| 29th Commando Regiment Royal Artillery | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Guns of 29 Commando Regiment at theRoyal Citadel, Plymouth | |
| Active | 1947 – Present |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Role | Field artillery |
| Size | 5 Batteries 430 personnel[1] |
| Part of | UK Commando Force |
| Garrison/HQ | Royal Citadel, Plymouth |
| Nickname | The Commando gunners |
| Equipment | L118 Light Gun |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Lieutenant Colonel Mark Alexander Alford Dornan RA |
29th Commando Regiment Royal Artillery is theCommando-trained unit of theBritish Army'sRoyal Artillery, based inPlymouth. Theregiment is under the operational control of theUK Commando Force, to which it provides artillery support and gunnery observation.[2]
The regiment was established in 1947 by the redesignation of the25th Field Regiment.[3][4] In 1951, it was renamed as the29th Medium Regiment Royal Artillery and was based at Brancepeth Camp inDurham.[4] In 1957, it was deployed toCyprus on internal security duties, and spent three years at Karlaos Camp, nearFamagusta. By now it had reverted to a field regiment, at one point loaning its25-pounder field guns to another regiment that was hurriedly deployed with aUnited Nations force toLebanon andJordan. In late 1960 the regiment exchanged with 42 Field Regiment and on return to the UK took over that regiment's guns and station at theRoyal Citadel, Plymouth.[4][5]
In June 1961,Abd al-Karim Qasim'sIraqi Republic announced its intention to annex newly-independentKuwait, and a British military force was hurriedly sent to the kingdom inOperation Vantage. Regimental Headquarters (RHQ), 79 (Kirkee) and 145 (Maiwand) batteries of 29 Field Regiment were flown without their guns toKuwait City. 25-Pounder guns and 3-tonner lorries arrived a few days later by sea from the strategic reserve atAden. The regiment moved up close to the border with Iraq and established gun positions and observation posts (OPs). The threatened invasion did not happen, and in October the British force was relieved by theArab League. 29 Field Regiment moved back to Aden to await sea transport to Plymouth.[5]
In 1962, the regiment re-roled and became29 Commando Light Regiment, Royal Artillery. At that time, each battery consisted of four105mm pack howitzers (Italian Mountain Gun).[3][4]
In the 1970s, batteries from the regiment completed operational tours inNorthern Ireland.[6]
During the 1982Falklands War, 29 Commando Regiment accompanied theRoyal Marines, providing much needed close support with theirL118 Light Guns.[7]
In 1996, the honoraryFreedom of the City of Plymouth was conferred on the regiment, with the unanimous support of Plymouth City Council.[8]
The regiment conducted numerous operational tours inAfghanistan to provide artillery support during operations againstAl Qaeda andTaliban militants.[9] Awar memorial to the fallen of 29 Commando Regiment in post-1945 conflicts was unveiled onPlymouth Hoe on 16 January 2011; It features aCommando dagger made from shells used in theAfghanistan conflict.[10]
The present regiment consists of a HQ battery, three gun batteries, a Naval Gunfire Support Forward Observation battery and an attachedRoyal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers workshop, which includes aRoyal Logistic Corps stores section. The gun batteries are equipped with sixL118 105mm light guns and three OPs each. The batteries are as follows:[11]
