Today, it is the second-largest arm of the Indian Army, and with its guns, mortars, rocket launchers, unmanned aerial vehicles, surveillance systems, missiles and artillery firepower.

The Mughal Emperor Babur is popularly credited with introducing artillery to India, in the Battle of Panipat in 1526, where he decisively used gunpowder firearms and field artillery to defeat the much larger army of Ibrahim Lodhi, the ruler of the Delhi Sultanate, thus not just laying the foundation of the Mughal Empire but also setting a precedent for all future battles in the subcontinent.

[4] By the early 16th century, Zamorin, the ruler of Calicut, had begun to emulate the Portuguese and began to arm his ships with naval gun pieces.

Though the artillery arm of the Marathas was weaker than many of their contemporaries, Balaji Baji Rao organised the arm in professional lines and Madhavji Sindhia established a fairly efficient gun manufacturing foundry under the supervision of European gun makers.

During the 18th century, Tipu Sultan was notable for using guns, mortars, rockets and howitzers to effective use; the Nizam of Hyderabad manufactured his own guns with the help of his French officers and the Sikhs under Maharaja Ranjit Singh pioneered the development of horse-artillery on the same lines as that of the East India Company.

[3][5] The English, who were regular users of cannons in their ships, initially used guns landed from their fleet and manned by naval ratings detached for the purpose.

These Indian gunners recruited as support staff were called as Golandaz, Gun Lashkars, Tindals and Serangs.

1 and 2 companies Golandaz, originally used to garrison Aden and man the Jacobabad mountain train in turn, eventually became Nos.

[5] For the Great War, the 10 Pounder BL (Breech Loading) and 2.75 Inch guns equipped the Indian Mountain Artillery.

Upon entering service, it immediately became clear that this piece was vastly superior to all previous models, and it would soldier on as the standard mountain gun during the inter-war years and throughout World War II.

The gunners were specially selected for their height and strength, with a view to the rapid assembling and dismantling of the guns from off and on to the backs of the powerful mules that carry them.

[11] In addition to service on the 'Frontier', Indian Mountain Batteries served in North-East India, Burma, Afghanistan, Tibet, the Middle East, Africa, and during the Great War; Mesopotamia, Gallipoli, East Africa, Persia, Palestine and of course the North-West Frontier again.

[7] Throughout their history, the reputation of Indian Mountain Batteries was enhanced by the fact that they were officered by the very best the Royal Artillery had to offer.

Such talented men competed to join because a tour in an Indian Mountain Battery, unlike other branches of artillery, virtually guaranteed seeing active service.

It consisted of four batteries – the 1st of Madrasis, originally formed from the disbanded Madras Pioneers, the 2nd, Punjabi Mussalmans, the 3rd, Rajputana Rajputs and the 4th Ranghars.

In March 1938, a decision to enhance the number of Indian Artillery units was taken by the Commander-in-Chief, India.

In its peace time duties, the Regiment undertakes infantry type and counter insurgency tasks in Jammu and Kashmir and in the North Eastern States.

Their heraldic crest depicted a field gun with a crown above it, separated by the word Ubique (Latin for everywhere).

The Hindustani motto honours the memory of the Hindu and Muslim gunners of the British Indian Army.

In 1954, as part of the process of Indianisation of the armed forces, the government ordered that regimental mottos be changed to Hindi or Sanskrit.

The Regiment of Artillery made a forceful case for retaining its motto, as it was felt the most suitable in content and meaning.

While the Artillery Regiments carry navy blue and burgundy red President's Banners, the guns are regarded as the regimental colours and are accorded the same compliments as the Standards, Guidons and Colours of the Cavalry and Infantry and the Banners of the Light Infantry and Services and Corps.

[20] As in many pre-independence regiments, many of the units have been allotted on the basis of regional, historical or class/caste backgrounds – e.g. Sikhs, Ahirs, Dogras, Rajputs, Jats, Brahmins, Gurkhas, Marathas and SICs (South Indian Classes).

Commemorative stamps have been released were released by India Post depicting field artillery, a gunner and howitzer from Mountain Battery on the Golden Jubilee of the Regiment of Artillery and on the 50th anniversary of the 9 (Parachute) Field Regiment.

The Coastal Artillery Wing of the School, which was located at Bombay, was handed over to the Indian Navy in 1965.

[24] The Mountain Artillery Training Centre came into being at Dehradun in August 1920 moving to Lucknow in October 1921 and in 1928 to Ambala.

Three to four regiments are grouped to form a Brigade – which is part of Infantry or Armoured and recently Artillery Divisions.