Amit00: Content refined for better accuracy

2025-07-17T01:30:47Z

Content refined for better accuracy

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:00, 17 July 2025
Line 84:		Line 84:

	==See also==		==See also==
	{{Portal\|United Kingdom~~\|War\|World War I\|World War II~~}}		{{Portal\|United Kingdom}}
	*[[British Army]]		*[[British Army]]
	*[[Royal Artillery]]		*[[Royal Artillery]]
Line 141:		Line 141:
	* {{cite web \| url=http://www.army.mod.uk/artillery/regiments/24678.aspx \| title=5th Regiment Royal Artillery \| publisher=[[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)]] \| access-date=18 November 2015 }}		* {{cite web \| url=http://www.army.mod.uk/artillery/regiments/24678.aspx \| title=5th Regiment Royal Artillery \| publisher=[[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)]] \| access-date=18 November 2015 }}
	* [http://www.forums.theraa.co.uk/index.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=1190 The Royal Artillery Association]		* [http://www.forums.theraa.co.uk/index.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=1190 The Royal Artillery Association]
	* [http://www.firepower.org.uk/ Fire Power Museum]		* [http://www.firepower.org.uk/ Fire Power Museum] {{Webarchive\|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160426223239/http://www.firepower.org.uk/ \|date=26 April 2016 }}

	{{Royal Horse Artillery}}		{{Royal Horse Artillery}}

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article

2023-08-18T06:42:56Z

Created a new article

New page

{{short description|British Army artillery battery}}
{{For|the Second World War anti-aircraft weapons codenamed 'Z Batteries'|Z Battery}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name= Z Battery Royal Horse Artillery<br />Z Battery Royal Artillery
|image=Z Bty Crest.jpg
|caption=
|dates= 1 April 1824{{snd}}present
|country={{flag|United Kingdom|23px}}
|allegiance=[[File:Flag of the British East India Company (1801).svg|25px]] Hon East India Coy (till 1858)<br />{{flag|United Kingdom}} (post 1858)
|branch={{army|United Kingdom|23px}}
|type=[[Artillery]]
|role= [[Surveillance and Target Acquisition]]
|size= [[Artillery battery|Battery]]
|command_structure=
|garrison= [[Catterick Garrison]]
|garrison_label= Location
|nickname=
|patron=
|motto=
|colors=
|colors_label=
|march=
|mascot=
|equipment= [[Weapon Locating Radar|COBRA]], [[Weapon Locating Radar|MAMBA]], [[Counter-battery radar|LCMR]], [[Advanced Sound-ranging Programme|ASP]]
|equipment_label= Equipment
|battles=[[Anglo-Egyptian War]]<br />[[First World War]]<br />[[Second World War]]
|anniversaries=
|decorations=
|battle_honours=[[Battle honour#Entitlement|Ubique]]
|disbanded=

|commander1=
|commander1_label=
|commander2=
|commander2_label=
|commander3=
|commander3_label=
|commander4=
|commander4_label=
|notable_commanders=

|identification_symbol=
|identification_symbol_label=
|identification_symbol_2=
|identification_symbol_2_label=
|identification_symbol_3=
|identification_symbol_3_label=
|identification_symbol_4=
|identification_symbol_4_label=
}}
'''Z Battery RA''' was a [[Artillery battery|Battery]] of [[5th Regiment Royal Artillery]] in the [[Royal Artillery]]. It had the [[Surveillance and Target Acquisition]] role and was equipped with various weapon platform locating equipment using radars and acoustic sound ranging assets.

==Early history==
===First formation===
Z Battery was originally raised in [[Poona]], [[India]]<ref name=MOD_5RA>{{cite web|publisher=[[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)]]|access-date=1 May 2013|title=5 Regiment Batteries|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/artillery/regiments/31441.aspx}}</ref> on 1 April 1824 as '''4th [[Troop]], Bombay [[Horse artillery|Horse Artillery]]''', part of the [[Bombay Presidency Army]] of the [[Honourable East India Company]].<ref name=Clarke108>{{harvnb|Clarke|1993|p=108}}</ref>

As a result of the [[Indian Rebellion of 1857]], the [[British Crown]] took direct control of India from the East India Company on 1 November 1858 under the provisions of the [[Government of India Act 1858]]. The [[Presidency armies]] transferred to the direct authority of the British Crown and its European units were transferred to the [[British Army]]. Henceforth artillery, the mutineers most effective arm, was to be the sole preserve of the British Army (with the exception of certain Mountain Artillery batteries). On 19 February 1862, the Bombay Horse Artillery transferred to the [[Royal Horse Artillery]] as its 4th Brigade{{efn|The original Horse Brigade Royal Artillery formed 1st Horse Brigade RA, the 1st Brigade Bengal Horse Artillery became 2nd Horse Brigade RA, the Madras Horse Artillery became 3rd Horse Brigade RA, the Bombay Horse Artillery became 4th Horse Brigade RA and the 2nd Brigade Bengal Horse Artillery became 5th Horse Brigade RA. The 3rd Brigade Bengal Horse Artillery was split between 2nd and 5th Horse Brigades RA. These brigades performed an administrative, rather than tactical, role.<ref name=FrederickIHA>{{harvnb|Frederick|1984|pp=428–429}}</ref>}} and 4th Troop became '''D Battery, 4th Horse Brigade, RA'''.<ref name=Clarke108/>

A reorganization of the horse artillery on 13 April 1864 saw 1st Brigade split as A and B Brigades, 2nd Brigade became C Brigade, 3rd Brigade became D Brigade, 4th Brigade became E Brigade, and 5th Brigade became F Brigade.<ref name=Clarke53>{{harvnb|Clarke|1993|p=53}}</ref> As battery designations were tied to the brigade the battery was assigned to, the battery was now designated '''D Battery, E Brigade''', the first of a bewildering series of redesignations.<ref name=ClarkeBdes>{{harvnb|Clarke|1993|pp=114–139}}</ref> From 1866, the term "[[Royal Horse Artillery]]" appeared in Army List<ref name=Frederick431>{{harvnb|Frederick|1984|p=431}}</ref> hence the battery was designated '''D Battery, E Brigade, RHA''' from about this time. Throughout this period, the battery was based at [[Ahmednager]].<ref name=Clarke133>{{harvnb|Clarke|1993|p=133}}</ref> On 1 February 1871 it was designated '''H Battery, C Brigade''', became '''H Battery, D Brigade''' on 16 January 1873 and '''E Battery, E Brigade''' on 1 April 1875.<ref name=Clarke108/>

Another reorganization on 1 July 1877 saw E Brigade disbanded with its batteries distributed amongst A, B and C Brigades. The battery was now redesignated '''E Battery, C Brigade''' at [[Aldershot Garrison|Aldershot]]. By January 1882, the battery was at [[Kirkee]].<ref name=Clarke129>{{harvnb|Clarke|1993|p=129}}</ref> On 1 April 1882, C Brigade was in its turn disbanded with its batteries distributed amongst A and B Brigades. The battery was now redesignated '''N Battery, A Brigade''' at [[Canterbury]].<ref name=Clarke118>{{harvnb|Clarke|1993|p=118}}</ref> The battery took part{{snd}}as N/A Battery{{snd}} in the [[Anglo-Egyptian War]], notably the [[Battle of Tel el-Kebir]] in September 1882.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.britishbattles.com/egypt-1882/tel-el-kebir-1882.htm | title=The Battle of Tel-El-Kebir 1882|publisher=British Battles.com | access-date=27 November 2015 }}</ref>

The battery was disbanded in February 1884.<ref name=Clarke108/> The brigade system was abolished on 1 July 1889. From now on, RHA batteries would be designated in a single sequence.<ref name=ClarkeBdes/>

===Reformed===
'''Z Battery, RHA''' was reformed on 13 February 1900.<ref name=Frederick440>{{harvnb|Frederick|1984|p=440}}</ref> The Brigade system was revived on 1 March 1901 and the battery was assigned to the 4th Brigade-Division, RHA on formation (along with [[AA Battery, Royal Horse Artillery|AA Battery, RHA]]).{{efn|name=DoubleA|From 1 July 1889, RHA batteries were lettered in a single alphabetical sequence in order of seniority from date of formation.<ref name=Clarke54>{{harvnb|Clarke|1993|p=54}}</ref> When more than 26 batteries were needed, double letters were used, [[AA Battery, Royal Horse Artillery|AA]],<ref name=Clarke99>{{harvnb|Clarke|1993|p=99}}</ref> [[BB Battery, Royal Horse Artillery|BB]],<ref name=Clarke100>{{harvnb|Clarke|1993|p=100}}</ref> etc.}} In 1903, the brigade was redesignated IV Brigade, RHA<ref name=Frederick447>{{harvnb|Frederick|1984|p=447}}</ref> and was stationed at [[Newbridge, County Kildare|Newbridge]] in [[Ireland]].<ref name=Clarke133/> On 1 October 1906, the brigade was redesignated [[XIV Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery]] and was broken up on 1 August 1913.<ref name=Frederick447/> The battery was transferred to [[II Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery]] at [[Canterbury]]<ref name=Clarke124>{{harvnb|Clarke|1993|p=124}}</ref>{{efn|Frederick says [[I Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery]].<ref name=Frederick442>{{harvnb|Frederick|1984|p=442}}</ref>}} and was disbanded again on 24 December 1913.<ref name=Clarke108/>

==World War I==
===(Tempy) Z Battery===
As a result of the [[action at Néry]] on 1 September 1914, [[L (Néry) Battery Royal Horse Artillery|L Battery, RHA]] was almost destroyed as an operational unit: of five [[Officer (armed forces)|Officers]], three were killed and two wounded; of 200 [[Other ranks (UK)|Other Ranks]], 20 were killed and 29 wounded; and five of six [[13 pounder]]s were lost.<ref name=Lomas8385>{{harvnb|Lomas|1997|pp=83–85}}</ref> It had to be withdrawn to [[England]] to reform.<ref name=Becke5>{{harvnb|Becke|1935|p=5}}</ref> (Tempy) Z Battery, RHA was formed on 1 September from the Centre and Left Sections{{efn|A Subsection consisted of a single gun and limber drawn by six horses (with three drivers), eight gunners (riding on the limber or mounted on their own horses), and an ammunition wagon also drawn by six horses (with three drivers).<ref name=Clarke43>{{harvnb|Clarke|1993|p=43}}</ref> Two Subsections formed a Section and in a six gun battery these would be designated as Left, Centre and Right Sections.<ref name=Clarke45>{{harvnb|Clarke|1993|p=45}}</ref>}} of [[I Battery, Royal Horse Artillery|I Battery, RHA]] to replace L Battery in [[VII Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery]], [[1st Cavalry Division (United Kingdom)|1st Cavalry Division]]. On 3 September, the Left Section of I Battery was replaced by a section of [[D Battery Royal Horse Artillery|D Battery, RHA]]. On 15 September, this section returned to D Battery and on 17 September a section of [[J (Sidi Rezegh) Battery Royal Horse Artillery|J Battery, RHA]] joined. On 27 September, the sections of I and J returned to their batteries and (Tempy) Z Battery ceased to exist. The next day, [[H Battery, Royal Horse Artillery|H Battery, RHA]] joined 1st Cavalry Division in its place.<ref name="Becke5"/> During the battery's brief existence, 1st Cavalry Division saw action in the [[First Battle of the Marne]] and the [[First Battle of the Aisne]].<ref>{{harvnb|Becke|1935|p=6}}</ref>

===Z Battery===
'''Z Battery, RHA''' was reformed on 9 October 1914<ref name=Clarke108/> equipped with six [[13 pounder]]s. It joined the [[Ipswich]] based [[G Battery, Royal Horse Artillery|G Battery]] and [[O Battery, Royal Horse Artillery|O Battery]] in [[V Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery]]. V Brigade, RHA was assigned to [[8th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)|8th Division]] on formation in October 1914.<ref name=Becke93>{{harvnb|Becke|1935|p=93}}</ref> With 8th Division, it crossed to France on 4 and 5 November 1914 and served with the division on the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]] until January 1917. While with the division, it served in the battles of [[Battle of Neuve Chapelle|Neuve Chapelle]], [[Battle of Aubers Ridge|Aubers Ridge]], and of the [[Battle of the Somme (1916)|Somme]].<ref>{{harvnb|Becke|1935|p=94}}</ref> On 8 June 1915, the battery was re-armed with six [[18 pounder]]s.<ref name=Becke93/>

On 13 January 1917, V Brigade, RHA left 8th Division and became V Army Brigade, RHA.{{efn|Army Brigades, [[Royal Horse Artillery|RHA]] and [[Royal Field Artillery|RFA]] were artillery brigades that were excess to the needs of the divisions, withdrawn to form an artillery reserve.}}<ref name=Becke93/> At the [[Armistice with Germany|Armistice]], it was serving as Army Troops with the [[Fourth Army (United Kingdom)|Fourth Army]].<ref>{{harvnb|BEF GHQ|1918|p=19}}</ref>

By October 1919, the battery had joined the newly reformed [[VIII Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery]].<ref name=Frederick444>{{harvnb|Frederick|1984|p=444}}</ref> On 4 January 1920, the battery was absorbed into [[B Battery, Royal Horse Artillery|B Battery, RHA]].<ref name=Clarke108/>

==Recent operations==

Z Battery deployed on Operation Herrick 13 and 18 in Afghanistan.{{citation needed|date=December 2015}}

==See also==
{{Portal|United Kingdom|War|World War I|World War II}}
*[[British Army]]
*[[Royal Artillery]]
*[[Royal Horse Artillery]]
*[[List of Royal Artillery Batteries]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book
| last = Becke | first = Major A.F.
| year = 1935
| title = Order of Battle of Divisions Part 1. The Regular British Divisions
| publisher = His Majesty's Stationery Office
| location = London
| isbn = 1-871167-09-4
}}
* {{cite book
| last = Clarke | first = W.G.
| year = 1993
| title = Horse Gunners: The Royal Horse Artillery, 200 Years of Panache and Professionalism
| publisher = The Royal Artillery Institution
| location = Woolwich
| isbn = 09520762-0-9
}}
* {{cite book
| last = Frederick | first = J.B.M.
| year = 1984
| title = Lineage Book of British Land Forces 1660-1978
| publisher = Microform Academic Publishers
| location = Wakefield, Yorkshire
| isbn = 1-85117-009-X
}}
* {{cite book
| last = Lomas | first = David
| year = 1997
| title = Mons 1914: The BEF's Tactical Triumph
| volume = 49 of Campaign Series
| publisher = Osprey
| location = Oxford
| isbn = 1-85532-551-9
}}
* {{cite book
| year = 1918
| title = Order of Battle of the British Armies in France, November 11th, 1918
| publisher = General Staff, GHQ
| location = France
| ref = {{harvid|BEF GHQ|1918}}
}}

==External links==
* {{cite web | url=http://www.army.mod.uk/artillery/regiments/24678.aspx | title=5th Regiment Royal Artillery | publisher=[[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)]] | access-date=18 November 2015 }}
* [http://www.forums.theraa.co.uk/index.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=1190 The Royal Artillery Association]
* [http://www.firepower.org.uk/ Fire Power Museum]

{{Royal Horse Artillery}}

[[Category:Royal Artillery batteries]]
[[Category:1824 establishments in British India]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1824]]

Z Battery Royal Artillery - Revision history

Amit00: Content refined for better accuracy

Ajay Kumar: Created a new article