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Regiment of Artillery celebrates 177th Anniversary of its raising today. It was on 28 Sep 1827 that 5 (BOMBAY) Mountain Battery, the oldest Artillery outfit was raised. The date of its' rising is celebrated every year as the GUNNERS DAY.
The Regiment of Artillery, the second largest arm of the Indian Army, constitutes almost one-sixth of its total strength. The Gunners have a glorious tradition of pursuit of professional excellence and immense dedication. With their guns, mortars, rockets missiles, unarmed aerial vehicles and surveillance systems, they deliver lethal punch on the enemy in terms of concentrated artillery fire power. The destructive capability of artillery firepower, pulverizes the enemy rapidly degrades his combat potential and ultimately breaks his will to fight. The adage, "Gunners are the Gods of War", holds good even today. The performance of the Regiment during the Kargil War once again proved the same.
Units of the Regiment of Artillery are deployed to guard the nation's frontiers. Today, the Gunners are actively and vigorously engaged in counter-insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir and the North-Eastern states. Gallantry is the credo of the Gunners, which leads them to supreme sacrifices. This year, two officers and a Jawan were awarded Shaurya Chakra, for exceptional gallantry, in counter insurgency operations. These officers have joined the ever growing band of distinguished and gallant Gunners who have to their credit eight Mahavir Chakras, four Kirti Chakras and over 150 Vir and Shaurya Chakras.
Gunners are proud of their professionalism -may it be war or counter insurgency operations. It is amply proved by the four Gunner General Officers who have risen to become the Chiefs of the Army Staff. The Regiment of Artillery is currently engaged in modernization and qualitative upgradation. It has a vision for itself in the 21st Century, which it would achieve by further enhancing its professionalism, assimilating new technologies and mastering new equipment under induction.
On this Gunners Day, personnel of the Regiment of Artillery deployed along the border and engaged in Internal Security duties in the Jammu and Kashmir and North East once again resolve to re-dedicate themselves to their exacting responsibilities in the service of the Nation, in keeping with the spirit of their inspiring motto: "Sarvatra Izzat-O-lqbal" (Everywhere: with Honour and Glory). Lt Gen Shantonu Choudhary, Vice Chief of Army Staff and Senior Colonel Commandant of the Regiment of Artillery and many senior Gunner officers laid wreaths at Amar Jawan Jyoti on the occasion.
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