Air Defense Artillery Branch

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Air Defense Artillery branch
USAADA-PLAQUE.svg
Branch plaque
Active1968;57 years ago (1968)
to present
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
BranchFlag of the United States Army.svg  United States Army
TypeCombat Arms
RoleAir and Missile Defense
Patron Saint Barbara
Motto(s)"First to Fire"
Color  Scarlet [1]
MarchADA March
Mascot(s) Oozlefinch
Anniversaries17 November 1775- The Continental Congress elected Henry Knox "Colonel of the Regiment of Artillery" [2]
Insignia
Branch insignia USAADA-BRANCH.svg

The Air Defense Artillery Branch is the air defense branch of the United States Army, specializing in the use of anti-aircraft weapons (such as surface-to-air missiles) to conduct anti-aircraft warfare operations. In the U.S. Army, these groups are composed of mainly air defense systems such as the Patriot Missile System, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), and the Avenger Air Defense system which fires the FIM-92 Stinger missile.

Contents

The Air Defense Artillery branch descended from Anti-Aircraft Artillery (part of the U.S. Army Coast Artillery Corps until 1950, then part of the Artillery Branch) into a separate branch on 20 June 1968. On 1 December 1968, the ADA branch was authorized to wear modified Artillery insignia, crossed field guns with missile. The Branch Motto, "First To Fire", was adopted in 1986 by the attendees of the ADA Commanders' Conference at Fort Bliss. The motto refers to a speech given by General Jonathan Wainwright to veterans of the 200th Coast Artillery (Antiaircraft) stating they were the 'First to Fire' in World War II against the Empire of Japan. [3]

Mission

According to the Army's Field Manual 3-01, the mission of Air Defense Artillery is "to protect the force and selected geopolitical assets from aerial attack, missile attack, and surveillance." [4]

History

On 10 October 1917 an Antiaircraft Service in the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) was created at Arnouville-Les-Gonesse where an antiaircraft school was established. The antiaircraft units were organized as serially numbered battalions during the war, as follows:

Coast Artillery role

The National Defense Act of 1920 formally assigned the air defense mission to the Coast Artillery Corps. In January 1923, the force structure of the National Guard was modified under a restricted manpower program, which left gaps in the numerical series of its units. Many of these gaps would be filled during the major expansion of the National Guard in 1939-1940 when new antiaircraft regiments were organized by the conversion of cavalry and infantry units.

Antiaircraft units based in the U.S. interior, particularly those from the National Guard, often had to travel out of state each year for live-fire training, as this was usually conducted over water so the rounds would fall harmlessly to earth. Most of the Organized Reserve Coast Artillery regiments were functional units and many were some of the most active and well-trained Reserve organizations in the Army. [8]

Expansion

In 1938, there were only six active Regular Army and thirteen National Guard regiments, but by 1941 this had been expanded to 37 total regiments. New National Guard regiments were organized by the conversion of the National Guard's four cavalry divisions and other units.

World War II

In November 1942, 781 battalions were authorized. However, this number was pared down to 331 battalions by the end of the war. By late 1944 the regiments had been broken up into battalions and 144 "Antiaircraft Artillery Groups" had been activated; some of these existed only briefly. [30]

The serially-numbered battalions in late World War II included the following types:

and in the 1950s:

On 9 March 1942 Antiaircraft Command was established in Washington D.C. and 1944 the AAA school was moved to Fort Bliss.

Army Air Defense Command

Army Air Defense Command ran from 1957 to 1974.

In 1991 the Patriot missile was heavily utilized during the Gulf War. After this short skirmish ended Air Defense has not been involved in any significant combat actions due to lack of enemy air assets and/or missile technology.

In 2010 the United States Army Air Defense Artillery School was moved from Fort Bliss to Fort Sill.

Air Defense Artillery Units

The following lists all units that make up the Army's Air Defense Artillery Branch. [31]

Army Air and Missile Defense Commands

CommandSSISubordinate toGarrison or Headquarters
10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command (10th AAMDC) 10aamdc.png United States Army Europe Sembach, Germany
32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command (32nd AAMDC) 32aamdc.svg United States Army Forces Command Fort Bliss, Texas
94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command (94th AAMDC) 94thAAMDC.png United States Army Pacific Fort Shafter, Hawaii
263rd Army Air and Missile Defense Command (263rd AAMDC) 263ADABdeSSI.svg South Carolina Army National Guard Anderson, South Carolina

Air Defense Artillery Brigades

A soldier assigned to the 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade's 1st Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment conducting maintenance on a Patriot missile launcher in 2006 Maintenance check on a Patriot missile.jpg
A soldier assigned to the 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade's 1st Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment conducting maintenance on a Patriot missile launcher in 2006
BrigadeSSISubordinate toGarrison
11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade (ADAB) 11ADABdeSSI.svg 32nd AAMDC Fort Bliss, Texas
30th ADAB 30ada-bde.gif Army Air Defense Artillery School Fort Sill, Oklahoma
31st ADAB 31ADABdeSSI.svg 32nd AAMDCFort Sill, Oklahoma
35th ADAB 35ADABdeSSI.svg Eighth United States Army / 94th AAMDC [32] Osan Air Base, South Korea
38th ADAB 38ADABde.jpg 94th AAMDCSagami General Depot, Japan
52nd ADAB [33] [34] US Army 52nd Air Defense Artillery Brigade SSI.png 10th AAMDCSembach, Germany
69th ADAB 69ADABdeSSI.svg 32nd AAMDC Fort Cavazos, Texas
100th Missile Defense Brigade (MDB) 100MissileDefBdeSSI.jpg Army Space and Missile Defense Command / Colorado Army National Guard [35] Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado
108th ADAB 108 ADA BDE SSI.svg 32nd AAMDC Fort Bragg, North Carolina
164th ADAB 164th Air Defense Artillery Brigade.svg Florida Army National Guard Orlando, Florida
174th ADAB Insignia USA Army Brigade 174 ADA Bde SSI.svg Ohio Army National Guard Columbus, Ohio
678th ADAB US Army 678th Air Defense Artillery Brigade.png 263rd AAMDC Eastover, South Carolina

Army Battalions

A paratrooper with E Battery, 3-4th ADAR practices jumping from a 34-foot tower with the FIM-92 Stinger US Army Paratrooper Jumps with FIM-92 from 34 foot tower.png
A paratrooper with E Battery, 3–4th ADAR practices jumping from a 34-foot tower with the FIM-92 Stinger
Unit SSI Subordinate toGarrisonEquipment
1st Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment (1-1st ADAR) 38ADABde.jpg 38th ADAB Kadena Air Base, Japan MIM-104 Patriot
2nd Battalion 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment (2–1st ADAR 35ADABdeSSI.svg 35th ADAB Camp Carroll, South Korea MIM-104 Patriot
3–2nd ADAR 31ADABdeSSI.svg 31st ADAB Fort Sill, Oklahoma MIM-104 Patriot
4–3rd ADAR 31ADABdeSSI.svg 31st ADABFort Sill, OklahomaMIM-104 Patriot
3–4th ADAR 108-ADA-Bde-SSI.png 108th ADAB Fort Bragg, North Carolina MIM-104 Patriot, AN/TWQ-1 Avenger, FIM-92 Stinger
5–4th ADAR US Army 52nd Air Defense Artillery Brigade SSI.png 52nd ADAB Ansbach, Germany M-SHORAD
4–5th ADAR 69ADABdeSSI.svg 69th ADAB Fort Cavazos, Texas MIM-104 Patriot
5–5th ADAR 31ADABdeSSI.svg 31st ADAB Fort Sill, Oklahoma AN/TWQ-1 Avenger, C-RAM Counter Rocket Artillery and Mortar
2–6th ADAR 30ada-bde.gif 30th ADABFort Sill, OklahomaAN/TWQ-1 Avenger, C-RAM Counter Rocket Artillery and Mortar
3–6th ADAR 30ada-bde.gif 30th ADABFort Sill, OklahomaMIM-104 Patriot, THAAD Terminal High Altitude Area Defense
1–7th ADAR 108-ADA-Bde-SSI.png 108th ADABFort Bragg, North CarolinaMIM-104 Patriot
5–7th ADAR US Army 52nd Air Defense Artillery Brigade SSI.png 52nd ADAB Baumholder, Germany MIM-104 Patriot
1–43rd ADAR 11ADABdeSSI.svg 11th ADAB Fort Bliss, Texas MIM-104 Patriot
2–43rd ADAR 11ADABdeSSI.svg 11th ADABFort Bliss, TexasMIM-104 Patriot
3–43rd ADAR 11ADABdeSSI.svg 11th ADABFort Bliss, TexasMIM-104 Patriot
1–44th ADAR 69ADABdeSSI.svg 69th ADABFort Cavazos, TexasMIM-104 Patriot
2–44th ADAR 108-ADA-Bde-SSI.png 108th ADAB Fort Campbell, Kentucky AN/TWQ-1 Avenger, C-RAM Counter Rocket Artillery and Mortar
5–52nd ADAR 11ADABdeSSI.svg 11th ADABFort Bliss, TexasMIM-104 Patriot
6–52nd ADAR 35ADABdeSSI.svg 35th ADAB Suwon Air Base, South KoreaMIM-104 Patriot, AN/TWQ-1 Avenger
1–56th ADAR 30ada-bde.gif 30th ADABFort Sill, OklahomaOfficer training
6–56th ADAR 1st Cavalry Division SSI (full color).svg 1st Cavalry Division Fort Cavazos, TexasAN/TWQ-1 Avenger, Stryker M-SHORAD and "other systems." [36]
1–57th ADAR US Army 52nd Air Defense Artillery Brigade SSI.png 52nd ADAB Ansbach, Germany Stryker M-SHORAD
4–60th ADAR 1st Armored Division DUI.png 1st Armored Division Fort Sill, OklahomaStryker M-SHORAD
1–62nd ADAR 69ADABdeSSI.svg 69th ADABFort Cavazos, TexasMIM-104 Patriot

Army Batteries

Unit SSI Subordinate toGarrisonEquipment
A Battery, 2nd ADAR 11th BDE SSI.jpg 11th ADAB Fort Bliss, Texas THAAD Terminal High Altitude Area Defense
B Battery, 2nd ADAR 11th BDE SSI.jpg 11th ADABFort Bliss, TexasTHAAD Terminal High Altitude Area Defense
D Battery, 2nd ADAR 35ADABdeSSI.svg 35th ADAB Osan Air Base, South Korea THAAD Terminal High Altitude Area Defense
E Battery, 3rd ADAR 38ADABde.jpg 38th ADAB Andersen Air Force Base, Guam THAAD Terminal High Altitude Area Defense
A Battery, 4th ADAR 11th BDE SSI.jpg 11th ADABFort Bliss, TexasTHAAD Terminal High Altitude Area Defense
B Battery, 62nd ADAR 69ADABdeSSI.svg 69th ADAB Fort Cavazos, TexasTHAAD Terminal High Altitude Area Defense
E Battery, 62nd ADAR 69ADABdeSSI.svg 69th ADABFort Cavazos, TexasTHAAD Terminal High Altitude Area Defense

National Guard Battalions

Unit SSI Subordinate toGarrisonPart ofEquipment
49th Ground-Based Midcourse Defense Battalion 100MissileDefBdeSSI.jpg 100th Missile Defense Brigade Fort Greely, Alaska Alaska Army National Guard Ground-Based Interceptor
1–174 Air Defense Artillery (ADA) Insignia USA Army Brigade 174 ADA Bde SSI.svg 174th ADAB Cincinnati, Ohio Ohio Army National Guard AN/TWQ-1 Avenger
2-174 ADA Insignia USA Army Brigade 174 ADA Bde SSI.svg 174th ADAB McConnelsville, Ohio Ohio Army National GuardAN/TWQ-1 Avenger
1–188 ADA NDARNG-shoulder sleeve insignia.gif Separate battalion Grand Forks, North Dakota North Dakota Army National Guard AN/TWQ-1 Avenger
1–204 ADA 66th Troop Command SSI - Mississippi ARNG.gif Separate battalion Newton, Mississippi Mississippi Army National Guard AN/TWQ-1 Avenger
2-263 ADA US Army 678th Air Defense Artillery Brigade.png 678th ADAB Anderson, South Carolina South Carolina Army National Guard AN/TWQ-1 Avenger
1–265 ADA 164th Air Defense Artillery Brigade.svg 164th ADAB Palm Coast, Florida Florida Army National Guard AN/TWQ-1 Avenger
3–265 ADA 164th Air Defense Artillery Brigade.svg 164th ADAB Sarasota, Florida Florida Army National GuardAN/TWQ-1 Avenger

Shipton award

The Shipton Award is named for Brigadier General James A. Shipton, who is acknowledged as the Air Defense Artillery Branch's founding father. [37] Shipton felt that the mission of antiaircraft defense was not to down enemy aircraft, but instead to protect maneuver forces on the ground: "The purpose of anti-aviation defense is to protect our forces and establishments from hostile attack and observation from the air by keeping enemy airplanes [sic] at a distance." The Shipton Award recognizes an Air Defense Artillery professionals for outstanding performance individual thought, innovation, and contributions that result in significant contributions or enhances Air Defense Artillery's warfighting capabilities, morale, readiness, and maintenance.

See also

References

  1. US Department of Defense. DA PAM 670-1 . 11 October 2017
  2. "TIOH Air Defense Artillery branch page". Archived from the original on 16 March 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  3. Hamilton, John. Blazing skies: Air Defense Artillery on Fort Bliss, 1940–2009. Washington D.C.: Government Printing Office. p. 279. ISBN   978-0-16-086949-5.
  4. "Army Publishing Directorate". armypubs.army.mil.
  5. Rinaldi, pp. 166–168
  6. George Washington Cullum (1920). Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.: 1–6810. Houghton, Mifflin. p. 624.
  7. Rinaldi, p. 123
  8. Clay, Steven E. (2010). U.S. Army Order of Battle, 1919-1941, Volume 2. The Arms: Cavalry, Field Artillery, and Coast Artillery, 1919-41. Fort Leavenworth, KS: Combat Studies Institute Press. p. 1,056.
  9. Clay, Steven E. (2010). U.S. Army Order of Battle, 1919-1941, Volume 2. The Arms: Cavalry, Field Artillery, and Coast Artillery, 1919-41. Fort Leavenworth, KS: Combat Studies Institute Press. p. 1,100.
  10. Clay, Steven E. (2010). U.S. Army Order of Battle, 1919-1941, Volume 2. The Arms: Cavalry, Field Artillery, and Coast Artillery, 1919-41. Fort Leavenworth, KS: Combat Studies Institute Press. p. 1,101.
  11. Clay, Steven E. (2010). U.S. Army Order of Battle, 1919-1941, Volume 2. The Arms: Cavalry, Field Artillery, and Coast Artillery, 1919-41. Fort Leavenworth, KS: Combat Studies Institute Press. p. 1,101.
  12. Clay, Steven E. (2010). U.S. Army Order of Battle, 1919-1941, Volume 2. The Arms: Cavalry, Field Artillery, and Coast Artillery, 1919-41. Fort Leavenworth, KS: Combat Studies Institute Press. p. 1,101.
  13. Clay, Steven E. (2010). U.S. Army Order of Battle, 1919-1941, Volume 2. The Arms: Cavalry, Field Artillery, and Coast Artillery, 1919-41. Fort Leavenworth, KS: Combat Studies Institute Press. p. 1,101.
  14. Clay, Steven E. (2010). U.S. Army Order of Battle, 1919-1941, Volume 2. The Arms: Cavalry, Field Artillery, and Coast Artillery, 1919-41. Fort Leavenworth, KS: Combat Studies Institute Press. p. 1,103.
  15. Clay, Steven E. (2010). U.S. Army Order of Battle, 1919-1941, Volume 2. The Arms: Cavalry, Field Artillery, and Coast Artillery, 1919-41. Fort Leavenworth, KS: Combat Studies Institute Press. p. 1,103.
  16. Clay, Steven E. (2010). U.S. Army Order of Battle, 1919-1941, Volume 2. The Arms: Cavalry, Field Artillery, and Coast Artillery, 1919-41. Fort Leavenworth, KS: Combat Studies Institute Press. p. 1,102.
  17. Clay, Steven E. (2010). U.S. Army Order of Battle, 1919-1941, Volume 2. The Arms: Cavalry, Field Artillery, and Coast Artillery, 1919-41. Fort Leavenworth, KS: Combat Studies Institute Press. p. 1,102.
  18. Clay, Steven E. (2010). U.S. Army Order of Battle, 1919-1941, Volume 2. The Arms: Cavalry, Field Artillery, and Coast Artillery, 1919-41. Fort Leavenworth, KS: Combat Studies Institute Press. p. 1,104.
  19. Clay, Steven E. (2010). U.S. Army Order of Battle, 1919-1941, Volume 2. The Arms: Cavalry, Field Artillery, and Coast Artillery, 1919-41. Fort Leavenworth, KS: Combat Studies Institute Press. p. 1,105.
  20. Clay, Steven E. (2010). U.S. Army Order of Battle, 1919-1941, Volume 2. The Arms: Cavalry, Field Artillery, and Coast Artillery, 1919-41. Fort Leavenworth, KS: Combat Studies Institute Press. p. 1,107.
  21. Clay, Steven E. (2010). U.S. Army Order of Battle, 1919-1941, Volume 2. The Arms: Cavalry, Field Artillery, and Coast Artillery, 1919-41. Fort Leavenworth, KS: Combat Studies Institute Press. p. 1,107.
  22. Clay, Steven E. (2010). U.S. Army Order of Battle, 1919-1941, Volume 2. The Arms: Cavalry, Field Artillery, and Coast Artillery, 1919-41. Fort Leavenworth, KS: Combat Studies Institute Press. p. 1,108.
  23. Clay, Steven E. (2010). U.S. Army Order of Battle, 1919-1941, Volume 2. The Arms: Cavalry, Field Artillery, and Coast Artillery, 1919-41. Fort Leavenworth, KS: Combat Studies Institute Press. p. 1,108.
  24. Clay, Steven E. (2010). U.S. Army Order of Battle, 1919-1941, Volume 2. The Arms: Cavalry, Field Artillery, and Coast Artillery, 1919-41. Fort Leavenworth, KS: Combat Studies Institute Press. p. 1,106.
  25. Clay, Steven E. (2010). U.S. Army Order of Battle, 1919-1941, Volume 2. The Arms: Cavalry, Field Artillery, and Coast Artillery, 1919-41. Fort Leavenworth, KS: Combat Studies Institute Press. p. 1,106.
  26. Clay, Steven E. (2010). U.S. Army Order of Battle, 1919-1941, Volume 2. The Arms: Cavalry, Field Artillery, and Coast Artillery, 1919-41. Fort Leavenworth, KS: Combat Studies Institute Press. p. 1,106.
  27. Clay, Steven E. (2010). U.S. Army Order of Battle, 1919-1941, Volume 2. The Arms: Cavalry, Field Artillery, and Coast Artillery, 1919-41. Fort Leavenworth, KS: Combat Studies Institute Press. p. 1,106.
  28. Clay, Steven E. (2010). U.S. Army Order of Battle, 1919-1941, Volume 2. The Arms: Cavalry, Field Artillery, and Coast Artillery, 1919-41. Fort Leavenworth, KS: Combat Studies Institute Press. p. 1,108.
  29. Clay, Steven E. (2010). U.S. Army Order of Battle, 1919-1941, Volume 2. The Arms: Cavalry, Field Artillery, and Coast Artillery, 1919-41. Fort Leavenworth, KS: Combat Studies Institute Press. p. 1,109.
  30. Stanton, pp. 434–481
  31. "Air Defense Artillery" (PDF). Fort Sill. US Army Fires Center of Excellence. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 December 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  32. "94th Army Air & Missile Defense Command". Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  33. Pfc. Yesenia, Cadavid (6 October 2022). "52nd Air Defense Artillery Brigade Activation Ceremony". US Army. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  34. "US Army's newest air defense brigade headquarters activates in Germany". United States European Command. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  35. "100th Ground-based Midcourse Defense Brigade". Colorado Army National Guard Official DoD Website. Colorado Army National Guard. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  36. Negrete, CPT Leopoldo. "Divisional SHORAD: Using Historical Examples to Build a Future Formation" (PDF). Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  37. Stiller, Jesse H. (2010). "ADA Branch: A Proud Heritage" (PDF). Air Defense Artillery Online. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 July 2014.