Active 1947 – present Branch British Army Size 4 Batteries | Allegiance United Kingdom Role UAV | |
 | ||
Part of Joint Helicopter Command | ||
47th Regiment Royal Artillery is a regiment of the Royal Artillery in the British Army. It is equipped with the Thales Watchkeeper WK450. It is currently located at Horne Barracks, Larkhill in Wiltshire.
Contents
History
The regiment was formed in 1947 when 4th Coast Training Regiment Royal Artillery was renamed 47th Coast Training Regiment Royal Artillery. It was reformed as 47th Guided Weapons Regiment Royal Artillery and equipped with the Corporal missile in 1957. In 1965 it was renamed 47th Light Regiment Royal Artillery and equipped with the 105mm Pack Howitzer and then deployed to Aden in 1967. It saw service in Northern Ireland during the Troubles in 1973 and 1975. It was re-equipped with the 105mm light gun in 1976 and renamed 47th Field Regiment Royal Artillery when it re-equipped with the Abbott gun in 1981. 21 Battery deployed to the South Atlantic during the Falklands War in 1982. 3 Battery and 31 Battery both took part in the Gulf War in 1991. 21 Battery saw action in Bosnia in 1995 and element of 31 Battery were deployed to the Macedonia and to Kosovo in 1999. Between 2001 and 2014 elements of the Regiment were deployed on Operation Herrick in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
Current use
The Regiment is the sole operator of the Thales Watchkeeper WK450 UAS and in the near future is expected to grow in size.
Batteries
The batteries are as follows:
Previous Batteries
British Army Restructuring
Under the Army 2020 plans the Regiment relocated from Thorney Island to Larkhill. In January 2017 the Regiment moved from 1st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade to the command of Joint Helicopter Command (JHC).