47th Regiment Royal Artillery

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 Helicopter Command.[3]

47 Regiment Royal Artillery
Active1947 – present
Allegiance United Kingdom
Branch British Army
RoleUAV
Size5 Batteries
457 personnel[1]
Part ofJoint Helicopter Command
Garrison/HQHorne Barracks, Larkhill, Wiltshire
Nickname(s)The Hampshire & Sussex Gunners
EquipmentThales Watchkeeper WK450

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]

  • 10 (Assaye) Battery
  • 43 Battery (Lloyd's Company)
  • 57 (Bhurtpore) Battery
  • 74 Battery (The Battle Axe Company)
  • 31 (Headquarters) Battery

Previous Batteries
  • 4 (Sphinx 1742–1993) Battery[4]
  • 3 Battery
  • 21 (Gibraltar) Battery
  • 25/170 (Imjin) Battery

References
  1. "Army – Question for Ministry of Defence". p. 1. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  2. "Regular Basing Plan" (PDF). Ministry of Defence (MoD). Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  3. "British Army Newsletter Issue 5" (PDF). British Army. 9 July 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  4. "47th Regiment Royal Artillery". British Army Units 1945 on. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  5. AirForces Monthly. Stamford, Lincolnshire, England: Key Publishing Ltd. November 2014. p. 8.
  6. "Military: Gunners change berets". Salisbury Journal.
  7. Ripley, Tim (21 March 2018). "UK Watchkeeper fails to achieve full operating capability milestone". Jane's Information Group. 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. "47th Regiment Royal Artillery". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
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