14 Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare)

14 Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare)

14 Signal Regiment (EW) Insignia
Active 1959–present
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Branch  British Army
Type Combat Support
Role Electronic Warfare
Size Five Squadrons (Including: Support Squadron)
Part of Royal Corps of Signals
1 ISR Bde
Garrison/HQ Cawdor Barracks, Pembrokeshire
Battle honours see Battle Honours
Insignia
Cap Badge
Tactical Recognition Flash

The 14th Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare) is a part of the British Army's Royal Corps of Signals. The Regiment's unique role is to provide a robust and sustainable Electronic Warfare (EW) capability in support of deployed Land Commanders, in order to enable operations in the electronic battlespace.[1] It is the only British Army Regiment capable of conducting sustainable electronic warfare in support of national operations world-wide.[2] The Regiment is currently based at Cawdor Barracks, on the site of the former RAF Brawdy, near Haverfordwest, in South Wales.

History

14th Signal Regiment was originally formed on 9 September 1959 in London to provide world-wide communications on behalf of the War Office (later Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)), 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 trails for the development of Skynet (satellite). In 1962 the RHQ moved to Gloucester until 1968 when it was relocated to Norton Barracks, Worcester from December of that year.[3]

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 world-wide 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.[3]

It reformed as 14th Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare) at Tofrek Barracks, Hildesheim 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. [3]

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 Osnabruck, 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.[2][4]

As a result of the requirement to provide five deployable squadrons to support Operations in Afghanistan (Op 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.[5]

The Regiment now comprises:

Operations

Operation Country Year
Op CORPORATE United Kingdom Falklands 1982
Op GRANBY  Iraq 1991-2
Op RESOLUTE  Bosnia 1995-6
Op AGRICOLA  Kosovo 1999
Op TELIC 1-13  Iraq 2003-9
Op FINGAL  Afghanistan 2001-2
Op HERRICK 4-20  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.[3]

Honours

Freedom of Entry into Gloucester on 28 April 1966.
Freedom of Celle on 10 July 1987.
Freedom of St Davids on 12 May 1997.
Freedom of Haverfordwest on 10 February 2009.[2]

Alliances

References

  1. ↑ "14th Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare)". British Army (preserved by the National Archives). 2011. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 "Regimental History" (PDF). 2011. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Lord, Cliff (2004). The Royal Corps of Signals: Unit Histories of the Corps (1920-2001) and Its Antecedents. Helion & Company.
  4. ↑ McPeek, Major (US Army), Robert L. (January–March 1996). "Electronic Warfare, British Style" (PDF). Military Intelligence Professional Bulletin. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
  5. ↑ "224 Signal Squadron". Royal Air Force. 2012. Retrieved 9 April 2012.

External links

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