195 Medium Regiment (India)

195 Medium Regiment
Active	1965 – present
Country	India
Allegiance	India
Branch	Indian Army
Type	Artillery
Size	Regiment
Motto(s)	Sarvatra, Izzat-O-Iqbal (Everywhere with Honour and Glory).
Colors	Red & Navy Blue
Anniversaries	15 February – Raising Day
Battle honours	Banwat[1]
Insignia
Abbreviation	195 Med Regt

195 Medium Regiment (Banwat) is part of the Regiment of Artillery of the Indian Army.

Formation

The regiment was raised on 15 February 1965 at Bangalore as 195 Mountain Regiment. The regiment was subsequently converted to a field regiment and is presently a medium regiment.[2]

Class composition

The regiment was raised as a pure South Indian Class regiment.[2]

Operations

The regiment has taken part in the following operations[2] –

Indo-Pakistani War of 1971

The regiment commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Satjit Singh, was part of the 25 Artillery Brigade and was equipped with 75/24 Pack Howitzers. It was deployed in the Poonch Sector in Jammu and Kashmir, primarily in support of 93 Infantry Brigade. The regiment fired around 12,500 rounds in the defensive battle of Poonch between 3 and 7 December, thus fizzling the Pakistani 12 Infantry Division offensive. The regiment played an important part in the capture of Nangi Tekri on 11 December 1971.[3][4] Captain D Tyagi, the OP officer from the Regiment was part of the daring attack of the gun position at Mandhol by 9 Para (SF) on 13 December.[5][6]

The regiment earned the ‘honour title’ Banwat and the sobriquet Defenders of Poonch for its gallant actions on 3 and 4 December in the defence of Banwat, which is located north east of Poonch.[7] It won the following gallantry awards –

• Vishisht Seva Medal (VSM) - Lieutenant Colonel Satjit Singh[8]
• Sena Medal – Gunner Rama Murti[9]
• Mentioned in dispatches – Major CM Bhalla, Captain SS Sandhu[10]

Operation Meghdoot

Operation Parakram

The regiment took active part in the operation and its guns saw action against the Pakistani army.

Operation Rakshak

The regiment has taken part in counter insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir and has completed four tenures in the state.

Honours and achievements

• Seven of the commanding officers of the regiment have become general officers.[2] They include[11] –
  • Lieutenant General AS Parmar PVSM, who was the Commandant, School of Artillery
  • Lieutenant General MPS Bhandari PVSM, AVSM, ADC, who was also the Director General Artillery
  • Lieutenant General A Natarajan PVSM, AVSM, VSM, who was the Adjutant-General of the Indian Army
  • Major General DS Chimni
  • Major General Kuldip Chandra Vig AVSM, VSM
  • Major General MN Kashid VSM
  • Major General Mohabat Singh
  • Brigadier Satjit Singh VSM
  • Brigadier AJS Behl
  • Brigadier Balwinder Singh
  • Brigadier SN Bhaduri
• The Regiment has the distinction of having five Brigadiers currently serving in the Indian Army.
• Chinna Raju Srither of the regiment is a national level archer and has won numerous medals as part of the men's compound team, including a silver at the 2010 Commonwealth Games,[12] a silver at the Archery World Cup in 2011 and a gold at the Archery World Cup in 2017.[13][14]
• Havildar Latheesh VS is a national level rower.

See also

• List of artillery regiments of Indian Army

References

1. Singh, Sarbans (1993). Battle Honours of the Indian Army, 1757-1971. Vision Books. ISBN 978-8170941156.
2. "195 Medium Regiment Diamond Jubilee APO postal cover". 2015-02-15. Retrieved 2022-01-03.
3. Singh, Jagjit (1994). Indian Gunners at War: The Western Front 1971. Spantech & Lancer. pp. 62–65. ISBN 978-1897829554.
4. Khullar, Darshan (2017). Themes of Glory: Indian Artillery in War. VIJ Books (India) Pty Ltd. ISBN 978-9385563973.
5. "The Raid at Mandhol by 9 Para (SF)" (PDF). Retrieved 2022-01-04.
6. "Operation 'Mandhol' forced Pakistan to change war plan". The Times of India. 2013-12-06. Retrieved 2022-01-04.
7. Gulati, M. N. (2001). Pakistan's downfall in Kashmir: the three Indo-Pak wars. Manas Publications. p. 270. ISBN 978-8170491279.
8. "Gazette of India, No 19" (PDF). 1974-05-11. Retrieved 2022-01-04.
9. "Gazette of India, No 26" (PDF). 1974-06-29. Retrieved 2022-01-04.
10. "Gazette of India, No 36" (PDF). 1972-09-02. Retrieved 2022-01-04.
11. "Valour of Banwat Reg during 'Poonch Operation' recalled". The Times of India. 2009-12-03. Retrieved 2022-01-05.
12. "Athletes & Results". Retrieved 2022-01-03.
13. "Chinna Raju Srither at World Archer". Retrieved 2022-01-03.
14. "Hitting the bullseye: Indian men's compound team wins gold at Archery World Cup". 2017-05-20. Retrieved 2022-01-03.