83rd Searchlight Regiment (83rd S/L Rgt) was an air defence unit of Britain's Royal Artillery during World War II.

[3] By the time 83rd S/L Rgt joined, The Blitz was in full swing, with frequent night air raids on the industrial cities.

This layout was an attempt to improve the chances of picking up enemy bombers and keeping them illuminated for engagement by AA guns or night fighters.

As they crossed South East England these raids were met by intense AA fire and RAF night fighters, which scored an impressive number of 'kills' in conjunction with radar-controlled S/Ls.

[6][19] With the lower threat of attack by the weakened Luftwaffe, AA Command was now being forced to release manpower for the planned invasion of Normandy (Operation Overlord).

[6][22] The beginning of the V-1 campaign against London came on 13 June, a week after Overlord was launched on D Day, and Operation Diver was put into immediate effect.

After a poor start the guns and fighters began to gain a measure of control over the flying bombs, and by the end of the first phase of the operation, when 21st Army Group overran the launch sites in Northern France in September, 1800 night fighter interceptions had been achieved, of which 142 were due to S/L illumination.

[6][24] On 10 December 1944 Regimental Headquarters of 83rd S/L Rgt with 365, 513 and 514 S/L Btys was ordered to disband, the process being completed by 11 May 1945 at Ipswich.