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39th Infantry Division (India): Difference between revisions
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|image= | |image= | ||
|caption= | |caption= | ||
|dates= 14 July 1941–1945 | |dates= 14 July 1941–1945<br/>1966-date | ||
|country= [[British India]] | |country={{flagicon|British Raj}} [[British Raj|British India]]<br>{{flag|India}} | ||
| | |branch= [[File:British Raj Red Ensign.svg|26px]] [[British Indian Army]]<br>{{army|India}} | ||
|type= Infantry | |type= Infantry | ||
|role= | |role= | ||
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<!-- Commanders --> | <!-- Commanders --> | ||
|Past Commanders= | |Past Commanders= | ||
|Current commander= | |||
|ceremonial_chief= | |ceremonial_chief= | ||
|colonel_of_the_regiment= | |colonel_of_the_regiment= | ||
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|identification_symbol_2= | |identification_symbol_2= | ||
<!-- Culture and history --> | <!-- Culture and history --> | ||
|nickname= | |nickname=Dah Division<ref name="DE">{{cite web|url=https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/dah-division-celebrates-raising-day/|title=DAH Division celebrates Raising Day|date=2018-07-16|access-date=2021-09-24}}</ref> | ||
|patron= | |patron= | ||
|motto= | |motto=‘Daring and Hardy’<ref name="DE"/> | ||
|colors= | |colors= | ||
|march= | |march= | ||
|mascot= | |mascot= | ||
|battles=[[Burma Campaign]] | |battles=[[Burma Campaign]]<br/>[[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]] | ||
|anniversaries= | |anniversaries= | ||
|decorations= | |decorations= | ||
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}} | }} | ||
'''39th Indian Infantry Division''' (originally the 1st Burma Division) was an infantry division of the [[Indian Army during World War II]], which became a | '''39th Indian Infantry Division''' (originally the 1st Burma Division) was an infantry division of the [[Indian Army during World War II]], which became a training [[Division (military)|division]] in 1943 after its recovery into [[India]] from [[Burma]]. The division was re-raised after independence and '''39 Mountain Division''' is presently located in [[Palampur, Himachal Pradesh]] under [[XVI Corps (India)|XVI Corps]]. | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
The 1st Burma Infantry Division was formed 14 July 1941 at Toungoo in Burma. The | The 1st Burma Infantry Division was formed 14 July 1941 at Toungoo in Burma. The division was part of the British Burma Army. | ||
On the outbreak of war, the division was commanded by Major-General [[James Bruce Scott]]. It consisted of the [[1st Burma Infantry Brigade|1st]] and [[2nd Burma Infantry Brigade]]s, and the [[13th Indian Infantry Brigade]]. Throughout the [[Japanese conquest of Burma]], the division interchanged many units with its fellow [[Burma Corps]] component, [[17th Indian Infantry Division]]. At various times the [[7th Armoured Brigade (United Kingdom)|7th Armoured Brigade]], [[16th Indian Infantry Brigade]], [[48th Indian Infantry Brigade]], and [[63rd Indian Infantry Brigade]] came under command of the division, though only the original three brigades finally entered India as part of the division at the end of the arduous retreat, reduced to fractions of their original strength. | On the outbreak of war, the division was commanded by Major-General [[James Bruce Scott]]. It consisted of the [[1st Burma Infantry Brigade|1st]] and [[2nd Burma Infantry Brigade]]s, and the [[13th Indian Infantry Brigade]]. Throughout the [[Japanese conquest of Burma]], the division interchanged many units with its fellow [[Burma Corps]] component, [[17th Indian Infantry Division]]. At various times the [[7th Armoured Brigade (United Kingdom)|7th Armoured Brigade]], [[16th Indian Infantry Brigade]], [[48th Indian Infantry Brigade]], and [[63rd Indian Infantry Brigade]] came under command of the division, though only the original three brigades finally entered India as part of the division at the end of the arduous retreat, reduced to fractions of their original strength. | ||
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The 1st Burma Division changed to an Indian formation at the end of the 1942 campaign. While the majority of the Burma Army was reconstituted elsewhere in India, the division headquarters was retained at the front. | The 1st Burma Division changed to an Indian formation at the end of the 1942 campaign. While the majority of the Burma Army was reconstituted elsewhere in India, the division headquarters was retained at the front. | ||
The 39th division was soon re-roled as a | The 39th division was soon re-roled as a light division with two infantry brigades and Mule and jeep transport companies. However this change happened more in name than in anything else as it never actually began to convert to an entirely mule and jeep based transport and supply system. | ||
The decision to convert the division to a training role was undertaken in June 1943<ref name="Kempton137">Kempton, p. 137</ref> after the poorly executed Arakan offensive when it was realised that the troops being sent into the field, both British and Indian, while not lacking conventional military fighting skills, lacked the necessary knowledge and training to operate in the Burmese jungle. The 39th was joined in its training role by the [[14th Indian Infantry Division]] which had been the main operational unit during the Arakan offensive and had suffered badly both in terms of casualties and morale as a result. | The decision to convert the division to a training role was undertaken in June 1943<ref name="Kempton137">Kempton, p. 137</ref> after the poorly executed Arakan offensive when it was realised that the troops being sent into the field, both British and Indian, while not lacking conventional military fighting skills, lacked the necessary knowledge and training to operate in the Burmese jungle. The 39th was joined in its training role by the [[14th Indian Infantry Division]] which had been the main operational unit during the Arakan offensive and had suffered badly both in terms of casualties and morale as a result. | ||
Post World War II, the division was disbanded between January and March 1946 as part of the demobilisation policy. | |||
==Formation== | ==Formation== | ||
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*[[115th Indian Infantry Brigade]] (September 1943 - March 1946)<ref name="Kempton137"/> | *[[115th Indian Infantry Brigade]] (September 1943 - March 1946)<ref name="Kempton137"/> | ||
==References== | ==Post independence== | ||
[[File:Dah Division celebrated 70th 'Infantry Day' at Palampur.jpg|thumb|Dah Division celebrates 70th 'Infantry Day' at Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, October 2017]] | |||
The 39 Infantry Division was re-raised at [[Jhansi]] under the command of Major General ML Thapan on 15 July 1966.<ref name="DE"/> At formation, the division had an independent parachute brigade and an artillery brigade. The '''87 Infantry Brigade''' (Shakargarh Brigade) and '''323 Infantry Brigade''' (Dalhousie Brigade) joined the division in January 1966. The Parachute Brigade was replaced by the '''33 Infantry Brigade''' (Thanpir Brigade) in October 1967. The division moved from Jhansi to [[Yol, Himachal Pradesh]] in March 1970 and was converted to a mountain division in January 1986.<ref name="GJ">{{cite web|url=https://samsshopping.com/product/39-mountain-division/|title=39 Mountain Division Golden Jubilee|date=2015-10-03|access-date=2021-09-24}}</ref> The division was moved to [[Poonch district, India|Poonch]] and [[Rajouri district|Rajouri]] border districts in 1994 following the [[Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir|rise of terrorism]] in the state of [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu and Kashmir]]. It was withdrawn to its base in Palampur in Himachal Pradesh in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-army-s-39-mountain-division-withdrawn-from-jammu-and-kashmir-1320782|title=Army's 39 Mountain Division withdrawn from Jammu and Kashmir|date=2009-12-09|access-date=2021-09-25}}</ref> The division presently has the following brigades - | |||
*33 Mountain Brigade at [[Dharamshala]] | |||
*87 Mountain Brigade at [[Udhampur]] | |||
*323 Mountain Brigade at [[Dalhousie Cantonment]] | |||
*39 Mountain Artillery Brigade at Alhilal | |||
===Operations=== | |||
;Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 | |||
The division was under the command of Major General BR Prabhu during the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971|1971 war]]. It was initially placed under the [[XV Corps (India)|XV Corps]] in a defensive role. It then moved to [[I Corps (India)|I Corps]] in the Shakargarh sector. Its task was to move along the Mawa-Dehlra axis and capture Shakargarh. The division had shed two of its three integral brigades and was allotted 72 Infantry Brigade from 36 Infantry Division, 2 Independent Armoured Brigade (less one regiment) and one mechanised battalion. 33 Infantry Division was sent to reinforce [[Poonch district, India|Poonch]] and 323 Infantry Division to 'X Sector' west of Degh Nadi.<ref>{{cite book|last=Rao|first=KVK|title=Prepare or Perish: A Study of National Security|publisher=Lancer Publishers|date=1991|isbn=978-8172120016|page=}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Singh|first=Sukhwant|title=India's Wars Since Independence|volume=1|date=1980|publisher=Vikas|page=|isbn=978-0-7069-1057-5}}</ref>{{page needed|date=January 2022}}<!-- More likely a page in volume 2 (Defence of the Western Border). --><ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.claws.in/images/journals_doc/SW%20J.7-22.pdf|title=War in the Western Theatre|access-date=2021-07-25}}</ref> | |||
The order of battle of the division was<ref name="Gill 2003">{{cite book|last=Gill|first=JH|title=An Atlas Of 1971 India Pakistan War - Creation of Bangladesh|date=2003|publisher=National Defense University, Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies|page=86}}</ref><ref name="Jagjit">{{cite book|last=Singh|first=Jagjit|title=Indian Gunners at War: The Western Front 1971|date=1994|publisher= Spantech & Lancer|isbn=978-1897829554|page=}}</ref> - | |||
*'''87 Infantry Brigade''' (moved to 36 Division after 12 December 1971) | |||
**3/[[9th Gorkha Rifles|9 Gorkha Rifles]] | |||
*'''72 Infantry Brigade''' (from 36 Infantry Division) (Brigadier JM Vohra) | |||
**1 [[Mahar Regiment|Mahar]] (from 115 Brigade of 36 Infantry Division) | |||
**15 [[The Grenadiers|Grenadiers]] | |||
**22 [[Punjab Regiment (India)|Punjab]] | |||
**3 [[Sikh Light Infantry]] | |||
*'''2 Independent Armoured Brigade''' (Brigadier RN Thumby) | |||
**[[1st Horse (Skinner's Horse)]] | |||
**[[7th Light Cavalry|7 Light Cavalry]] | |||
**[[14 Horse (Scinde Horse)]] | |||
**1 [[Dogra Regiment|Dogra]] (Mechanised) | |||
**91 Independent Reconnaissance Squadron (from 14 Horse) | |||
*'''39 Artillery Brigade''' (Brigadier Gurbachan Singh) | |||
**92 Field Regiment | |||
**101 Field Regiment (Self Propelled) | |||
**36 Light Regiment (less a battery) | |||
**186 Light Regiment (less a battery) | |||
**77 Medium Regiment (one battery) | |||
**45 AD Regiment (one troop) | |||
The divisional offensive started on the morning of 5 December 1971, with [[92 Field Regiment (India)|92 Field Regiment]] knocking out the Pakistani Artillery Observation Post (OP) at Sukhmal. At night, 72 Infantry Brigade captured the Pakistani border posts. They faced heavy artillery fire, slowing the advance. 1 Dogra came in contact with the enemy at Harar Kalan on the noon of 7 December 1971. The battalion launched a frontal attack the same night, but faced heavy enemy fire leading to 25 killed and 65 wounded and the attack was called off. During the same time, 15 Grenadiers, 22 Punjab and 3 Sikh Light Infantry captured Khaira, Chak Amru and Parni respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/himachaltribune/major-jaswal-the-hero-of-chak-amru-829287|title=Major Jaswal — The hero of Chak Amru|date=2019-09-07|access-date=2021-07-25}}</ref> The setback at Harar Kalan though affected the division’s speed of advance.<ref name="Jagjit"/> | |||
72 Infantry Brigade with better preparation and planning and supported well by the artillery subsequently attacked and captured Harar Kalan on the night of 10 December 1971. At the same time, 15 Grenadiers, 22 Punjab and 3 Sikh Light Infantry captured Harar Khurd, Shahbazpur and Munam respectively.<ref name="Jagjit"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sainiksamachar.nic.in/englisharchives/2016/feb16-16/h16.htm|title=Golden Jubilee of 15 Grenadiers|date=2016-02-16|access-date=2021-09-26}}</ref> | |||
Because of the slow advance of the division compared to the [[54th Infantry Division (India)|54 Infantry Division]], there was a change in strategy and regrouping of forces. The division was assigned a defensive role in the Ramgarh-Samba gap. 87 Infantry Brigade, Headquarters 2 Independent Armoured Brigade and 1 Horse were moved to reinforce 36 Infantry Brigade. 72 Infantry Brigade and 7 Light Cavalry were moved to form the fourth brigade under 54 Infantry Division.<ref name="Jagjit"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiandefencereview.com/spotlights/battle-of-basantar-1971-war/|title=Battle of Basantar 1971 War|date=2021-09-07|access-date=2021-07-25}}</ref> | |||
101 Field Regiment (Self Propelled) which had provided accurate and effective artillery fire during the offence was subsequently awarded the honour title ''Harar Kalan''.<ref name="Jagjit"/> | |||
;[[Operation Brasstacks|Operation Trident]] | |||
January to March 1987.<ref name="GJ"/> | |||
;[[Indian Army operations in Jammu and Kashmir|Operation Rakshak I]] | |||
The division was involved in [[counterinsurgency]] operations in South [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Kashmir]] between April 1993 and January 1994.<ref name="GJ"/> | |||
;[[Indian Army operations in Jammu and Kashmir|Operation Rakshak II]] | |||
The troops of the division were inducted for counterinsurgency operations in [[Poonch district, India|Poonch]] and [[Rajouri district|Rajouri]] in October 1998.<ref name="GJ"/> | |||
[[File:Exercise Nomadic Elephant 2019.jpg|thumb|Exercise Nomadic Elephant 2019 between India and Mongolia at [[Bakloh]], Himanchal Pradesh under the aegis of Dah Division, October 2019]] | |||
;[[Kargil War|Operation Vijay]] | |||
The division was concentrated around Rajouri between May 1999 and December 2001.<ref name="GJ"/> | |||
;[[2001–2002 India–Pakistan standoff|Operation Parakram]] | |||
The division was mobilised for the operation on 18 December 2001 in the Rajouri area.<ref name="GJ"/> | |||
;Counter-terrorism operations | |||
The division was deployed in [[Udhampur district]] between April 2002 and June 2003.<ref name="GJ"/> | |||
;[[Line of Control]] deployment | |||
The formation was deployed in counter-infiltration role at the Line of Control (LoC) between July 2003 and September 2009.<ref name="GJ"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/the-nation/article30220480.ece|title=Not all quiet on the border|date=2004-01-02|access-date=2021-07-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oneindia.com/2008/04/08/no-infiltration-in-last-6-months-from-loc-in-jammu-goc-39-mtn-div-1207665344.html|title=No infiltration in last 6 months from LoC in Jammu: GOC 39 Mtn Div|date=2008-04-08|access-date=2021-07-25}}</ref> | |||
==Formation Sign== | |||
The present formation sign has a black background signifying an infantry division and a ''[[Dha (sword)|Dah]]'' - a sharp edged sword.<ref name="GJ"/> | |||
==References== | |||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
==Sources== | ==Sources== | ||
*{{cite book| first=Chris| last=Kempton| title='Loyalty & Honour' The Indian Army September 1939 - August 1947, Part I: Divisions| location=Milton Keynes| publisher=The Military Press| isbn=0-85420-228-5| year= | *{{cite book| first=Chris| last=Kempton| title='Loyalty & Honour' The Indian Army September 1939 - August 1947, Part I: Divisions| location=Milton Keynes| publisher=The Military Press| isbn=0-85420-228-5| year=2022}} | ||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
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[[Category:Indian World War II divisions]] | [[Category:Indian World War II divisions]] | ||
[[Category:British Indian Army divisions]] | [[Category:British Indian Army divisions]] | ||
[[Category:Divisions of the Indian Army]] | |||
[[Category:Military units and formations of the British Empire in World War II]] | [[Category:Military units and formations of the British Empire in World War II]] | ||
[[Category:Military units and formations of Burma in World War II]] | [[Category:Military units and formations of Burma in World War II]] | ||
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1941]] | [[Category:Military units and formations established in 1941]] | ||
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1945]] | [[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1945]] | ||