The 3rd Cavalry Regiment is a cavalry regiment of the Indian Army formed from the 5th and 8th Cavalry regiments in 1922.

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3rd Cavalry Regiment
Active	1922–present
Country	British India  India
Branch	British Indian Army  Indian Army
Type	Cavalry
Role	Airborne reconnaissance
Size	Regiment
Equipment	T-72
Engagements	First Afghan War Second Afghan War North West Frontier World War I Mesopotamian campaign World War II Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Battle honours	Afghanistan 1879–80 Mesopotamia 1916–18 North Malaya Central Malaya Malaya 1941–42 Punjab 1965 Shahjra Punjab 1971
Commanders
Notable commanders	Lieutenant General Daulet Singh
Insignia
Regimental flag

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It served on the North West Frontier and during World War I and World War II, in British Indian service.

The 3rd Cavalry Regiment was formed from two older Regiments, the 7th Irregular Cavalry which was raised in 1841 at Bareilly and the 17th Cavalry which was raised at Sultanpur in 1846.^[1] Often re-designated, by the turn of the century they were called 5th Cavalry and 8th Lancers. The two regiments serving in India and abroad, saw action in Afghanistan, Bhutan, Mesopotamia and Palestine earning Battle Honours Afghanistan 1879–80 and Mesopotamia 1916–18. They were amalgamated in 1922,^[1] to form the 5th/8th Cavalry, re-designated in 1923 as 3rd Cavalry. They were selected to become an Indianised regiment from 1931 onwards.

In 1941, whilst still in the process of being equipped with armoured cars, 3rd Cavalry was made part of the 11th Indian Infantry Division and was deployed to Malaya to counter the Japanese advance. They were involved in the battles at Taiping, Perak, Sungei Pattani, Penang Island, Perak River and the Battle of Slim River where two Indian Brigades were annihilated by the Japanese. The Regiment was then captured by the Japanese after the fall of Singapore and went into captivity until the end of the war.^[4] For the regiment's service in Malaya it was awarded the Battle Honours "North Malaya" and "Central Malaya" and Theatre Honour "Malaya 1941–42".^[1]

Although recommended to be disbanded after the war, the regiment was instead designated a regiment of airborne reconnaissance cavalry in 1946.

Partition of India

During the post partition riots, Sowar Prithi Singh was awarded the Ashoka Chakra, Class II for showing bravery, when a military special train was attacked by a mob.^[5]

Hyderabad Police Action (1948)

The Regiment was part of the Smash Force (1 Armoured Brigade) which liberated Hyderabad from marauding Razakars and integrated this princely state with the Union of India.^[6]

Indo-Pakistani War of 1965

The Regiment, which was part of the 2nd Independent Armored Brigade under 4 Infantry Division played an important part in the Battle of Asal Uttar. For its crucial role in the battle, the regiment won the Battle Honour "Asal Uttar" and Theatre Honour "Punjab 1965" and earned the sobriquet The Patton Wreckers.^[7][8][9] Lieutenant Colonel Salim Caleb, the Commandant of the regiment was awareded the Maha Vir Chakra.^[10]

Indo-Pakistani War of 1971

The Regiment was part of the 7 Infantry Division under XI Corps and was equipped with Centurion tanks.^[11][12] It was awarded the Battle Honour "Shehjra" and Theatre Honour "Punjab 1971".^[13]

The regiment has a “fixed class” composition, drawing troops from Rajputs, Sikhs and Jats.^[14]

The Regimental insignia consists of the Roman numeral 'III' mounted with the Ashoka capital and a scroll below with the word 'Cavalry'.