- 39th Regiment Royal Artillery
Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=39 Regiment Royal Artillery
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dates=1947 to present
country=United Kingdom
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branch=Army
type=Artillery
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command_structure=1st Artillery Brigade
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equipment=MLRS
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aircraft_transport=" 39 Regiment Royal Artillery" is part of the
Royal Artillery . Its name is pronounced "three nine", The Regiment is one of theDepth fire units of1st Artillery Brigade , part of theBritish Army . It was formed in 1947Equipment
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Multiple Launch Rocket System Recent History
39 Regiment Royal Artillery have recently deployed Batteries on
Op Herrick and have fired the firstGMLRS rounds in theatre.The Regiment is based at Harlow Hill in Northumberland the only military unit now located onHadrians Wall .Past History
*1947 - 39 Regiment RA was formed with the re-designation of 2 Medium Regiment. It was originally equipped with
BL 5.5 inch Medium Gun and was first stationed in theMiddle East andAfrica . The Regiment left theMiddle East in 1948 after an Emergency Tour toPalestine , where it deployed toAyrshire and was re-equipped with the M59155 mm Long Tom Howitzer.
*1955 - Converted to a 155mm Self Propelled Regiment.
*1958 - Deployed to Cyprus to support operations againstEOKA with batteries based in Episkopi, Dhekhlia, and Jophinou. In 1960 the Regiment moved to support theBAOR , and was based in Dempsey Barracks inSennelager for the next 35 years. Here its role was one of three Nuclear Regiments, and was equipped withHonest John Rockets and towedM115 203 mm howitzer
*1967 - 75 Battery was placed in suspended animation and was replaced by H Battery(Ramsays' Troop) Royal Artillery.
*1969 - the Regiment was caught up in theCoup d'état by Captain Gaddaffi inLibya , and the Regiments 2IC was captured and held hostage, but later released unharmed.
*1972 - Further reorganisation with 39 Medium Regiment now using the M109 Howitzer and M110 Self Propelled Guns, and 132 Bty RA and 176(Abu Klea)Bty RA joining H Battery. The Regiment completed four tours of Northern Ireland over the next seven years.
*1973 - Changed roles once more when it became a General Support Regiment, and was equipped entirely with the M110 Self Propelled Gun.
*1982 - 39 Heavy Regiment was joined by [56 (Olpherts) Battery Royal Artillery|56(Olpherts) Bty RA, 34(Seringapatam)Battery and 76(Maude's)Battery. H Battery was placed into suspended animation and 132 Battery together with 176 Battery departed for theRoyal School of Artillery atLarkhill .
*1987 - 132 Battery and 176 Battery rejoined the Regiment with the M110 Self Propelled Gun role and 56 Battery converted to a special weapons battery, equipped with the M109 Self Propelled Guns.
*1989 - 39 Heavy Regiment took delivery of theMLRS , and was given a year to convert, complete training and become operational. The Regiment deployed to Saudi Arabia as part of 1st Armoured Division onOperation Granby . In a visit for VIPs it spectacularly failed to hit an island, during a demonstration of its firepower.
*1993 - The Regiment was joined by 57 (Bhurtpore) Bty RA, who were to be equipped with the UAV, and deployed toCyprus , as the British detachment inUNFICYP . This tour saw the Danish and Canadian Contingents leave, with only the Austrians and the British left.Argentina then sent a force to control Sector One, the Austrians were in charge of Sector Three and the British in charge of Sector Two. This was the first time that British and Argentine Soldiers had met since theFalklands war in 1982.
*1995 - 39 Regiment left Dempsey Barracks, and moved to Albermarle Barracks inNorthumberland .
*1996 - The regiment deployed again to Cyprus in support ofUNFICYP . The island experienced some of its highest tension along thebuffer zone in 30 years, and two of the Regiments soldiers were shot and wounded by Turkish Troops.
*2001 - The Regiment supported MAFF, in the North-East of the UK , during theFoot and mouth outbreak ,
*2003 - 57 Battery deployed toKosovo to carry out UAV flights, and this was followed in 2003 with the Battery moving to 32 Regt RA, which was reorganised as one of theRoyal Artillery Surveillance and Target Acquisition Regiments with its focus on UAVs 74 Bty (The Battle Axe Company) joined 39 Regiment and it was formed as the only Depth Fire Regiment in theBritish Army . 101 Regiment is theTerritorial Army Regiment ofMLRS , and is based in Newcastle.
*1998 to 2004 - 39 Regiment has completed several tours ofNorthern Ireland from 1998, as the Urban Reinforcement Battalion. It continued to support operations in the province, until the end ofOperation Banner in 2007
*2002 to 2007 - Soldiers of the Regiment have deployed toKuwait andIraq as part ofOperation Telic .
*2004 - 35 Bty RA joined 39 Regiment after the disbandment of 22 Regt RA. The Regiment is now also equipped withGMLRS .
*2007 and onwards - The Regiment continues to deploy soldiers toAfghanistan to support Op HerrickRecruiting Areas
39 Regiment changed its recruiting area to cover
Wales , and is now known as the "The Welsh Gunners". Before this they were known as the Northumberland Gunners, and prior to 1995 the Birmingham Gunners. 39 Regiment RA is part of 1st Artillery BrigadeBatteries
*35 Battery
*56 (Olpherts) Headquarters Battery
*74 Battery (The Battle Axe Company)
*132 Battery (The Bengal Rocket Troop)
*176 (Abu Klea) BatteryReferences
[http://www.army.mod.uk/39regtra Official Pages of 39 Regt RA on www.mod.uk]
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