5th Regiment Royal Artillery
Encyclopedia
5th Regiment Royal Artillery is a regiment of the Royal Artillery
in the British Army
. It currently serves in the Surveillance and Target Acquisition
role equipped with various weapon locating equipment using radars and acoustic sound ranging, it also provides Special Observation Post teams.
to France and after Dunkirk
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 then took part in the Normandy landings and fought in Northwest Europe to VE Day. In 1946, CC Battery became C Battery.
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 of 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. In 1968 the regiment again exercised in Libya, and shortly afterwards the south of France.
Sports-wise skiing and hockey featured as the major successful sports before the regiment returned to Southern England in 1969 this time to Bulford. The regiment now formed part of 3rd Division and the Strategic Reserve.
After Operation Granby, the regiment converted from the M107 SP Gun to the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS). The regiment carried out several dry and live firing exercised on Hohne Ranges. On 1 April 1993, 73 (Sphinx) OP Battery became 4/73 (Sphinx) Special OP Battery. On 1 May 1993 Q (Sanna's Post) Battery and Headquarters Battery of the regiment were amalgamated to become Q (Sanna's Post) Headquarters Battery. The majority of the locating troops in Q Battery were posted to other locating batteries and troops within the Royal Regiment.
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 after the Battle of the Marne
alongside the A1. At the time it was co-located with the Regiment's Artillery Support Unit, 8 (Artillery Support) Regiment, RLC
. That regiment has now moved on and the barracks are currently shared with 1st Bn, The Mercian Regiment
.
In October 1994, the regiment deployed to Northern Ireland
again, this time to South Armagh
as the Drumadd Roulement Battalion (DRB). K Battery was deployed to Bessbrook
with P Battery being deployed in both Keady
and Middletown
, however the tour was cut short by 3 weeks due to the IRA
cease-fire.
On their return to Catterick the regiment was busy carrying out its primary role training in addition to supplying soldiers to man a permanent special OP Patrol to Bosnia and various overseas exercises.
In early 1996 the regiment was called upon to assist the Derbyshire civil authorities during a fire-fighters dispute (Op FRESCO
), a commitment led by K (Hondeghem) Battery. In addition, the regiment supplied soldiers to 3 RHA
for an operational tour of Northern Ireland.
On 1 April 1997, the regiment rejoined 1st Artillery Brigade on its reformation as an operational element of the UK's framework nation commitment to Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC). In addition, on 1 April 1997, 4/73 Battery was formally committed to the Joint Rapid Deployment Force (JRDF). The battery's commitment to the JRDF was to maintain six patrols and a command and control element ready to deploy at short notice worldwide with the Force.
On 10 June 1997, the regiment, less 4/73 Battery, deployed to Cyprus on Operation TOSCA
. Taking over responsibility for Sector 2 of UNFICYP from 32nd Regiment RA
. Soldiers from 1 RHA, 3 RHA, 32 Regt RA, 1 DWR, 1 RRW, 9 Parachute Squadron RE and soldiers from the TA reinforced the Regiment for the tour. Sector 2 covered the UN Buffer Zone in the area of Nicosia. P Battery deployed as Line Battery West and K Battery as Line Battery East. The tour was a great success and the regiment returned to Catterick on 10 December 1997.
The re-roling took effect as of 1 April 1998 and 5th Regiment consisted of one Special OP Battery (4/73), two Weapon Locating Batteries (K and P) equipped initially with Cymbeline Radar and Hostile Artillery Locating equipment (HALO). The Radar Troops came from 1 RHA, in Tidworth, 3 RHA, in Topcliffe, 4 Regt RA, in Osnabruck, 26 Regt RA in Gutersloh and 40 Regt RA in Hohne. The Sound Ranging Troops came from 32 Regt RA, in Larkhill and 39 Regt RA, in Newcastle. The Headquarters Battery (Q) that provides a Headquarters for both the regiment in its STA role and the AMF(L). The Force Artillery AMF(L) role was lost in 2002. The regiment is now equipped with COBRA (Counter Battery Battery Radar) MAMBA (Mobile Artillery Monitoring Battlefield Radar) LCMR (Lightweight Counter Mortar Radar) and ASP (Advanced Sound ranging Programme).
4/73 Battery is an elite unit formed in 1982 to provide commanders with crucial battlefield intelligence on enemy positions.
Members of this battery are volunteers who have passed a 20 week Special Observer Patrols Course.
Whilst most gunners wear a dark blue beret, since 2008 soldiers of 4/73 Battery have changed to a khaki beret to mark the close working relationship of the battery with the Honourable Artillery Company
.
Soldiers within the battery that have passed the 20 week STA Patrol Training selection course also wear the Special Observers badge on their arm as displayed on the right.
. Likewise, 4/73 (Sphinx) Battery constantly supply Fire Support Teams (FSTs) to Op Herrick on a rotational basis. To date 5th Regiment RA has had troops deployed into Operational Theatres since 2003 in one form or another.
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
. It currently serves in the Surveillance and Target Acquisition
Surveillance and Target Acquisition
For Artillery STA, see belowSurveillance and Target Acquisition is a military role assigned to units and/or their equipment. It involves watching an area to see what changes and then the acquisition of targets based on that information....
role equipped with various weapon locating equipment using radars and acoustic sound ranging, it also provides Special Observation Post teams.
Formation
The regiment was formed as 5th Regiment Royal Horse Artillery in 1939 and consisted of K Battery and G Battery (Mercers Troop) RHA. K Battery was the current Riding Troop at St Johns Wood. In 1940 the regiment formed part of the British Expeditionary ForceBritish Expeditionary Force (World War II)
The British Expeditionary Force was the British force in Europe from 1939–1940 during the Second World War. Commanded by General Lord Gort, the BEF constituted one-tenth of the defending Allied force....
to France and after Dunkirk
Battle of Dunkirk
The Battle of Dunkirk was a battle in the Second World War between the Allies and Germany. A part of the Battle of France on the Western Front, the Battle of Dunkirk was the defence and evacuation of British and allied forces in Europe from 26 May–4 June 1940.After the Phoney War, the Battle of...
moved to North Africa, where it joined 7th Armoured Division.
Along with 7th Armoured Division the regiment fought throughout the Western Desert
Western Desert Campaign
The Western Desert Campaign, also known as the Desert War, was the initial stage of the North African Campaign during the Second World War. The campaign was heavily influenced by the availability of supplies and transport. The ability of the Allied forces, operating from besieged Malta, to...
and for a limited period took part in the Italian Campaign
Italian Campaign (World War II)
The Italian Campaign of World War II was the name of Allied operations in and around Italy, from 1943 to the end of the war in Europe. Joint Allied Forces Headquarters AFHQ was operationally responsible for all Allied land forces in the Mediterranean theatre, and it planned and commanded the...
. On return to the UK in early 1944 it then 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 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 there in September 1958 for a 3-year tour of Hong Kong. After an enjoyable tour equipped with 25lb guns the regiment returned to Salisbury Plain in Southern England in October 1961 as 5 Light Regiment RA.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 the 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 of 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. In 1968 the regiment again exercised in Libya, and shortly afterwards the south of France.
Sports-wise skiing and hockey featured as the major successful sports before the regiment returned to Southern England in 1969 this time to Bulford. The regiment now formed part of 3rd Division and the Strategic Reserve.
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 .The regiment was equipped with the 105MM pack howitzer towed by Landrover, and was in the light airborne role, before the move to Hildesheim, Germany in 1972 and re-equipping with 175mm Guns (M107 SP), the regiment again changed its name to 5th Heavy Regiment RA. 18 Battery joined the regiment in February 1977 on the disbandment of 42 Regiment RA.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.The Nineties
On 2 November 1990, 73 (Sphinx) Battery was formed as 73 (Sphinx) Observation Battery, from the OP Troops of 5 and 32 Regiments. In 1991, many of the soldiers were attached to 32 Regiment RA for Operation Granby, the Gulf War. K (Hondeghem) Battery were attached to 18 (Quebec 1759) Battery and P Battery (The Dragon Troop) were attached to 74 Battery (The Battle-Axe Company). In addition, several soldiers went with 40 Regiment RA earlier in the operation. 73 (Sphinx) OP Battery joined the 16/5th Lancers and was organised into two Forward Air Control parties, one Tactical Air Command Post and five Armoured Mobile OPs.After Operation Granby, the regiment converted from the M107 SP Gun to the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS). The regiment carried out several dry and live firing exercised on Hohne Ranges. On 1 April 1993, 73 (Sphinx) OP Battery became 4/73 (Sphinx) Special OP Battery. On 1 May 1993 Q (Sanna's Post) Battery and Headquarters Battery of the regiment were amalgamated to become Q (Sanna's Post) Headquarters Battery. The majority of the locating troops in Q Battery were posted to other locating batteries and troops within the Royal Regiment.
In late 1993, the regiment carried out a Regimental Arms Plot from Dortmund to Catterick
Catterick
Catterick could be*Catterick, North Yorkshire, England, commonly known as Catterick Village**Catterick Bridge, a hamlet near Catterick Village**Catterick Garrison, a British Army garrison near Catterick Village...
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
RAF Catterick
RAF Catterick is a former Royal Air Force airfield located near Catterick, North Yorkshire in England.-History:Catterick airfield first opened in 1914 as a Royal Flying Corps aerodrome with the role of training pilots and to assist in the defence of the North East of England...
Barracks, now renamed Marne
Marne
Marne is a department in north-eastern France named after the river Marne which flows through the department. The prefecture of Marne is Châlons-en-Champagne...
Barracks after the Battle of the Marne
Battle of the Marne
There were two Battles of the Marne, taking place near the Marne River in Marne, France during World War I:* First Battle of the Marne * Second Battle of the Marne...
alongside the A1. At the time it was co-located with the Regiment's Artillery Support Unit, 8 (Artillery Support) Regiment, RLC
RLC
-Education:* Redeemer Lutheran College, a school in Queensland, Australia* Rosseau Lake College-Government, Law, Politics:* Libertarian Reform Caucus, an internal caucus of the United States Libertarian party...
. That regiment has now moved on and the barracks are currently shared with 1st Bn, The Mercian Regiment
Mercian Regiment
The Mercian Regiment is an infantry regiment of the British Army, formed by the amalgamation of three existing regiments on 1 September 2007.The regiment has three regular army battalion's and one Territorial Army or reserve battalion...
.
In October 1994, the regiment deployed to Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
again, this time to South Armagh
South Armagh
South Armagh can refer to:*The southern part of County Armagh*South Armagh *South Armagh...
as the Drumadd Roulement Battalion (DRB). K Battery was deployed to Bessbrook
Bessbrook
Bessbrook is a village in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It lies about three miles northwest of Newry and close to the main Dublin–Belfast road and rail line...
with P Battery being deployed in both Keady
Keady
Keady is a town in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It is situated south of Armagh city and very close to the border with the Republic of Ireland. The town had a population of 2,960 people in the 2001 Census....
and Middletown
Middletown, County Armagh
Middletown is a small village and townland in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It lies two miles from Tynan and close to the border with County Monaghan. In the 2001 Census it had a population of 240 people...
, however the tour was cut short by 3 weeks due to the IRA
Irish Republican Army
The Irish Republican Army was an Irish republican revolutionary military organisation. It was descended from the Irish Volunteers, an organisation established on 25 November 1913 that staged the Easter Rising in April 1916...
cease-fire.
On their return to Catterick the regiment was busy carrying out its primary role training in addition to supplying soldiers to man a permanent special OP Patrol to Bosnia and various overseas exercises.
In early 1996 the regiment was called upon to assist the Derbyshire civil authorities during a fire-fighters dispute (Op FRESCO
Operation Fresco
Operation Fresco or Op FRESCO was the codename for the provision of basic emergency cover during the UK firefighter dispute 2002-2003 by civilian firefighters in the United Kingdom, in late 2002 and early 2003. The response to the industrial action was coordinated by the Office of the Deputy Prime...
), a commitment led by K (Hondeghem) Battery. In addition, the regiment supplied soldiers to 3 RHA
3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery
3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery is a regiment of the Royal Horse Artillery in the British Army. They are currently based in Caen Barracks, Hohne, Germany.-Current role:...
for an operational tour of Northern Ireland.
On 1 April 1997, the regiment rejoined 1st Artillery Brigade on its reformation as an operational element of the UK's framework nation commitment to Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC). In addition, on 1 April 1997, 4/73 Battery was formally committed to the Joint Rapid Deployment Force (JRDF). The battery's commitment to the JRDF was to maintain six patrols and a command and control element ready to deploy at short notice worldwide with the Force.
On 10 June 1997, the regiment, less 4/73 Battery, deployed to Cyprus on Operation TOSCA
British Forces Cyprus
British Forces Cyprus is the name given to the British Armed Forces stationed in the UK sovereign base areas of Dhekelia and Akrotiri on the island of Cyprus...
. Taking over responsibility for Sector 2 of UNFICYP from 32nd Regiment RA
32nd Regiment Royal Artillery
32nd Regiment Royal Artillery is a regiment of the Royal Artillery in the British Army. It currently serves in the surveillance and target acquisition role, and is equipped with the Hermes 450 and Watchkeeper unmanned aerial vehicles.-History:...
. Soldiers from 1 RHA, 3 RHA, 32 Regt RA, 1 DWR, 1 RRW, 9 Parachute Squadron RE and soldiers from the TA reinforced the Regiment for the tour. Sector 2 covered the UN Buffer Zone in the area of Nicosia. P Battery deployed as Line Battery West and K Battery as Line Battery East. The tour was a great success and the regiment returned to Catterick on 10 December 1997.
Re-roling
Following a period of leave, the regiment returned to work in mid-January 1998 and immediately started the preparations for the re-roling. Because of a decision to transfer MLRS to the TA, it was decided that 5th Regiment would re-role from MLRS/OP to become a Surveillance and Target Acquisition (STA) Regiment. The regiment would also assume responsibility for the provision of the Headquarters Force Artillery (HQ Force Arty) for the Allied Command Europe Mobile Force (Land) (AMF(L)).The re-roling took effect as of 1 April 1998 and 5th Regiment consisted of one Special OP Battery (4/73), two Weapon Locating Batteries (K and P) equipped initially with Cymbeline Radar and Hostile Artillery Locating equipment (HALO). The Radar Troops came from 1 RHA, in Tidworth, 3 RHA, in Topcliffe, 4 Regt RA, in Osnabruck, 26 Regt RA in Gutersloh and 40 Regt RA in Hohne. The Sound Ranging Troops came from 32 Regt RA, in Larkhill and 39 Regt RA, in Newcastle. The Headquarters Battery (Q) that provides a Headquarters for both the regiment in its STA role and the AMF(L). The Force Artillery AMF(L) role was lost in 2002. The regiment is now equipped with COBRA (Counter Battery Battery Radar) MAMBA (Mobile Artillery Monitoring Battlefield Radar) LCMR (Lightweight Counter Mortar Radar) and ASP (Advanced Sound ranging Programme).
Current sub-units
- 53 (Louisburg) Battery RA53 (Louisburg) Battery RA53 Battery is the second most senior Artillery Battery in the Royal Artillery behind the King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery...
formed in 1740. - P Battery (The Dragon Troop) RA formed in 1805.
- K (Hondeghem) Battery RA formed in 1809.
- Z Battery RA formed in 1824.
- 93 (Le Cateau) Battery RA93 (Le Cateau) Battery RA93 Battery is the most recent of 5 Weapon Locating batteries to exist in 5th Regiment Royal Artillery and is based at Marne Barracks, Catterick, North Yorkshire.The Battery currently operates in a Surveillance and Target Acquisition role....
reformed in 2011. - Q (Sanna's Post) HQ Battery RAQ (Sanna's Post) HQ Battery RA-Introduction:Q /HQ Battery is the Headquarters Battery of 5th Regiment Royal Artillery in the Royal Artillery. It currently serves in the Surveillance and Target Acquisition role and is equipped with various weapon platform locating equipment using radars and acoustic sound ranging assets.The name...
formed in 1824. - 4/73 (Sphinx) Special Observation Post Battery RA4/73 (Sphinx) Special Observation Post Battery RA4/73 Battery is a battery of 5th Regiment Royal Artillery in the Royal Artillery. It currently serves in the Surveillance and Target Acquisition Patrols role.-Origins of 4/73 Bty RA:...
formed in 1982. - REME WorkshopRoyal Electrical and Mechanical EngineersThe Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers is a corps of the British Army that has responsibility for the maintenance, servicing and inspection of almost every electrical and mechanical piece of equipment within the British Army from Challenger II main battle tanks and WAH64 Apache...
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.
Elitism
Members of this battery are volunteers who have passed a 20 week Special Observer Patrols Course.
Whilst most gunners wear a dark blue beret, since 2008 soldiers of 4/73 Battery have changed to a khaki beret to mark the close working relationship of the battery with the Honourable Artillery Company
Honourable Artillery Company
The Honourable Artillery Company was incorporated by Royal Charter in 1537 by King Henry VIII. Today it is a Registered Charity whose purpose is to attend to the “better defence of the realm"...
.
Soldiers within the battery that have passed the 20 week STA Patrol Training selection course also wear the Special Observers badge on their arm as displayed on the right.
Recent operations
Due to its unique capability, 5th Regiment RA does not deploy as a regiment but instead the sub-units take turns to support the deployed brigadeBrigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
. Likewise, 4/73 (Sphinx) Battery constantly supply Fire Support Teams (FSTs) to Op Herrick on a rotational basis. To date 5th Regiment RA has had troops deployed into Operational Theatres since 2003 in one form or another.