Bot at 23:50, 12 August 2022

2022-08-12T23:50:17Z

New page

{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = 65th Armoured Regiment
| image =
| caption =
| dates = 1966 – present
| country = {{flag|India}}
| allegiance = India
| branch = [[File:Flag of Indian Army.svg|24px]] [[Indian Army]]
| type = [[Armour]]
| role =
| size = Regiment
| command_structure =
| equipment = [[T-72]]

| ceremonial_chief =
| colonel_of_the_regiment = Brig Mayank Awasthi
| notable_commanders = Brig KK Kaul, Maj Gen RS Pannu, Maj Gen DSC Rai, Maj Gen DK Mehta, Brig SM Sahni, Maj Gen Rajan Aney, Maj Gen IP Singh, Lt Gen Taranjit Singh, Brig D Dahiya

| identification_symbol = 65 Armd Regt
| identification_symbol_label = Abbreviation

| nickname =
| patron =
| motto = मान या मृत्यु ''Maan ya Mrityu'' (Glory or Death)
| colors = Scarlet and Black
| march = Belphegor
| mascot =
| battles =
| anniversaries =
| decorations = [[Vir Chakra]] 1 [[Sena Medal]] 5 [[Vishisht Seva Medal]] 2 COAS Commendation Card 18 GOC-in-C Commendation Card 18<ref name="65 Armd Regt APO Postal Cover">{{cite web |url=https://www.philamart.com/Listing/Details/3065177/65-Armoured-RegimentIndian-Army-Postal-Cover-APO|title= 65 Armoured Regiment-Indian Army Postal Cover (APO)|access-date=2020-11-28}}</ref>
| battle_honours =
}}

'''65th Armoured Regiment''', is an armoured regiment which is part of 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=642–643}}</ref>

==Formation==
Raised after the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]], on 1 September 1966, as the '''65th Cavalry''', its designation was changed to 65th Armoured Regiment in August 1967. The first commanding officer was Lieutenant Colonel (later Brigadier) K.K. Kaul. The class composition was [[Dogra]]s, [[Jat people|Jats]] and [[Rajput]]s.<ref name="Nath2009"/>
==Equipment==
The regiment was initially equipped with the upgunned Sherman Mk IV and Mk V tanks. It was later equipped with [[Vijayanta]] tanks. The 93rd (Independent) Reconnaissance Squadron was raised with [[AMX-13]] tanks.<ref name="Nath2009"/> The regiment subsequently converted to [[T-72]] tanks.<ref name="65 Armd Regt APO Postal Cover"/>
==History==
The [[President of India]] Late Shri [[Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed]] presented a guidon to the regiment on 11 November 1976.<ref name="Nath2009"/>

==Operations==
; [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]] :
The regiment was part of [[1st Armoured Division (India)|1st Armoured Division]] during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]] and was located in the general area of [[Muktesar]] and Malaut but did not see any action.<ref name="Nath2009"/>

; [[Operation Pawan]] :
65th Armoured Regiment was one of the first regiments in the Army to be equipped with [[T-72]] tanks. Along-with its new tanks, it proceeded to [[Sri Lanka]] during [[Operation Pawan]]. It was one of the first units to reach Sri Lanka, arriving in [[Jaffna]] in October 1987, and was amongst the last to de-induct, returning to India in March 1990.<ref>{{cite book|last=Das|first=Gautam|title=Srilanka Misadventure: India's Military Peace-keeping Campaign, 1987-1990|date=2008|publisher=Har Anand Publications|isbn= 978-8124113639}}</ref> The regiment performed a wide variety of roles including clearing road-blocks, keeping railways and roads open, ambushes and raids. The regiment lost an officer, one [[Junior Commissioned Officer|JCO]] and 15 soldiers killed, and nine soldiers wounded.<ref name="Nath2009"/> A troop of tanks of "A" Squadron of the Regiment was the first to be airlifted to Jaffna and they participated in the battle of the Jaffna University along with 72 & 115 Infantry Brigades under [[54th Infantry Division (India)|54 Infantry Division]]. This action culminated in the subsequent relief of Jaffna Fort. The troop was later augmented by the complete squadron. It was during this action that the Regiment earned its first gallantry awards in combat: one [[Vir Chakra]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gallantryawards.gov.in/Awardee/anil-kaul|title=Anil Kaul VrC|access-date=2020-11-28}}</ref> and one [[Sena Medal]] (Posthumous).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fountainink.in/reportage/a-short-hot-day-in-kokkuvil|title=A short, hot day in Kokkuvil|date=2012-04-05|access-date=2020-11-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://sangam.org/2007/12/Indo-LTTE_War_III.php|title=The Indo-LTTE War (1987-1990)|access-date=2020-11-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://theprint.in/opinion/first-person-second-draft/indias-dirty-little-war-in-jaffna/25306/|title=India’s ‘dirty little war’ in Jaffna, heroism amid ineptitude & new friendships under fire|date=2017-12-28|access-date=2020-11-28}}</ref>
;Other operations :
It has participated in [[Operation Brasstacks|Operation Trident]] in the Western sector; in [[Indian Army operations in Jammu and Kashmir|Operation Rakshak]] II (J&K CI Ops) at [[Patnitop]], [[Batote]], [[Banihal]], [[Ramban, Jammu and Kashmir|Ramban]] and Nachna; in the plains of Jammu and Kashmir during [[Kargil War|Operation Vijay]] and in [[2001–2002 India–Pakistan standoff|Operation Parakram]].<ref name="65 Armd Regt APO Postal Cover"/>

==Reconnaissance squadron==
On 1 April 1970, 93rd (Independent) Reconnaissance Squadron was raised with [[AMX-13]] tanks and was placed in the order of battle of 1st Armoured Division during the [[Indo-Pakistan War of 1971]]. The Squadron saw action in the Punjab theatre during the 1971 Indo-Pak war. Subsequently, it was located in Malerkotla and re-equipped with the Vijyanta tanks. In 1979, this squadron along-with two others, 90th & 92nd of the [[Poona Horse]] & [[18th Cavalry]] respectively, was merged to form [[90 Armoured Regiment]].<ref name="Nath2009"/>

==Regimental insignia==
The cap badge at the time of raising was the generic Armoured Corps badge and shoulder title comprised the letters "65C" in brass. The regiment was in the process of designing a badge which comprised crossed [[lance]]s with scarlet and black [[pennon]]s, and the numerals "65" at the crossing, with the regimental motto on a scroll along the base of the lances.<ref name="Nath2009"/> It was the first-ever armoured regiment of Indian origin to adopt the scarlet backing of the cap badge and scarlet shoulder flashes. Also, it was the first unit where NCO's sported scarlet [[Chevron (insignia)|chevron]]s of rank against the traditional white.

Just then, an order was issued by Army Headquarters that all newly raised regiments would no longer use the terms "Cavalry" or "Lancers", but instead be called "Armoured Regiments". The 65th was the first to take up the new designation. Accordingly, the cap badge was amended to include a small scroll below the numbers with the script "ARMD REGT" inscribed, which was barely visible.<ref name="Nath2009"/> The more visible lower scroll carries the regimental motto, मान या मृत्यु (Maan Ya Mrityu), which translates to ‘Glory or Death’.<ref name="65 Armd Regt APO Postal Cover"/>

The regimental flag has the regimental badge in the centre and is in two colours – Scarlet and Black.<ref name="65 Armd Regt APO Postal Cover"/>

==Previous commanders==
Brig KK Kaul, Maj Gen RS Pannu, Maj Gen DSC Rai, Maj Gen DK Mehta, Col GS Bhullor, Brig SM Sahni, Col SL Kapur, Maj Gen Rajan Aney, Col VK Dougall, Col SP Khanna, Col AS Bhinder, Col Anil Kaul, VrC,(Second Generation) Maj Gen IP Singh, Col Anil Talwar, Col Parminder Singh, SM, Lt Gen Taranjit Singh, Brig D Dahiya, Col Sandeep Kapur,(Second Generation), Col Amitesh Verma, Col R Pachora.

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Indian Army Armoured Corps |state=expanded}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1966]]
[[Category:Armoured and cavalry regiments of the Indian Army from 1947]]
[[Category:Units of the Indian Peace Keeping Force]]

65th Armoured Regiment India - Revision history

Bot at 23:50, 12 August 2022