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20 SATA Regiment (India)

January 01, 1970

20 SATA Regiment, nicknamed the Alma Mater of Locators and The Originals, is a Surveillance and Target Acquisition (SATA) artillery regiment, which is part of the Regiment of Artillery of the Indian Army.

20 SATA Regiment
Active1942 – present
CountryIndia
Allegiance British India
 India
Branch British Indian Army
Indian Army
Type Artillery
SizeRegiment
Nickname(s)Alma mater of Locators
The Originals
Motto(s)Sarvatra, Izzat-O-Iqbal (Everywhere with Honour and Glory).
Colors"Red & Navy Blue"
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Col E. R. Culverwell, Maj Gen H. D. W. Sitwell, Maj Gen K. F. Mackay Lewis, Gen O. P. Malhotra, Lt Gen MM Lakhera
Insignia
Abbreviation20 SATA Regt

Formation edit

The Regiment was raised on August 4, 1924 at the School of Artillery in Kakul (now in Pakistan) as 1 Survey Section Royal Indian Artillery under Captain E. R. Culverwell. Upon establishment, it consisted of only nine personnel, which included two British officers, as well as several V.C.Os, Indian Officers and Other Ranks. These nine persons, later to be known as the ‘Nine Originals’, had passed a Royal Engineers survey course at Roorkee. They were selected from Mountain Artillery, Cavalry and Infantry Units to form the nucleus of Survey Section Royal Indian Artillery.[1]

History edit

Captain Culverwell commanded the section for several years and was followed by Captains H. D. W. Sitwell, C. L. Ferard, K. F. Mackay Lewis, W. J. Gyde and R. MacCaig. 1 Survey Section was reorganised in 1941 as the ‘Survey Troop’ and carried out the survey of the Khyber Pass. In January 1942, it was re-designated as 1 Survey Battery under Major J. H. C. Hunter, and shortly afterwards re-joined the School of Artillery at Deolali.[2]


In August, 1942, the 1st Battery and a new Regimental Headquarters (R.H.Q.) were combined to form the 1st Indian Survey Regiment. The first Commanding Officer was Lieutenant-Colonel J. F. S. Rendall, with Major J. H. C. Hunter as Second-in -Command and Captain Matthews as Adjutant.[1] Major S. A. Brighty commanded No. 1 Battery. In June, 1943, No. 2 Battery was formed under Major F. A. von Goldstein. A radar troop was raised in 1943 as part of the Regiment.[2]

In July 1944, the Regiment moved by road to Ranchi and in August to the Imphal area to join the Burma campaign of World War II. It came under command of 33 Corps, which had begun the pursuit to the Chindwin River line in Burma. No. 2 Survey Battery under Major von Goldstein joined the 11th (East Africa) Division, which was pressing down the Kabaw Valley. The No. 1 Survey Battery under Major B. C. Slater joined the 2 British Division and moved south to take part in the corps artillery concentration covering the crossing of the Irrawaddy River. After the crossings the survey battery joined 20 Division. No. 2 Survey Battery joined 19 Indian Division for the northern crossings of the Irrawaddy.[1] One Military Cross and three Military Medals were awarded to personnel from the regiment.[3][4][5][6]

Orders had been issued that units not urgently required were to return to India and on 13 May 1945, the 1st Indian Survey Regiment was flown to Comilla. Lieutenant-Colonel H. G. Croly was now in command and repatriation had begun, and many changes of all ranks were taking place. The regiment eventually moved to Hyderabad (Sind) under Lieutenant-Colonel von Goldstein as commanding officer.[1] On 25 January 1947, as a result of the Partition, the 1st Indian Survey Regiment became 20th Survey Regiment, R.I. A., under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Rajbahadur, having shed 2nd Survey Battery. This became the 2nd Survey Battery, R.P.A. (later 13th Survey Battery, R.P.A.).[1][7][8]

In 1948, the Regiment took part in the Hyderabad Police Action[9] and Indo-Pakistani War of 1947–1948.[2]

In July 1952, the Regiment was reorganised as the 20 Locating Regiment.[10] In 1962, it took part in the Indo-China war and saw action in Sikkim and NEFA.[2]

The Regiment fought in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 in the Western Sector.[11][12]

It was part of the 15th Infantry Division in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, again in the Western Sector. It was part of the force tasked to defend the Amritsar and Dera Baba Nanak sectors. Commenting on the artillery support, Maj Gen Sukhwant Singh (Deputy Director Military Operations, Army Headquarters), writes in his book ‘India's Wars Since Independence: Defence of the western border’,[13] “The Independent Artillery Brigade supported the operation with intimate, timely and abundant artillery fire. So effective was the brigade’s counter-battery programme that there was no interference by the enemy artillery, “The performance of the Flash Spotting Troop of 20 Locating Regiment in particular, had been commendable. It had started “fixing’ the Pakistani gun areas from Day One, when Pakistan attacked Kasowal. Thereafter, whenever and from wherever the enemy artillery opened up, the eyes and instruments of the flash spotters kept updating its latest locations, enabling effective counter bombardment.[14] The four personnel from the regiment were Mentioned in Despatches.[15]

In June 1987, the Regiment was redesignated as the 20 Surveillance and Target Acquisition (SATA) Regiment with the role of carrying out all weather surveillance of targets including enemy guns and mortars.[10] The Regiment has also participated in operations Blue Star in Punjab in 1984, Rakshak, Vijay and Operation Parakram (all in J&K).[16] The regiment had the honour to participate in the Republic Day Parade in 1993.[17] It was awarded the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Unit Citation during the Army Day Parade in 2021.[18]

Achievements in Sports edit

Personnel from the Regiment have excelled in sporting competitions and represented their formation at different levels. They include -

  1. Lance Havildar (DMT) Jadumani (Football)
  2. Gunner (DMT) Ankit Jadon (10 m Air Rifle)
  3. Naik (OPR) Himashekhar (Boxing)

See also edit

List of artillery regiments of Indian Army

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e Graham, C. A. L. (1957). The History Of The Indian Mountain Artillery. Aldershot Gale & Polden Ltd.
  2. ^ a b c d "20 SATA Regiment - Golden Jubilee 1992". 2015-01-01. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  3. ^ Gulati, YB (1972). History of the Regiment of Artillery, Indian Army. Leo Cooper. p. 81. ISBN 978-0850521184.
  4. ^ "Hav Abdullah Khan Military Medal in the UK National Archives". Retrieved 2020-09-14.
  5. ^ "Hav Girdhara Singh Military Medal in the UK National Archives". Retrieved 2020-09-14.
  6. ^ "Hav Anwar Hussain Military Medal in the UK National Archives". Retrieved 2020-09-14.
  7. ^ "Anjan Mukherjee in Evolution of Indian Artillery and its Impact on India's Comprehensive Military Power, chapter3, page 79, 86" (PDF). Retrieved 2020-09-14.
  8. ^ Mangilli-Climpson, Massimo (2007). Larkhill's Wartime Locators: Royal Artillery Survey in the Second World War. Pen & Sword Military. ISBN 978-1844155149.
  9. ^ "Operation Polo: The Liberation Of Hyderabad at Bharat Rakshak Volume 2-3, November-December 1999". Retrieved 2020-09-15.
  10. ^ a b "Sainik Samachar, Aug 7-15 2007 - 84th raising day". Retrieved 2020-09-14.
  11. ^ Khullar, Darshan (2017). Themes of Glory: Indian Artillery in War. VIJ Books (India) Pty Ltd. ISBN 978-9385563973.
  12. ^ "The Print 15-09-2020 article "As Brig Nisar passes away, read how he led Pak artillery to break Indian attack in Chawinda"". 2020-09-15. Retrieved 2020-09-14.
  13. ^ Singh, Sukhwant (1998). India's Wars Since Independence: Defence of the western border. Spantech. ISBN 978-1897829424.
  14. ^ Singh, Jagjit (1994). Indian Gunners at War: The Western Front 1971. Spantech & Lancer. ISBN 978-1897829554.
  15. ^ "Gazette of India, No 19" (PDF). 1974-05-11. Retrieved 2022-02-05.
  16. ^ "SATA Regiment celebrates 58th Raising Day". 2018-08-01. Retrieved 2020-09-14.
  17. ^ "Republic day parade 1993". Retrieved 2021-06-12.
  18. ^ "23 Indian Army Units Set To Receive COAS Citations For 2020". 2021-01-11. Retrieved 2023-01-15.

Further reading edit

  • Larkhill's Wartime Locators: Royal Artillery Survey in the Second World War by Massimo Mangilli-Climpson. Published by Pen & Sword, 2007. ISBN 978-1844155149.

External links edit

  • Obituary – Col E. R. Culverwell, pages 103-5 – The Alpine Journal, Vol 63, 1958
  • Major-General Hervey Degge Wilmot Sitwell at Forgotten Campaign: The Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941-1942

January 01, 1970
sata, regiment, india, sata, regiment, nicknamed, alma, mater, locators, originals, surveillance, target, acquisition, sata, artillery, regiment, which, part, regiment, artillery, indian, army, sata, regimentactive1942, presentcountryindiaallegiance, british, . 20 SATA Regiment nicknamed the Alma Mater of Locators and The Originals is a Surveillance and Target Acquisition SATA artillery regiment which is part of the Regiment of Artillery of the Indian Army 20 SATA RegimentActive1942 presentCountryIndiaAllegiance British India IndiaBranch British Indian Army Indian ArmyTypeArtillerySizeRegimentNickname s Alma mater of LocatorsThe OriginalsMotto s Sarvatra Izzat O Iqbal Everywhere with Honour and Glory Colors Red amp Navy Blue CommandersNotablecommandersCol E R Culverwell Maj Gen H D W Sitwell Maj Gen K F Mackay Lewis Gen O P Malhotra Lt Gen MM LakheraInsigniaAbbreviation20 SATA Regt Contents 1 Formation 2 History 3 Achievements in Sports 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksFormation editThe Regiment was raised on August 4 1924 at the School of Artillery in Kakul now in Pakistan as 1 Survey Section Royal Indian Artillery under Captain E R Culverwell Upon establishment it consisted of only nine personnel which included two British officers as well as several V C Os Indian Officers and Other Ranks These nine persons later to be known as the Nine Originals had passed a Royal Engineers survey course at Roorkee They were selected from Mountain Artillery Cavalry and Infantry Units to form the nucleus of Survey Section Royal Indian Artillery 1 History editCaptain Culverwell commanded the section for several years and was followed by Captains H D W Sitwell C L Ferard K F Mackay Lewis W J Gyde and R MacCaig 1 Survey Section was reorganised in 1941 as the Survey Troop and carried out the survey of the Khyber Pass In January 1942 it was re designated as 1 Survey Battery under Major J H C Hunter and shortly afterwards re joined the School of Artillery at Deolali 2 In August 1942 the 1st Battery and a new Regimental Headquarters R H Q were combined to form the 1st Indian Survey Regiment The first Commanding Officer was Lieutenant Colonel J F S Rendall with Major J H C Hunter as Second in Command and Captain Matthews as Adjutant 1 Major S A Brighty commanded No 1 Battery In June 1943 No 2 Battery was formed under Major F A von Goldstein A radar troop was raised in 1943 as part of the Regiment 2 In July 1944 the Regiment moved by road to Ranchi and in August to the Imphal area to join the Burma campaign of World War II It came under command of 33 Corps which had begun the pursuit to the Chindwin River line in Burma No 2 Survey Battery under Major von Goldstein joined the 11th East Africa Division which was pressing down the Kabaw Valley The No 1 Survey Battery under Major B C Slater joined the 2 British Division and moved south to take part in the corps artillery concentration covering the crossing of the Irrawaddy River After the crossings the survey battery joined 20 Division No 2 Survey Battery joined 19 Indian Division for the northern crossings of the Irrawaddy 1 One Military Cross and three Military Medals were awarded to personnel from the regiment 3 4 5 6 Orders had been issued that units not urgently required were to return to India and on 13 May 1945 the 1st Indian Survey Regiment was flown to Comilla Lieutenant Colonel H G Croly was now in command and repatriation had begun and many changes of all ranks were taking place The regiment eventually moved to Hyderabad Sind under Lieutenant Colonel von Goldstein as commanding officer 1 On 25 January 1947 as a result of the Partition the 1st Indian Survey Regiment became 20th Survey Regiment R I A under command of Lieutenant Colonel Rajbahadur having shed 2nd Survey Battery This became the 2nd Survey Battery R P A later 13th Survey Battery R P A 1 7 8 In 1948 the Regiment took part in the Hyderabad Police Action 9 and Indo Pakistani War of 1947 1948 2 In July 1952 the Regiment was reorganised as the 20 Locating Regiment 10 In 1962 it took part in the Indo China war and saw action in Sikkim and NEFA 2 The Regiment fought in the Indo Pakistani War of 1965 in the Western Sector 11 12 It was part of the 15th Infantry Division in the Indo Pakistani War of 1971 again in the Western Sector It was part of the force tasked to defend the Amritsar and Dera Baba Nanak sectors Commenting on the artillery support Maj Gen Sukhwant Singh Deputy Director Military Operations Army Headquarters writes in his book India s Wars Since Independence Defence of the western border 13 The Independent Artillery Brigade supported the operation with intimate timely and abundant artillery fire So effective was the brigade s counter battery programme that there was no interference by the enemy artillery The performance of the Flash Spotting Troop of 20 Locating Regiment in particular had been commendable It had started fixing the Pakistani gun areas from Day One when Pakistan attacked Kasowal Thereafter whenever and from wherever the enemy artillery opened up the eyes and instruments of the flash spotters kept updating its latest locations enabling effective counter bombardment 14 The four personnel from the regiment were Mentioned in Despatches 15 In June 1987 the Regiment was redesignated as the 20 Surveillance and Target Acquisition SATA Regiment with the role of carrying out all weather surveillance of targets including enemy guns and mortars 10 The Regiment has also participated in operations Blue Star in Punjab in 1984 Rakshak Vijay and Operation Parakram all in J amp K 16 The regiment had the honour to participate in the Republic Day Parade in 1993 17 It was awarded the Chief of Army Staff COAS Unit Citation during the Army Day Parade in 2021 18 Achievements in Sports editPersonnel from the Regiment have excelled in sporting competitions and represented their formation at different levels They include Lance Havildar DMT Jadumani Football Gunner DMT Ankit Jadon 10 m Air Rifle Naik OPR Himashekhar Boxing See also editList of artillery regiments of Indian ArmyReferences edit a b c d e Graham C A L 1957 The History Of The Indian Mountain Artillery Aldershot Gale amp Polden Ltd a b c d 20 SATA Regiment Golden Jubilee 1992 2015 01 01 Retrieved 2024 02 29 Gulati YB 1972 History of the Regiment of Artillery Indian Army Leo Cooper p 81 ISBN 978 0850521184 Hav Abdullah Khan Military Medal in the UK National Archives Retrieved 2020 09 14 Hav Girdhara Singh Military Medal in the UK National Archives Retrieved 2020 09 14 Hav Anwar Hussain Military Medal in the UK National Archives Retrieved 2020 09 14 Anjan Mukherjee in Evolution of Indian Artillery and its Impact on India s Comprehensive Military Power chapter3 page 79 86 PDF Retrieved 2020 09 14 Mangilli Climpson Massimo 2007 Larkhill s Wartime Locators Royal Artillery Survey in the Second World War Pen amp Sword Military ISBN 978 1844155149 Operation Polo The Liberation Of Hyderabad at Bharat Rakshak Volume 2 3 November December 1999 Retrieved 2020 09 15 a b Sainik Samachar Aug 7 15 2007 84th raising day Retrieved 2020 09 14 Khullar Darshan 2017 Themes of Glory Indian Artillery in War VIJ Books India Pty Ltd ISBN 978 9385563973 The Print 15 09 2020 article As Brig Nisar passes away read how he led Pak artillery to break Indian attack in Chawinda 2020 09 15 Retrieved 2020 09 14 Singh Sukhwant 1998 India s Wars Since Independence Defence of the western border Spantech ISBN 978 1897829424 Singh Jagjit 1994 Indian Gunners at War The Western Front 1971 Spantech amp Lancer ISBN 978 1897829554 Gazette of India No 19 PDF 1974 05 11 Retrieved 2022 02 05 SATA Regiment celebrates 58th Raising Day 2018 08 01 Retrieved 2020 09 14 Republic day parade 1993 Retrieved 2021 06 12 23 Indian Army Units Set To Receive COAS Citations For 2020 2021 01 11 Retrieved 2023 01 15 Further reading editLarkhill s Wartime Locators Royal Artillery Survey in the Second World War by Massimo Mangilli Climpson Published by Pen amp Sword 2007 ISBN 978 1844155149 External links editObituary Col E R Culverwell pages 103 5 The Alpine Journal Vol 63 1958 Major General Hervey Degge Wilmot Sitwell at Forgotten Campaign The Dutch East Indies Campaign 1941 1942 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 20 SATA Regiment India amp oldid 1224737635, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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