Indian Army’s Only Cavalry Unit To Bid Adieu To Its Horses, Will Be Equipped With Tanks Instead

One of the world's few remaining horse-mounted cavalry regiments and the only such regiment of the Indian Army, the 61st Cavalry is set to replace its horses with top-notch T-72 battle tanks, reports Hindustan Times.

According to the report, the government has approved the proposal to equip the regiment with tanks on the basis of the recommendation made by Shekatkar committee in a report on sharpening the force's combat edge and slashing down its revenue expenditure.

The 11-member expert committee headed by Lieutenant General Shekatkar had made the recommendation in the light of the fact that the regiment has not participated in any operational duty in the past 25 years. Also, noting that playing polo or participating in equestrian sports is not the main occupation of an army unit, the committee had made the case to equip the 61st Cavalry.

Based in Jaipur, the regiment was raised in October 1953 by combining the mounted elements of the cavalry regiments of the former princely states of India. Now, three independent squadrons of other regiments are in the progress of being amalgamated under the 61st Cavalry's headquarters to form the new tank unit.