List of regiments of the Royal Artillery (1938–1947)

[1][2][3][4] In 1938 the RA was organised in two main branches: Field, and Coast Defence and Anti-Aircraft (CD&AA) (including anti-tank).

The two branches had separate depots and administrative staffs, but the main difference was in equipment and tactical employment.

'S/A' indicates an established Regular or TA unit placed in 'suspended animation' (as opposed to disbandment) Traditionally the Royal Horse Artillery (RHA) provided highly mobile light field guns to support cavalry formations.

By 1939 the RHA was – like the rest of the RA – completely mechanised, but its role remained essentially the same: provision of mobile artillery to armoured formations.

The following regiments were designated RHA for all or part of the period:[1][7] The field regiments were the backbone of the Royal Artillery, mostly operating as integral components of the infantry and armoured divisions, with a few held at corps or army level (later in the Army Groups Royal Artillery).

Later in the war they could include some ATS personnel and many batteries were manned by the Home Guard with regular army command post staff.

Port detachments were formed to find pools of trained Light Machine Gun gunners who could be embarked as required.

[343] In September 1942 a gunner Brigadier was appointed as commander and in January 1943 the regiment was re-titled Maritime Royal Artillery.