This list of regiments of the Royal Artillery covers the period from 1938, when the RA adopted the term 'regiment' rather than 'brigade' for a lieutenant-colonel's command comprising two or more batteries, to 1947 when all RA regiments were renumbered in a single sequence. [1] [2] [3] [4]
In 1938 the RA was organised in two main branches: Field, and Coast Defence and Anti-Aircraft (CD&AA) (including anti-tank). The two branches had separate depots and administrative staffs, but the main difference was in equipment and tactical employment. However, these differences broke down as World War II progressed, when units took on multiple roles, good examples being the employment of heavy anti-aircraft guns in the medium artillery and anti-tank roles. [5] [6]
In this list 'Reg' denotes a prewar unit of the Regular Army, 'SR' denotes Supplementary Reserve, 'TA' denotes Territorial Army, including duplicate units; all others were 'war-formed' (even if some were apparently designated TA). TA duplicate units were granted their subsidiary titles in February 1942. 'Mixed' indicates a unit in which a large proportion of the personnel were women of the Auxiliary Territorial Service. 'S/A' indicates an established Regular or TA unit placed in 'suspended animation' (as opposed to disbandment)
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Traditionally the Royal Horse Artillery (RHA) provided highly mobile light field guns to support cavalry formations. By 1939 the RHA was – like the rest of the RA – completely mechanised, but its role remained essentially the same: provision of mobile artillery to armoured formations. As World War II progressed, this was increasingly achieved using Self-Propelled (SP) guns. The following regiments were designated RHA for all or part of the period: [1] [7]
The field regiments were the backbone of the Royal Artillery, mostly operating as integral components of the infantry and armoured divisions, with a few held at corps or army level (later in the Army Groups Royal Artillery). [1] [17]
Specialist Anti-Tank (A/T) regiments began to be formed by conversion from other roles in 1938. [1] [103]
(No 104th formed)
(No 108th–110th formed)
(No 112th–121st formed)
Regiments of mobile heavy guns for employment in the field. [1] [165]
Regiments of super heavy guns (8-inch and 240 mm) for employment in the field. [1] [167]
Survey regiments were initially organised into Survey, Sound Ranging and Flash Spotting batteries. Later this was changed to a troop of each in each battery. [175] [176]
Regiments of static heavy guns for coast defence, converted to numbered coast regiments in 1940–41: [1] [179]
Regiments of static heavy guns for coast defence. [1] [205]
During the invasion crisis of 1940 a number of temporary 'Defence' batteries and regiments were formed to deploy around the UK coast for general defence, though not forming part of coast artillery proper; others were formed at overseas ports. [1] [210] [211]
Originally, these units were simply entitled 'Anti-Aircraft' (AA), but in 1940 they were redesignated 'Heavy Anti-Aircraft' (HAA) to distinguish them from the Light AA units being formed. The great majority were disbanded or passed into S/A between August 1945 and January 1947 [1] [212]
(No 92nd HAA Regiment formed)
(No 195th HAA Regiment formed)
Light Anti-Aircraft (LAA) units began to be formed from 1938, initially in the TA, many being converted from other roles. [1] [268]
Light Anti-Aircraft/Anti-Tank regiments were usually created by merging batteries from two separate units under a single regimental headquarters; some of these were shortlived. [1] [315]
The following anti-aircraft searchlight (S/L) regiments served with the Royal Artillery during the period. Many of these units were transferred in August 1940 from the Royal Engineers (RE), in which they had been designated 'Anti-Aircraft Battalions'; most of these were converted infantry battalions, while other converted infantry battalions transferred directly to the RA. [1] [316] [317]
Anti-Aircraft Z Regiments were armed with rockets fired from a simple launcher. Later in the war they could include some ATS personnel and many batteries were manned by the Home Guard with regular army command post staff. Some independent batteries served abroad. All Anti-Aircraft Z Regiments were redesignated Anti-Aircraft Area Mixed Regiments in April 1944 and all were disbanded by April 1945. [342]
The Maritime Anti-Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery initially had 3 Light Machine Gun Regiments each with two batteries and one regiment of a battery of Bofors 40 mm. Port detachments were formed to find pools of trained Light Machine Gun gunners who could be embarked as required. Eventually the machine guns were mostly replaced by 20 mm Oerlikons and 40 mm Bofors. There was no higher formation, each commanding officer reporting direct to RA6 at the War Office. [343] In September 1942 a gunner Brigadier was appointed as commander and in January 1943 the regiment was re-titled Maritime Royal Artillery. In March 1943 numbers were increased and the regiment organised into six regiments and twenty-four port detachments in Britain. There were four overseas batteries at New York, Port Said, Bombay and South Africa and four independent troops at Freetown, Sydney, Algiers and Haifa. A fifth troop was added later at Naples. In August 1945 the regiment was re-organised into 1st, 4th and 5th Regiments each with an RHQ, Training Battery and Holding Battery. There was also 2nd Regiment in India but this was not fully formed. [344]
Towards the end of 1944 Britain's field armies were suffering a manpower crisis, so the Royal Artillery began converting surplus air and coast defence regiments into Garrison regiments for service in rear areas. [345]
By the beginning of 1945 the manpower crisis had deepened, and the garrison regiments were converted into infantry regiments for service on the lines of communication and occupation duties, together with other surplus regiments. Although formally these units were entitled 'Regiments, RA', the word 'Infantry' is often added (then and subsequently) for clarity. [346] [347]
Training regiments changed designation frequently as new roles and requirements appeared. [1] [351]
27th Anti-Aircraft Brigade was an Air Defence formation of the British Army in the Second World War that served in The Blitz and later converted to infantry.
The 28th (Essex) Searchlight Regiment was a volunteer air defence unit of Britain's Territorial Army (TA) from 1935 until 1961, at first as part of the Royal Engineers, later in the Royal Artillery. During the Second World War it defended the approaches to London in The Blitz and Operation Diver before becoming a garrison unit in the liberation of Norway.
The 29th (Kent) Searchlight Regiment was a volunteer air defence unit of Britain's Territorial Army (TA) from 1935 until 1955, at first as part of the Royal Engineers (RE), later in the Royal Artillery (RA). It served during The Blitz, defended South West England, Orkney and Shetland before becoming garrison troops in North West Europe.
The 38th Light Anti-Aircraft Brigade was an air defence formation of Britain's Territorial Army formed just before the Second World War, which protected London and Southern England during the Blitz and later converted into an infantry formation for the liberation of Europe.
The 30th (Northumbrian) Anti-Aircraft Brigade was an air defence formation of Britain's Territorial Army from 1936 until 1955, which defended Tyneside and Sunderland during the Second World War.
The 31st Anti-Aircraft Brigade was an air defence formation of Britain's Territorial Army from 1936 until 1948. During the Second World War it defended West Yorkshire and later participated in the North West Europe campaign.
The 40th Anti-Aircraft Brigade was an air defence formation of Anti-Aircraft Command in the British Territorial Army (TA) formed shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War. Its initial role was to defend Royal Air Force (RAF) airfields in East Anglia. Later it commanded part of the searchlight belt protecting The Midlands. In 1944 the brigade was moved south to protect the embarkation ports for Operation Overlord and to defend against V-1 flying bombs in Operation Diver. It was briefly reformed in the postwar TA.
The 33rd (Western) Anti-Aircraft Brigade was an air defence formation of Anti-Aircraft Command of the Territorial Army, part of the British Army, formed shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War. It defended Merseyside and West Lancashire during The Blitz.
35th Anti-Aircraft Brigade was an air defence formation of Anti-Aircraft Command in the British Territorial Army (TA) formed shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War. It defended the important naval base of Portsmouth during The Blitz.
The 51st (Highland) Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery was a Scottish unit of Britain's Territorial Army (TA) formed for air defence just before World War II. It later served as an anti-aircraft (AA) artillery unit in the North West Europe Campaign 1944–45, and continued in the postwar TA into the 1950s.
The 59th (Warwickshire) Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery was an air defence unit of the Territorial Army (TA), part of the British Army, and was raised in Birmingham in 1938 just before the Second World War. It later served as a light anti-aircraft gun unit and continued in the postwar TA.
The 54th Anti-Aircraft Brigade was an air defence formation of Britain's Territorial Army (TA) formed immediately before the outbreak of the Second World War. It was engaged in defending the West Midlands of England during the war. It comprised a varying number of searchlight (S/L) battalions and later included light anti-aircraft units. It was disbanded at the end of 1943. When the TA was reconstituted in 1947, the former 54th AA Bde was reformed as 80 Anti-Aircraft Brigade but was disbanded on 9 September 1948.
The 41st (London) Anti-Aircraft Brigade was an air defence formation of Anti-Aircraft Command in the British Territorial Army, formed shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War. Its role was to defend East Anglia.
36th (Scottish) Anti-Aircraft Brigade was an air defence formation of Britain's Territorial Army, created in the period of tension before the outbreak of the Second World War. It was responsible for defending eastern Scotland.
The 73rd Searchlight Regiment was a volunteer air defence unit of Britain's Territorial Army (TA) from 1939 until 1955, at first as part of the Royal Engineers, later in the Royal Artillery. It served during the Battle of Britain and The Blitz.
The 37th Anti-Aircraft Brigade was an air defence formation of Britain's Territorial Army (TA) formed just before the outbreak of the Second World War. It was engaged in defending the Thames Estuary during the war, and continued to form part of Anti-Aircraft Command in the postwar era.
The 4th Anti-Aircraft Division was an air defence formation of Britain's Territorial Army, created in the period of tension before the outbreak of the Second World War. It defended North West England during the Blitz.
43rd Anti-Aircraft Brigade was an air defence formation of Britain's Territorial Army (TA). Formed in 1938, it was responsible for protecting Teesside in North East England during the early part of the Second World War, and later defended South East England from V-1 flying bombs. It was reformed postwar and survived under different titles until 1961.
45th Anti-Aircraft Brigade was an air defence formation of Britain's Territorial Army (TA). Formed in 1938, it was responsible for protecting South Wales during the Second World War. It was reformed in the postwar TA under a new title, and continued until 1955.
52nd Light Anti-Aircraft Brigade was an air defence formation of Britain's Territorial Army (TA) during the Second World War. Formed on the outbreak of war to control static searchlight (S/L) sites in Scotland, it later operated as a headquarters (HQ) for mobile anti-aircraft (AA) gun units in the Allied invasion of North Africa and subsequent Italian Campaign.