47th Regiment Royal Artillery explained

Unit Name:47 Regiment Royal Artillery
Dates:1947 – present
Allegiance: United Kingdom
Role:UAV
Size:5 Batteries
457 personnel[1]
Command Structure:Joint Aviation Command
Garrison:Horne Barracks, Larkhill, Wiltshire
Nickname:The Hampshire & Sussex Gunners
Equipment:Thales Watchkeeper WK450
Equipment Label:Equipment

47 Regiment Royal Artillery is a regiment of the Royal Artillery in the British Army. It is equipped with the Thales Watchkeeper WK450. It is located at Horne Barracks, Larkhill in Wiltshire.[2] It falls under command of Joint Aviation Command.[3]

History

The regiment was formed in 1947 when 4th Coast Training Regiment Royal Artillery was renamed 47 Coast Training Regiment Royal Artillery.[4] It was reformed as 47 Guided Weapons Regiment Royal Artillery and equipped with the Corporal missile in 1957.[4] In 1965 it was renamed 47 Light Regiment Royal Artillery and equipped with the 105mm Pack Howitzer and then deployed to Aden in 1967.[4] It saw service in Northern Ireland during the Troubles in 1973 and 1975.[4] In 1976 it became 47 Field Regiment Royal Artillery, initially equipped with the 105mm light gun, before moving on to the Abbott self-propelled gun in 1981.[4] 21 Battery and elements of 43 Battery deployed to the South Atlantic during the Falklands War in 1982.[4] 3 Battery, 31 Battery and elements of 21 Battery took part in the Gulf War in 1991.[4] 21 Battery saw action in Bosnia in 1995 and elements of 31 Battery were deployed to Macedonia and to Kosovo in 1999.[4] Between 2001 and 2014 elements of the Regiment were deployed on Operation Herrick in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.[5]

Dress Distinction

In September 2019 the regiment changed from their Royal Artillery headdress to that of the aviation light blue beret.[6]

Current Role

The Regiment is the sole operator of the Thales Watchkeeper WK450 UAS.[7]

Current Batteries

The Regiment currently comprises four equipment Batteries and one HQ Battery. The fourth equipment Battery (57 Battery) was added in 2019:[8]

Previous Batteries

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Army – Question for Ministry of Defence. 1. 14 December 2020.
  2. Web site: Regular Basing Plan. Ministry of Defence (MoD). 8 February 2014.
  3. News: . British Army Newsletter Issue 5 . British Army . 9 July 2020 . 9 July 2020 .
  4. Web site: 47th Regiment Royal Artillery. British Army Units 1945 on. 25 April 2014.
  5. Book: AirForces Monthly. Key Publishing Ltd. November 2014. Stamford, Lincolnshire, England. 8.
  6. Web site: Military: Gunners change berets. Salisbury Journal.
  7. News: . UK Watchkeeper fails to achieve full operating capability milestone . Tim . Ripley . 21 March 2018 . British Army sources said its sole Watchkeeper unit, 47 Regiment Royal Artillery based at Larkhill on Salisbury Plain, "continues to train and carry out exercises with Watchkeeper"..
  8. Web site: 47th Regiment Royal Artillery. Ministry of Defence. 26 July 2021.