97 Field Regiment (India)


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

Formation and history

The regiment was raised as 97 Composite Regiment on 1 August 1963 at Namkum, Ranchi district. The first commanding officer was Lieutenant Colonel Jagjit Singh and the unit was equipped with 3.7 inch howitzers and 120 mm Brandt mortars. The regiment was subsequently converted to a mountain regiment, a field regiment and a medium regiment. It is presently designated back as a field regiment.
It has used varied equipment including 3.7 inch howitzers, 120 mm mortars, 25-pounders, 75/24 Pack Howitzers, 105/37 mm Indian field guns, 105/37 mm light field guns and the 155/45 mm Soltam guns.

Class composition

The regiment is a single class regiment with Ahir troops.

Operations

The regiment has taken part in the following operations –
;Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
The regiment took part in Operation Ablaze soon after its raising and thus had its baptism with fire.
;Nathu La and Cho La clashes
97 Field Regiment lost six soldiers in the Nathu La clashes in September 1967 with the Chinese People's Liberation Army. Gunner Ram Kewal, Gunner Rangaraj Naidu, Lance Naik Nitya Nand, Gunner Satbir Singh and Gunner Jai Singh were killed on 13 September 1967 and Gunner Jagat Singh on 14 September 1967.
;Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
97 Mountain Regiment equipped with 75/24 Pack Howitzers saw action during Operation Cactus Lily in the Eastern Sector. It saw action in the North Western sector of the Bangladesh liberation. It was part of the 340 Mountain Brigade Group. The unit also took part in the Battle of Hilli.
During the operations, Gunner Dudh Nath was awarded the Sena Medal. Gunner Jag Ram was killed in action.
;Internal security duties
The regiment was involved in providing support to the civil authorities during the 1979 riots in Jamshedpur. It was awarded one Shaurya Chakra and one Chief of Army Staff Commendation Card.
;Counterterrorism operations
The regiment was involved in counterterrorism operations in Assam as part of Operation Rhino and during Operation Rakshak between 2014 and 2017. Captain Pramod Raghavendra Jalwadi of the unit was killed in Awantipora in October 2006.
;Other operations

Gallantry awards

The regiment has won the following gallantry awards:

Achievements in sports