While the awesome firepower of the artillery has continuously been enhanced, its important role in the 1965 and 1971 wars were largely understated.

By Group Captain Praveer Purohit (retd)

When Babur embarked upon his endeavour to conquer parts of North India, he was challenged by the then reigning king of the Delhi Sultanate- Ibrahim Lodi. This led to the First Battle of Panipat in 1526. Babur and his army suffered setbacks in the fight and were on the verge of defeat. Two things changed the course of history. First, was Babur’s leadership wherein he motivated his troops and infused in them the “will” to win. Second and equally important was the employment of artillery. The field artillery of Babur, introduced for the first time at such a large scale in the sub-continent, changed the course of the battle and defeated the larger army of Ibrahim Lodi. Artillery had arrived and in style! Thereafter it became a ‘must have’ element in not just Mughals but also amongst their challengers such as Marathas.

The present Regiment of Artillery of the Indian Army traces its origins to the Royal Indian Artillery (RIA) of the British Indian Army. It was raised on September 28, 1827 as part of the Bombay Army. It is for this reason that September 28 is celebrated as Gunners Day. Later renamed as 5 Bombay Mountain Battery, it participated in the First Anglo-Afghan War between 1839 and 1842. Artillery units comprising Indians served extensively in World War I in places such as Gallipoli, Mesopotamia (present Iraq) and Palestine. The first three Indian field regiments were raised on 15 January 1935. Called the ‘Indian Regiment of Artillery’, it was later renamed ‘The Regiment of Indian Artillery’ on 01 November 1940. In recognition of its success and role in World War II, it was prefixed with ‘Royal’ in October 1945. At the time of independence, Indian Artillery consisted of Field, Medium, Air Defence (AD), Counter Bombardment, Coastal, Air Observation Post (AOP) and Survey branches. The prefix ‘Royal’ was dropped once we became a republic in 1950. The 1962 Chinese aggression was a ‘wake-up’ call when we were woefully short of firepower. A modernization and expansion plan was put in place. In 1964, Coastal Artillery was handed over to the Indian Navy. In 1986, AOP became a separate arm- Army Aviation Corps, and in 1994, AD followed suit becoming Corps of Army Air Defence

While the awesome firepower of the artillery has continuously been enhanced, its important role in the 1965 and 1971 wars were largely understated. Artillery’s decisive effects were brought home in India’s first televised war in Kargil (1999). The decision to purchase the Bofors 155mm howitzer was vindicated and its precise, lethal, and devastating firepower, along with that of Indian Air Force (IAF) changed the outcome of the war. One lesson that emerged from the Kargil war was the need to rationalise the artillery guns to 155 mm. Thus, the Field Artillery Rationalisation Programme (FARP) was approved in 1999. It envisaged equipping/standardizing 169 Artillery Regiments with 155 mm guns by 2027. After a long hiatus, modernization of artillery got a shot in the arm with the induction of M777 Ultra-Light Howitzers (ULH) and the K-9 Vajra tracked self-propelled gun system in 2019. Current plans include the upgrade of 130mm Russian guns to 155mm (Sharang) and upgrade of Bofors to the Dhanush version. In line with our efforts to be self-reliant, the profile of Artillery will be further bolstered by the induction of Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS). The present profile of Artillery comprises guns, rockets (Smerch, Pinaka), and missiles (Brahmos). The induction of women officers in artillery is a commendable step.

But what is it about artillery that makes it so indispensable, lethal, and fearsome? Let us understand its effects. The blast from exploding shells is mind-numbing and the sound, deafening. Amidst this, are cries of wounded soldiers and shrapnel flying all around. In almost all wars since 1914, shrapnel has perhaps maimed more people than any other weapon. The continuous barrage of shells renders even the most courageous troops unresponsive, confused, and shocked. Combat effectiveness of such troops is adversely affected, both due to physical and psychological degradation. Artillery is used to suppress enemy fire and help own forces get into a position of advantage. The requirement to suppress enemy troops, who may be either defending or attacking, remains of crucial importance to a ground commander. His ‘go-to’ men are the ‘Gunners’ who will deliver with precision. The evolution in warfare has meant there is now a greater propensity towards ‘Non-Contact Warfare.’ The increase in range of guns, rockets and missiles makes artillery the primary weapon of choice in land warfare. In a joint air-land environment, the firepower of artillery, when synchronized and coordinated with air power, can create out-of-proportion effects.

The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war has reiterated the importance of artillery. Our focus should be on designing every gun with ‘shoot and scoot’ capability, enhanced rate of fire and ease of maintenance. However, there is no substitute for ensuring a reliable, stable, and high-quality domestic supply chain system that can cater to the high demands of war. The entry of Bharat Forge and Tata into producing ATAGS is a step in the right direction. Capable private entities must be further encouraged and supported to produce our arsenal of guns, rockets, and their ammunition.

Along with upgrades and modernisation of artillery, some internal reforms are also essential within the Indian Army. In recognition of its past performance, current role, and future promise, it is high time the Army places artillery in the category of ‘fighting arms’ and not just a ‘combat support arm.’ This requires a mindset change from thinking of artillery as a mere ‘support’ element. Secondly, the fixation with ‘close’ or ‘contact’ battle needs to be overcome. Thirdly, recognize the professional, technological, and combat skills of gunner officers as specialist war-fighters. By placing them below the pedestal of ‘general cadre’ officers, the Army may be missing some cerebral potential Generals and commanders. And last, gunners are subject to high sound levels, leading to many cases of hearing impairment. Provision of good quality protective equipment to mitigate the possibility of Noise Induced Loss of Hearing (NILH) should be given priority.ALSO READIndian Air Force Welcomes New Aircraft: C-295 MW Transporter

The Regiment of Artillery has lived true to its motto, “Sarvatra Izzat-o-Iqbal”, meaning “Everywhere with Honour and Glory.” If infantry is the queen of battle and cavalry the king, then artillery is the God of battle. As the Regiment celebrates its 196th Raising Day this 28th September, Indians can take solace in the fact that the Gunners will always keep their powder dry and ensure their guns ‘Boom-Boom.’ Happy Gunners Day to all Gunners, past and present.