1812 Rocket Regiment (India)

1812 Rocket Regiment (SMERCH) is an artillery regiment which is part of the Regiment of Artillery of the Indian Army.

1812 Rocket Regiment (SMERCH)
Active1965 – present
CountryIndia India
AllegianceIndia
Branch Indian Army
Type Artillery
SizeRegiment
Motto(s)SARVATRA, IZZAT-O-IQBAL “Everywhere With Honour and Glory”. “Nulli Secundus”
Colors"Red & Navy Blue"
DecorationsVir Chakra 1 [1]
Commanders
Notable
commanders		General Sundararajan Padmanabhan

Formation

1812 Rocket Regiment (SMERCH) was raised on 15 March 1965 as 181 Light Battery at Khoja Toll, Ranchi Cantt under the stewardship of Major P Banerji.[2]

History
Smerch Multiple Rocket Launcher System of 1812 Rocket Regiment passes through the Rajpath, on the occasion of the 67th Republic Day Parade 2016

181 Light Battery was under 4 Mountain Artillery Brigade of the 4 Mountain Division during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 in the Jhenaidah–Kushtia sector.[3] It was equipped with 120 mm Tampella mortars.[4]

In April 1972, 181 Light Battery was bifurcated into 1812 (1) and 1812 (2) Light Batteries. 1812(1) Light Battery earned a significant distinction when in 1975, it was commanded by Major S Padmananbhan who later went on to become the Chief of Army Staff.[2]

In 2009, the regiment took a pivotal step in its evolution when it was given the honour of converting to a Rocket Regiment equipped with the Russian-built BM-30 Smerch at Nasirabad, Ajmer. The regiment had the privilege to participate in the Republic Day parade, in New Delhi, on January 26, 2016.[5]

See also

List of artillery regiments of Indian Army

References
  1. "ML Sharma VrC at gallantryawards.gov.in". Archived from the original on 2019-07-18. Retrieved 2020-09-09.
  2. "1812 Rocket Regiment (SMERCH)-Indian Army Postal Cover". Retrieved 2020-09-09.
  3. "Anjan Mukherjee in Evolution of Indian Artillery and its Impact on India's Comprehensive Military Power, chapter3, page 116" (PDF). Retrieved 2020-09-09.
  4. "1971 Official History" (PDF). Retrieved 2021-11-26.
  5. "Hindustan Times Article – Republic Day 2016". Retrieved 2020-09-09.
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