Indian Army Divisions, their badges and equipment

[mist_consecutive]

Red flag with a Cobra (2nd picture bottom left), since this is at DRDO facility in Chandipur Base, I am assuming this is an air defence brigade insignia

It is insignia for East UP & MP Sub area.

 

[sandwolf01]

Last two Flags on the right in yellow and blue color

XIV Corps (India) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[rvats]

Very nice thread. Good job digging up information from open sources. I also learnt a few things.

Just couple of points from my side -

(1) Both 2(I) and 3(I) Armd bde are with 9 Corps.

(2) 16 (I) Armd Bde (based in Mamun Cantt) is with 2 Corps (I and II Corps had swapped 16(I) and 14(I) Armd Bde for some reason long time back).

(3) Independent Armored Brigades in plains have 3 x Armored Regiments, 1 x Mechanized Infantry Regiment, 1 x Medium Regiment (Arty), and other supporting troops.

(4) It is likely that our (I) Armored Brigades for mountains have 2, instead of 3 Armored Regiments. But I'm not sure of it at the moment.

(5) (I) Armd Bde under 14 Corps is 254(I) Armd Bde. IA is basically bringing back numbers of its WW2 Armored Brigades. This is hint for you to figure out what would be the number of other armored brigades raised by the IA.

(6) BTW, IA did not raise any armored brigade for UK-Tibet Sector.

(7) While 10 Infantry Division in Akhnoor became a RAPID, there is also a NEW (I) Armored Bde there.
- Now, the confusion is this:
- If 10 Inf Div is a RAPID, how come there is also an new (I) Armd Bde there?
- Or, if the (I) Armd Bde is nominally part of 10 Inf Div, then what kind of RAPID structure are we taking about?

- If you want to figure out the number of this new (I) Armd Bde, read point no. 5 again.

 

[sandwolf01]

The first flag from the right behind the officers, that has black, orange, and red stripes. what is it for?

 

[rvats]

The first flag from the right behind the officers, that has black, orange, and red stripes. what is it for?

55 Independent Mechanised Brigade.

 

[mist_consecutive]

Around the middle, the sword with red background, newly raised division?

@Saumyasupraik

55 Independent Mechanised Brigade.

You sure ? Btw are you VatsRohit ?

 

[Saumyasupraik]

Around the middle, the sword with red background, newly raised division?

@Saumyasupraik

71 Mountain Division 'Blazing Sword', currently Orbated under IV 'Gajraj' Corps.

 

[Saumyasupraik]

You sure ? Btw are you VatsRohit ?

Double Victory Brigade.

 

[mist_consecutive]

71 Mountain Division 'Blazing Sword', currently Orbated under IV 'Gajraj' Corps.

Double Victory Brigade.

Damn, you are awesome!

Still can't find any insignia of the 56th Mountain Division (Spearhead division) and 72nd Mountain Division, which was to be based at Pathankot.

@Saumyasupraik any idea ?

 

[Saumyasupraik]

Corrections are welcome.

Northern Command
XIV Fire and Fury Corps - Leh
3 Infantry Division - Trishul - Leh
8 Mountain Division - Forever in Ops - Dras
121 (I) Infantry Brigade - Kargil Brigade - Kargil
102 (I) Infantry Brigade - Siachen Brigade - Partapur
118 (I) Infantry Brigade - Parashu - Nyoma
254 (I) Armoured Brigade - Snow Leopard - Leh


XV Chinar Corps - Srinagar
19 Infantry Division - Dagger - Baramulla
28 Infantry Division - Vajr - Gurez


XVI White Knight Corps - Nagrota
10 RAPID - Crossed Swords - Akhnoor
25 Infantry Division - Ace of Spades - Rajauri
39 Infantry Division - Dah - Yol


Western Command
II Kharga Corps - Ambala
1 Armoured Division - Airavat - Patiala
9 Infantry Division - Pine - Meerut
22 Infantry Division - Charging Ram - Meerut
40 Artillery Division - - Ambala
16 (I) Armoured Brigade - Black Arrow - Mamun


IX Rising Star Corps - Yol
26 Infantry Division - Tiger - Jammu
29 Infantry Division - Gurj/Silver Mace - Pathankot
2 (I) Armoured Brigade - Fleur de Lis - Mamun
3 (I) Armoured Brigade - Sabre - Ratnuchak


XI Vajra Corps - Jalandhar
7 Infantry Division - Golden Arrow - Firozpur
15 Infantry Division - Panther - Amritsar
23 (I) Armoured Brigade - Flaming Arrow - Amritsar
55 (I) Mechanised Brigade - Double Victory - Beas


Southwestern Command
I First Strike Corps - Mathura
33 Armoured Division - Dot - Hisar
4 RAPID - Red Eagle - Allahabad
42 Artillery Division - Strategic Strikers - Alwar
14 (I) Armoured Brigade - Black Charger - Bathinda


X Chetak Corps - Bhatinda
16 Infantry Division - Amogh - Sriganganagar
18 RAPID - Gandiv - Kota
24 RAPID - Ranbankura - Bikaner
6 (I) Armoured Brigade - Sand Viper - Suratgarh


Southern Command
XXI Sudarshan Chakra Corps - Bhopal
31 Armoured Division - White Tiger - Jhansi
36 RAPID - Shahbaaz - Sagar
54 Infantry Division - Bison - Secunderabad
41 Artillery Division - Agnibaaz - Pune


XII Konark Corps - Jodhpur
11 Infantry Division - Golden Katar - Ahmedabad
75 (I) Infantry Brigade - Bald Eagle - Bhuj
12 RAPID - Golden Axe - Jodhpur
4 (I) Armoured Brigade - Black Mace - Bathinda
340 (I) Mechanised Brigade - Scorpions? - Nasirabad


Eastern Command
XVII Brahmastra Corps - Panagarh
59 Mountain Division - Trinetra - Panagarh
72 Infantry Division - - Pathankot
23 Infantry Division - Cockerel - Ranchi


III Spear Corps -Dimapur
2 Mountain Division - Dao - Dibrugarh
56 Mountain Division - Spearhead - Likabeli
57 Mountain Division - Red Shield - Leimakhong


IV Gajraj Corps - Tezpur
5 Mountain Division - Ball of Fire - Tengra
21 Mountain Division - Red Horns - Rangia
71 Mountain Division - Blazing Sword - Missamari


XXXIII Trishakti Corps - Siliguri
17 Mountain Division - Blackcat - Gangtok
20 Mountain Division - Kirpan - Binnaguri
27 Mountain Division - Striking Lion - Kalimpong


Central Command
14 RAPID - Golden Key - Kapurthala
6 Mountain Division - Garud - Bareilly
50 (I) Parachute Brigade - Shatrujeet - Agra
9 (I) Mountain Brigade - Ibex - Joshimath
119 (I) Mountain Brigade - Panchshul - Pithoragarh
136 (I) Infantry Brigade - Tripeak - Sumdo

 

[Saumyasupraik]

Damn, you are awesome!

Still can't find any insignia of the 56th Mountain Division (Spearhead division) and 72nd Mountain Division, which was to be based at Pathankot.

@Saumyasupraik any idea ?

56 Mountain Division Insignia.


Not yet seen the 72 Division Insignia.

 

[Saumyasupraik]

Western Command
II Kharga Corps - Ambala
1 Armoured Division - Airavat - Patiala
9 Infantry Division - Pine - Meerut
22 Infantry Division - Charging Ram - Meerut
40 Artillery Division - - Ambala
16 (I) Armoured Brigade - Black Arrow - Mamun

40 Artillery Division is 'Deep Strikers'.

 

[sandwolf01]

Saumyasupraik

XVI White Knight Corps - Nagrota
10 RAPID - Crossed Swords - Akhnoor
25 Infantry Division - Ace of Spades - Rajauri
39 Infantry Division - Dah - Yol

I thought 39th Infantry Division is under XIV Corps and not XV Corps.

 

[rvats]

You sure ? Btw are you VatsRohit ?

Yes. Pretty sure. One of the two independent mechanized brigades in the army's ORBAT.
And yup! same vatsrohit as on Twitter. And rohitvats on BRF.

Image - contingent from 55(I) Mech Bde. That's what those two Roman Vs (one inside another) represents - 55.

 

[rvats]

Saumyasupraik

XVI White Knight Corps - Nagrota
10 RAPID - Crossed Swords - Akhnoor
25 Infantry Division - Ace of Spades - Rajauri
39 Infantry Division - Dah - Yol

I thought 39th Infantry Division is under XIV Corps and not XV Corps.

39 Mountain Division (not infantry) is under XVI Corps. But it is also Northern Command reserve. Hence, you saw it being rushed to eastern Ladakh when the stand-off commenced.

 

[Saumyasupraik]

@rvats What's with the 121 Infantry Brigade Group Insignia being same as 8th Division Insignia? It's not the same with Bald Eagle Brigade and Golden Katar Division.

 

[rvats]

@rvats What's with the 121 Infantry Brigade Group Insignia being same as 8th Division Insignia? It's not the same with Bald Eagle Brigade and Golden Katar Division.

I was under the impression that 121 is no longer an independent Infantry Brigade because 8 Mountain Division had taken the responsibility of the entire sector. But seems I was wrong with respect to the nomenclature.

My guess with that since 121 (I) Inf Bde falls under the ORBAT of 8 Mountain Division, it retains the same formation sign as the division.

And now that you've mentioned 121 (I) Inf Bde, I don't think it ever had a formation sign of its own! At least I've never come across any.

I've a theory based on something I remembered just now - earlier, the (I) Inf Bde coming directly under a Corps did not have a formation sign. Because I remember only two such bdes having formation signs earlier, and both were not under a Corps. While there were many (I) Infantry brigades floating around various Corps HQ. Even now, except for 118, all others are with Command HQ.

 

[Alligator]

@rvats What's with the 121 Infantry Brigade Group Insignia being same as 8th Division Insignia? It's not the same with Bald Eagle Brigade and Golden Katar Division.

When kargil happened 121 was an independent brigade group looking after kargil ,drass, batalik sectors . During the war army moved in the 8th mtn division's divisional hq and 2 brigades from N.E . Once the war ended 8mtn div stayed and 121 brigade became part of its orbat . The confusion arises because the brigade still uses the (I) designation.

 

[sandwolf01]

So far I have seen the following brigades under the 8th Mountain Division which I think is excessive or I have it wrong, so here it goes;

2nd Mountain Artillery Brigade
8th Mountain Artillery Brigade
121st (I) Infantry Brigade
50th Para Brigade
59th Mountain Brigade
79th Mountain Brigade
81st Mountain Brigade
95th Mountain Brigade
56th Mountain Brigade
167th Mountain Brigade
192nd Mountain Brigade
35th Infantry Brigade
303rd Mountain Brigade

 

[sandwolf01]

So far I have been able to verify;
121 Ind. Inf Brigade
59th Mountain Brigade
81st Mountain Brigade
56th Mountain Brigade
192nd Mountain Brigade
8th Mountain Artillery Brigade

questions on;
303rd Mountain Brigade
79th Mountain Brigade
2nd Mountain Artillery Brigade