81st Armoured Regiment (India)

81 Armoured Regiment
Active1973 – present
CountryIndia India
AllegianceIndia
Branch Indian Army
TypeArmoured Corps
SizeRegiment
Motto(s)शौर्यं तेजो युद्धे
Shaurya Tejo Yuddhe (Heroism and boldness in battle)
Commanders
Colonel of
the Regiment		Lt Gen Ajai Singh[1]
Notable
commanders		Lt Gen Arun Gautam, Lt Gen Ajai Singh[2]
Insignia
Abbreviation81 Armd Regt

The 81 Armoured Regiment is an armoured regiment of the Indian Army.

Presentation of the Standard at Jodhpur on 16 May 2005 by the President of India, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam
Standard Presentation Ceremony

Formation

The regiment was raised on 1 October 1973. The first commanding officer was Lieutenant Colonel (later Brigadier) NP Singh from Deccan Horse.[3] It has an all-India all-class composition, drawing troops from various castes and religions.[4]

History

The regiment has participated in Operation Rakshak and Operation Meghdoot.[5]

Two terrorists opened fire at the camp of the 81 Armoured Regiment on the Jammu-Pathankot National Highway, Samba on 21 March 2015. Both were killed in the following encounter.[6][7]

Awards and honours

The Regiment was presented the ‘President’s Standards’ at Jodhpur on 16 May 2005 by the President of India, Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.[8] It was awarded the COAS Unit Citation during the Army Day Parade in 2023.[9]

Members of the regiment have won one Shaurya Chakra, one Param Vishisht Seva Medal, one Vishisht Seva Medal and one Sena Medal.[10][11][12]

Regimental insignia

The regimental insignia consists of front face of a tank with numeral "81" inscribed on the tank’s hull, a scroll added at the base with the regimental motto inscribed in Devanagari script on it.

The motto of the regiment is शौर्यं तेजो युद्धे (Shaurya Tejo Yuddhe), which is coined from the Bhagavad Gita 18.43 and translates to ‘Heroism and boldness in battle’.

References

  1. ^ "Gazette of India No 44" (PDF). 2018-11-03. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  2. ^ "Lt Gen Ajai Singh takes charge of Chetak Corps". 2019-07-31. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  3. ^ "Signing off on 5 generations of family service in the Army". 2023-05-01. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  4. ^ Gautam, PK (2016). Indigenous Historical Knowledge: Kautilya and His Vocabulary, Volume III. IDSA/Pentagon Press. p. 154. ISBN 978-81-8274-909-2.
  5. ^ "Address To The 81 Armoured Regiment During The 'Standard' Presentation, Jodhpur". Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  6. ^ "2 Terrorists Who Attacked Army Camp in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba Killed in 'NDTV'". 2015-03-21. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  7. ^ "Jammu & Kashmir: Terrorists Killed, Gunbattle at Samba Army Camp Ends". 2015-03-21. Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  8. ^ "President presents 'colours' to 81 and 68 armoured regiments in 'Zee News'". 2005-05-16. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  9. ^ "14 units, 4 Regt of Northern Cmnd's among 33 to receive COAS citations, apperception". 2023-01-07. Retrieved 2023-01-15.
  10. ^ "Address To The 81 Armoured Regiment During The 'Standard' Presentation, Jodhpur". Retrieved 2020-12-30.
  11. ^ "Ritu Raj Pandey, SC". Retrieved 2020-12-31.
  12. ^ "Independence Day Gallantry Awards and Other Decorations". Retrieved 2020-12-30.