168 Field Regiment (India)

168 Field Regiment 1963 – present India 23px Indian Army 20px Artillery Regiment 168 Fd Regt Abbreviation Sarvatra, Izzat-O-Iqbal (Everywhere with Honour and Glory) Red & Navy Blue Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 Battle of Longewala 1 November - Raising Day9 December - Battle Honour DaySharma Gautam Indian Army, a Reference Manual 62 Reliance Publishing House 2000 978-8175101142 Longewala 168 Field Regiment is part of the Regiment of Artillery of the Indian Army. Formation and history 168 Field Regiment was raised on 1 November 1963 at Pathankot. The first commanding officer was Lieutenant Colonel (later Brigadier) Kunhiram Venugopal VrC.https://samsshopping.com/product/168-filed-regiment/ Golden Jubilee APO cover 2013-10-26 2024-01-03 The regiment consists of 1681, 1682 and 1683 field batteries. Class composition The unit was raised with Gurkha troops from 64 Field Regiment and Jat troops from 65 Field Regiment. From 1979 onwards, the Gurkhas were replaced with hill tribes from Kumaon and Garhwal. The unit was converted to a mixed class composition from 1999. Operations The regiment has taken part in the following operations– Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 The regiment saw action in the Sialkot sector. It was part of 26 Infantry Division and was in direct support of 168 Infantry Brigade.Singh Harbaksh War Despatches: Indo-Pak Conflict 1965 2012 Lancer Publishers LLC 978-8170621171Gokhale Nitin A 1965 Turning the Tide, How India won the war 2015 Bloomsbury publishing India Pvt Ltd 978-93-85436-84-0 Singh Jagjit Indian Gunners at War: The Western Front 1971 1994 Spantech & Lancer 978-1897829554 216–217 The unit lost Gunner Maha Singh during the operations.https://www.bharat-rakshak.com/amarjawan/index.php?qname=&qwar=1965%20India%20Pakistan%20War&cur=0&qunit=168%20Field%20Regiment&qnum=&qregt=Regiment%20Of%20Artillery&qdate= Amar-Jawan - A database of Indian Armed Forces Martyrs 1947-1997 2024-01-04 Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 During Operation Cactus Lily, the regiment saw action in the Jaisalmer sector in the deserts of Rajasthan. It was part of 12 Artillery Brigade, the divisional brigade of 12 Infantry Division (along with 167 Field Regiment, 170 Field Regiment and 185 Light Regiment). During the Battle of Longewala, the regiment provided accurate and devastating fire power to support 23 Punjab, which proved instrumental in the defence of Longewala.https://www.defstrat.com/magazine_articles/battles-that-made-history-15/ Battles that made history 2022-01-21 2024-01-03 Subsequently, during the Battle of BP 638, the regiment supported 13 Kumaon and 6 Independent Armoured Squadron who were chasing the retreating Pakistanis in the Jaisalmer sector. The regiment's action helped clear the enemy from the Boundary Pillar (BP) 638. https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/army-1971-war-hero-col-gurjeet-singh-bajwa-jaisalmer-8994617/ Military Digest: Army honours 1971 war hero Col Gurjeet Singh Bajwa, names auditorium after him in Jaisalmer 2023-10-22 2024-01-03https://www.hindustantimes.com/chandigarh/braveheart-on-land-and-in-the-air/story-SkLkfeAqvmQaIvuyeZQsRL.html Braveheart on land and in the air 2014-06-08 2024-01-03 Praval K. C. Valour triumphs: a history of the Kumaon Regiment 1976 Thomson Press 348 The regiment was awarded the honour title Longewala, two Vir Chakras and one Sena Medal for its gallant actions. Operation Rhino The regiment took part in counter terrorist operations in Assam between 1996 and 1999. For its brave actions, the regiment was awarded one Sena Medal, six COAS Commendation Cards and two Army Commander Commendation Cards during this tenure. The regiment has a second tenure in Assam around 2016.https://assamtimes.org/node/16521 NDFB(S) killed near Mazbat 2016-03-15 2024-01-03https://www.telegraphindia.com/north-east/briefs/cid/1414916 Arrested 2016-07-07 2024-01-03 Other operations Operation Brasstacks Operation Parakram Operation Rakshak Gallantry awards The regiment has won the following gallantry awards– January 2024 The regiment was awarded the honour title Longelwala for its valour during the 1971 war. The regiment was awarded Army Commander’s unit citation in 2015 and 2018.https://samsshopping.com/product/168-field-regiment/ 50 years of honour title 2021-12-09 2024-01-03 Kirti Chakra – 2 Major Braj Kishore Sharmahttps://www.gallantryawards.gov.in/awardee/3328 Major Braj Kishore Sharma 2024-01-05https://archive.org/details/in.gazette.1998.17/ Gazette of India, No 16, page 299 1988-04-18 2024-01-04 Vir Chakra – 2 Second Lieutenant Gurjeet Singh Bajwahttps://www.gallantryawards.gov.in/awardee/1681 Second Lieutenant Gurjeet Singh Bajwa 2024-01-04 https://archive.org/details/in.gazette.1972.119/ Gazette of India, No 34, page 931-2 1972-08-19 2024-01-04 Gunner Tek Ramhttps://www.gallantryawards.gov.in/awardee/1893 Gunner Tek Ram 2024-01-04 https://archive.org/details/in.gazette.1972.119/ Gazette of India, No 34, page 941 1972-08-19 2024-01-04 Shaurya Chakra – 1 Captain Gurjeet Singh Bajwa (when serving with the Air OP)https://www.gallantryawards.gov.in/awardee/2501 Captain Gurjeet Singh Bajwa 2024-01-05 https://archive.org/details/in.gazette.csl_weekly.1985-03-16.O-0776-1985-0011-34493/ Gazette of India, No 11, page 300 1985-03-16 2024-01-04 Sena Medal – 3 Captain Vishnu Laxman Wadodkar https://archive.org/details/in.gazette.1974.7/ Gazette of India, No 10, page 286 1974-03-09 2024-01-04https://www.thehitavada.com/Encyc/2021/12/15/Lt-Col-V-L-Wadodkar-The-hawk-eye-who-helped-neutralise-enemy-positions.html Lt Col V L Wadodkar: The hawk-eye who helped neutralise enemy positions 2021-12-15 2024-01-05 Major Prabhanshu Singhhttps://www.india.com/news/india/full-list-of-gallantry-award-winners-398-awards-including-2-kirit-chakras-and-12-shaurya-chakras-approved-by-president-pranab-mukherjee-1784186/ Full List Of Gallantry Award Winners 2017-01-25 2024-01-05 Chief of Army Staff Commendation cards – 11 Vice Chief of Army Staff Commendation cards – 5 General Officer Commanding in Chief Commendation cards – 10 Notable Officers January 2024 Brigadier Darshan Khullar – mountaineer, author and historian. Commissioned into 22 Mountain Regiment, he commanded this regiment. Recipient of Padma Shri, Arjuna award and Ati Vishisht Seva Medal.Khullar Darshan Themes of Glory: Indian Artillery in War 2017 VIJ Books (India) Pty Ltd 978-9385563973 See also List of artillery regiments of Indian Army References Category:Military units and formations established in 1963 Category:Artillery regiments of the Indian Army after 1947