Pakistan Army Armoured Corps
Encyclopedia
Pakistan Army Armoured Corps, (Urdu: ﺁرمى ﺁرمرڈ كور; Army Armoured Core; abbreviated as Armored Corps), is an active military administrative
combatant
branch of Pakistan Army
, tasked with the armoured warfare
. Equipped with more than 2000 Main Battle Tank
s, the corps is based at the old garrison town of Nowshera and is organized into two armoured divisions and a number of independent armoured brigades. The Pakistan Armoured Corps has a proud history going back to 1773, when its oldest unit was raised in British India. The corps maintains a number of legendary units on its order of battle, who earned fame in numerous wars and engagements of British Indian Army
including the two World Wars. At the time of the Partition of India
, Pakistan inherited six armoured regiments from the old British Indian Army.
Since then, the corps has expanded into more than forty regiments. Many of these new regiments have also earned accolades for their performance in the wars fought with India. Prominent among them is 25 Cavalry, who beat back the invading Indian Armoured Division at Phillaurah during the Battle of Chawinda
in 1965.
*The President's Body Guard was formed at independence from the Governor General's Bodyguard
, which was successor to the Governor's Troop of Mughals raised in 1773.
*5 Horse is the successor to the 1st Sikh Irregular Cavalry (Wales's Horse), and the 2nd Sikh Irregular Cavalry, both raised in 1857.
*6 Lancers is the successor to The Rohilkhand Horse raised in 1857, and the 4th Sikh Irregular Cavalry raised in 1858.
*Guides Cavalry (Frontier Force) is the successor to the Corps of Guides raised in 1846.
*11 Cavalry (Frontier Force) is the successor to 1st and 3rd Regiments of Punjab Cavalry, both raised in 1849.
*12 Cavalry (Frontier Force) is the successor to 2nd and 5th Regiments of Punjab Cavalry, both raised in 1849.
*13th Lancers is successor to the 1st and 2nd Native Troops of Bombay Cavalry, raised in 1804 and 1816 respectively. It is the senior-most armoured regiment of Pakistan.
*15th Lancers is successor to the Muttra Horse and 7th Bombay Cavalry, raised in 1857 and 1885 respectively.
*19th Lancers is successor to the 2nd Mahratta Horse (Tiwana Horse) raised in 1858, and Fane's Horse raised in 1860.
*25 Cavalry (Frontier Force) is the famous regiment which stopped the Indian Army
's armoured thrust during the Battle of Chawinda in 1965.
*Al-Khalid Main Battle Tank (MBT) is a joint Sino-Pakistani production with a 125 mm smoothbore gun.
*T-80UD is of Ukrainian origin with a 125 mm smoothbore gun.
*T-85III is an upgraded version of Chinese T-85AP with a 125 mm smoothbore gun.
*Al-Zarrar is an upgraded Pakistani version of the Chinese T-59II with a 125 mm smoothbore gun.
*T-69II is a Chinese MBT with a 105 mm gun.
Military administration
Military administration identifies both the techniques and systems used by military departments, agencies, and Armed Services involved in the management of the armed forces...
combatant
Combatant
A combatant is someone who takes a direct part in the hostilities of an armed conflict. If a combatant follows the law of war, then they are considered a privileged combatant, and upon capture they qualify as a prisoner of war under the Third Geneva Convention...
branch of Pakistan Army
Pakistan Army
The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...
, tasked with the armoured warfare
Armoured warfare
Armoured warfare or tank warfare is the use of armoured fighting vehicles in modern warfare. It is a major component of modern methods of war....
. Equipped with more than 2000 Main Battle Tank
Main battle tank
A main battle tank , also known as a battle tank or universal tank, is a tank that fills the heavy direct fire role of many modern armies. They were originally conceived to replace the light, medium, heavy and super-heavy tanks. Development was spurred onwards in the Cold War with the development...
s, the corps is based at the old garrison town of Nowshera and is organized into two armoured divisions and a number of independent armoured brigades. The Pakistan Armoured Corps has a proud history going back to 1773, when its oldest unit was raised in British India. The corps maintains a number of legendary units on its order of battle, who earned fame in numerous wars and engagements of British Indian Army
British Indian Army
The British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...
including the two World Wars. At the time of the Partition of India
Partition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
, Pakistan inherited six armoured regiments from the old British Indian Army.
Since then, the corps has expanded into more than forty regiments. Many of these new regiments have also earned accolades for their performance in the wars fought with India. Prominent among them is 25 Cavalry, who beat back the invading Indian Armoured Division at Phillaurah during the Battle of Chawinda
Battle of Chawinda
The Battle of Chawinda was a part of the Sialkot Campaign in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. It was one of the largest tank battles since the Battle of Kursk in World War II....
in 1965.
Regiments in the Corps
- President's Body Guard
- 4 Cavalry
- 5 Horse5th King Edward's Own Probyn's HorseThe 5 Horse is an armoured regiment of Pakistan Army. Previously, it was known as the 5th King Edward's Own Probyn's Horse, which was a regular cavalry regiment of the British Indian Army...
- 6 Lancers6th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers (Watson's Horse)The 6 Lancers is an armoured regiment of Pakistan Army. Previously, it was known as the 6th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers , which was a regular cavalry regiment in the British Indian Army. It was formed in 1921 by amalgamation of the 13th Duke of Connaught's Lancers and 16th Cavalry...
- 7 Lancers
- 8 Cavalry
- 9 Horse
- Guides Cavalry (Frontier Force)
- 11 Cavalry (Frontier Force)11th Prince Albert Victor's Own Cavalry (Frontier Force)The 11th Cavalry also known as PAVO Cavalry, is an armoured regiment of the Pakistan Army. It was previously known as the 11th Prince Albert Victor's Own Cavalry and was a regular cavalry regiment of the old British Indian Army...
- 12 Cavalry (Frontier Force)12th Cavalry (Frontier Force)The 12th Cavalry is an armoured regiment of Pakistan Army. It was formed in the British Indian army in 1922 by the amalgamation of 22nd Sam Browne's Cavalry and 25th Cavalry ....
- 13th Lancers13th LancersThe 13th Lancers is an armoured regiment of Pakistan Army. It was formed in 1923 as 13th Duke of Connaught's Own Bombay Lancers by the amalgamation of 31st Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers and 32nd Lancers...
- 14 Lancers
- 15th Lancers (Baloch)15th LancersThe 15th Lancers is an armoured regiment of the Pakistan Army. It was formed in 1922 by the amalgamation of the 17th Cavalry and the 37th Lancers .-17th Cavalry:...
- 16 Horse
- 17 Lancers
- 18 Horse
- 19th Lancers19th King George's Own LancersThe 19th Lancers is an armoured regiment of the Pakistan Army. Before 1956, it was known as 19th King George V's Own Lancers, which was a regular cavalry regiment of the British Indian Army. It was formed in 1922, by the amalgamation of 18th King George's Own Lancers and 19th Lancers...
- 20 Lancers20th LancersThe 20th Lancers is an armoured regiment of the Pakistan Army. It was formed in 1922 by the amalgamation of the 14th Murray's Jat Lancers and the 15th Lancers .-14th Murray's Jat Lancers:...
- 21 Horse
- 22 Cavalry
- 23 Cavalry (Frontier Force)
- 24 Cavalry (Frontier Force)24 Cavalry Regiment (Frontier Force)The Charging 24th Cavalry Regiment was raised on 7 June 1962. It was one of the regiments raised after independence to meet Pakistan’s growing defence needs. The officer selected to raise and command to the new unit was Lt Col Muhammad Afzal Khan...
- 25 Cavalry (Frontier Force)
- 26 Cavalry
- 27 Cavalry
- 28 Cavalry
- 29 Cavalry
- 30 Cavalry
- 31 Cavalry
- 32 Cavalry
- 33 Cavalry
- 34 Lancers
- 37 Cavalry
- 38 Cavalry
- 39 Cavalry
- 40 Horse (Sind)
- 41 Horse (Frontier Force)
- 42 Lancers (Punjab)
- 51 Lancers
- 52 Cavalry
- 53 Cavalry
- 54 Cavalry
- 55 Cavalry
- 56 Cavalry
- 57 Cavalry
- 58 Cavalry
- 21 Independent Armoured Squadron
*The President's Body Guard was formed at independence from the Governor General's Bodyguard
Governor General's Bodyguard
The Governor General's Bodyguard was a cavalry regiment of the British Indian Army. The regiment was, in effect, the Indian equivalent of the Household Cavalry of the British Army.-History:...
, which was successor to the Governor's Troop of Mughals raised in 1773.
*5 Horse is the successor to the 1st Sikh Irregular Cavalry (Wales's Horse), and the 2nd Sikh Irregular Cavalry, both raised in 1857.
*6 Lancers is the successor to The Rohilkhand Horse raised in 1857, and the 4th Sikh Irregular Cavalry raised in 1858.
*Guides Cavalry (Frontier Force) is the successor to the Corps of Guides raised in 1846.
*11 Cavalry (Frontier Force) is the successor to 1st and 3rd Regiments of Punjab Cavalry, both raised in 1849.
*12 Cavalry (Frontier Force) is the successor to 2nd and 5th Regiments of Punjab Cavalry, both raised in 1849.
*13th Lancers is successor to the 1st and 2nd Native Troops of Bombay Cavalry, raised in 1804 and 1816 respectively. It is the senior-most armoured regiment of Pakistan.
*15th Lancers is successor to the Muttra Horse and 7th Bombay Cavalry, raised in 1857 and 1885 respectively.
*19th Lancers is successor to the 2nd Mahratta Horse (Tiwana Horse) raised in 1858, and Fane's Horse raised in 1860.
*25 Cavalry (Frontier Force) is the famous regiment which stopped the Indian Army
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
's armoured thrust during the Battle of Chawinda in 1965.
*Al-Khalid Main Battle Tank (MBT) is a joint Sino-Pakistani production with a 125 mm smoothbore gun.
*T-80UD is of Ukrainian origin with a 125 mm smoothbore gun.
*T-85III is an upgraded version of Chinese T-85AP with a 125 mm smoothbore gun.
*Al-Zarrar is an upgraded Pakistani version of the Chinese T-59II with a 125 mm smoothbore gun.
*T-69II is a Chinese MBT with a 105 mm gun.
External links
- Pakistan Armoured Corps on www.regiments.org