Despite the proliferation of artillery units of the Volunteer Force around the coasts of the United Kingdom in the 19th Century, none was formed in Shetland, the role being fulfilled by the Royal Naval Reserve, who trained gunners at Fort Charlotte in Lerwick.

In 1880 the War Office proposed to convert the Lerwick-based Orkney & Shetland Rifle Volunteers into artillery, but this was never carried through.

On 22 May the Royal Navy was ordered to install two Coast Defence Emergency Batteries at Lerwick and Sullom Voe.

The Navy agreed to man these batteries for a limited period, after which the Royal Artillery (RA) units were to take over.

[7][8][10][18] Postwar, 430th (Orkney & Zetland) Coast Rgt of the TA established a presence on Shetland.