The Regiment was formed as 5th Regiment Royal Horse Artillery in 1939 and consisted of K Battery and G Battery (Mercers Troop) RHA. K Battery was the current Riding Troop at St Johns Wood. In 1940 the Regiment formed part of the British Expeditionary Force to France and after Dunkirk moved to North Africa, where it joined 7-Armoured Division. Along with 7-Armoured Division the Regiment fought throughout the Western Desert and for a limited period took part in the Italian Campaign. On return to the UK in early 1944 it then took part in the Normandy landings and fought in Northwest Europe to VE Day.In 1946, CC Battery became C Battery. Because of the reorganisation of the Royal Horse Artillery in 1958, the Regiment became 5th Field Regiment RA. On the 1st February 1958, C Battery moved to 3rd RHA and G Battery (Mercer's Troop) moved to 4th RHA. P Battery (The Dragon Troop) left 4th RHA and Q (Sanna's Post) Battery moved from 10th Field Regiment on the 5th February 1958 to join K Battery and form the Regiment. After a short period near Crickhowell, the Regiment left there in September 1958 for a 3-year tour of Hong Kong. After an enjoyable tour equipped with 25 Pounders the Regiment returned to Salisbury Plain in Southern England in October 1961 as 5 Light Regiment RA.




During its stay at Perham Down, the Regiment had many equipment changes. In 1961 K Battery had 5.5inch guns while P and Q Batteries were equipped with 25 Pounders; then in 1962 all the Batteries were allotted 4.2 inch Mortars as well as other guns.



In 1963 the Regiment converted to 105mm Pack Howitzers and took part in exercises in Libya, Canada and Norway with this versatile new gun.In August/September of 1964 the Regiment moved to the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) in Germany and reverted to its title of 5th Field Regiment RA and was stationed in Gutersloh as a Close Support Regiment. Once again K Battery had 5.5inch guns and P and Q Batteries 25 pounders, but these later gave way to the Abbot Self Propelled (SP) gun in 1966. Sports wise Skiing and Hockey feature as the major successful sports before the regiment returned to Southern England in 1969 this time to Bulford.The Regiment now formed part of 3rd Division and the Strategic Reserve. The next three years were dominated by four emergency tours of Northern Ireland (NI) before the move to Hildesheim, Germany in 1972 and re-equipping with 175mm Guns (M107 SP), the Regiment again changed its name to 5th Heavy Regiment RA.


In October 1994, the Regiment deployed to Northern Ireland again, this time to South Armagh as the Drumadd Roulement Battalion (DRB). K Battery was deployed to Bessbrook with P Battery being deployed in both Keady and Middletown, however the tour was cut short due to the IRA cease-fire.On their return to Catterick the Regiment was busy carrying out its primary role training in addition to supplying soldiers to man a permanent special OP Patrol to Bosnia and various overseas exercises. In early 1996 the Regiment was called upon to assist the Derbyshire civil authorities during a fire-fighters dispute (OPFRESCO), a commitment led by K (Hondeghem) Battery. In addition, the Regiment supplied soldiers to 3 RHA for an operational tour of Northern Ireland. On 1st April 1997, the Regiment rejoined 1st Artillery Brigade on its reformation as an operational element of the UK's framework nation commitment to Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC). In addition, on 1st April 1997, 4/73 Battery was formally committed to the Joint Rapid Deployment Force (JRDF). The Battery's commitment to the JRDF was to maintain six patrols and a command and control element ready to deploy at short notice worldwide with the Force.On 10th June 1997, the Regiment, less 4/73 Battery deployed to Cyprus on OP TOSCA. Taking over responsibility for Sector 2 of UNFICYP from 32 Regiment RA. Soldiers from 1 RHA, 3 RHA, 32 Regt RA, 1 DWR, 1 RRW, 9 Para Sqn RE and soldiers from the TA reinforced the Regiment for the tour. Sector 2 covered the UN Buffer Zone in the area of Nicosia. P Battery deployed as Line Battery West and K Battery as Line Battery East. The tour was a great success and the Regiment returned to Catterick on 10th December 1997.Following a period of leave, the Regiment returned to work in mid-January 1998 and immediately started the preparations for the re-rolling. Because of a decision to transfer MLRS to the TA, it was decided that 5th Regiment would re-role from MLRS/OP to become a Surveillance and Target Acquisition (STA) Regiment. The Regiment would also assume responsibility for the provision of the Headquarters Force Artillery (HQ Force Arty) for the Allied Command Europe Mobile Force (Land) (AMF)(L).


The re-rolling took effect as of 1st April 1998 and 5th Regiment now consisted of one Special OP Battery (4/73), two Weapon Locating Batteries (K and P) equipped initially with Cymbeline and Gun Sound Ranging and later with COBRA (Counter Batter Battery Radar) and ASP (Advanced Sound Ranging Project). The Cymbeline Troops came from 1 RHA, in Tidworth, 3 RHA, in Topcliffe, 4 Regt RA, in Osnabruck, 26 Regt RA in Gutersloh and 40 Regt RA in Hohne. The Gun Sound Ranging Troops came from 32 Regt RA, in Larkhill and 39 Regt RA, in Newcastle.A Headquarters Battery (Q) that provides a Headquarters for both the Regiment in its STA role and the AMF (L). The STA Headquarters also provides the Divisional Survey Troop, which provides accurate survey for the STA Batteries and other RA Regiments. The Force Arty AMF (L) role was lost in 2002 however the Troop is still going, supplying command and control at Regimental and Brigade level. This Troop also includes a Meterological detachment for use at Div level.


CONTACT US
If you would like any further information about 5 Regiment Royal Artillery please contact the Regimental Recruiting Team at recruiting@5regtra.mod.uk ( You need to type this address into your browser, this link does not re-direct you to the web page.)