By Donn Morgan Kipgen
Even after 17 years of CI Ops in Manipur, Military formation, chain of Command and names of tactical weaponries are still unaquianted nor autho- ritively familiar to Media persons, learned citizens and some law enforcement officers. Besides, Military jargons and terms are still Greeks to many citizens, policemen and few local journalists. Without knowing all these things, following the day to day account of CI Ops would be much the harder. Going by the nature of press releases/ statements of the UG outfits, even the UG Militants seem to have been confused; at times, all at sea as they were in this regard. The general public has the right to know the brief but finer points of all these Military-related informations since the lead newsreports are meant for them. The readers are the life-line of the Media and as such the need for detail informations to make their breakfast much more spicy. Hence, both the writer or reporter ought to know each other with their regular readers when it comes to military issue.
Here’s the ranking and recognition structural system of the regular Army formation:
1. General - a Crossed Sword, a Star and Ashok Chakra.
2. Lt. General - a Crossed Sword and Ashok Chakra.
3. Maj General- a Crossed Sword and a Star.
4. Brigadier- 3 Stars and Ashok Chakra.
5. Colonel - 2 Stars and Ashok Chakra.
6. Lt. Colonel - a Star and Ashok Chakra.
7. Major - an Ashok Chakra.
8. Captain - 3 Stars.
9. Lieutenant - a Star (without ribbon).
10. 2nd Lt (JCO) - a Star with ribbon.
11. Sergeant (NCO) - 3 Chevrons /Vs
12. Corporal (NCO) - 2 Chevrons/Vs
13. Lance Corporal - 1 Chevron/V
14. Private/Rifleman.
The US, Russian and Israeli Air Forces use the same ranking system like that of the regular army and designate Brigadier as Brig General.
A regular army’s lowest formation is a Rifle Squad consisting 4 or 5 personnel led by a Corporal. A Section consists of 10 to 12 personnel led by Sargeant, whereas a rifle Platoon (30 to 35 men) is under the command of 2nd Lieut or a Subedar or a 1st Lieutenant. A Company comprising about 80 to 100 combat personnel is commanded by either a Captain or Major. In the US Army, a company has a combat strength of 150 plus personnel. Though a Battallion under the Command of a Lt Col or Colonel is widely viewed as a formation of 1000 men, the actual strength is about 700 combat personnel. A battallion has 5 Combat Commands. The State’s IRB could have no more than 500 jawans and officers despite the official strength of 1000 men per each battallion! Three or more battalions formed a Brigade and a Division has 3 or more brigades under the command of Maj General. An army’s Corps (pr. Core) has 3 or more divisions commanded by a Lt. General. The Indian Army has 5 Combat Commands, viz Eastern, Western, Northern, Southern and Central Commands, each of which has 3 or more Corps and is under the command of a senior Lt. General. A new Strike (Combined) Command is likely to come up in the near future.
For over 30 years, the Indian armed forces combat weapon is the standard NATO’s FN FAL 7.62 mm SLR which is now replaced by 5.56 mm INSAS and AK series assault rifles. The NSG, SPG and para-commandos are armed with Hecklar and Koch 9 mm MP-5 and Uzi sub-machine guns, 9 mm Glock-17, Walther P-5 and .45 Colt semi-automatic pistols, PSG-1 Sniper rifle and Remington M-870 shotgun. The 7.62 mm MMG replaced the 7.79 mm Bren gun. The Army has also acquired 30 mm canon, Milan Surface-to-Surface missiles, 12.17 mm and 23 mm anti-aircraft machine guns.
Some are confused when it comes to number matter. For example, 3/9th Gorkhas were a part of the legendary CHINDITS. Now what’s 3/9? The number 3 means 3rd Bn and the number 9 means 9th Regt, and so they were the 3rd Bn of the 9th Gorkha Regt. However, there are no Regimental numbering system in other army units, save one Regt. For example, 1st Assam means the 1st Bn of Assam Regt. When you comes across a .30 cal rifle, it means .30 of an inch, i.e. 7.62 mm, calibre rifle. What do you make (out) of 800 rpm muzzle velocity? It means the number of rounds (bullets) that could be fired off by a firearm in one minute. Now, what are the main firearms and tactical weapons used by modernised armed forces units/ formations? The US Marines and the Army were issued with M-16 automatic rifles during the height of Vietnam War in 1966/67 which has a 30-round magazine to replace the .30 M-14 automatic rifles. Till now, the US Airborne forces used the .45 Colt pistols. At present, the US armed forces are equipped with a new model 5.56 mm Cal M-16A2 assault rifles, some are fitted with M203 under-barelled hi-ex grenade launchers and their Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) being the 7.62 mm General Purpose Machine guns (GPM). The M-16A2 is also sold to US military allies, like the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Columbia, Israel, etc. The shorter version of all-weather 5.56 mm M-4 US Carbine while the civilian version of M-16 is better known as AR-15. The US special forces, the Israelies and US mercenaries in Iraq (about 15000 Blackwater security guardsmen) are armed with M-4 carbines. The Minimi 5.56 mm SAW 200 rounds machine gun is preferred by most Western nations’ armed forces.
The main infantry weapons of the British and French armed forces are the 5.56 mm SA-80 and Famas F1 assault rifles respectively. The German’s army used the G-5 automatic rifle whereas the Israeli armed forces are equipped with 5.56 mm Galeel assault rifle, UZI SMG, M-4 and M-16A2.
[TSE]
Even after 17 years of CI Ops in Manipur, Military formation, chain of Command and names of tactical weaponries are still unaquianted nor autho- ritively familiar to Media persons, learned citizens and some law enforcement officers. Besides, Military jargons and terms are still Greeks to many citizens, policemen and few local journalists. Without knowing all these things, following the day to day account of CI Ops would be much the harder. Going by the nature of press releases/ statements of the UG outfits, even the UG Militants seem to have been confused; at times, all at sea as they were in this regard. The general public has the right to know the brief but finer points of all these Military-related informations since the lead newsreports are meant for them. The readers are the life-line of the Media and as such the need for detail informations to make their breakfast much more spicy. Hence, both the writer or reporter ought to know each other with their regular readers when it comes to military issue.
Here’s the ranking and recognition structural system of the regular Army formation:
1. General - a Crossed Sword, a Star and Ashok Chakra.
2. Lt. General - a Crossed Sword and Ashok Chakra.
3. Maj General- a Crossed Sword and a Star.
4. Brigadier- 3 Stars and Ashok Chakra.
5. Colonel - 2 Stars and Ashok Chakra.
6. Lt. Colonel - a Star and Ashok Chakra.
7. Major - an Ashok Chakra.
8. Captain - 3 Stars.
9. Lieutenant - a Star (without ribbon).
10. 2nd Lt (JCO) - a Star with ribbon.
11. Sergeant (NCO) - 3 Chevrons /Vs
12. Corporal (NCO) - 2 Chevrons/Vs
13. Lance Corporal - 1 Chevron/V
14. Private/Rifleman.
The US, Russian and Israeli Air Forces use the same ranking system like that of the regular army and designate Brigadier as Brig General.
A regular army’s lowest formation is a Rifle Squad consisting 4 or 5 personnel led by a Corporal. A Section consists of 10 to 12 personnel led by Sargeant, whereas a rifle Platoon (30 to 35 men) is under the command of 2nd Lieut or a Subedar or a 1st Lieutenant. A Company comprising about 80 to 100 combat personnel is commanded by either a Captain or Major. In the US Army, a company has a combat strength of 150 plus personnel. Though a Battallion under the Command of a Lt Col or Colonel is widely viewed as a formation of 1000 men, the actual strength is about 700 combat personnel. A battallion has 5 Combat Commands. The State’s IRB could have no more than 500 jawans and officers despite the official strength of 1000 men per each battallion! Three or more battalions formed a Brigade and a Division has 3 or more brigades under the command of Maj General. An army’s Corps (pr. Core) has 3 or more divisions commanded by a Lt. General. The Indian Army has 5 Combat Commands, viz Eastern, Western, Northern, Southern and Central Commands, each of which has 3 or more Corps and is under the command of a senior Lt. General. A new Strike (Combined) Command is likely to come up in the near future.
For over 30 years, the Indian armed forces combat weapon is the standard NATO’s FN FAL 7.62 mm SLR which is now replaced by 5.56 mm INSAS and AK series assault rifles. The NSG, SPG and para-commandos are armed with Hecklar and Koch 9 mm MP-5 and Uzi sub-machine guns, 9 mm Glock-17, Walther P-5 and .45 Colt semi-automatic pistols, PSG-1 Sniper rifle and Remington M-870 shotgun. The 7.62 mm MMG replaced the 7.79 mm Bren gun. The Army has also acquired 30 mm canon, Milan Surface-to-Surface missiles, 12.17 mm and 23 mm anti-aircraft machine guns.
Some are confused when it comes to number matter. For example, 3/9th Gorkhas were a part of the legendary CHINDITS. Now what’s 3/9? The number 3 means 3rd Bn and the number 9 means 9th Regt, and so they were the 3rd Bn of the 9th Gorkha Regt. However, there are no Regimental numbering system in other army units, save one Regt. For example, 1st Assam means the 1st Bn of Assam Regt. When you comes across a .30 cal rifle, it means .30 of an inch, i.e. 7.62 mm, calibre rifle. What do you make (out) of 800 rpm muzzle velocity? It means the number of rounds (bullets) that could be fired off by a firearm in one minute. Now, what are the main firearms and tactical weapons used by modernised armed forces units/ formations? The US Marines and the Army were issued with M-16 automatic rifles during the height of Vietnam War in 1966/67 which has a 30-round magazine to replace the .30 M-14 automatic rifles. Till now, the US Airborne forces used the .45 Colt pistols. At present, the US armed forces are equipped with a new model 5.56 mm Cal M-16A2 assault rifles, some are fitted with M203 under-barelled hi-ex grenade launchers and their Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) being the 7.62 mm General Purpose Machine guns (GPM). The M-16A2 is also sold to US military allies, like the Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Columbia, Israel, etc. The shorter version of all-weather 5.56 mm M-4 US Carbine while the civilian version of M-16 is better known as AR-15. The US special forces, the Israelies and US mercenaries in Iraq (about 15000 Blackwater security guardsmen) are armed with M-4 carbines. The Minimi 5.56 mm SAW 200 rounds machine gun is preferred by most Western nations’ armed forces.
The main infantry weapons of the British and French armed forces are the 5.56 mm SA-80 and Famas F1 assault rifles respectively. The German’s army used the G-5 automatic rifle whereas the Israeli armed forces are equipped with 5.56 mm Galeel assault rifle, UZI SMG, M-4 and M-16A2.
[TSE]
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