[anjan_c2007]

This thread is dedicated to the older classic and pre-classic eras, featuring pictures of the vehicles then used by our valiant armed forces.

As the son of an army officer, a better part of my childhood was spent in cantonment areas in various parts of India. The images posted here are and will be from older issues of Sainik Samachar (a weekly magazine published by our Ministry of Defence since 1909) and a few other military journals, that my late Dad Late Major H.M. Chatterjee, an infantryman had thankfully preserved since the early 1970's.

The first images starting with the definition of an infantryman and the Army Chiefs since 1949-1983. These two images on the top are off topic, but nevertheless, I felt that they are informative :-



from Infantry Journal of 1957



Sainik Samachar, Army Day special issue January 1985



Our World War II veterans of the Indian Air Force, who fought in Imphal during 1944. Incidentally, Marshal of the Air Force Arjan Singh (five star), our Indo- Pakistan war IAF Chief from 1971, was then Squadron Leader and Officer Commanding of this "A" Flight No. 1 Squadron in 1944 - seen here with his officers. (from Air Force Day 1969 booklet)



Sainik Samachar, Army Day special issue January 1988



Sainik Samachar, Army Day special issue January 1988



Sainik Samachar, Army Day special issue January 1988



Sainik Samachar, Army Day special issue January 1985

[GTO]

Many thanks for sharing! Will go to our homepage tomorrow .

For those interested in the topic, sharing a link to the Pre-War Military Vehicles Thread.

[KPS]

Originally Posted by anjan_c2007

.........
The first images starting with the definition of an infantryman and the Army Chiefs since 1949-1983. These two images on the top are off topic, but nevertheless, I felt that they are informative :-

Would like to update the great K M Cariappa's rank to Field Marshak

Field Marshal Kodandera "Kipper" Madappa Cariappa, OBE (29 December 1898;– 15 May 1993) was the first Indian Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C) of the Indian Army. He led Indian forces on the Western Front during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. He was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army in 1949. He is one of only two Indian Army officers to hold the Five-star rank of Field Marshal; the other being Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw.
Source

An interesting prewar military car was this Rolls Royce Silver Ghost at the Cavalry Tank Museum at Ahmednagar



Source and more details of the pre and post war vehicles in the Museum is here


Cheers

KPS

[anjan_c2007]

Originally Posted by KPS

Would like to update the great K M Cariappa's rank to Field Marshak

Cheers

KPS

In fact, yes KPS. General S.H.F.J. Manekshaw (in service from 1932-1973) was conferred with the Field Marshal rank in January 1973, and was the first ever serving Chief of the Army Staff to be conferred with this five star General rank.

General K.M. Cariappa (in service from 1919 to 1953) was conferred with the Field Marshal rank for his exemplary services on 28 April 1986, at a special investiture ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Hence, as this was much later, after his retirement. So the then record mentions his rank as General.

I would like to share some car images that mention Field Marshals Cariappa and Manekshaw. The first images are of the 1940 Austin Sheerline that was a British Army car, later used by the then General Cariappa and other Chiefs of the Army Staff. The Mercedes Benz W 115 featured here is an ex- Pakistan Army car, surrendered by General Niazi to the Indian Army in 1971. Both these cars are regulars in the Kolkata Statesman Rally and are maintained by the Transport Coy under Army Service Corps, Eastern Command, Kolkata.

[coloneljasi]

Originally Posted by anjan_c2007

I would like to share some car images that mention Field Marshals Cariappa and Manekshaw. The first images are of the 1940 Austin Sheerline that was a British Army car, later used by the then General Cariappa and other Chiefs of the Army Staff. The Mercedes Benz W 115 featured here is an ex- Pakistan Army car, surrendered by General Niazi to the Indian Army in 1971. Both these cars are regulars in the Kolkata Statesman Rally and are maintained by the Transport Coy under Army Service Corps, Eastern Command, Kolkata.

Remember reading an article about this Mercedes stating that the car had gone missing somehow. This was a few years ago, so i presume the car was eventually found and is still maintained by the Indian Army?

[anjan_c2007]

Some more images



General O.P.Malhotra, then Chief of the Army Staff visits Artillery Centre, Deolali (Mah) in 1978



Lt Gen A.D. Mohini at the farewell parade in AOC Centre, Secunderabad in 1984



Ceremonial tow to bid adieu to Air Chief Marshal Dilbagh Singh, then Chief of the Air Staff in Pune in August 1984



Air Force Day at Tambaram air base - Group Captain B.L. Verma reviewing the ceremonial parade



Lt Gen Jaswant Singh visits Indep Para Wshop Coy getting introduced to the officers in 1978. His official Ambassador car is parked to the far left. Incidentally, the Indian Army staff cars were painted in olive green (OG) shade during those days and not black as of now.



Lt Gen Jaswant Singh checking adherence to preventive maintenance procedures



Lt Gen Jaswant Singh checking adherence to preventive maintenance procedures

[anjan_c2007]

Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru driving on the Jammu- Pathankote (spelt as such in 1948) road that was constructed to provide a link to Jammu and Kashmir (Indian Information, August 15, 1948 issue)



The first military convoy driving on the Madhopur bridge on Jammu- Pathankote (spelt as such in 1948) road that was constructed to provide a link to Jammu and Kashmir (Indian Information, August 15, 1948 issue)



From an Army exhibition at Jammu - bikers from the Signals Corps ( Sainik Samachar August 12 1984)



A SS 11 B1 missile being fired from a Jonga Patrol jeep, during an army exercise (Sainik Samachar, Army Day number January 1979)



Lt Gen S.P. Malhotra, then GOC-in C, Northern Command meeting offficers and JCO's of the Guards Regiment in the Eastern Sector. His official Ambassador Mark 3 displays three stars on its display box / plate (Sainik Samachar February 14, 1982)

[anjan_c2007]

When the Vehicle Factory Jabalpur (VFJ) commenced sales of their Shaktiman trucks and Jonga jeeps for purchase by the public in the 1990's.

[anjan_c2007]

Some more:-



Somewhere in the Himalayas, brand new Willys/ Jeep CJ 3 B jeeps and a few Nissan mini trucks (called as Nishan 1.5 tonner commonly by our soldiers then)



Farewell to the then Air Force Chief, Air Chief Marshal Dilbagh Singh at the Air Force Training Command, Bangalore, in 1984

[anjan_c2007]

Some more pictures:-



From the Army Day number January 1988. Shows an old picture of Despatch Riders (DR's as they are called even today) in an old motorbike. Despatch Riders deliver official correspondence and official material as assigned by their units, on motorbikes. They use Royal Enfield Bullets these days.



From the Army Day number January 1988. The Indian Army team won accolades at the 6th and 7th Himalayan Rally.



From the Army Day number January 1988. Surgeon Major General Suraj Prakash reviewing a ceremonial parade to mark the 224th anniversary of the Army Medical Corps (AMC).

[anjan_c2007]

Tributes to Field Marshal Kodandera Madappa Cariappa, OBE (29 December 1898– 15 May 1993), the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army on his death anniversary.

He is seen here exiting an Ambassador (rear door to his right).



Sainik Samachar 1988 Army Day number

[anjan_c2007]

A few more here:-



General K. Sundarji, the then Chief of the Army Staff, inspecting the investiture parade at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium, Jaipur with the GOC-in-C of the Southern Command.
( January1988 Sainik Samachar Army Day Number)



Major General Narinder Singh, GOC of the Infantry Division at the MT Section of a EME battalion during the annual administrative inspection.
( Sainik Samachar July 1987 )



Mr K.C. Pant, the then Defence Minister, reviewing the graduation parade at the Air Force Academy, Hyderabad, on 13 June 1987.
( Sainik Samachar July 1987 )

[anjan_c2007]

Another lot of pictures:-



Sainik Samachar June 1972 : ASC convoy on the move. Tata Mercedes Benz trucks.



Sainik Samachar March 1979 : Nissan trucks on a snow bound area in Sikkim



Sainik Samachar September 1979 : Gen O.P. Malhotra, then Army Chief at the Army Ordnance Corps School inspecting a "B" engine ( cars and jeeps were categorised as "B" vehicles. The registration number would start with "YB" or "ZB" and so on those days for such categories)



Sainik Samachar May 1969 : The then Late President Dr Zakir Hussin's funeral cortege leaves Rashtrapati Bhavan. The army truck is a Tata 1210, 4 WD, then newly introduced.

[Amrik Singh]

Rekindled my memories. An excellent thread, but, as the name goes, the Vehicles shown in historical pictures are not named. These are not our vehicles only, but our heroes.
While most of these vehicles are not too old to fade away in memory, I would like to name some of these.
I see a Chevrolet Truck. Let us see how many can recognize it, Yes there are Nissan 1-Ton too.
I feel the injustice in not naming the Vehicles, as the name of the thread goes.

[anjan_c2007]

1st Air Commando Jeep at "Feni Airfield" during the World War II. Feni, Bangladesh (1944).
From :Old Indian Images
Photo Courtesy- Kazi Shamsuddin.