The story of the 65 Armoured Regiment begins on 1 September 1966 at Ahmednagar, where it was raised as 65 Cavalry in the wake of the 1965 Indo-Pak war. The expansion of India’s armoured corps had become an urgent necessity. After independence, India had retained only a limited number of armoured regiments, while Pakistan had steadily increased its armour strength. The war of 1965 exposed the gap and made clear that India needed new raisings, modern equipment and a stronger armoured doctrine.
Lt Col K.K. Kaul, who came from The Deccan Horse, became the regiment’s first commandant. Maj R.S. Pannu, from The Scinde Horse, served as second-in-command. Officers were drawn from some of the finest cavalry and armoured units in the Indian Army—3 Cavalry, Deccan Horse, The Scinde Horse, 20th Lancers, 62 Cavalry, and 63 Cavalry. The first officer to be commissioned into the regiment on its raising was 2/Lt Vijay K. Dougall.
“A regiment is not built in a day; it is built by those who believe in its future before it has one.”
From Cavalry to Armour
The regiment was raised as 65 Cavalry, but as there were no more horses, it became the first unit to be designated 65 Armoured Regiment. That change was not merely administrative; it symbolised the transformation of traditional cavalry into a modern mechanised force. With that came a motto that captured the regiment’s ethos with unusual force: “maan ya “mrityu”—honour or death.
The phrase reflects a clear soldierly code. It speaks of duty, courage, and the willingness to endure hardship without compromise. Over time, the motto became an integral part of the regiment’s identity, shaping its traditions, conduct, and standards. It also set the tone for the decades that followed: a regiment expected to excel not only in battle but in every sphere of service.
“Honour is not spoken of lightly in this regiment; it is lived, daily, by men in steel.”
Early Equipment and Growth
At raising, the regiment was equipped with Sherman Mk IV and Mk V tanks. Though not the most modern machines by the standards of the 1960s, they gave the new unit a solid foundation in gunnery, mobility, and field maintenance. The Shermans helped forge the habits that every armoured regiment depends on: discipline, technical competence, and the ability to keep fighting in difficult conditions.
Before the 1971 operations, the regiment converted to the Vijayanta tank, India’s first indigenous main battle tank. That shift was significant beyond the battlefield. It represented India’s growing confidence in domestic defence production and reduced dependence on foreign supply chains. For the regiment, it also meant new training routines, revised maintenance practices, and a deeper integration with India’s own industrial capabilities.
The transition from Sherman to Vijayanta mirrored a larger national journey: from inherited platforms to an armoured force that could increasingly stand on its own.
Recce and War
Alongside the regiment, the 93 Independent Recce Squadron was raised with AMX-13 tanks. Light, mobile, and suited to reconnaissance, the squadron provided an important tactical edge. It participated in active operations during the 1971 war, adding mobility and situational awareness to the regiment’s combat capability.
The 1971 conflict tested India’s forces on multiple fronts, and armoured units played a crucial role in shaping the tempo of operations. Recce elements such as the 93 Independent Recce Squadron were especially valuable because they could probe, screen, and exploit quickly in fast-moving battlefield conditions. Their work demanded initiative and sharp judgement, often under pressure and with limited margin for error.
For a young regiment, operational participation so early in its life was a severe test—and an opportunity to prove itself. The experience helped build confidence and embed a practical understanding of war that would shape the regiment in years to come.
The Guidon Moment
On 11 November 1976, at Jaipur, the regiment was presented its Guidon by the late President of India, Shri Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed. This was a major honour, especially for a regiment that had been raised only ten years earlier. The award of the Guidon was a formal recognition of the regiment’s professionalism, discipline, and performance.
For soldiers, such honours carry enduring meaning. They are not simply ceremonial symbols; they embody trust, history, and regimental pride. To receive the Guidon within a decade of raising was to mark 65 Armoured Regiment as a formation of standing and promise. It affirmed that the regiment had already earned a place among the respected units of the Indian Army.
T-72s and Sri Lanka
In 1984, the regiment converted to the T-72 M1 tank, marking another leap in capability. The T-72 brought greater firepower, protection, and operational flexibility, and it placed the regiment firmly in the modern armoured order of battle. This was the era when the regiment’s profile expanded from a newly raised unit to a formation with growing operational depth.
The regiment’s next major test came in 1987, when it was tasked with participating in Operation Pawan as part of the Indian Peacekeeping Force in Sri Lanka. What began as a peacekeeping mission soon evolved into peace enforcement. On 10 October 1987, when hostilities broke out between the LTTE and the IPKF, the nature of the operation changed sharply.
The terrain in Sri Lanka presented exceptional challenges to armour. Built-up areas, lagoons, a very high water table, and dense settlement patterns severely limited manoeuvre. Yet the regiment adapted to this hybrid battlefield with professionalism and resilience. It acquitted itself well in conditions that were as tactically complex as they were physically demanding.
During this operation, Maj Anil Kaul was awarded the Vir Chakra, and Late Capt Sudhakar Madhavan was awarded the Sena Medal (Gallantry). Their decorations reflected individual bravery but also the regiment’s ability to perform effectively in a difficult and unfamiliar environment.
“The measure of an armoured regiment is not only how it fights on open ground, but how it adapts when the ground itself works against it.”
Modernisation and the T-90 Era
In 2019, the regiment converted to the T-90 tank, entering a new phase of modernisation. The T-90 added enhanced firepower, improved night-fighting capability, better protection and more advanced fire-control systems. It represents the kind of platform demanded by contemporary armoured warfare, where speed, precision and survivability matter as much as raw punch.
This transition also reflects a broader doctrinal shift. Modern armour does not operate in isolation; it functions within integrated battle groups and networked systems. Tanks must coordinate with infantry, artillery, engineers, air assets, and intelligence platforms. The T-90 gave the regiment a platform suited to this environment, enabling it to remain relevant and effective in a rapidly changing battlefield context.
Excellence Beyond Battle
The regiment continues to excel in all spheres of its activity—professional, sporting, and social. That excellence is part of what makes a regiment endure. Professional competence is reflected in training standards, operational readiness, and technical mastery. Sporting achievement builds fitness, teamwork, and competitive spirit. Social interaction strengthens camaraderie and the bond between serving soldiers, veterans, and families.
The regiment’s contribution has also extended far beyond conventional armoured warfare. Its officers have served in United Nations peacekeeping missions across the globe, carrying the regiment’s professionalism into demanding multinational environments. Many have served with distinction in the Rashtriya Rifles and the Assam Rifles, with several receiving the Sena Medal (Gallantry). Some officers have volunteered for and served in the Army Aviation Corps as well, reflecting the regiment’s breadth, initiative, and adaptability.
A singular mention must be made of Col Parminder Singh, Sena Medal, who continues to make India proud in senior athletics by winning gold medals in shot put and hammer throw. His achievements reflect the same competitive spirit and discipline that the regiment values in service. It is not feasible to highlight every individual accomplishment, but it is equally important to note that many officers, after taking PMR, have gone on to excel in the corporate world, making a significant contribution to nation-building after hanging up their spurs.
A Regiment of Men and Memory
Behind every tank and every campaign lies a human story. Regiments are built by officers, junior leaders, radio operators, drivers, and gunners who carry institutional memory forward from one generation to the next. The early intake from different cavalry and armoured regiments gave the 65 Armoured Regiment a broad base of experience. Over time, that blend of traditions became a distinct identity.
The regiment’s history is also a reminder that success in armour depends on more than machines. It depends on maintenance, morale, training, and the willingness of men to endure hardship together. The gallantry awards, the Guidon, the conversions from one platform to another—all of these are milestones. But the real story is the quiet discipline that sustains the regiment every day.
A Legacy That Endures
Sixty years on, the 65 Armoured Regiment remains a proud example of selfless service and sacrifice. Raised as 65 Cavalry, it became the first to be called 65 Armoured Regiment when horses were no longer available. It carried forward the spirit of cavalry into the age of mechanisation and made that transition with distinction.
Its motto, “maan ya mrityu,” captures the spirit of honour, courage and commitment that has defined its journey.
From Sherman tanks to Vijayantas, from T-72s to T-90s, from the plains of India to the difficult terrain of Sri Lanka, the regiment has repeatedly adapted and excelled. Its record is one of professionalism in war, pride in service, and excellence in every sphere of soldiering. That is why its history deserves to be remembered not just as a timeline of equipment and operations, but as a living tradition of duty.