14th Signal Regiment (United Kingdom)

Last updated

14 Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare)
Insignia of 14th Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare).svg
14 Signal Regiment (EW) Insignia
Active1959–present
AllegianceFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
BranchFlag of the British Army.svg  British Army
Type Combat Support
Role Electronic Warfare
SizeFive Squadrons
606 personnel [1]
Part of 1st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade
Garrison/HQ Cawdor Barracks, Pembrokeshire
Battle honours see Battle Honours
Insignia
Cap Badge Royal Corps of Signals cap badge.svg
Tactical Recognition Flash Royal Signals TRF.svg

The 14th Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare) is a part of the British Army's Royal Corps of Signals. The regiment's role is to provide electronic warfare (EW) capability in support of deployed Land Commanders, in order to enable operations in the electronic battlespace. [2] It is the only British Army regiment capable of conducting sustainable electronic warfare in support of national operations worldwide. [3] The regiment is currently based at Cawdor Barracks, on the site of the former RAF Brawdy, near Haverfordwest, in South Wales.

Contents

History

14th Signal Regiment was originally formed on 9 September 1959 in London to provide worldwide communications on behalf of the War Office, superseding the United Kingdom Commonwealth Communications Army Network Signal Regiment (COMCAN). During the 1960s the regiment was involved in various activities based around the skills of the units placed under its command, including trials for the development of Skynet satellite. In 1962 the regimental HQ moved to Gloucester until 1968 when it was relocated to Norton Barracks, Worcester from December of that year. [4]

The regiment's main role was changed to Force Rear Link following the formation of the Defence Communications Network at RAF Stanbridge in 1969. As part of 1st Signal Group the regiment provided detachments to numerous locations worldwide in support of deployed units, including: Northern Ireland, Anguilla and Honduras (1969), Jordan (1970), the United Arab Emirates (1971), British Honduras / Belize (1972) and twenty other countries over the following four years. This busy chapter finally came to an end on 6 November 1976 when it amalgamated with 30 Signal Regiment in Blandford Forum, Dorset. [4]

It reformed as 14th Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare) at Tofrek Barracks, Hildesheim in Germany on 1 July 1977 with a headquarters and three squadrons to provide electronic warfare support to the Commander of 1st British Corps. 1 Squadron was based in Langeleben, 2 Squadron in Wesendorf and 3 Squadron was co-located with the RHQ in Hildesheim. In April 1978, the regimental headquarters was re-sited to Ironside Barracks, in Scheuen, north of Celle in order to be closer to the sub-units under its command. This only presented temporary accommodation and so the regiment moved again in 1985 to Taunton Barracks, Celle; a 19th-century neo-Gothic complex which is now Celle Town Hall, previously used by 94 Locating Regiment RA. [4]

In 1992, the regiment's mission was changed to provide electronic warfare support to NATO and to the British elements under its command, this as a result of the formation of the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps. Changes in the organisation of the British Army caused the regiment to move its headquarters and two of its three field squadrons (226 and 245 Signal Squadrons) to Osnabrück, in April 1993. The third field squadron, 237 Signal Squadron (Electronic Warfare), moved to Hullavington, England at the same time. In December 1995, the German-based elements moved again, to Cawdor Barracks near Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, and 237 Signal Squadron joined them six months later after an operational deployment to Bosnia. [3] [5]

As a result of the requirement to provide five deployable squadrons to support operations in Afghanistan (Operation Herrick), 224 Signal Squadron was formed on 21 June 2004 as a joint services unit, composed mostly of personnel from the Royal Corps of Signals, Intelligence Corps and the RAF. The Squadron was based at RAF Digby in Lincolnshire until it was disbanded in 2009. [6]

Under the Army 2020 Refine programme, it was announced the regiment would shift to a new location; however, its future barracks is yet to be determined. [7] 14th Signal Regiment has moved its Cyber Protection Teams 1-6 to 13th Signal Regiment's 224 Signal Squadron. [8]

Current organisation

The current organisation of the regiment is (with roles): [9] [10]

Operations

OperationCountryYear
Falklands War (Operation Corporate) Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Falklands 1982
Operation Granby Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq 1991-2
Implementation Force (Operation Resolute)Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia 1995-6
Kosovo War (Operation Agricola)Flag of Kosovo.svg  Kosovo 1999
Operation Telic Flag of Iraq (1991-2004).svg  Iraq 2003-9
Operation Fingal Flag of the Taliban.svg  Afghanistan 2001-2
Operation Herrick 4–20 Flag of the Taliban.svg  Afghanistan 2006–14

Heraldry & ceremonial

The existing regimental badge was introduced on 28 May 1982. It consists of a shield with a white horse and a bolt of lightning and replaced the coat of arms of Gloucester. [4]

Honours

Alliances

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Corps of Signals</span> Communications arm of the British Army

The Royal Corps of Signals is one of the combat support arms of the British Army. Signals units are among the first into action, providing the battlefield communications and information systems essential to all operations. Royal Signals units provide the full telecommunications infrastructure for the Army wherever they operate in the world. The Corps has its own engineers, logistics experts and systems operators to run radio and area networks in the field. It is responsible for installing, maintaining and operating all types of telecommunications equipment and information systems, providing command support to commanders and their headquarters, and conducting electronic warfare against enemy communications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Australian Corps of Signals</span> Military unit

The Royal Australian Corps of Signals (RASigs) is one of the 'arms' of the Australian Army. It is responsible for installing, maintaining, and operating all types of telecommunications equipment and information systems. The motto of the Signals Corps is Certa Cito and is translated as 'Swift and Sure', signifying the aim of the signal service – that communication be carried out with maximum speed and certainty. Like their British counterparts, the Royal Australian Corps of Signals' flag and hat badge feature Mercury, the winged messenger of the gods, affectionately referred to by members of the corps as "Jimmy".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Brawdy</span>

RAF Brawdy is a former Royal Air Force satellite station located 6.3 miles (10.1 km) east of St Davids, Pembrokeshire and 9.8 miles (15.8 km) south west of Fishguard, Pembrokeshire, Wales. It was operational between 1944 and 1992 being used by both the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy before the site was turned over to the British Army and renamed Cawdor Barracks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buckley Barracks</span>

Buckley Barracks is a British Army barracks in Wiltshire, England, about 4+1⁄2 miles (7 km) north of Chippenham and 15 miles (24 km) west of Swindon.

The Royal Signals trades are the employment specialisations of the Royal Corps of Signals in the British Army. Every soldier in the Corps is trained both as a field soldier and a tradesman. There are currently six different trades, all of which is open to both men and women:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cawdor Barracks</span>

Cawdor Barracks is a British Army installation located 6.3 miles (10.1 km) east of St Davids, Pembrokeshire and 9.8 miles (15.8 km) south west of Fishguard, Pembrokeshire, Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Signal Brigade (United Kingdom)</span> Military unit

The 1st Signal Brigade, formerly known as the 1st Signal Group, is a brigade of the British Army. The group was first formed in 1968 as a result of the 1966 Defence White Paper which expanded support for NATO and the British Army of the Rhine. In 1987 the group was disbanded and merged into the 2nd Signal Brigade. In 1995 the brigade was reformed and has since deployed on operations across the globe in support of NATO and HQ Allied Rapid Reaction Corps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade</span> Military unit

1st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade of the British Army was created as part of the Army 2020 reform, to command military intelligence, ISTAR, and electronic warfare units.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Structure of the British Army</span>

The structure of the British Army of the United Kingdom (UK) is currently being reorganised to the Future Soldier structure. Due to these reforms taking place gradually, it is likely that some areas will not be fully complete. The British Army is commanded by the Chief of the General Staff (CGS), with Army Headquarters which is located in Andover, Hampshire. Subordinate to that post, there is a Commander Field Army, and a personnel and UK operations command, Home Command.

The following is a hierarchical outline for the structure of the British Army in 1989. The most authoritative source for this type of information available is Ministry of Defence, Master Order of Battle, and United Kingdom Land Forces, HQ UKLF, UKLF ORBAT Review Action Plan, HQ UKLF, 1990.

21 Signal Regiment is a signal regiment of the Royal Corps of Signals within the British Army. The regiment was, until the initial Army 2020 reforms, the only signal regiment to support the Royal Air Force. It has recently reformed as the Army's second Electronic Warfare Regiment, since 01st September 2023.

The 4th Signal Group was a group sized unit of the Royal Corps of Signals within the British Army that supported the British Army of the Rhine. The group's main job was to supervise all of the static communications used by the British Forces in Germany. It supported the British Army of the Rhine and 2nd Allied Tactical Air Force for just under 30 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">13th Signal Regiment (United Kingdom)</span> Specialist signals unit of the Royal Corps of Signals

The 13th Signal Regiment is a specialist signals unit of the Royal Corps of Signals of the British Army. Originally formed in 1934, the regiment had a long history of service before being disbanded in 1994 following the initial Options for Change reforms. The regiment was be reformed in June 2020 as part of 1st Signal Brigade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">15th Signal Regiment (United Kingdom)</span> Special signal regiment of the British Armys Royal Corps of Signals

The 15th Signal Regiment is military communications unit of the British Army's Royal Corps of Signals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">224 Signal Squadron (United Kingdom)</span> Military unit

224 Signal Squadron (Cyber) is a company sized military communications unit of the British Army's Royal Corps of Signals and forms part of the corps' new 13th (Cyber) Signal Regiment. The squadron was originally formed in 1959 as part of the army's wider expansion of the Royal Signals, but disbanded in 1980 afters its tasks were taken over by a joint communications training group. In 2020, the squadron was reformed as part of the June 2020 reorganisation of the corps.

Future Soldier is a reform of the British Army resulting from the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy published in March 2021. The aim of the reform is to create a more lethal, agile and expeditionary force, able to fight and win wars and to operate in the grey-zone between peace and war. Future Soldier was published on 25 November 2021 and deals with the organizational changes of the British Army, with changes to personnel and equipment were set out in the Defence in a Competitive Age paper published on 22 March 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cyber and Electro Magnetic Activities Effects Group</span> Future formation of the British Army.

The Cyber and Electro Magnetic Activities Effects Group is a combat support formation of the British Army due to form by late 2022. The group will bring together three specialist regiments of the Royal Corps of Signals under Commander Field Army.

The Field Army Troops is the name given to those units falling under direct control of Headquarters, Field Army.

References

  1. ↑ "Army – Question for Ministry of Defence". p. 1. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  2. ↑ "14th Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare)". British Army (preserved by the National Archives). 2011. Archived from the original on 24 December 2008. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 "Regimental History" (PDF). 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 November 2011. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Lord, Cliff; Watson, Graham (2004). Royal Corps of Signals: Unit Histories of the Corps (1920–2001) and Its Antecedents. Helion & Company Limited. ISBN   9781874622925.
  5. ↑ McPeek, Major (US Army), Robert L. (January–March 1996). "Electronic Warfare, British Style" (PDF). Military Intelligence Professional Bulletin. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 November 2011. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
  6. ↑ "224 Signal Squadron". Royal Air Force. 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
  7. ↑ "Army 2020 Refine changes since 2017" (PDF). Dropbox. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  8. ↑ "British Army In Front Newsletter Issue 5" (PDF). British Army. 9 July 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  9. ↑ Royal Signals Interactive Map.
  10. ↑ "14 Signal Regiment". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.