Unit Name: | 4th Artillery Regiment (General Support), RCA |
Dates: | 1987–present |
Country: | Canada |
Branch: | Canadian Army |
Type: | Artillery |
Role: | General support |
Size: | 4 batteries |
Garrison: | CFB Gagetown |
Equipment: | CU172 Blackjack |
Battle Honours: | la|Ubique|everywhere |
The 4th Artillery Regiment (General Support), Royal Canadian Artillery, provides the Canadian Army critical warfighting capabilities, including medium-range radars and CU172 Blackjack uncrewed air vehicles. The unit is based at CFB Gagetown, where it is part of the 6 Canadian Combat Support Brigade.[1]
On November 27, 1987, the 4th Air Defence Regiment, RCA, was formed at CFB Lahr to support the 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group from batteries already stationed in Germany.[3] The 119th and 127th batteries were raised to give the regiment the ability to support the 1st Canadian Division's operations. Following the major growth of the regiment's service requirements the Headquarters and Services Battery was established in 1990.
In 1992, the Canadian government released the final version of Canadian Forces Force Reduction Plan. The 4th AD Regt was reduced in size. By mid-1992 it had been reduced to nil strength. On February 5, 1993, the regiment was disbanded. The 119th Air Defence Battery became independent and Canada's only active air defence unit.[4]
On March 15, 1995, the 4th Air Defence Regiment was reactivated as part of the Canadian Army Reserve Force. It was staffed by mixture of regular force members and reservists. The elements of the regiment deployed as part of the Canada's commitment to Afghanistan to support aerospace coordination centres. In 2011, the 127th battery was re-established as a copy of the 119th and 128th batteries.
In 2014 the regiment was renamed to the 4th Artillery Regiment (General Support), RCA. This was to reflected the regiment's capabilities moving away from air defence. The 119th battery was renamed to the 129th battery. The regiment uses medium-range radars and CU172 Blackjack to provide mechanized brigade groups with aerospace coordination centres.