XXXIII Corps (India)

The Indian XXXIII Corps was part of Fourteenth Army of the British Indian Army during World War II. It is now part of the post-Independence Indian Army.

World War II

The Corps was created at Bangalore in India on August 15, 1942. Its first commander was Lieutenant General Philip Christison. On October 15, 1943, Christison was transferred to command Indian XV Corps, and replaced as commander of XXXIII Corps by Lieutenant General Montagu Stopford.

For much of its early history, the Corps was stationed in Southern India, preparing troops for several planned amphibious operations against the Japanes in the Indian Ocean. It was added to the order of battle of Fourteenth Army, under later Field Marshal William Slim, during the crisis of spring 1944. Japanese forces were besieging the British force at Imphal, with a detachment blocking the only road by which they could be relieved at Kohima. XXXIII Corps was despatched to command the relief effort mounted from Assam.

Its units were concentrated around Dimapur, and pressed attacks against the Japanese to relieve Kohima and then drive south to Imphal. After the Corps had won through to Imphal and the Japanese thrust had been parried, planning began for a massive general counteroffensive to liberate Burma.

The offensive opened late in 1944 with XXXIII Corps on the left of Fourteenth Army. The Corps swept through Upper Burma with IV Corps on its right flank. During March, 1945, XXXIII Corps captured the city of Mandalay.

Rangoon was captured in early 1945 and after that only mopping up was left in Burma. The Headquarters of XXXIII Corps was transformed into that of British Twelfth Army in Burma, while the corps was reformed in India to prepare for Operation Zipper, a great amphibious assault to take Malaya.

The dropping of the atomic bombs preempted Zipper, and XXXIII Corps, after occupation duties, was disbanded.

XXXIII Corps in the Indian Army

It was not until 1962 that the Corps was reestablished, in order to reduce IV Corps (India)' area of responsibilities. XXXIII Corps covered Sikkim.

The XXXIII Corps is based in Sukna, North Bengal near the city of Siliguri. Its area of responsibility includes North Bengal, Sikkim and if needed, Bhutan, It comprises three mountain divisions, 17th (Gangtok), 20th (Binaguri), and 27th (Kalimpong). [Kenneth Conboy, Elite Forces of India and Pakistan, Osprey]

The coat of arms consists of a white horizontal band between two red bands (the standard formation sign background for corps in the Indian Army) with two crossed spears with wings in the foreground.

The Corps HQ has an Indian Air Force air control unit attached to it, 3 TAC, commanded by a Group Captain. The Corps has an organic Army Aviation Helicopter Squadron based at Sevoke flying the HAL Chetak. It is commanded by a full Colonel.

The Corps Commander is a Lieutenant General. His Chief of Staff is a Major General.

The total troop strength of the XXXIII corps is estimated to be between 45,000 and 60,000 soldiers.

The Indian Air Force bases at Bagdogra and Hashimara are the air units co-tasked to the XXXIII Corps Area of Responsibility.

References

*Jane's World Armies, Issue 19, 2006
*Globalsecurity.org