Indian Army TOEs

Indian Armored Division

V.1.0 December 17, 2001

The Indian Army does not appreciate discussion of its TOEs. This is unfortunate, particularly since good TOEs are given to many foreign armies, for example, to foreign students at the National Defence Academy in New Delhi. As usual in India, secrets are secrets only for Indian citizens. The following is an approximate TOE of an Indian armored division. It should be considered no more than a guide.

• HQ

• Signal Regiment
• Engineer Regiment
• EME Regiment (Electrical and Mechanical Engineers – Maintenance)
• ASC Battalion (Army Supply Corps)

• Artillery Brigade

• Air Defense Artillery Group¹

• Reconnaissance & Support Battalion²

• 6 Tank Regiments (45 tanks each)³
• 4 BMP Battalions (approximately 825 men, 3 companies)

1. The Armored Division’s ADA Group used to have 12 SAM-6 and 20 ZSU-23-4.

The composition is different now.

2. This battalion had 1 medium tank squadron, 1 BMP company, and 1 wheeled

Reconnaissance Vehicle Company. We do not know its present organization.

3. See TO Indian Tank Regiment

Indian Infantry Division

v. 1.0 February 4, 2001

This information was sent to us by Mr. Rupak Chattopadhyay. It dates to 1990, but we believe there have been no substantial changes in the TO since then.

Note: The Indian Army will standardize on a 155mm medium gun for field artillery. Though specific details are not available, Army divisions are to greatly enhance their EW, surveillance, and signal capabilities. That will leave two major concerns to be addressed: an integral reconnaissance battalion and integral helicopters.

Independent Armored and Mechanized Brigades

v. 1.0 February 4, 2001

The standard TO for an Independent armored brigade is:

• 3 tank regiments
• 1 BMP battalion
• 1 artillery regiment
• 1 reconnaissance squadron

These brigades are assigned as corps troops on a scale of one per plains corps. The exception is XVI Corps (Nagrota, near Jammu). This corps has three independent armored brigades for various operational reasons.

Independent armored brigades can be tailored for their mission. 14 (I) Armored Brigade, belonging to II Corps, for many years (and may still have) four tank regiments and two BMP battalions. This was because unlike the other corps brigades whose role is primarily defensive, 14 (I) Armored Brigade was to be used offensively on a supporting or minor axis, while 1 Armored Division, the main striking force of II Corps, would undertake the main effort, or major axis.

The mechanized brigades are smaller. India for a long time had only 55 (I) Mechanized Brigade (Beas, Punjab), and only in 2000 added a second one, converting 340 (I) Infantry Brigade (XII Corps) to mechanized configuration. These brigades have one tank regiment and two BMP battalions.

Armored Regiments

v. 1.0 February 4, 2001

This section is by Mandeep Bajwa.

• Regimental HQ and HQ Squadron

Reconnaissance Troop (7 4WD jeep type with MMG and radios)

Administrative Troop

• 3 X Sabre Squadrons, each:

Administrative Troop

4 X Tank Troops (3 tanks each)

Depending on the type of equipment, tank regiments constitute a "brick" of 55 to 70 tanks. The first is more common today. The brick is composed of:

• 30 operational tanks
• 15 training tanks (operational in wartime)
• 10 maintenance reserve tanks

The maintenance reserve is small because India does not expect a war with Pakistan to last for more than a few weeks.

AFVs in the tank regiment are known as the F echelon. A Sabre squadron's administrative troop is responsible for providing the fuel, ammunition, rations, and other supplies for 24-hours of combat, and vehicles in it are termed the A1 echelon. Additional supplies are the responsibility of the regiment's administrative troop, and vehicles in it are known as the A2 echelon. All other supporting/supply vehicles are known as B echelon vehicles.

The tank squadron does not have a maintenance capability: all maintenance is centralized in the regimental HQ squadron. The independent armored brigade and the armored division have a considerable EME (Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers) contingent for maintenance support, equivalent to a large company for every armored brigade.

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