26th Regiment Royal Artillery | |
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Active | 1947 to present |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Branch | ![]() |
Role | Divisional Fires Artillery |
Size | 5 Batteries 737 personnel [1] |
Part of | 1st Deep Reconnaissance Strike Brigade Combat Team |
Garrison/HQ | Purvis Lines, Larkhill Garrison |
Nickname(s) | The West Midland Gunners |
Equipment | M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System |
26th Regiment Royal Artillery is a regiment of the Royal Artillery in the British Army. The regiment is equipped with MLRS and is 3rd (United Kingdom) Division's divisional fires regiment.
The regiment was formed from 4th Field Regiment RA in 1947. [2] It saw action in Malaya later that year and deployed to Libya in 1951. [2] It was renamed 26th Airportable Regiment RA in 1962 and re-equipped with 105mm Pack Howitzers. [2] In 1963, it was renamed 26th Medium Regiment RA and re-equipped with 5.5" Howitzers and then deployed to Cyprus. [2] It moved to Hohne in 1965 and was renamed 26th Field Regiment RA when it re-equipped with the Abbot self propelled gun. [2]
In the 1970s, it saw tours in Northern Ireland during the Troubles and during the 1980s it was based at Baker Barracks with a tour of Belize in 1987 followed by Northern Ireland in 1990. [2] The Regiment was moved out to Mansergh Barracks, Gütersloh, Germany and was equipped once again with the Abbot. At the onset of the Kuwait invasion by Iraq, the Regiment took charge of M109 howitzerartillery and was deployed as part of Operation Granby with 1st Armored Division during the 1991 gulf war. On return to Mansergh Barracks, the Regiment again had tours of Northern Ireland before changing roles once more and being issued AS90 in 1994. The regiment was deployed to Bosnia and Herzegovina the following year. [2] Units went to Kosovo in 2000, took part in the 2003 invasion of Iraq and was deployed to Afghanistan under Operation Herrick 9 in 2008. [2] Most recently, 16 (Sandham's Company) Battery deployed on Operation CABRIT 1, NATO's Enhanced Forward Presence in Estonia, in March 2017. [3] Under Army 2020 Refine, the regiment will be a divisional fire regiment. [4] [5]
On 14 May 2019, the regiment's last group of members left Mansergh Barracks in Germany. The regiment has, of October 2019, fully been based in Purvis Lines in Larkhill. These barracks are brand new and were designed especially for the regiment. During their farewell parade, the regiment received the ceremonial ribbon, which is Germany's most prestigious award. [6]
The batteries are as follows: [7]
Three batteries are equipped with M270B1 systems, while one battery is equipped with the EXACTOR 2 systems.
In 1993, the association was formed to enable serving and ex serving members of the regiment to meet bi-annually. Since then, the association has grown in membership and currently has approximately 500 full members. The association's website is intended to reach people in all parts of the world that either serve or have served in 26th Regiment Royal Artillery, whatever their cap badge might have been. [10]
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery (RA) and colloquially known as "The Gunners", is one of two regiments that make up the artillery arm of the British Army. The Royal Regiment of Artillery comprises thirteen Regular Army regiments, the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery and five Army Reserve regiments.
The 1st Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery is a close support regiment attached to the 7th Brigade at Enoggera Barracks in Queensland. The unit was formed in 1914 under the name 1st Australian Field Artillery Brigade, part of 1st Division Artillery during World War I and later served in World War II and the Vietnam War. It is currently re-equipping with M777A2 lightweight towed howitzers.
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19th Regiment Royal Artillery – The Scottish Gunners – is a Scottish regiment of the Royal Artillery in the British Army. It currently supports 12 Mechanised Brigade in the armoured field artillery role. The regiment has Fire Support Teams mounted in Warrior Mechanised Artillery Observation Vehicles equipped with MSTAR. The regiment's three gun batteries are equipped with the Archer Artillery System.
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132 Battery Royal Artillery is an MLRS Battery, that is part of the Royal Artillery. Its name is pronounced "one three two" or it is known as "The Bengals". The battery is one of the sub-units of 26th Regiment Royal Artillery, part of the British Army. It was formed in 1816 and is based in Larkhill.
B Battery, Royal Horse Artillery is a Close Support Battery of 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery. It is currently based in Purvis Lines in Larkhill Camp.
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The 1st Artillery Brigade was a support formation of the British Army from 1961-77 and from 1997. Part of the 3rd Division, it oversaw all army close support artillery and deep fires units. Under the Future Soldier programme, the brigade merged with 1st Armoured Infantry Brigade to form 1st Deep Reconnaissance Strike Brigade Combat Team.
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H Battery Royal Horse Artillery is a battery of 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, part of the Royal Horse Artillery of the British Army. As of 2015, it is based at Albemarle Barracks, Northumberland, England and is equipped with GMLRS.
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