2nd/10th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=2nd/10th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery


caption=Badge of the Royal Australian Artillery
country=Australia
allegiance=
type=Artillery
branch=Army
dates=1991 - Present
specialization=Field Artillery
command_structure=Australian 4th Brigade
size=2 Artillery Batteries
current_commander=LTCOL Crawford
garrison=
ceremonial_chief=Queen Elizabeth II
ceremonial_chief_label=
nickname=
motto=Brilliant at the basics
colors=Blue and red
identification_symbol=
identification_symbol_label=
identification_symbol_2=
identification_symbol_2_label=
march=
mascot=
battles=
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=

The 2nd/10th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery is an Australian Army regiment primarily composed of reservists. It is a general support regiment in the Australian 4th Brigade consisting of two field batteries. It is phasing in the L16 81mm Mortar as the primary armament, while the regiment's M2A2 Howitzer field guns are currently being retained for training and ceremonial purposes.

History

2nd Field Regiment – can be traced back to 1859 where it was a coastal Artillery Detachment based at Warrnambool. In 1948 the Regiment was raised again as part of the CMF in the 3rd Division in Victoria. In 1952 the Regiment was at full strength and located at Batman Avenue and Warragul. The Regiment remained until 1975 when it was amalgamated with 15th Field Regiment to become 2nd/15th Field Regiment at Batman Avenue.

4th Medium Regiment – 4th Medium Regiment was raised at Chapel Street East St Kilda in 1947. By 1955 the Regiment had Battery locations at Brighton, Frankston and Ripponlea. In 1957 the Regiment disbanded and the elements of the Regiment were absorbed into 10th Medium Regiment.

8th Medium Regiment – 8th Medium Regiment was numbered as 8th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment in 1955 and was located at Geelong. In 1957 the Regiment absorbed elements of 38th Light Anti Aircraft Regiment and was designated 8th Medium Regiment with Batteries located at Geelong, Colac and Warrnambool. In 1960 the Regiment was absorbed into 10th Medium Regiment.

15th Field Regiment – can be traced back to 15th Artillery Brigade who served on the Western Front during World War 1. The Regiment was in Singapore from 1941 until 1943 as 2nd/15th Field Regiment (2nd AIF). In 1957 the Regiment was re-raised as 15th Field Regiment until 1975 when it amalgamated with 2nd Field Regiment at Batman Avenue.

10th Medium Regiment – 10th Medium Regiment descends from the oldest Victorian Militia unit, first raised in 1854 in Geelong as a Volunteer Rifle Corps. The Regiment’s role changed frequently from Mounted Rifle to Light Horse to Field Artillery to Light and Heavy Anti-Aircraft and finally to Medium Artillery. In 1957 10th Medium Regiment re-formed in Frankston and Brighton. In 1960 the Regiment absorbed 8th Medium Regiment with Batteries at Frankston, Warrnambool, Geelong and Colac. In 1991 the Regiment amalgamated with 2nd/15th Field Regiment with 37th and 39th Medium Battery’s amalgamating to form 38th Medium Battery. The Regiment became 2nd/10th Medium Regiment with 22nd Field Battery in Dandenong and 38th Medium Battery at Geelong.

2nd/10th Medium Regiment – In 1990 the 3rd Division disbanded. 2nd Division inherited the amalgamated 2nd/15th Field Regiment and 10th Medium Regiment to form 2nd/10th Medium Regiment in 1991.

2nd/10th Field Regiment – In 2002 the Regiment was re-named as 2nd/10th Field Regiment. Equipped with M2A2s, the Regiment currently has 22nd Field Battery located at Doveton and 38th Field Battery located at Geelong and Colac. Regimental Headquarters, Headquarters Battery and the Regiment’s Band are located at Chapel Street St Kilda.

As of May 2008 the regiment is titled 2nd/10th Field Regiment. [ [http://www.defence.gov.au/opacolyte/images/gallery/20060326/index.htm Op Acolyte :: Image Gallery ] ]

Commanding Officer - LTCOL Crawford

Regimental Sergeant Major – WO1 Driscoll

Future plans

It is planned to convert all artillery regiments in the Australian 2nd Division from field regiments into mortar units.

Factors such as a lack of unit independence (batteries in the Regiment frequently find themselves having to share manpower and weapons to mount exercises), the declining usefulness of 105mm ammunition, the aggressive connotations associated with field artillery in a Defence Force primarily involved in peacekeeping and the inability of the Royal Australian Infantry Corps to operate mortars in all of its Battalions have lead to this decision.

The plan calls for transferring mortars from all Australian 2nd Division Infantry units to all 2nd Division Artillery Regiments, training all members of the Regiment in mortar courses, phasing out the Headquarters Battery and exploring the possibilities of a Surveillance and Target Acquisition capability.

References