Indian Army History Thread

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ramana
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Re: Indian Army History Thread

Post by ramana »

I found Lt Gen JFR Jacob's autobiography 'An Odyssey in War and Peace" in a bookstore in California.
Very happy.
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Re: Indian Army History Thread

Post by ramana »

Teen Murti Marg and Indian Cavalry aka Armored Corps tryst with destiny

Link: https://web.archive.org/web/20120119043 ... istory-453

Indian cavalry’s victorious trysts with India’s history
Dec 06, 2011 - Anil Bhat |

December 3, 2011 marks 40 years of the outbreak of the third India-Pakistan War, which like the earlier two, was sparked off by Pakistan. On that day, the statue of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, Param Vir Chakra (posthumous) was unveiled at his alma mater, Lawrence School Sanawar, Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh. Arun, then recently commissioned into the Poona Horse, became the youngest recipient of India’s highest award for gallantry in war, for outstanding valour, which was praised even by his then enemy tank squadron commander. Ms Maheshwari Khetarpal, Arun’s mother, received the medal and scroll by the then President V.V. Giri on the Republic Day, 1972.

On November 19, 2011, Ms Khetarpal was honoured during the Cavalry Day wreath-laying ceremony held at the Teen Murti monument, which was of greater significance as it was held during the run-up to the 40th Anniversary of the 1971 Indo-Pak War. While the first of the armoured fighting vehicles, christened as tanks, were used or rather, tried out, in World WarI, it was in WWII, that well-developed tanks, which had replaced horsed cavalry, proved to be a very decisive factor in modern warfare.
While the Indian Army redefined mountain warfare by fighting at the height of 14,000 feet and even hauling Stuart tanks of 7th Cavalry there in 1947, after WWII, it was in the 1965 and 1971 India-Pakistan wars that intense tank battles were fought. And it was in both these wars’ tank engagements that the incompetence and lack of training, leadership and motivation of Pak Army became obvious. Pak Army’s US doled Patton tanks were then the most modern compared with Indian Army’s Centurians of much earlier vintage. Yet in both these wars Pak armoured units took major bashings from Indian Army’s regiments like 4th (Hodson’s) Horse, The Poona Horse and some others.

Pak armoured corp’s major drawbacks, which caused them very heavy losses of Patton tanks against Indian Army’s Centurian tanks, were: (a) their tank gunners were not even familiar with the gunnery procedure applicable to the Patton tank and (b) owing to fear of dying by flames, Pakistani tank crew bailed out as soon as their tank was hit even if it had not caught fire and its guns were still functional.

The story of Arun Khetarpal’s role in the Battle of Basantar did not end with this 13-day war, resulting in the demise of East Pakistan and the creation of the newly liberated Bangladesh. Major Khwaja Mohammad Nasir, then a Squadron Commander of Pakistan Army’s 13th Lancers, the regiment pitched against Poona Horse, who came bandaged the next day to collect the dead bodies of his fallen comrades, wanted to know more about “ the officer, who stood like an insurmountable rock” and whose troop of three Centurian tanks was responsible for decimation of his entire squadron of 14 Patton tanks. His bandages were owing to injuries sustained by him in the final engagement of his and Arun’s tank. The 13th Lancers is the same regiment which exchanged its Sikh squadron with the Muslim squadron of The Poona Horse, during the Partition in 1947.

Nasir’s tribute to Arun did not end in the battlefield in December 1971. Arun’s father, Brigadier (Retd) Madan Khetarpal, residing with his wife, Maheshwari, in New Delhi, had for long nursed a desire to visit his hometown, Sargodha, Pakistan. Speaking to this writer, he mentioned that in 2001, when he sounded his old friend, retired Lieutenant General Kirpal Singh Randhawa, of 7th Cavalry, who visited Pakistan a number of times in the past couple of decades, the latter merely asked him for his passport, which he brought back a few days later with the Pakistan visa stamped on it. Not only that; he had also arranged with his Aitchison’s College (Lahore) mate, the same Khwaja Mohammad Nasir, then a Brigadier and manager of Pakistan’s cricket team, to host Brigadier Khetarpal. During this visit, Nasir hesitatingly admitted that he was the one at whose hands Arun got killed. “He (Arun) was singularly responsible for our failure. He was a very brave boy,” said Nasir to the senior Khetarpal, who even in his sorrow, stoically remained an officer and a gentleman.

Of the 66 gallantry awards conferred on Indian Army’s Armoured Corps personnel, apart from Arun, who got one of this war’s two Param Vir Chakra, there were three Maha Vir Chakra (one posthumous and one awarded for the second time to the same person), 23 Vir Chakra, one Vishishtha Seva Medal, 17 Sena Medals (including one posthumous) and 21 Mentioned-in-Despatches. The second-time Maha Vir Chakra awardee was Brig. A.S. Vaidya of the Deccan Horse, who later became the Army Chief and after retirement was killed by Khalistani terrorist Harjinder Singh, aka Jinda, at Pune.

Twice every year serving and retired officers and their family members assemble in the morning at the traffic roundabout to lay wreathes at the Teen Murti Memorial. Once is during the Cavalry Week on the second or third Saturday in November and the other is on May 1, celebrated as Armoured Corps Day, which marks the process of mechanisation of the Indian Cavalry, beginning with the Scinde Horse in 1939. On both these occasions, Sowars of all armoured regiments clad in cavalry ceremonial dress with tall lances stand around Teen Murti roundabout, while four Sowars of the 61st Cavalry, the only horse cavalry regiment in the world still maintained, are positioned at the two entrances to the roundabout. All serving and retired Armoured Corps officers and families, who attend this solemn ceremony assemble and lay wreathes as the Sowars dip their vertically held lances to the left horizontal in time with the trumpeters sounding the Last Post , followed by the Armoured Corps Band playing Auld Land Syne.

During the recent wreath-laying function at least 20 busloads of school children passing the Teen Murti roundabout were enthusiatically waving out to the gathering of armoured corps personnel, singing Saaray jahan se achaa, Hindustan hamara loud enough to be heard over the cacophony of traffic.

Teen Murti, the memorial of three bronze statues of the Indian cavalry soldiers around a white stone obelisk, is how the palatial building where India’s first Prime Minister resided, got its name of Teen Murti Bhavan. Erected in the centre of the roundabout road junction just outside the entrance to Teen Murti Bhavan, the statues were sculpted by Leonard Jennings and the memorial was constructed in to commemorate those killed from the cavalry of the Indian Army during World War I (1914-1919) in battles fought in Sinai, Palestine and Syria. The three statues represent Sowars (as cavalry and armoured corps soldiers are known) from the three Indian state forces — Hyderabad, Mysore and Jodhpur — together with detachments from Bhavnagar, Kashmir and Kathiawar, which were part of the 15th Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade.

Designed by Robert Tor Russell, who was part of Lutyens’ team, Teen Murti Bhavan was India’s first Prime Minister Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru’s residence after Independence. Since his death in 1964, it was made the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library. Shikargah, also known as Kushak Mahal, after which Kushak Road is named, is a hunting lodge built by Feroze Shah Tughlaq, on a mound within the compound and is accessible by stairs. It has three open bays containing arches which are supported upon typical stone shafts and each bay is divided in depth into three compartments. The Nehru Planetarium is also in the same compound. The house is set amid large beautifully maintained gardens with a rose walk from where Pandit Nehru plucked his trademark buttonhole each morning. Nearby is the Jawahar Jyoti , the eternal flame, lit on his birthday in 1964. Adjacent on a rock is his epitaph.

After the wreath-laying ceremony all officers and families move to the lawns of the Officers’ Mess of President’s Bodyguard (PBG) in the President’s Estate nearby, where refreshments are followed by the Cavalry Officers Association’s general body meeting. Raised as the governor-general’s bodyguard in 1773 at Benaras, by the then governor-general Warren Hastings, with a strength of 50 specially picked troopers and horses, PBG today is a small body of men comprising four officers, 14 JCOs and 161 bodyguards backed up by administrative support personnel. Equipped with armoured cars and about to be equipped with tanks, its men are trained for operational duties, both as tankmen and airborne troops with the parachute brigade, in addition to their ceremonial role. PBG’ are bay and dark bay in colour, except that for the regimental trumpeter and the colour party, who traditionally are always mounted on grey chargers. Required to be of a minimum height of 157.5 cms, measured at the shoulder, they are the only horses of the Indian Army permitted to wear full manes, like their counterparts of the Household Cavalry, UK.

The rest of the ceremonies of Cavalry Week this year were a lecture in honour of Late Maj. Gen. Rajindar Singh Sparrow (7 Cavalry), MVC bar, delivered by his son, Lt. Gen. (Retd.) M.S. Shergill, PVSM, AVSM, VRC, at DGIS auditorium on November 17; a golf tournament was held at the ITC classic golf resort, Gurgaon, including ladies’ putting on November 18 and a grand cavalry dinner held at the Imperial Hotel, Janpath, New Delhi, November 19.

Anil Bhat, a retired Army officer, is a defence and security analyst based in New Delhi
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Re: Indian Army History Thread

Post by ramana »

http://www.vikingsword.com/ethsword/index.html

There is a strong need to have a Museum of Indian swords run by the Indian Army.

Lots of development but no interest in traditional weapons.

The above link has a few pdfs on Indian swords but they are mostly colonial era.


Indo-Persian swords:

http://www.vikingsword.com/ethsword/beallcollection.pdf

Shamshir
http://www.vikingsword.com/ethsword/shamshir/index.html
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Re: Indian Army History Thread

Post by Cyrano »

Salar Jung museum in Hyde has an incredible collection of swords and battle gear. Remember seeing quite a lot of stuff in some Rajasthan forts and palaces. If Indian Army builds such a museum and asks for donations they will get lots of stuff from all over India.
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Re: Indian Army History Thread

Post by NRao »

This is a keeper:

ramana
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Re: Indian Army History Thread

Post by ramana »

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Re: Indian Army History Thread

Post by ramana »

Related history of the Gun and Shell Factory, Cossipore.

Link: https://web.archive.org/web/20120207204 ... ml/ch1.htm
Two Centuries of Guns and Shells



Gun and Shell Factory, Cossipore, Calcutta, is the mother unit of Indian Ordnance Factories under the Ordnance Factory Board, aptly known as the fourth arm of defence. The factory started its journey when the hallowed land at Cossipore was bought in the year 1801 and production activities started on March, 18, 1802. The construction of sheds under the guidance of Capt Prestron of Military Engineering Service at an estimated cost of Rs 20,000 included an eight-and-half feet high and 1435 feet long surrounding wall and 301 feet wide and 161 feet high tiled sheds along with the wall. There was one big shed of 50 X 40 X 20 feet at the centre for the saw yards. Some sheds were made of bamboo, dharma and jute twine. Machines were operated by bullocks and buffaloes. Thus started the functioning of Gun Carriage Agency, Cossipore in 1802.

After some initial expansion in 1804 and 1806, the work came to a halt in 1806. But after receiving some orders from King of Persia, the factory got back its life. In 1814, the Gun Carriage Agency was shifted to Allahabad and from there to Fatehgrah in 1816 as the Gun Carriage, because wood seasoned in Bengal was not suitable for the extreme climatic conditions of Northern India where East India Company was involved in wars. With the starting of Fatehgarh Agency, the importance of Cossipore Gun Carriage Agency was diminished and its existence ended at Cossipore in November 1829 when all the machines were shifted to Fatehgarh.

Cossipore had the strength of springing back to life again and again. The vacant space was utilised for
the much-needed expansion and renovation of the Gun Factory of Fort William which was under some criticism for high cost and bad quality. New plants were purchased from Europe as per suggestions of Capt G Hutchinson who had been inducted in 1822 in the newly created post of Superintendent and Director of the Foundry at Fort William.

The estimated cost of establishing the new brass foundry and a small iron factory was Rs 66,435 in 1829. The yard was renamed as Gun Foundry Factory in the year 1830. The construction work was supervised by Capt Hutchinson assisted by Lt T Renny. The construction was completed by the end of 1834 at a total cost of Rs 1,10,447.

The main attraction of the new complex was the 'Turning and Boring Room' constructed at the same site where was the big sawyer's shed during the period of Gun Carriage Agency. This hall was 1691 feet long, 50 feet wide and 40 feet high having a total area of 8,462 sq ft which was very near to the total area of 9100 sq ft of the new Birningham Town Hall, the biggest hall in entire Europe at that time. The construction of the roof was specially highlighted in the engineering circle. The Calcutta Review wrote, in 1845, that the construction was "one of the most complete and perfect to be seen in the country, erected some years back by Major Hutchinson of the Engineers after he had ransacked England and Europe for the best models. The bullock-driven machines were changed to steam-driven machinery.

The new foundry at Cossipore started functioning well and, besides casting of brass guns, it also took up manufacture of iron shot and shells. Its products were continued to receive appreciation from the Company's court. The credit went to the then Superintendent, Capt Archdale Wilson. During the revolt of 1857 when Indian sepoys turned against the British and sparked off a national rebellion, the then foundry factory was asked to double the production of guns in order to speedily replenish the British arsenal. The then Superintendent of the factory, Capt Broome said the Cossipore could produce 30 artillery guns a month instead of the regular 15 by running night shifts. But that was not finally undertaken in consideration of possible fall in quality. During 1858-59, Cossipore had a 'minie' bullet plant.

Around 1855, breech-loading steel rifled guns had got its way to the British arsenal. During the period 1859- 1861, Capt Broome made several attempts to rifle the available smooth bore guns, but could not succeed. The Cossipore plant was not equipped enough at that time to undertake manufacturing of steel rifled guns. So, there was almost no work for Cossipore Foundry and there came suggestions for its closure. The mini-bullet factory was transferred to Ordnance Factory, Dum Dum. But Cossipore survived again.

The rifled guns, imported to India from England, required new elongated shells. It was decided that Cossipore would be utilised for manufacturing of the new shells. More land was purchased and a new workshop was constructed for shell processing. As there was no more processing of any gun at Cossipore at that time, the name ‘Gun Foundry’ was changed to ‘Foundry and Shell Factory’ in 1872.

Alongwith the manufacturing of new elongated shell, there was requirement of undertaking manufacturing of modern fuses and cartridges to match the newly introduced breech-loading guns. So more expansions took place in 1887 and 1890. In 1892, steel was for the first time cast in India at Cossipore by a Siemen’s Martin Open Hearth Plant. In 1896, a rolling mill was erected where- from large varieties of steel bars of different sections had been supplied to Railways, ship building industries, military engineering works and different ordnance factories. To meet the ever-increasing demands for steel in India, it was decided to shift the metallurgical units to Ishapore in 1903 as no further space for expansion was available at Cossipore.

In 1890, a shop was erected for the manufacture and repair of fittings of imported breech-loading guns. This had finally helped to undertake manufacture of quick-firing guns in 1905. With the return of the manufacturing of guns, the name of Cossipore unit got the present name of ‘Gun and Shell Factory’ in 1905. The Ishapore unit was also renamed from ‘Gun and Shell Factory’ to ‘Metal and Steel Factory’ in 1920, as a different unit.

Electricity was introduced in 1910 and new fuse and shell shops were erected between 1916 and 1920 as per Black’s Scheme of modernisation. The Ordnance Factory, Dum Dum was created and attached to Gun and Shell Factory from 1942 to 1966. In 1958, tractor project started here. This was the first ever attempt to manufacture tractor in public sector which was subsequently transferred to BEML. It had further extension during 1965-68.

As warfare changed over the years, so did Gun and Shell Factory.
The L-70 anti-aircraft guns capable of bringing down the fighters were one of the prestigious products. Its product-mix ranges from big barrel guns to small barrel pistols, different varieties of shells and fuses and civil trade items. With the large-scale modernisation, induction of state-of-the-art technologies and regeneration schemes, the factory will certainly survive its third century of existence. No factory elsewhere in India can match this record.

(courtesy: Ordnance Factory Board)
A big mistake was the creation of Civilian OFB which moved away from military production.

It became yet another bureaucracy.
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Re: Indian Army History Thread

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Description of Battle of Garibpur, 1971 in East Pakistan

https://web.archive.org/web/20120207203 ... ml/ch3.htm
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Re: Indian Army History Thread

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About 100 years of British and Afghan Wars

https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/north-west-frontier-india
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Re: Indian Army History Thread

Post by ramana »

War Decorated History Link

http://twdi.in/awards

Details of MVC awardees:

http://twdi.in/awards?service=All&field ... on_nid=All
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Re: Indian Army History Thread

Post by Tanaji »

After Blue Star there were unconfirmed reports that certain Indian army units had mutinied and were moving towards certain locations. These were then dealt with.

Does anyone know which units are these, what the incident was and what happened to the units later?
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Re: Indian Army History Thread

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I remember there was one unit stationed at the Danapur Cantonment in Bihar that had revolted
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Re: Indian Army History Thread

Post by Kakkaji »

Also, IIRC, while some units from the Sikh Regiment had revolted, the Sikh Light Infantry did not.
Recalling from memory, so request the to delete if incorrect. Thanks
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Re: Indian Army History Thread

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Re: Indian Army History Thread

Post by wig »

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/comme ... ice-587739

4 Guards’ (1 Rajput) stirring saga of courage and sacrifice
Naik Jadunath and his band of men were no less valorous than the warriors at Rezang La or Saragarhi.

it is recommended to read the complete article

excerpts
movement from Razmak to Amritsar in 1947
In 1947, this paltan was in Razmak, the tribal badland of Pakistan’s frontiers. Besides the threat from the tribals, orders had been issued by Pakistan General HQ that no stores, including regimental silver, could leave Razmak and only 20 rounds per soldier were allowed. The story of the evacuation from Razmak to Amritsar, not only with all men and material but also several hundreds of non-Muslim women and children, is a thriller by all accounts. Knowing the odds of evacuating from a hostile tribal territory, Col Bakshi Kuldip Singh, Commandant of 1 Rajput, volunteered for road-opening duties. Using this cover, he moved all his stores, equipment and weapons to Bannu and thereafter to Gardai. By the third week of October, the entire unit was relocated, surprising Gen (later Field Marshal) Ayub Khan, who was then in command of the brigade there. He claimed that no Muslim train driver was available so as to prevent the unit from moving by train. On the paltan’s roster was a former railway officer who volunteered to drive the narrow gauge to Mari-Indus and then took the broad gauge to the Attari border.
From Bannu, the battalion also evacuated a large number of women and girls to Amritsar, reaching there on November 3, 1947.
the legendary Naik Jadunath Singh , PVC
Gen Cariappa diverted the paltan from Ranchi to Gurdaspur with the responsibility of the border from Dera Baba Nanak to Madhopur since he felt that the battalion would do better in active combat — and the paltan did so, for very soon the onus of defending Naushera from raiders fell on the shoulders of young Naik Jadunath Singh’s picket in Taindhar. Gandhiji famously said the West had but one Thermopylae, but in India every pass had one. The unequal battle took place under an equally legendary commander, Brig Usman of 50 Para Brigade. Despite the winter setting in, the enemy had succeeded in keeping up the pressure and intended to choke the road between Akhnoor and Jhangar. On December 25, 1947, the enemy captured dominating heights that overlooked Jhangar road. Brig Usman, under whom 1 Rajput served, decided to hold every possible approach and that is where Naik Jadunath and his brave men had made their last stand on the morning of February 6, 1948. As the enemy pressed on in waves, Naik Jadunath and his men repulsed each wave long enough for reinforcements to arrive. The story of a small band of men overcoming an overwhelming enemy is always the basis of a legend and Naik Jadunath and his band of men were no less valorous than the warriors at Rezang La or Saragarhi. Naik Jadunath became the second recipient of the Param Vir Chakra (after Major Somnath Sharma).
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Re: Indian Army History Thread

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https://x.com/ARJUNAVAYANA/status/17577 ... 00735?s=20 ---> Biography on Lieutenant General Thakur Nathu Singh Rathore.

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Re: Indian Army History Thread

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Recalling the Joy of Working with Dr APJ Abdul Kalam & Manohar Parrikar by Lt Gen P Ravi Shankar in PGurus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HttewqXaaU0

Lt Gen talks about his time on projects like Prithvi, Agni, Artillery acquisition programs. He has high praise for Dr APJ Abdul Kalam & Defence Mantriji Manohar Parrikar. He also mentions the snake pits in MOD and Armed forces where there are people who want to thwart any good work or indigenous effort towards Atma Nirbhata. The rest of the mantriji were okay but no one was like Manohar, who being an IIT graduate, took no BS from anyone and wanted India to produce its own products for the Armed forces. Many projects succeeded including the Tejas aircraft. Sometimes the enemy is within. Very sad that Manohar left us at an early age. Thanks go for Lt. Gen P R Shankar and his efforts in artillery, rockets, missiles, ammunition, his continued work in IIT-M inspiring a whole slew of students on critical projects for the nation.

Major Developments are always attributable to key persons who are committed and bold. A good leader is aware of many things, though not be an expert in any one, he identifies the right talent and encourages them to produce their best. Dr APJ Abdul Kalam was one of them. India is on the cusp of great achievement and the yeoman work was laid by dedicated people in India, for which we in India are collectively grateful to such luminaries & unsung heros that grace Bharat. May they flourish!
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Re: Indian Army History Thread

Post by Rakesh »

https://x.com/NewsIADN/status/1770391049116197318?s=20 ---> Gorkha war memorial, Batasia Loop, Darjeeling, West Bengal.

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