Garhwal Rifles along with Associate Dean of Corporate Interaction Office organised a Weapons and Equipment Display for the students of IIT Roorkee on 14th August, 2023 at the Roorkee Cantonment. The event was organised to provide the students with an opportunity to understand and explore the diverse weapons and equipment used by the Garhwal Rifles. Team Watch Out! got the opportunity to attend and cover the event.

The Garhwal Rifles is an esteemed infantry regiment of the Indian Army, with a rich history dating back to its establishment in 1887. Originating from the picturesque region of Garhwal in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, the regiment has a deep connection to the local culture and traditions.

Over the years, the Garhwal Rifles have distinguished themselves in numerous military campaigns and conflicts, showcasing their valor, discipline, and dedication. They have actively participated in both World Wars as well as various post-independence operations, including counter-insurgency missions and peacekeeping endeavors.

The event was managed and organised by the 15th Battalion of The Garhwal Rifles. Around 450 students reached the exhibition site seated in army buses and trucks. The crowd seemed extremely excited to experience what it felt like to travel in a military vehicle.

At the exhibition site various short and long range weapons and assisting equipments were displayed with Army personnels stationed at every stall explaining the workings of the equipment. A brief summary of the displayed equipments are mentioned below:

• AGS -30 Grenade Launcher :

  • Country of Origin: Russia

  • Used in Russia during 1975, brought to India in year 2000

  • Has a 30 Grenade Round.

  • Grenade launched kills anyone in its 7m range and affects a 150m range.

  • The Launcher has a range of 50m-2100m.

  • Has rotate left to right to 410 and a maximum elevation of 670.

• 7.62mm MMG:

  • Country of Origin: Belgium

  • Has a 3600 rotation,i.e., can fire in any direction.

  • Has a round of 1000 bullets, which are bound by a belt.

  • Can fire around 600-1000 RPM.

  • Every fifth bullet glows, which can be used to mark an enemy or observe where the bullets are fired.

  • Has a killing range of 1800m and a Maximum range of 3900m.

  • It is controlled by 3 “Jawaans” -

    • Jawaan 1: pulls the trigger

    • Jawaan 2: controls the belt of ammo

    • Jawaan 3: observers the Enemy

  • It is gas operated, the gas produced while firing is collected to use it again for firing.

• 51mm Mortar:

  • Country of Origin: India

  • Maximum range: 1080 meters

  • Has three kinds of shot:

    • One that explodes and kills the enemy

    • One that shatters and spreads the shrapnels to a larger radius causing maximum damage

    • One that flares up at night and is used to observe the enemy at night

  • Muzzle loading is done using tripwires

• INSAS (Indian Small Arms System):

  • Country of Origin: India

  • It belongs to a family consisting of Assault Rifle and Light Machine Guns.

  • Uses 5.56mm Ammunition.

  • Gas powered assault rifle that uses the pressure from the exhaust gases to load the the next round.

• 84mm MK-III:

  • Country of Origin: Sweden

  • Fires 84mm rockets

  • Weighs around 10 kg

  • Mainly used against tanks or heavy machinery

  • Two men are required to operate the equipment:

    • One who loads the rocket in the launcher

    • One who takes the aim and fires

  • The explosive exhaust gases can travel upto 60 metres behind the weapon and can cause harm to anybody who stands directly behind it.

• 7.62mm Negev LMG:

  • Country of Origin: Israel

  • It is gas operated

  • Has a maximum firing range of 1200m

• 7.62mm Dragunov Sniper Rifle:

  • Country of Origin: Russia

  • Effective firing range: 800m

  • Supports a variety of sights for better observation.

• Anti-Tank guided Missile Launcher Unified

  • Country of origin: Russia (Currently manufactured in Bharat Dynamics Limited, Hyderabad)

  • The missiles used are called Konkurs

  • These are wire guided missiles that can be programmed to chase a moving target upto a range of 12 km.

  • The programmes to guide the missile are relayed through the wire.

  • The launcher is agile and can be adjusted both vertically and horizontally to accurately guide the missile.

  • The scope fitted in the launcher has a periscope which helps spot enemy movement without compromising our position.

• PNVB (Passive Night Vision Binocular):

  • Country of Origin: India

  • Used for observation of enemy, cars, etc at Night.

  • Although this can be mounted on rifles, it is generally used without mounting.

  • Has a 4 times zoom capability.

• TDLS 5.56mm INSAS RIF (Telescopic Day Light Sight):

  • Country of Origin: India

  • It is used to observe enemies, cars, etc during daylight hours.

  • This can also be mounted on rifles.

  • Has a 4 times zoom capability.

• HHLRF(Hand Held LASER. Range Finder) :

  • Country of Origin: India

  • Can be used to observe a range of 80m-20km.

  • Has a 6 times zoom capability.

• Spotter Scope:

  • Country of Origin: USA

  • It is used to observe enemies, cars, etc.

The event was a success as the students returned with a deeper understanding of the weapons and equipments used by the Indian Army. It was a hot topic of debate during the return journey, who had used which gun in the FPS games that they planned online. ADCI office said that it will continue organising such events in the future also and will try to allot slots so that the event is hassle free and everyone can learn about the mighty weapons in a detailed manner.