72 Field Regiment (India)

72 Field Regiment is part of the Regiment of Artillery of the Indian Army.

72 Field Regiment
Active	1967 – 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"
Insignia
Abbreviation	72 Fd Regt

Formation

72 Field Regiment was raised on 01 July 1967 at Belgaum under the command of Lieutenant Colonel NR Pawar.^[1]

Class composition

The unit is a ‘Single Class’ regiment composed of Ahir gunners, with the bulk of the tropps from Haryana and Rajasthan.^[1]

Operations

The regiment has taken part in the following operations -^[1]

• Indo-Pakistani War of 1971: It participated in Operation Cactus Lily and was deployed in ‘Foxtrot’ sector, where it engaged numerous targets in enemy territory effectively. The regiment lost Havildar Prabhu Dayal during the operations.

• Operation Trident : The regiment was mobilised and took part in the operation between 31 January 1987 and 18 March 1987.

• Operation Meghdoot : In 1988, the gunners of the 722 Medium Battery of the regiment were posted in Observation Posts and with guns. It engaged the ‘Heavy Machine Gun Ridge’ with accurate artillery fire.
• Operation Vijay : On 28 June 1999, the regiment was mobilised and deployed in the ‘J’ sector. It reached back to its base location on 31 December 1999.
• Operation Parakram : The regiment was deployed on 19 December 2001 to 27 December 2002. It also took part in Project Sahyog.
• Operation Rhino : The unit was deployed in North Chachar Hills in Assam and took part in counter insurgency operations between 2006 and 2009.^{[2][3][4][5][6]}
• Operation Hifazat : 721 Field Battery of the regiment was deployed in Manipur’s Bekra sector for counter insurgency operations between 2008 and 2009.^[7]
• Operation Rakshak : The regiment during its tenure in Drass took part in anti-terrorist operations.

Honours and awards

The regiment was awarded the General Officer Commanding in Chief (Eastern Command) Unit Citation and Appreciation of the Governor of Assam during Operation Rhino.^[1]

It has won the following gallantry awards -

• Sena Medals – Major Sumeet Sharma,^[8] Lance Havildar Pawan Kumar^[9][10]
• COAS Commendation Cards – 6^{[11][12][13][14][15]}

See also

• List of artillery regiments of Indian Army

References

1. "72 Field Regiment Golden Jubillee APO postal cover". 2017-07-01. Retrieved 2021-07-04.
2. "Scribes decry arrest and detention of its secretary Atom Lukhoi". 2009-03-09. Retrieved 2021-07-04.
3. "Assam". 2008-10-12. Retrieved 2021-07-04.
4. "NSCN (IM) welcomes talk at the highest level Newmai News Network". 2009-02-14. Retrieved 2021-07-04.
5. "Army's vigilance along insurgency infested areas". 2008-11-01. Retrieved 2021-07-04.
6. "Computer cell inaugurated; medical camp held in Malong". 2009-04-27. Retrieved 2021-07-04.
7. "Army operation in Jiribum, ammunition recovered". 2009-07-08. Retrieved 2021-07-04.
8. "Independence Day Gallantry Awards and other Decorations". 2008-08-15. Retrieved 2021-07-04.
9. "List of military honourees". 2008-01-26. Retrieved 2021-07-04.
10. "Gazette of India, No 19, page 375" (PDF). 2008-05-10. Retrieved 2021-07-04.
11. "COAS Commendation Card Army Day 2008" (PDF). 2008-01-15. Retrieved 2021-07-04.
12. "COAS Commendation Card Independence Day 2008". 2008-08-15. Retrieved 2021-07-04.
13. "COAS Commendation Card Army Day 2010". 2010-01-15. Retrieved 2021-07-04.
14. "COAS Commendation Card 2014". 2014-08-15. Retrieved 2021-07-04.
15. "COAS Commendation Card 2016". 2016-01-15. Retrieved 2021-07-04.