5th Regiment Royal Artillery
5th Regiment Royal Horse Artillery 5th Regiment Royal Artillery | |
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Active | 1939 – present |
Allegiance |
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Branch |
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Role | Surveillance and Target Acquisition |
Size | 6 Batteries |
Part of | 1st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade |
Garrison/HQ | Catterick Garrison |
Nickname | The Yorkshire Gunners |
Equipment | MAMBA, LCMR, ASP |
5th Regiment Royal Artillery is a regiment of the Royal Artillery in the British Army. It was formed in 1939 as 5th Regiment Royal Horse Artillery before being redesignated in 1958. It currently serves in the Surveillance and Target Acquisition role and is equipped with radars and acoustic sound ranging equipment; it also provides Special Observation Post teams.
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Formation
The regiment was formed as 5th Regiment Royal Horse Artillery on 25 November 1939 at Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire and consisted of K Battery (the Riding Troop at St John's Wood) and G Battery (Mercers Troop) (from 4th RHA).[1]
In 1940, the regiment formed part of the British Expeditionary Force to France; after Dunkirk it moved to North Africa, where it joined 7th Armoured Division.
Along with 7th Armoured Division, the regiment fought throughout the Western Desert and, for a limited period, took part in the Italian Campaign. On return to the UK in early 1944, it took part in the Normandy landings and fought in Northwest Europe to VE Day. In 1946, CC Battery became C Battery.
Reorganisation
Because of the reorganisation of the Royal Horse Artillery in 1958, the regiment became the 5th Field Regiment RA. On 1 February 1958, C Battery moved to 3rd RHA and G Battery (Mercer's Troop) moved to 4th RHA. P Battery (The Dragon Troop) left 4th RHA and Q (Sanna's Post) Battery moved from 10th Field Regiment on 5 February 1958 to join K Battery and form the regiment. After a short period near Crickhowell, the regiment left the UK in September 1958 for a 3-year tour of Hong Kong. After an tour equipped with 25 lb guns, the regiment returned to Salisbury Plain in Southern England in October 1961 as 5 Light Regiment RA.[2]
The Sixties
During its stay at Perham Down, the regiment had many equipment changes. In 1961, K Battery had 5.5" guns, while P and Q Batteries were equipped with 25 pdrs; then, in 1962, all batteries were allotted 4.2" mortars as well as other guns. In 1963, the regiment converted to 105mm Pack Howitzers and took part in exercises in Libya, Canada and Norway with this versatile new gun. In August/September 1964, the regiment moved to the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) in Germany, reverted to its title of 5th Field Regiment RA and was stationed in Gutersloh as a Close Support Regiment. Once again K Battery had 5.5" guns and P and Q Batteries 25 pounders, but these later gave way to the Abbot Self Propelled (SP) gun in 1966.[2]
The regiment returned to Southern England in 1969, this time to Bulford.[2]
The Seventies
The next three years at Bulford were dominated by four emergency tours of Northern Ireland (NI). The regiment was mostly operating in the Londonderry area and had 3 fatalities from terrorist actions. At this time, the regiment was equipped with the 105mm pack howitzer (towed by Landrover) and served in the light airborne role. In 1972, the regiment moved to Hildesheim, Germany and re-equipped with M107 SP 175mm Guns; and again changed its name to 5th Heavy Regiment RA. 18 Battery joined the regiment in February 1977 following the disbandment of 42 Regiment RA.[2]
The Eighties
After 12 years at Tofrek Barracks in Hildesheim, the regiment moved to West Riding Barracks in Dortmund in 1984. 18 (Quebec 1759) Battery and Q (Sanna's Post) Battery (which was renamed as 74 Battery (the Battle-Axe Company)) left the regiment to join 32 Heavy Regiment RA. 73 (Sphinx) Locating Battery moved from 94 Locating Regiment to 5th Regiment in January 1985 and was renamed Q (Sanna's Post) Battery. During this period, the Gun Batteries both carried out operational tours of Northern Ireland.[2]
The Nineties
After Operation Granby, the regiment converted from the M107 SP Gun to the M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS). On 1 April 1993, 73 (Sphinx) OP Battery became 4/73 (Sphinx) Special OP Battery.[2]
In late 1993, the regiment carried out a Regimental Arms Plot from Dortmund to Catterick in North Yorkshire. After nearly nine months of unsettled transit period working in Towthorpe line, Strensall, near York, the regiment moved into the former RAF Catterick Barracks, now renamed Marne Barracks.[2]
In October 1994, the regiment redeployed to Northern Ireland; this time to South Armagh as the Drumadd Roulement Battalion (DRB).[3]
On 10 June 1997, the regiment, less 4/73 Battery, deployed to Cyprus on Operation TOSCA.[2]
Recent
Both K Battery and 4/73 Battery were involved in the 2003 invasion of Iraq and 1 Battery was deployed to Afghanistan for Operation Herrick 4.[2] In 2009 the regiment became a Surveillance and Target Acquisition (STA) Regiment and re-equipped with radar equipment.[2]
Current sub-units
The batteries are as follows:[4]
- 53 (Louisburg) Battery RA formed in 1740.
- P Battery (The Dragon Troop) RA formed in 1805.
- K (Hondeghem) Battery RA formed in 1809.
- 93 (Le Cateau) Battery RA reformed in 2011.
- Q (Sanna's Post) HQ Battery RA formed in 1824.
- 4/73 (Sphinx) Special Observation Post Battery RA[5] formed in 1982.
- REME Workshop with Royal Logistic Corps stores section attached. (Not strictly a battery, but fills a vital role in the regiment.) The Corps of REME was formed in 1942.
References
- ↑ Frederick 1984, p. 444
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 "5th Regiment Royal Artillery". British Army units 1945 on. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
- ↑ "Emergency Tour Tasks". Hansard. 2 February 1995. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
- ↑ "5 Regiment Batteries". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
- ↑ "Artillery Soldier". MoD.
GUNNER Special Observer inserted behind enemy lines, by foot, boat, helicopter or vehicle. Special Observers operate in small 6 man teams, to provide intelligence and cue fires from artillery, aircraft or attack helicopters using encrypted communications. 4/73 Bty RA (5 Regt RA)
Bibliography
- Frederick, J.B.M. (1984). Lineage Book of British Land Forces 1660-1978. Wakefield, Yorkshire: Microform Academic Publishers. ISBN 1-85117-009-X.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to 5th Regiment Royal Artillery. |
- Official site
- Army Rumour Service Website
- The Royal Artillery Association
- Royal Artillery Today
- Ubique Collection
- Fire Power Museum
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