division (India)|9th Infantry Division]], whereas A squadron was under [[4th Infantry Division (India)|4 Mountain Division]] .<ref>John H. Gill, An Atlas of the 1971 India - Pakistan War: The Creation of Bangladesh, Near East South Asia Centre for Strategic Studies ([[National Defense University]]), p.71</ref> The regiment was then equipped with Russian [[PT-76]] light battle tanks and fought in the Battles of [[Battle of Garibpur|Garibpur]], Kushtia and Jessore.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/History/1971War/277-Battle-Of-Garibpur.html |title=Bharat Rakshak :: Land Forces Site - Battle of Garibpur |access-date=2013-12-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014170135/http://bharat-rakshak.com/LAND-FORCES/History/1971War/277-Battle-Of-Garibpur.html |archive-date=14 October 2013 }}</ref>

The [[Battle of Garibpur]] fought on 20 – 21 November 1971 by the 14th Battalion, the [[Punjab Regiment (India)|Punjab Regiment]] (Nabha Akal) along with ‘C’ Squadron, 45 Cavalry would go down in history as one of the few battles in which a [[Battalion]] (usually numbering around 350 - 600 men) was able to defeat a vastly numerically superior [[Brigade]] (usually numbering around 2000 - 3500 men). Both sides were supported by tanks and aircraft.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thewire.in/history/revisiting-battle-garibpur-precursor-bangladesh-liberation-war|title=Revisiting the Battle of Garibpur, a Precursor to the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War|date=2020-11-20|access-date=2020-12-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.indiandefencereview.com/battle-of-bayra-1971-war/|title= Battle of Bayra 1971 War|date=2020-11-14|access-date=2020-12-06}}</ref>

For conspicuous gallantry the Regiment was awarded Battle Honour Darsana and Theatre Honour East Pakistan.<ref name="Sainik Samachar Golden Jubilee"/> The gallantry award winners include -
*[[Maha Vir Chakra]] : Maj D S Narang MVC (Posth.)<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.gallantryawards.gov.in/hi/Awardee/daljit-singh-narag|title= Maj Daljit Singh Narag MVC| access-date=2020-11-24}}</ref>
* [[Vir Chakra]] : Ris RP Singh, VrC<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gallantryawards.gov.in/Awardee/ram-parikashan-singh|title=Nb Ris Ram Parikashan Singh VrC| access-date=2020-11-24}}</ref>
*[[Sena Medal]] : 2Lt S Chandravarkar SM (Posth), Maj H S Puri SM
*[[Mentioned in dispatches]] : Capt Balram Singh Mehta, Dfr Gopalan Nair Sisupanan, Swr Mohan Singh, Nb Ris Athinarayanan<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1974/O-1253-1974-0019-55503.pdf|title=Gazette of India, No 19|date=1974-05-11|access-date=2020-11-24}}</ref>
;Other operations:
The regiment has taken part in counter insurgency operations in Jammu & Kashmir.<ref name="Sainik Samachar Golden Jubilee"/>
==Achievements==
The Regiment holds the proud distinction of being the first armoured regiment to be bestowed with both the 'Guidon' and the 'Standard' for meritorious service to the nation in both war and peace.<ref name="Sainik Samachar Golden Jubilee"/>
The Regiment had the honour of participating in the [[Delhi Republic Day parade|Republic Day]] parade in 2019 with their [[T-90]] tanks.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://scroll.in/latest/910893/republic-day-security-stepped-up-in-delhi-ahead-of-70th-year-celebrations-crowds-begin-to-gather-a|title= Republic Day: Women power, military might and Mahatma Gandhi's life on showcase at parade|date=2019-01-26|access-date=2020-12-06}}</ref>
==Regimental Insignia==
The cap badge of the regiment between 1941 and 1946 consisted of the numeral ‘45’ with a scroll above with the words ‘Indian Armoured Corps’ and one below with the word ‘Cavalry’.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qcmilitaria.com/indbadges.htm|title=Indian Army Badge Collection|access-date=2020-12-06}}</ref> The present insignia consists of the PT-76 tank with a scroll below, inscribed with the regimental motto.

The motto of the regiment is वीर भोग्या वसुंधरा (Veer Bhogya Vasundhara), which translates to ‘The World is for the Brave’.

==References==
<references/>

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book
| last = Gaylor | first = John
| year = 1996
| edition = 2nd
| title = Sons of John Company: The Indian and Pakistan Armies 1903–1991
| publisher = Parapress
| location = Tunbridge Wells
| isbn = 1-898594-41-4
}}
* {{cite book
| last = Perry | first = F.W.
| year = 1993
| title = Order of Battle of Divisions Part 5B. Indian Army Divisions
| publisher = Ray Westlake Military Books
| location = Newport
| isbn = 1-871167-23-X
}}

==External links==
{{Indian Army Armoured Corps |state=expanded}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}

[[Category:Indian World War II regiments]]
[[Category:Armoured and cavalry regiments of the Indian Army from 1947]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1946]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1941]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1965]]
[[Category:Military units and formations in Burma in World War II|R]]

45th Cavalry India - Revision history

Bot at 08:10, 24 August 2022