Mechanised Infantry Regiment
Regimental insignia: A rifle bayonet mounted on a BMP-1, depicting the infantry and mechanised facets of the Regiment
Active02 April 1979 - present
Country India
Branch Indian Army
TypeLine infantry
RoleMechanised infantry
Size27 battalions
Regimental centreAhmednagar, Maharashtra
Motto(s)Valour & Faith[1]
Regimental flag
Commanders
Colonel of the RegimentLt Gen PS Shekawat[2]
Insignia
War cryBolo Bharat Mata Ki Jai (Victory to Mother India)

The Mechanised Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Indian Army, comprising 27 battalions dispersed under various armoured formations throughout India. Together with the 21 battalions of Brigade of the Guards, they form part of the Mechanised Infantry arm, which along with the Armoured Corps form the Mechanised Forces.[3]

History

The Mechanised Infantry Regiment is one of the youngest regiments in the army and was the mastermind of General K Sundarji, who had the foresight to cater to the needs of a modern army.[4] After the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, a need was felt to give infantry battalions greater mobility, especially when operating with armoured formations. In 1969, 1st Madras became the first infantry unit to be equipped with the armoured personnel carrier (APC) TOPAS. In 1970, nine more of the oldest battalions from various infantry regiments were equipped with APCs, these included TOPAS, SKOT and BTR-60.[5] These battalions remained affiliated with their erstwhile Infantry Regiments and Regimental Centres and did not form a separate regiment. Eventually, fourteen old infantry battalions were mechanised.[6][7]

During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, some of these battalions saw action as part of combat groupings with armoured units for the first time. The APCs were replaced with BMP-1 Infantry Combat Vehicles between 1977 and 1978. The need for something more concrete and viable was felt, along with a need to develop a common battle and training philosophy with regards to the type of tactics. This necessitated the raising a totally new arm in the Indian Army, resulting in the various mechanised battalions being brought together under a single cap badge as the Mechanised Infantry Regiment, which was raised with fourteen battalions on 2 April 1979 and the affairs of the regiment were transferred from Directorate General of Infantry to Armoured Corps Directorate, which was renamed the Directorate General Mechanised Forces in 1986. Gen K Sundarji was appointed the first Colonel of the Mechanised Infantry Regiment, the post he held till his retirement.[6][8]

1988 postal stamp

The regiment saw a rapid expansion in the 1980s. Mechanised infantry battalions numbered 15 to 26 have been raised on all-India mixed class composition, unlike the older units, which were single class ones. The only exception was 20 Rajput, which joined the regiment as the 24th battalion in April 1992.[7] The Mechanised Infantry Regiment has been involved in Operation Pawan in Sri Lanka, Operation Rakshak in Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir and Operation Vijay in Jammu & Kashmir. It also took part in UN Peacekeeping Operations in Somalia, Congo, Angola and Sierra Leone.The Regiment is affiliated to the Indian Naval Ship Gharial.[6][8]

Attestation Parade at The Mechanised Infantry Regimental Centre, Ahmednagar, September 2021. The regimental insignia and flag can be seen in the background.

MIRC Institutions

Mechanised Infantry Regimental Centre

The Mechanised Infantry Regimental Centre was established in 1979 at Ahmednagar and it spread over 2000 acres. It trains approximately 950 recruits annually.[9] It has three training battalions: Infantry Training Battalion, Composite Training Battalion and Driving and Maintenance Battalion.[10]

Quarter Guard

The Quarter Guard of the MIRC was created on 9 August 1979 during the first biennial conference. After the sanction of KLP, the present Quarter Guard was conceptualised in half circular area with front wide platform. The new Quarter Guard was completed in 1986. The Quarter Guard has 18 internal rooms as well as an armour shop and a guard room. To the right and left side of the guard are two guns and two cannons that symbolise the strength of soldiers.[10]

BMP-2 of 12th Battalion, Mechanised Infantry Regiment passes through the Rajpath during the full dress rehearsal for the Republic Day Parade, 2010

Military Band

The MIRC Band is based at Ahmednagar and serves all regimental duties related to musical support. The band was formed during April 1982 under the auspices of Brigadier Tilak Raj. The band has held the honour of performing at national events such as the Beating Retreat, Army and Republic Day Parades, as well as events at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. It also has performed at the 2007 Military World Games, the 2010 Commonwealth Games, and the 2001 Mumbai International Fleet Review among others.[10]

The Carrier Mortar Tracked Vehicle gliding down the Rajpath during the Republic Day Parade, 2006

Regimental museum

The MIRC Museum was founded and inaugurated on 9 February 2000 by Lieutenant General Pankaj Joshi, the then Colonel of the regiment. The museum is currently housed at the ground floor of Mechanised Bhavan. The museum houses the regimental colour, as well as the history if the MIRC and mementos from Colonels of the regiment.[10]

Equipment

The Mechanised Infantry Marching Contingent passes through the Rajpath, on the occasion of the 68th Republic Day Parade 2017

Battalions of the Mechanised Infantry Regiment

Nag Missile System, (17th Battalion, Mechanised Infantry Regiment), Republic Day Parade, 2023

The regiment consists of the following battalions[8][11][12] -

UnitDate of raisingFormer designationBattle honoursRemarks
1st Battalion01 Dec 17761st Battalion, Madras RegimentKalidhar
2nd Battalion09 Nov 18031st Battalion, Jat RegimentFestubert
3rd Battalion19 Feb 18241st Battalion, 8 Gorkha RiflesChushul
4th Battalion30 Jul 18461st Battalion, Sikh RegimentTithwal
5th Battalion28 Dec 185214th Battalion, Kumaon RegimentOP Hill
6th Battalion05 May 18871st Battalion, Garhwal RiflesGadra City
7th Battalion30 May 18871st Battalion, Dogra RegimentAsal Uttar
8th Battalion05 May 19417th Battalion, Punjab RegimentIchhogil
9th Battalion01 Apr 19497th Battalion, The GrenadiersChhadbet
10th Battalion27 May 194920th Battalion, Maratha Light InfantryBejai
11th Battalion11 Feb 195318th Battalion, Rajputana RiflesBasantar River
12th Battalion01 Jan 196516th Battalion, Mahar Regiment
8th Battalion, Parachute Regiment
13th Battalion01 Jan 196518th Battalion, Rajput RegimentAkhaura
14th Battalion01 Sep 197616th Battalion, Jammu & Kashmir Rifles
15th Battalion15 Dec 1981
16th Battalion01 Jan 1982
17th Battalion15 Nov 1982Reconnaissance and Support (Tracked)
18th Battalion01 Mar 1983
19th Battalion15 Sep 1983Reconnaissance and Support (Tracked)
20th Battalion01 Mar 1984
21st Battalion01 Mar 1984
22nd Battalion01 Mar 1984
23rd Battalion11 Feb 1985Reconnaissance and Support (Wheeled)
24th Battalion26 Jan 195420th Battalion, Rajput RegimentKhinsarReconnaissance and Support (Tracked) [nb 1]
25th Battalion25 Jun 1994Reconnaissance and Support (Wheeled)
26th Battalion ? 2015
27th Battalion17 Jul 2017

See also

External Media

Notes

  1. ↑ The unit claims to trace its origins to 1212 CE, it was later part of the Indian State Forces, joined the Indian Army in April 1951 and was designated part of the Rajput Regiment in January 1954.

References

  1. ↑ "Attestation Parade to mark entry of 241 recruits into Indian Army as Young Soldiers was held on 16 Sep 2021 at The Mechanised Infantry Regimental Centre, MIRC Ahmednagar". 2021-09-16. Retrieved 2021-10-04.
  2. ↑ "Gazette of India No 45" (PDF). 2020-11-07. Retrieved 2020-11-24.
  3. ↑ "4 new mechanised battalions for Army". 2017-01-12. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  4. ↑ "Second General K Sundarji Memorial Lecture". 2019-04-27. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  5. ↑ "RAISING OF THE MECHANISED INFANTRY REGIMENT". 2017-09-10. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  6. 1 2 3 "Infantry Regiments: The cutting edge of Soldiering". 2018-01-24. Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  7. 1 2 "Mech Inf Brief History". Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  8. 1 2 3 Bharat Rakshak :: Land Forces Site - The Mechanised Infantry Regiment Archived 2012-01-26 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ↑ "MECHANISED INFANTRY REGIMENTAL CENTRE- AHMEDNAGAR". Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "Raising of the Mechanised Infantry Regimental Centre". 10 September 2017.
  11. ↑ "RAISING DAYS AND BATTLE HONOURS : MECH BATTALIONS". Retrieved 2022-04-09.
  12. ↑ "27th Mechanised Infantry Battalion: New chapter added to Indian Army". The Indian Express. 2017-07-23. Retrieved 2017-07-23.
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