85th Armoured Regiment (India)

85th Armoured Regiment, is an armoured regiment which is part of the Armoured Corps of the Indian Army. [2]

85th Armoured Regiment
Active1976 – present
Country India
AllegianceIndia
Branch Indian Army
TypeArmour
SizeRegiment
Motto(s)सर्वदा विजयी
Sarvada Vijayee (Always victorious)
ColorsBlack and yellow
MarchSare Jahan Se Accha Hindustan Hamara
EquipmentT-72
Commanders
Colonel of
the Regiment		Brig VM Chandran, VSM[1]
Insignia
Abbreviation85 Armd Regt
T-72 M 1 Ajeya of 85th Armoured Regiment during the Army Day Parade-2012
T-72 M 1 Ajeya of 85th Armoured Regiment passes through the Rajpath during the full dress rehearsal for the Republic Day Parade-2012

Formation

The regiment was raised on 1 October 1976 by Lt Col D.P. Singh at Ahmednagar. It is an all-India mixed-class regiment, which was initially equipped with Vijayanta tanks.[2] The first Colonel of the regiment was Maj Gen K.M. Dhody, AVSM.[2]

History

The regiment took part in Operation Trident in 1987, in counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir and in Punjab during Operation Rakshak, Operation Vijay and Operation Parakram. It has been deployed in Nyoma in Ladakh following the attempts by the PLA to carry out incursions into Indian territory.[3]

The Regiment had the honour of participating in the annual Republic Day parade in 1978 with Vijayanta tanks and in 2007 and 2012 with T-72 tanks.

Equipment

The Regiment which had the Vijayanta tanks at the time of raising was one of first regiments in India to convert to the T-72 tanks in 1991.

Awards and Decorations

Major Deepak Padda was awarded the Shaurya Chakra posthumously in 2006 for his gallant action against terrorists, while attached with 14 Grenadiers during counter terrorist operations in Kupwara .[4][5] Major B Chakraborty, Sowar Deba Yadav and Acting Lance Daffadar B Nitendra Kumar were awarded the Sena Medal for gallantry during Operation Rakshak in Jammu and Kashmir.[6][7] It has also won 11 Chief of Army Staff Commendation Cards and 22 GOC-in-C Cards.[8]

The Regiment was presented the ‘President’s Standards’ at Roorkee on 30 September 2011 by General V. K. Singh, Chief of the Army Staff, on behalf of the President of India, Mrs Pratibha Patil.[9]

Major Sahil Gautam won the Bronze Medal in the Ranking Round at the 2nd National Para Archery Championship held at Hyderabad. [10]

Regimental Insignia

The regimental insiginia consists of a Vijayanta tank in silhouette surrounded by laurel leaves with a mailed fist or gauntlet at the top.[2] The motto of the regiment is सर्वदा विजयी (Sarvada Vijayee), which translates to ‘Always victorious’.[11]

References
  1. "Gazette of India No 45" (PDF). 7 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  2. Nath, Ashok (2009). Izzat: historical records and iconography of Indian cavalry regiments, 1750-2007. Centre for Armed Forces Historical Research, United Service Institution of India. pp. 682–683. ISBN 978-81-902097-7-9.
  3. "Deter the Dragon". 7 August 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  4. "Deepak Padda VrC". Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  5. "Gazette of India No 11" (PDF). 18 March 2006. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  6. "Gazette of India No 45" (PDF). 5 November 2011. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  7. "Gazette of India No 14" (PDF). 2 April 2011. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  8. "Standards to 85 Armoured Regiment". 1 November 2011. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  9. "Army chief presents Colours to 85 Armoured Regiment". 30 September 2011. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  10. "Maj Gautam wins bronze in national para-archery championship". 16 July 2017. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  11. Vadophil: Issue No. 91. Baroda Philatelic Society. 2002. p. 4.
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