Visakhapatnam: An affiliation ceremony of the latest Indian Navy frigate in her class, INS Sahyadri, with one of the oldest regiments of the Indian Army, the Poona Horse was held at the Naval Dockyard, here on Saturday. Colonel of the Poona Horse Regiment, Lt Gen R.V. Kanitkar, and Eastern Naval Command (ENC) commander-in-chief, Vice-Admiral H.C.S. Bisht, attended the event hosted by Eastern Fleet commander Rear Admiral B. Dasgupta, onboard INS Sahyadri.
The affiliation between Naval ships and Army regiments was instituted in 1990 with an aim to foster a spirit of cooperation, understanding and jointmanship between Army and Naval units. Even tho-ugh they operate in different theatres, it is the Ar-my and Navy’s coordinated battle efforts that can bring about dominance and win wars. The affiliation is thus a symbol of inter-service camaraderie that goes a long way in execution of joint operations and interdependence in modern warfare.
The ceremony commen-ced with the inspection of the combined Army-Navy Ceremonial Guard. After the welcome address by Commanding Officer, INS Sahyadri, Captain Anil Jaggi, the ship was formally affiliated to the Regiment with the reading, signing and exchange of the Affiliation Charter by ENC chief and Colonel of the Poona Horse Regiment. Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the Colonel of the Regiment and ENC chief emphasised the importance of achieving the aims listed in the charter of affiliation. The General and the Admiral also extended their best wishes to the officers, men and families of the two units.
The ceremony was followed by exchange of mementos and introduction of officers and men of the two units to the Commander-in-Chief and Colonel of the Regiment. The Poona Horse, is an Armoured Corps regiment which was raised on July 15, 1817, through the Treaty of Poona between British and Bajirao-II, the Peshwa. The regiment has fought and served with great distinction and honour, winning several legendary battles such as the Battle of Koregaum, Afghan Wars, Battle of Kooshab, Indo-Pak Wars of ’65 and ’71. It is the only regiment in the history which was appreciated by the enemy and awarded Fakhr-e-Hind by Pakistan during 1965 war. The Poona Horse has also accomplished the highest number of battle honours in entire Commonwealth nations.
