|
The Parachute Regiment is the airborne infantry regiment of the Indian Army. ==History== The first Indian airborne formation was the 50th Parachute Brigade raised on 29 October 1941, with 151 British, 152 Indian, and 153 Gurkha Parachute Battalions and other support units. Lt (later Col Retd) AG Rangaraj, MVC, of the Indian Medical Service and RMO of the 152 Indian Para Bn, became the first Indian along with Hav Maj Mathura Singh to make a parachute descent. In 1942-43, the formation saw limited action at Nara against the Pathan tribals in NWFP and some intelligence-gathering missions in Burma, utilizing their somewhat-limited airborne capabilities. Later, in March 1944, less the British battalion (which was transferred to Britain and renamed the 156th Para Bn and formed part of the 4th Parachute Brigade of the 1st Airborne Division), the brigade, less 154 Gurkha Para Bn, saw extensive action at Sangshak and later in the Imphal Plains on the Burmese border against two reinforced Japanese divisions. 154 Gurkha Para Bn, had not completed its air training, stayed back to attain the airborne status. During the Battle of Sangshak (21–26 March 1944), which lasted six days, the brigade suffered extremely heavy casualties totalling 40 officers and VCOs and 545 other ranks, winning the appreciation of Lt Gen William Slim, the commander of British Fourteenth Army. The breakout on the night of 26 March 1944, saw the remnants of the once-proud parachute brigade fight its way south and then west through the Japanese-infested jungles to Imphal. But it achieved its task of keeping the outflanking Japanese forces from surrounding Imphal and destroying IV Corps. Despite the losses it suffered in Sangshak, the paratroopers formed ad hoc units and continued to participate in actions to destroy Japanese forces near and around Imphal until its withdrawal in July end. Later in 1944, the brigade was expanded to form the 44th Indian Airborne Division as the original 9th Airborne Division was to be named because the 44th Armoured Division whose services were no longer required in the Middle East theatre of war was to be converted to airborne. The two ad hoc brigades from the Chindit operations, 14th and the 77th, were included to form the division. The original plan was to have a battalion each of British, Indian and Gurkhas in both the parachute brigades, with the 14th being converted for the airLanding role, though there is little known about gliderborne training or operations in India. 14 was later to be converted for the airborne role. The Governor General's Body Guard (GGBG) joined the airborne fraternity and named 44th Airborne Division Reconnaissance Squadron. 9 Field Regiment (RIA) and other support units too were inducted. 60th Indian Parachute Field Ambulance which till then had been in Burma and performed well, was selected to augment the medical element for the formation. The 44th Indian Airborne Division was finally designated the 2nd Indian Airborne Division in 1945. The plan was to raise an entire Airborne Corps with the 6 British Airborne Division (of D-Day/Normandy fame) to be brought to India as the second divisional formation), but the war ended before it could materialize. The regiment's first airborne action was towards the end of the Second World War, when a reinforced Gurkha Parachute Bn was parachuted into Burma at Elephant Point on May 1, 1945, as part of Operation Dracula. The battalion performed well earning the respect of all, including the critics of airborne warfare. The Indian Parachute Regiment was formed on 01 Mar 1945 consisting of four Battalions and an equal number of independent companies. Despite the performance in Op Dracula, the Indian Parachute Regiment was disbanded in late 1945 as part of the reduction and restructuring of the postwar British Indian Army. However, they retained their airborne role and formed part of the airborne division. After independence, the airborne division was divided between the armies of India and newly formed Pakistan, with India retaining 50th and 77th brigades while Pakistan took possession of the 14th Parachute Brigade. In the post independence restructuring, the Indian Government retained only one airborne formation, i.e. 50 Independent Parachute Brigade. This brigade consisted of three distinguished battalions personally nominated by the then C-in-C, namely 1 Para (Punjab), 2 Para (Maratha) and 3 Para (Kumaon). During the J&K operations of 1947-48, these battalions had distinguished themselves with glory in the battles of Shelatang, Naushera, Jhangar and Poonch, wherein they were awarded the respective Battle Honours. On 15 Apr 1952, the Parachute Regiment was raised by absorbing the three existing parachute battalions, namely 1st Battalion, The Punjab Regiment (Para) redesignated 1st Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (Punjab), 3rd Battalion, The Maratha Light Infantry (Para) redesignated 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (Maratha) and 1st Battalion, The Kumaon Regiment (Para) redesignated as 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (Kumaon). The year 1961 saw the raising of the 4th Parachute Battalion to augment the strength of the regiment. After the debacle of 1962, the regiment, as with the rest of the armed forces, saw expansion on an unprecedented scale, with 5, 6, 7, and 8 battalions being raised in a span of two years. During the 1965 war, an irregular force with volunteers from various infantry regiments under Maj Megh Singh of the Brigade of the Guards carried out unconventional operations and achieved results disproportionate to its strength, and the need for unconventional forces was felt. The force had been disbanded and the volunteers reverted to their parent units. Maj Megh Singh was tasked to raise a battalion for the purpose, resulting in the raising of 9 Para (Commando) on 1 July 1966. The unit was originally raised as part of the Guards, but paratrooping being an integral part of commando/special operations, became the 9th battalion of the Parachute Regiment. One year later, on 1 July 1967, the battalion was split into two and 10 Para (Commando) was raised. Currently, the regiment has nine special forces (SF) Battalions i.e. 1,2,3,4,9, 10, 11, 12 and 21 Para (SF) and five airborne battalions i.e. 5, 6, 7, 23 and 29 Para Battalions. The regiment also has two Territorial Army (106 and 116) and one Rashtriya Rifles (31) battalions. During their short but eventful existence so far, the battalions of the regiment have had extensive operational experience and singular achievements to speak of their level of professionalism. In 1971, the regiment fought numerous actions both in the eastern and western theatres. For the first time in the annals of independent India's history, a parachute battalion group (2 PARA Bn Group) was dropped over Tangail, which contributed substantially to speeding up of the liberation of Bangladesh. The para-commandos proved their professional skills by conducting spectacular and lightening raids into Chachro (Sindh, Pakistan) and Mandhol (Jammu and Kashmir). The regiment earned battle honours Poongli Bridge, Chachro and Defence of Poonch during these operations. Five battalions (including the three commando battalions) of the regiment participated in Operation Pawan (Sri Lanka). With 6 Para in the lead, 50 (Independent) Parachute Brigade took part in Operation Cactus, the first successful overseas intervention operation to aid the duly elected government of Maldives. The parachute battalions employed in the counter-insurgency role, both in the north east and J&K, have performed commendably, earning 11 COAS Unit Citations. In these operations, 11 personnel of the regiment were awarded the Ashok Chakra, the nation's highest gallantry award in peace. 9 PARA (SF) was conferred the "Bravest of the Brave" honour in 2001. In 1999, nine out of ten Parachute battalions were deployed for OP Vijay in Kargil, which bears testimony to the operational profile of the Regiment. While the parachute brigade cleared the Mushkoh Valley intrusions, 5 Para was actively involved in the forgotten sector Batalik, where it exhibited great courage and tenacity, and was awarded the COAS Unit Citation. Calls of international peacekeeping have taken parachute units to Korea (1953–54), Gaza (1956–58) and Sierra Lone (2000). The latter was a daring rescue mission conducted by the 2 Para (SF). In the field of adventure, amongst many notable achievements we proudly recall the late Capt (later Col Retd) AS Cheema, SM the first Indian atop Mount Everest (1965), Col SS Shekhawat, KC, SC, SM, VSM, who scaled the peak thrice (2001, 2003 & 2005) and Maj Abhijeet Singh, SM (2003). The Regimental Centre... The Parachute Regiment was formed on 15 April 1952 by absorbing the following three erstwhile Parachute Battalions:- 1st Bn The PARA Regiment (PUNJAB), 2nd Bn The PARA Regiment (MARATHA), 3rd Bn The PARA Regiment (KUMAON). The Parachute Regiment Depot and Records was raised at Agra on 15 April 1952, to coincide with the raising of the regiment. All personal documents were transferred to Depot and Records from the Punjab, Maratha and Kumaon Regiments. Simultaneously, a Personal Accounts Office (PAO) for the regiment was raised at Mathura as part of PAO(OR) Artillery. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Parachute Regiment (India)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|