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Mechanised Infantry Regiment

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For the Sri Lankan Army regiment, see Mechanized Infantry Regiment.

Mechanised Infantry Regiment
Regimental insignia: A rifle bayonet mounted on a BMP-1, depicting the infantry and mechanised facets of the Regiment
Active02 April 1979 - present
Country India
Branch Indian Army
TypeLine infantry
RoleMechanized Infantry
Size27 battalions
Regimental centreAhilya Nagar, Maharashtra
Motto(s)FAITH & VALOUR[1]
Regimental flag
Commanders
Colonel of the RegimentLt Gen PS Shekawat[2]
Insignia
War cryBolo Bharat Mata Ki Jai (Victory to Mother India)

The Mechanised Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army, comprising 27 battalions (including 3 tracked and 2 wheeled reconnaissance and support battalions) dispersed under various armoured formations throughout India. Together with the 23 battalions of Brigade of the Guards, they form part of the Mechanised Infantry arm, which along with the Armoured Corps form the Mechanised Forces.[3]

History

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The Mechanised Infantry Regiment is one of the youngest regiments in the army and was the mastermind of General K Sundarji, who had the foresight to cater to the needs of a modern army.[4] After the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, a need was felt to give infantry battalions greater mobility, especially when operating with armoured formations. In 1969, 1st Madras became the first infantry unit to be equipped with the armoured personnel carrier (APC) TOPAS. In 1970, nine more of the oldest battalions from various infantry regiments were equipped with APCs, these included TOPAS, SKOT and BTR-60.[5] These battalions remained affiliated with their erstwhile Infantry Regiments and Regimental Centres and did not form a separate regiment. Eventually, fourteen old infantry battalions were mechanised.[6][7]

During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, some of these battalions saw action as part of combat groupings with armoured units for the first time. The APCs were replaced with BMP-1 Infantry Combat Vehicles between 1977 and 1978. The need for something more concrete and viable was felt, along with a need to develop a common battle and training philosophy with regards to the type of tactics. This necessitated the raising a totally new arm in the Indian Army, resulting in the various mechanised battalions being brought together under a single cap badge as the Mechanised Infantry Regiment, which was raised with fourteen battalions on 2 April 1979 and the affairs of the regiment were transferred from Directorate General of Infantry to Armoured Corps Directorate, which was renamed the Directorate General Mechanised Forces in 1986. Gen K Sundarji was appointed the first Colonel of the Mechanised Infantry Regiment, the post he held till his retirement.[6][8]

1988 postal stamp

The regiment saw a rapid expansion in the 1980s. Mechanised infantry battalions numbered 15 to 26 have been raised on all-India mixed class composition, unlike the older units, which were single class ones. The only exception was 20 Rajput, which joined the regiment as the 24th battalion in April 1992.[7] The Mechanised Infantry Regiment has been involved in Operation Pawan in Sri Lanka, Operation Rakshak in Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir and Operation Vijay in Jammu & Kashmir. It also took part in UN Peacekeeping Operations in Somalia, Congo, Angola and Sierra Leone.The Regiment is affiliated to the Indian Naval Ship Gharial.[6][8]

Attestation Parade at The Mechanised Infantry Regimental Centre, Ahmednagar, September 2021. The regimental insignia and flag can be seen in the background.

Mechanised Infantry Institutions

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Mechanised Infantry Centre and School

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The Mechanised Infantry Regimental Centre (MIRC) was established on 2 April 1979 at Ahmednagar and it is spread over 2179 acres. It trains approximately 950 recruits annually.[9] It has three training battalions: Infantry Training Battalion, Composite Training Battalion and Driving and Maintenance Battalion.[10] It was renamed as the Mechanised Infantry Centre and School (MIC&S) on 17 September 2021.[11] In addition to the troops from the Mechanised Infantry, those from the Brigade of the Guards undergo their 'mechanised' training at the MIC&S.

Quarter Guard

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The Quarter Guard of the MIRC was created on 9 August 1979 during the first biennial conference. After the sanction of KLP, the present Quarter Guard was conceptualised in half circular area with front wide platform. The new Quarter Guard was completed in 1986. The Quarter Guard has 18 internal rooms as well as an armour shop and a guard room. To the right and left side of the guard are two guns and two cannons that symbolise the strength of soldiers.[10]

BMP-2 of 12th Battalion, Mechanised Infantry Regiment passes through the Rajpath during the full dress rehearsal for the Republic Day Parade, 2010

Military Band

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See also: Indian military bands

The MIRC Band is based at Ahmednagar and serves all regimental duties related to musical support. The band was formed during April 1982 under the auspices of Brigadier Tilak Raj. The band has held the honour of performing at national events such as the Beating Retreat, Army and Republic Day Parades, as well as events at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. It also has performed at the 2007 Military World Games, the 2010 Commonwealth Games, and the 2001 Mumbai International Fleet Review among others.[10]

The Carrier Mortar Tracked Vehicle gliding down the Rajpath during the Republic Day Parade, 2006

Regimental museum

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The MIRC Museum was founded and inaugurated on 9 February 2000 by Lieutenant General Pankaj Joshi, the then Colonel of the regiment. The museum is currently housed at the ground floor of Mechanised Bhavan. The museum houses the regimental colour, as well as the history if the MIRC and mementos from Colonels of the regiment.[10]

Equipment

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The Mechanised Infantry Marching Contingent passes through the Rajpath, on the occasion of the 68th Republic Day Parade 2017

Regimental battalions

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Nag Missile System, (17th Battalion, Mechanised Infantry Regiment), Republic Day Parade, 2023

The Mechanised Infantry Regiment consists of units designated as battalions. Each battalion consists of four companies - Headquarter Company and three Mechanised Companies. In addition, there are platoons - Reconnaissance (recce), Signals, Adm Medium and Light Repair Workshop. The sanctioned strength of a battalion is 805 personnel (26 Officers, 52 JCOs, 6 technical JCOs/CHMs and 721 ORs. The battalions are operational under Armoured Divisions, Armoured Brigades or Independent Mechanised Brigades.[12]


The current battalions are as follows-[8][12][13][14]

Unit Date of raising Date of conversion to Mechanised Former designation(s) Battle honours Remarks
1st Battalion 01 Dec 1776 01 Dec 1969 1st Battalion, Madras Regiment Kalidhar
2nd Battalion 09 Nov 1803 15 Aug 1970 1st Battalion, Jat Regiment (Light Infantry) Festubert
3rd Battalion 19 Feb 1824 14 June 1971 1st Battalion, 8 Gorkha Rifles Chushul
4th Battalion 30 Jul 1846 15 May 1970 1st Battalion, Sikh Regiment Tithwal
5th Battalion 28 Dec 1852 01 May 1978 4th Gwalior Infantry; 14th Battalion, Kumaon Regiment OP Hill
6th Battalion 05 May 1887 15 Jun 1970 1st Battalion, Garhwal Rifles Gadra City
7th Battalion 30 May 1887 15 Apr 1970 37th Dogras; 1st Battalion, Dogra Regiment Asal Uttar
8th Battalion 05 May 1941 11 Aug 1971 7th Battalion, 2nd Punjab Regiment; 7th Battalion, Punjab Regiment Ichhogil First unit to be equipped with BMP-1
9th Battalion 01 Apr 1949 11 Aug 1971 7th Battalion, The Grenadiers Chhadbet
10th Battalion 27 May 1949 11 Aug 1971 20th Battalion, Maratha Light Infantry Bejai
11th Battalion 11 Feb 1953 11 Aug 1971 18th Battalion, Rajputana Rifles Basantar River
12th Battalion 01 Jan 1965 16 Nov 1975 8th Battalion, Parachute Regiment; 16th Battalion, Mahar Regiment
13th Battalion 01 Jan 1965 02 Apr 1981 18th Battalion, Rajput Regiment Akhaura
14th Battalion 01 Sep 1976 04 May 1971 16th Battalion, Jammu & Kashmir Rifles
15th Battalion 15 Dec 1981 First battalion to be raised directly as Mechanised Infantry
16th Battalion 01 Jan 1982
17th Battalion 15 Nov 1982 Reconnaissance & Support (Tracked)
18th Battalion 01 Mar 1983
19th Battalion 15 Sep 1983 Reconnaissance & Support (Tracked)
20th Battalion 01 Mar 1984
21st Battalion 01 Mar 1984
22nd Battalion 01 Mar 1984
23rd Battalion 11 Feb 1985 Reconnaissance & Support (Wheeled)
24th Battalion 26 Jan 1954 05 Dec 1971 20th Battalion, Rajput Regiment Khinsar Reconnaissance & Support (Tracked) [nb 1]
25th Battalion 25 Jun 1994 Reconnaissance & Support (Wheeled)
26th Battalion ? 2015
27th Battalion 17 Jul 2017

Gallantry awards

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The regiment has won the following gallantry awards since its establishment in 1979[15] -

See also

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External Media

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Notes

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  1. ^ The unit claims to trace its origins to 1212 CE, it was later part of the Indian State Forces, joined the Indian Army in April 1951 and was designated part of the Rajput Regiment in January 1954.

References

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  1. ^ "Attestation Parade to mark entry of 241 recruits into Indian Army as Young Soldiers was held on 16 Sep 2021 at The Mechanised Infantry Regimental Centre, MIRC Ahmednagar". 2021-09-16. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
  2. ^ "Gazette of India No 45" (PDF). 2020-11-07. Retrieved 2020-11-24.
  3. ^ "4 new mechanised battalions for Army". 2017-01-12. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  4. ^ "Second General K Sundarji Memorial Lecture". 2019-04-27. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  5. ^ "RAISING OF THE MECHANISED INFANTRY REGIMENT". 2017-09-10. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  6. ^ a b c "Infantry Regiments: The cutting edge of Soldiering". 2018-01-24. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  7. ^ a b "Mech Inf Brief History". Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  8. ^ a b c Bharat Rakshak :: Land Forces Site - The Mechanised Infantry Regiment Archived 2012-01-26 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ "MECHANISED INFANTRY REGIMENTAL CENTRE- AHMEDNAGAR". Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  10. ^ a b c d "Raising of the Mechanised Infantry Regimental Centre". 10 September 2017.
  11. ^ "Raising Day of MECH INF Centre and School (MIC&S), Ahmednagar". 2024-04-02. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
  12. ^ a b "Details of Bns" (PDF). 2013-04-26. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
  13. ^ "RAISING DAYS AND BATTLE HONOURS : MECH BATTALIONS". Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  14. ^ "27th Mechanised Infantry Battalion: New chapter added to Indian Army". The Indian Express. 2017-07-23. Retrieved 2017-07-23.
  15. ^ "Mechanised Infantry: A Regiment Born from Battle". Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  16. ^ "Major Rajesh Singh Adhikari". Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  17. ^ "Captain Hardev Singh". Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  18. ^ "Sep Daya Shankar". Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  19. ^ "2/Lt Satish Kumar Prabhakaran Menon". Retrieved 2024-11-21.
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