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861 Missile Regiment (India)

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861 Missile Regiment (Laleali & Picquet 707)
Active1963 – present
CountryIndia India
AllegianceIndia
Branch Indian Army
Type Artillery
SizeRegiment
Motto(s)Sarvatra Izat O Iqbal (Everywhere with Honour and Glory)
“Do it right - First time – Every time”
Colors"Red & Navy Blue"
EquipmentBrahMos
DecorationsSena Medal 1
COAS Commendation Card 4
VCOAS Commendation Card 7
GOC-in-C Commendation Card 9
Battle honoursLaleali
Picquet 707
Insignia
War Cry"Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa"

861 Missile Regiment (Laleali & Picquet 707) is a missile equipped regiment which is part of the Regiment of Artillery of the Indian Army.

History

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Formation

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861 Missile Regiment (Laleali & Picquet 707) traces its origin from the Border Scouts Battalion. It was raised as the 863 Light Battery by amalgamating a nucleus of 121 (Independent) Heavy Mortar Battery (Congo) and a battery of 35 Heavy Mortar Regiment on 20 June 1963. Lieutenant Colonel Sewa Ram was the first Commanding Officer. 86 Light Regiment was eventually formed with three batteries – 121 Heavy Mortar Battery, 862 Light Battery and 863 Light Battery.[1] This eventually evolved to become the 861 Missile Regiment.

Operations

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United Nations Operation in the Congo

121 Heavy Mortar Battery participated in the Indian Army United Nations peacekeeping mission in Congo under 99 Infantry Brigade.[2][3]

Brahmos missiles of 861 Missile Regt during the 2009 Republic Day parade
Indo-Pak War (1965)

86 Light Regiment participated in Operation Ablaze and Operation Riddle.

Indo-Pakistani War of 1971

The Regiment provided fire power to 28 Infantry Brigade of 10 Infantry Division in the Battle of Chamb. The devastating shelling by the Regiment on 3 and 4 December 1971 helped beat back the attack on Picquet 707. The shelling on 6 and 7 December 1971 similarly prevented the attack on Laleali.[4] The Regiment along with 8 Jammu and Kashmir Militia (now Light Infantry) were awarded the battle honours Laleali and Picquet 707.[5][6][7]

Other operations

The Regiment has also taken part in Operation Meghdoot, Operation Vijay and Operation Parakram.

BrahMos

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The Regiment was the first Army unit to get inducted with the BrahMos medium-range ramjet supersonic cruise missile in June 2007.[8][9] It is presently part of the 40 Artillery Division.

The Regiment had the honour of participating in the annual Republic Day parade in 2008, 2009, 2011, 2014 and 2017.[10][11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "861 Missile Regiment - Indian Army Postal Cover". Retrieved 2020-10-21.
  2. ^ Sharma, SK (1997). Indian Army: United Nations Peacekeeping Operations. Lancer Publishers. p. 28. ISBN 978-1897829011.
  3. ^ "Congo – First African War And Indian Soldiers (1960-64).doc". Retrieved 2020-10-21.
  4. ^ Singh, Jagjit (1994). Indian Gunners at War: The Western Front 1971. Spantech & Lancer. p. 76-100. ISBN 978-1897829554.
  5. ^ Khullar, Darshan (2017). Themes of Glory: Indian Artillery in War. VIJ Books (India) Pty Ltd. ISBN 978-9385563973.
  6. ^ Chandar, Col Y Udaya (2018). Independent India's All the Seven Wars. Notion Press. ISBN 978-1948473217.
  7. ^ "Hindustan Times article "Sitrep - A commander who led from the front"". 2017-03-26. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
  8. ^ "Smash Hit". Force. 6 (9): 44–45. May 2009. Archived from the original on 26 July 2013. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  9. ^ "RCC BrahMos in survincity.com". 2013-09-28. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
  10. ^ "Republic Day parade 2017 in the hindu.com". 2017-01-26. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
  11. ^ "Highlights: 68th Republic Day Parade in primetimes.in". 2017-01-26. Retrieved 2020-10-21.