Explain different artillery regiments please

Discussion in 'Royal Artillery' started by Steve Turner, Dec 18, 2020.

  1. Steve Turner

    Steve Turner Member

    Understood. To me a regiment is 4 companies or squadrons.
     
  2. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    I know nothing of importance about armour, but I think what you have mentally tagged as a regiment should really be termed a battalion. The waters are muddied slightly by the fact that modern regiments have often comprised only a single battalion, so the terms might seem synonymous.

    From my area: the regiment is The Essex Regiment (the family, if you like), and this comprised several different battalions.

    As timuk says, what the Gunners call a regiment (not The Regiment--that's the whole of the Royal Artillery) is roughly what the infantry call a battalion, and the near equivalent of a infantry company is a battery; infantry platoons are loosely--pretty loosely--troops.
     
  3. Steve Turner

    Steve Turner Member

    As an ex serviceman my understanding is that a regiment and battalion are the same just some corps have different naming. Much like a battery, company and squadron are the same and platoon and troop are the same.

    1 Regiment = 3 + 1 HQ Squadron (Lt Col)
    1 Squadron = 3 Troops + 1 HQ element (Maj)
    1 Troop = 3 Sections (Lt)
    1 Section = 8 men. (Cpl)

    you can replace regiment with battalion, squadron with company or battery and Troop with platoon.

    Royal Regiment of Artillery, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers etc etc are considered more like a Corps with the word regiment in their name.
     
  4. Uncle Target

    Uncle Target Mist over Dartmoor

    Infantry Regiments are or were when the Army was large enough, split into Battalions.
    Artillery being part of a corps were split into Regiments which were split into Batteries then Troops then Sections.
    A Field Regiment after 1941 would have 24 Guns in three batteries of eight, two Troops of four guns per battery, each section of two in a Troop a single gun would be termed a sub section. (We are I assume discussing WW2 War establishments).
    The Battery is commanded by a Major who in action spent much of his time with the infantry Battalion Commanders HQ that his battery was assigned to, calling in fire support and organising prepared fire plans. Troop Commanders are Captains who act as FOO Forward Observation Offiicers as well as responsible for their Troop. Each Troop has a GPO a Gun Position Officer (Lieutenant) responsible for the firing of the guns, there are normally two one for each Section.
    There is a CPO Command Post Officer (Lieutenant) for each Battery in a Command Post responsible for co ordinating the batteries fire in contact with the Battery Commander, Regimental HQ and the Divisional Command Network. Each Troop has a Troop Leader (Lieutenant)who looks after Troop functions and logistics he and the GPO's can also take on FOO or Observation Post duties when necessary.
    It does not necessarily relate to numbers of men, more to the guns and the numbers required to fire them efficiently, supply them with ammunition both locally and from the munitions dump.
    For further information look at post Number 9 by TD or No 16 by myself for assistance where you will link to a website that whilst is not strictly speaking a military site will make it all clear .
    Squadrons are generally Cavalry Regiments or units derived from them which is why the RAF use the term having once been Army. The SAS is another example which uses the term Squadron. Armoured Regiments are split into Squadrons and Troops.
     
    Last edited: Dec 24, 2020
  5. Steve Turner

    Steve Turner Member

    Much appreciated !!
     
  6. Hugh MacLean

    Hugh MacLean Senior Member

    When discussing the Royal Artillery, often forgotten are the men who served in the martime regiments. They served at sea aboard Merchant Navy ships at home and abroad. There were six regiments each responsible for a designated area of shipping. They sustained heavy losses along with their shipmates, the merchant seamen and RN Dems.
    Regards
    Hugh
     
    Last edited: Dec 25, 2020
  7. Steve Turner

    Steve Turner Member

    Thanks Hugh. That never occurred to me. It’s such a huge war; there are so many untold stories and uncommon ones. My grandad was RA and ended up as a special forces gunner supporting the SBS and Commandos.
     
    Chris C and Hugh MacLean like this.

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