163 Medium Regiment (India)

163 Medium Regiment is part of the Regiment of Artillery of the Indian Army.

Formation and history
The regiment was raised as 163 Field Regiment on 1 October 1963 at Jalandhar. The first commanding officer was Lieutenant Colonel Milkha Singh Mann. The unit was constituted from the Sierra batteries of three existing regiments. The regiment at formation had a fixed class composition with a battery each of Rajputs, Sikhs and Ahirs. The regiment was converted from field to medium on 18 September 1992, back to field on 8 July 2008 and is presently back as a medium regiment. It consists of 1631, 1632 and 1633 medium batteries.

Operations
The regiment has taken part in the following operations –
 * Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 – The newly formed regiment took part in Operation Riddle and Operation Ablaze in the Rajouri sector of Jammu and Kashmir under 15 Corps, 25 Infantry Division. During operations in the Kalidhar range, the regiment lost one of its battery commanders Major J Pratap on 14 October 1965. On the same day, the area was captured by the Indian forces. During the war, the regiment also lost Lance Naik Harjinder Singh and Gunner Bhoor Singh.
 * Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 – The regiment took part in Operation Cactus Lily in the Ajnala sector on the Western front. It was allotted to 15 Artillery Brigade under 15 Infantry Division. The regiment lost Gunners Gundhari Singh Kaurav and Rambir Singh during the war.
 * Operation Rakshak – The regiment took part in counter-terrorist operations in Jammu and Kashmir between October 1989 and September 1992. Subsequently, it took part in Operation Kasba in Poonch sector.
 * Operation Vijay – The regiment took part in Kargil war and was instrument in moving its guns from Zoji La to Kargil under heavy enemy fire on 7 June 1999. These guns were used to replenish the guns of 286 Medium Regiment.
 * Operation Parakram – During its tenure in Kupwara for counter-terrorist operations, the regiment took part in Operation Parakram and Operation Vajra Prahar. It was actively involved in firing at enemy gun positions during the operations.

Gallantry awards
The regiment has won the following gallantry awards –


 * Chief of Army Staff Commendation cards – 5
 * Major G Srinivas, 2002
 * Subedar (TA) Virsa Singh, 2006
 * Gunner Jaswir Singh, 2006
 * Lieutenant Colonel Diler Singh Jakhar
 * Vice Chief of Army Staff Commendation cards – 1
 * Subedar Major Balkar Singh, 2009
 * General Officer Commanding-in-chief Commendation cards – 24
 * Havildar Nirmal Singh, 1999
 * Gunner Shrikant Yadav, 2006
 * Gunner Sunil Rajput, 2007