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31st Armored Division Mandeep Singh Bajwa Insignia The White Tiger of
Rewa Modern history 31 Armored
Division was raised in 1975 using 2 (Independent) Armored Brigade as the
nucleus. A new armored brigade
was added along with raised along with an artillery brigade (which included
2nd (I) Brigade's SP 105mm Abbot regiment), and divisional troops, both
combat support and combat service support. The Key Location Plan
for the Division was Jhansi-Babina in Uttar Pradesh, Central India which it
remains till this day. However the famous Fleur-de-Lis
symbol of 2 (Independent) Armored Brigade was not approved by the new
General Officer Commanding and his staff, much to the disappointment of the
brigade and the armored corps. The
Division's role was to act as a strike formation with one of India's Strike
Corps, for operations in the plains North of Abohar in the Punjab.
Concurrently, it trained for a strike role for the deserts and the
semi-desert area. In 1987-89 two regiments from the Division served with
the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in Sri Lanka. The Armored
Corps lobby had been demanding the revival of the Fleur-de-Lis for a long
time, projecting it as a historical symbol of great value. Finally the
Armored Corps won. The HQs of 2nd Armored Brigade and 54 Sector were
interchanged. The sector was in fact an independent armored brigade. When its
flag shifted to 31st Division, this brigade was given a new designation. orbat 31 Armored Division's Orbat now is: Division HQ Reconnaissance Regiment Divisional Signal Battalion Defense & Encampment
Company Attack Helicopter Squadron
(Mi-35)[1] Engineer Regiment Provost unit (Military Police) Armored Brigade 2 x armored regiments 2 x mechanized infantry battalions Armored Brigade 2 x armored regiments 1 X mechanized infantry battalion Armored Brigade 2 x armored regiments 1 x mechanized infantry battalion Armored Artillery Brigade 3 x medium SP regiments SATA battery with UAVs (Surveillance
and Target Acquisition) Independent Mechanized Air Defense
Brigade[2] Tungushka SP Gun/Missile regiment SAM-6 regiment EME Battalion (Electrical & Mechanical
Engineers for maintenance) Supply Transport Truck companies Tank Transporter unit Medical 3 Field Ambulances[3] Other units Division
History During the British-Indian army Period 31 Armored Division was raised in September 1940 as 1 Armored
Division, and was redesignated 31 Armored Division in December 1941. It
served in Iraq, Persia, Palestine, and North Africa. It had two armored
brigades, 1st and 2nd, the designations of which were
changed to 251 and 252 Armored Brigades. 43 Lorry Brigade later replaced
251 Armored Brigade. On September 1, 1945, the division was once again
redesignated as 1 Armored Division. Thanks to David A. Ryan and Todd Mills www.regiments.org |