The regiment was initially raised in 1940 as part of the Royal Indian Artillery (RIA) as 14th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment. It was subsequently designated 3rd Indian Medium Regiment and finally as 41 Medium Regiment.[2] It was later re-raised on 15 July 1948 by Lieutenant Colonel Kalyan Singh (of 2nd Indian Field Regiment, RIA) at Jhansi comprising a newly raised Regimental Headquarters and three artillery batteries from the princely states of Bikaner, Gwalior and Patiala.[3][4][5] The three batteries are –
83 (Bikaner) Field Battery
The Bikaner artillery traces its origins to 1670. During its early years, under Maharaja Anup Singh, it participated in several Mughal campaigns in the Deccan region, including the Siege of Golconda in 1687. It took part in the First Sikh War (1845–46); Second Sikh War (1848–49) and the Mutiny (1857–58) in support of the East India Company. Bikaner Bijey Battery was formed from select pieces of Bikaner artillery in 1906. The name comes from Prince Bijey Singh, the son of General Maharaja Sir Ganga Singh. It was organised as a camel pack battery in 1924 and equipped with breech-loading guns. It was later equipped with BL 2.75-inch mountain guns. The unit was re-organised as a mountain battery in 1941 and equipped with 3.7-inch howitzers and trained at Quetta.[6][7] During World War II, the battery under command of Major Kishen Singh was moved from Kohat in 1943 to join 25th Mountain Regiment. It proceeded to Arakan to join 7th Indian Infantry Division in the Burma theatre. It saw extensive action in Assam and Burma in 1944 and 1945, and returned to the State in 1946.[8][9][10]
84 (Scindia) Field Battery
This Battery was raised as 3rd Company Artillery in 1861. It was converted into the 3rd Horse Artillery in 1853 and later in the same year as the 2nd Horse Artillery. In 1898, it was renamed as 'B' Battery Gwalior Horse. The unit was equipped with 15-pounders and re-organised as ‘B’ Battery, Gwalior Horse Artillery. In 1934, it was re-equipped with QF 18-pounder guns. From 1942, it was known as Scindia's Field Battery.[6] Prior to independence, the battery saw action in World War II in the Burma campaign. It was attached to the 1st Indian Field Regiment and fought in the Battle of Meiktila in 1945.[11][12] The battery saw action in the Kashmir Operations during Indo-Pakistani war of 1947–1948.[13]
Operation Bajrang and Operation Rhino – Between 1988 and 1992, the regiment took part in counter terrorism operations in Assam.[19]
Operation Vijay – The unit was de-inducted from the Kashmir valley along with 8 Mountain Artillery Brigade for Operation Vijay in 1999. [20] It was commanded by Colonel GS Mann and equipped with 105 mm Indian Field Guns.[21][22][23] The regiment provided close range, accurate and timely fire support in the Battle of Tololing, Point 5140 from Thasgam, Battle of Point 4700 (Mushkoh), Battle of Point 4875 (now named as Gun Hill), Battle of Zulu Top and gave a decisive blow in the Battle of Tiger Hill from Drass.[4][24][25]
Lieutenant General K Ravi Prasad PVSM, VSM – Colonel Commandant of the Regiment of Artillery. Retired as the Director General Artillery in 2021.[28][29]
^Graham, Brigadier General C.A.L. (1957). The history of the Indian Mountain Artillery. Gale and Polden Ltd.
^Roberts, Michael (1952). Golden Arrow: the story of the 7th Indian Division in the Second World War, 1939-1945. Gale & Polden. p. 17.
^Sainik Samachar, Volume 37. Director of Public Relations, Ministry of Defence. 1990. p. 18-20.
^Das, Chand N (1997). Hours of Glory: famous battles of the Indian army, 1801-1971. Vision Books. p. 128-9. ISBN978-8170940692.
^Farndale, Sir Martin (2002). History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery: The Far East Theatre, 1941-46. Brassey's (UK) Ltd. p. 358. ISBN978-1857533316.