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{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name=97 Field Regiment
|image=
|caption=
|dates= 1963 – present
|country={{flag icon|India}} [[India]]
|allegiance=India
|branch= [[File:Flag of Indian Army.svg|24px]] [[Indian Army]]
|type= [[File:Regiment of Artillery Insignia (India).svg|20px]] [[Artillery]]
|role=
|size= Regiment
|command_structure=
|equipment= [[Indian field gun|105 mm Indian field gun]]

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

|identification_symbol=97 Fd Regt
|identification_symbol_label=Abbreviation

|nickname=''Bunker busters''
|patron=
|motto= Sarvatra, Izzat-O-Iqbal (Everywhere with Honour and Glory)
|colors= Red & Navy Blue
|march=
|mascot=
|battles=
|anniversaries=1 August – Raising Day
|decorations=
|battle_honours=
}}
'''97 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 '''97 Composite Regiment''' on 1 August 1963 at [[Namkum]], [[Ranchi district]]. The first commanding officer was Lieutenant Colonel Jagjit Singh and the unit was equipped with [[QF 3.7-inch mountain howitzer|3.7 inch howitzers]] and 120 mm Brandt mortars.<ref name="97MedAPOcover">{{cite web|url= https://samsshopping.com/product/97-Medium-regiment/|title=97 Medium Regiment Golden Jubilee APO postal cover|date=2015-09-03|access-date=2022-10-19}}</ref> The regiment was subsequently converted to a mountain regiment, a field regiment and a medium regiment. It is presently designated back as a field regiment.

It has used varied equipment including 3.7 inch howitzers, 120 mm mortars, [[Ordnance QF 25-pounder|25-pounders]], 75/24 Pack Howitzers, 105/37 mm [[Indian field gun]]s, 105/37 mm [[Indian field gun|light field gun]]s and the 155/45 mm Soltam guns (which is a 155 mm upgraded version of [[130 mm towed field gun M1954 (M-46)|M-46 Field Gun]] by [[Soltam Systems]]).<ref name="97MedAPOcover"/>
==Class composition==
The regiment is a single class regiment with [[Ahir]] troops.<ref name="97MedAPOcover"/>
==Operations==
The regiment has taken part in the following operations –
;[[ Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]]
The regiment took part in Operation Ablaze.<ref name="97MedAPOcover"/>
;[[Nathu La and Cho La clashes]]
[[File:SAHID SMARAK AT NATHULLA BORDER.JPG|thumb|right|Nathu La Memorial, with list of killed in action]]
97 Field Regiment lost six soldiers in the Nathu La clashes in September 1967 with the Chinese [[People's Liberation Army]] (PLA).<ref name="97MedAPOcover"/> Gunner Ram Kewal, Gunner Rangaraj Naidu, Lance Naik Nitya Nand, Gunner Satbir Singh and Gunner Jai Singh were killed on 13 September 1967 and Gunner Jagat Singh on 14 September 1967.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/amarjawan/index.php?qname=&qwar=Border%20Ops&cur=0&qunit=97%20Mtn%20Regt&qnum=&qregt=Regiment%20Of%20Artillery&qdate=|title=Amar-Jawan - A database of Indian Armed Forces Martyrs 1947-1997|access-date=2022-10-31}}</ref>
;[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]
97 Mountain Regiment equipped with 75/24 Pack Howitzers saw action during ''Operation Cactus Lily'' in the Eastern Sector. It saw action in the North Western sector of the Bangladesh liberation. It was part of the 340 Mountain Brigade Group (of [[20th Indian Infantry Division|20 Mountain Division]] under [[XXXIII Corps (India)|XXXIII Corps]]).<ref>{{cite book|last=Wahab|first=Major General ATM Abdul|title=Mukti Bahini Wins Victory - Military Oligarchy Divides Pakistan in 1971|publisher=Pan Pacific Venture |year=2004|page=317|isbn=978-9847130446}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://songramernotebook.com/archives/392148|title=Indian Army deployment in Bangladesh|date=|access-date=2022-10-29}}</ref> The unit also took part in the [[Battle of Hilli]] (or Battle of Bogura).<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=2022-10-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://zameer36.com/my-memories-of-war-battle-of-hilli/|title=My Memories of War – Battle of Hilli|date=2012-09-28|access-date=2022-10-31}}</ref>
During the operations, Gunner (ORA) Dudh Nath was awarded the [[Sena Medal]]. Gunner Jag Ram was killed in action.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://honourpoint.in/wp-content/uploads/1971-Martyrs.pdf|title=1971 Martyrs|date=|access-date=2022-10-31}}</ref>
;Internal security duties
The regiment was involved in providing support to the civil authorities during the [[Ram Navami riots#1979 Jamshedpur riot|1979 riots in Jamshedpur]]. It was awarded one [[Shaurya Chakra]] and one Chief of Army Staff Commendation Card.<ref name="97MedAPOcover"/>
;Counterterrorism operations
The regiment was involved in [[Counterterrorism|counterterrorism]] operations in [[Assam]] as part of ''Operation Rhino'' and during ''Operation Rakshak'' between 2014-17.<ref name="97MedAPOcover"/> Captain Pramod Raghavendra Jalwadi of the unit was killed in [[Awantipora]] in October 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianarmy.nic.in/Default3.aspx?MenuId=LQPu0wnw1CgwfGGEOXgmng==|title=Remembrance Of Heroes 2006|date=|access-date=2022-10-31}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.otaaachennai.com/martyrs/|title=Martyrs|access-date=2022-10-31}}</ref>

;Other operations
*[[ 2001–2002 India–Pakistan standoff |Operation Parakram]]<ref name="97MedAPOcover"/>
*[[Operation Meghdoot]]<ref name="97MedAPOcover"/>
==Gallantry awards==

The regiment has won the following gallantry awards<ref name="97MedAPOcover"/> –
*Shaurya Chakra – 1 (Captain Subir Kumar Mookerjee)<ref>{{cite web|url= https://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/1980/O-0998-1980-0021-44507.pdf|title=Gazette of India, No 21, page 397|date=1980-05-24|access-date=2022-11-01}}</ref>
*Sena Medal – 3
*Mentioned in despatches – 1
*Commendation cards – 4<ref name="97MedAPOcover"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianarmy.nic.in/Default3.aspx?MenuId=EzSuT8iSQsadD6SJsBpsbw==|title=COAS Commendation Card|date=2016-08-15|access-date=2022-10-31}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianarmy.nic.in/Default3.aspx?MenuId=oBnZ7ushdzQzldcU0hceVA==|title=COAS Commendation Card|date=2017-08-15|access-date=2022-10-31}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianarmy.nic.in/Default3.aspx?MenuId=xYmQkcaMDNaYAunZU48FJw==|title=COAS Commendation Card|date=2020-01-15|access-date=2022-10-31}}</ref>
*Chief of Army Staff Unit Citation in 2018 for Operation Rakshak during 2014-17.
*Governor of Arunachal Pradesh Unit Citation in September 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/arunachal-governor-presents-citations-to-indian-army-units-guarding-lac20220927055625/|title= Arunachal Governor presents citations to Indian Army units guarding LAC|date=2022-09-27|access-date=2022-10-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://twitter.com/BrigMishra/status/1574398348211023878|title= Presented Governor’s Citation to 97 Field Regiment|date=2022-09-26|access-date=2022-10-28}}</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 1963]]
[[Category:Artillery regiments of the Indian Army after 1947]]
[[Category:Indian Army]]

97 Field Regiment India - Revision history

Delinker at 11:21, 31 July 2023