Regiment of Artillery (Pakistan)

The Regiment was initially part of the British Indian Army, but linked itself with Royal Artillery and was later integrated with the Royal Indian Artillery.[3] However, its modern history started in 1947 with the establishment of Pakistan.[4] First founded as the Royal Pakistan Artillery, it was re-designed on 23 March 1956, and since then it has been known as Regiment of Artillery.[3] In 1947, the Regiment inherited only eight gun regiments, one survey battery, an air observation post flight, and two formation headquarters.[4] Retired Colonel Bokhari joined 4 Field Regiment (its Indian number was 5 Field) in the border area, but soon after the hostilities ended the newly named 4 Field Regiment moved to Quetta and was housed in "pucca" barracks – known as White Barracks.[4] Among the transfers from India were 5th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment. Its earlier commanders were from the British Army.[3] However, in 1955, with the arrival and assistance of the United States Army's Field Artillery Branch through U.S. aid, the Regiment switched from British to American organization.[4] The regiments in the British system were equipped with 24 guns held in three batteries, further divided into two troops of four guns each. Pakistan adopted the US system of 18 guns in each regiment, divided in three batteries of six guns each. The Gun troop was done away with. The Regiment first saw action in Indo-Pakistani war of 1947, and also actively participated in the Indo-Pakistani war of 1965 where approximately 550 guns participated in the conflict.[3] However, its performance was criticised in the Bangladesh Liberation War, followed by the Indo-Pakistani war of 1971, where it failed to produce any effective results.[3]

After the 1971 conflict, the Regiment was re-organised and more advanced courses were introduced. Since 1971, the Regiment has emerged as one of the most potent combat arms in the Pakistan Army.[3] It participated in notable operations and wars involving Pakistan at numerous occasions.[4]

Right after joining the artillery, the officers and personnel are sent to the School of Artillery which was established by the Pakistan Army in 1947 at Nowshera.[4] From the period of 1947–1955, massive re-organization and re-establishment took place and, in May 1958, a research and development cell was established, followed by a Physics and Mathematics division the same year.[3] Since its inception, it has been mandatory for all personnel and officers to attend and pass these courses with advanced grades, before reaching a commissioned service and active duty.[3]

Key

• SP = Self Propelled
• MBRL = Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher
• MLRS = Multiple Launching Rocket System

• Bokhari, EAS (Colonel, Retired) (July 1998). "50 Years of the Regiment of Artillery". Defence Journal. Directorate-General of Military History (Army Division). Archived from the original on 23 May 2000. Retrieved 7 May 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• ISPR (10 November 2017). "Press Release No PR-554/2017-ISPR". Inter-Services Public Relations.
• ISPR. "Corps of Artillery". Directorate-General of Military History. Directorate-General for Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). Archived from the original on 2009-07-05. Retrieved 2023-05-07.

• Pakistan Army's Corps of Artillery. GHQ: Pakistan Military Television Network.
• Regiment of Artillery: History
• Regiment of Artillery: Present war