Indian Artillery Modernisation
The Regiment of Artillery is presently engaged in modernising in terms of equipment and support systems under the ‘Make in India’ initiative
THE INDIAN ARMY’S REGIMENT of Artillery will celebrate its 196th Gunners Day on September 28, 2022. The date September 28 has a special significance since 5 (Bombay) Mountain Battery was raised on September 28, 1827 and this battery has been in uninterrupted service since it was raised. The Raising Day of this battery, therefore, is celebrated as Gunners Day every year. The Regiment of Artillery is the second largest arm of the Indian Army after the Infantry and constitutes almost one sixth of the Army’s strength, with its guns, mortars, rocket launchers, unmanned aerial vehicles, surveillance systems, missiles and artillery firepower.
Historical Perspective
On January 15, 1935, a Field Brigade was formed to take the place of an outgoing British Field Brigade. It consisted of four batteries. In the following year, an Indian Artillery Training Battery was added to the establishment of the Field Artillery Training Centre at Mathura. In March 1938, a decision to enhance the number of Indian Artillery units was taken and Indian officers were inducted into the 1 Indian Mountain Artillery Brigade, followed by the replacement of a second British Field Brigade by an Indian Field Brigade. Thereafter, replacement of a British Heavy Battery (Coast Artillery) and one British Anti-aircraft Battery by an Indian Heavy Anti-aircraft Battery were undertaken, followed by the replacement of a second British Heavy Anti-aircraft Battery by an Indian Heavy Anti-aircraft Battery. Branches other than the field artillery were also introduced.
During World War II, units of Indian Artillery saw action in Malaya, Burma, East and North Africa, the Middle East and Italy. By the end of World War II, Indian gunners had won one Victoria Cross, one George Cross, 15 Military Crosses, two IOMs, 22
IDSMs, 18 Military Medals, five OBEs, one MBE, three NEMs, 14 Burma Gallantry Medals and 467 JangiInams. In recognition of their outstanding contribution, the Regiment of Indian Artillery was accorded the title of ‘Royal’ and it was renamed the Royal Regiment of Indian Artillery in October 1945. Winston Churchill rose in the House of Commons to pay tribute to their decisive role in the Battle of Bir Hachiem against Rommel’s Panzer Army. The title ‘Royal’ was dropped when India became a Republic on January 26, 1950.
At the time of Independence, Indian Artillery consisted of Field, Air Defence, Counter Bombardment, Coastal, Air Observation Post branches. India was allotted eighteen and half all types of artillery regiments while remaining nine and half units going to Pakistan. In wake of the 1947 Pakistani invasion, personnel of 2 Field Regiment (SP) and 13 Field Regiment wore uniform of 1 SIKH and proceeded as a composite company of the 1 SIKH to