198:
331:
471:
431:
467:
transporters. On arrival the 15-ton static guns had to be lowered precisely onto holdfasts dug into the ground. All other facilities, including cookhouses and latrines, had to be built from scratch. The
Brussels city authorities helped with telephone lines, transport and bathing facilities. Two gun positions were ready for action on 22 December and on 28 December 484 (M) HAA Bty fired its first rounds at incoming missiles. Several other Mixed HAA regiments followed over succeeding weeks.
462:
Fortunately there was no shortage of volunteers from other units. The regiment's advance parties arrived in
Antwerp on 18 November and spent an uncomfortable week in temporary accommodation under V-1 attack before moving on to Brussels. Here they reconnoitred six new 4-gun sites for occupation by 16 December. These sites lacked all provision for a static HAA gun position: there were no gun platforms, access roads, water supply, drainage or accommodation. The
501:
28:
52:
69:
182:(ATS). The ATS was by law a non-combatant service, but it was decided that Defence Regulations permitted the employment of women in anti-aircraft (AA) roles other than actually firing the guns. They worked the radar and plotting instruments, range-finders and predictors, ran command posts and communications, and carried out many other duties. With the increasing automation of heavy AA (HAA) guns, including
487:
Observation Posts (OPs), about 20,000 yards (18,000 m) in front of the guns to give visual confirmation that the tracked target was a missile. The LW stations and OPs were operated by teams from the AA regiments. Radar-controlled searchlights were deployed to assist in identification and engagement of missiles at night. Unlike the anti-Diver guns firing over the
English Channel or North Sea, VT
262:
446:, these cities became targets for V-1s launched from within Germany, and anti-Diver or 'X' defences had to be established. The missiles' small size, high speed and awkward height presented a severe problem for AA guns. AA Command's experience had shown that the power-operated, remotely controlled static
486:
involved an outer line of
Wireless Observer Units sited 40 miles (64 km) to 50 miles (80 km) in front of the guns to give 8 minutes' warning, then Local Warning (LW) stations positioned half way, equipped with radar to begin plotting individual missiles. Finally there was an inner belt of
491:
could not be employed by the HAA batteries at
Brussels because of the risk of casualties to troops and civilians under the missiles' flightpath. The success rate of the Brussels X defences had been low at first, but after the arrival of Mk IIC guns and experienced crews from AA Command the results
461:
The regiment was still deployed around
Nottingham in early November 1944 when it was ordered to move overseas at war establishment. This meant leaving behind one battery (518, which became independent) and finding 200 ATS reinforcements to bring the other three up to the required strength.
466:
erected a few huts for the ATS, while the men slept in tents despite the cold weather. The gun platforms required 2000 tons of rubble to be tipped onto soft ground, with another 800 tons for hardstandings, although the access roads were built as single tracks that were blocked by the gun
194:, the question of who actually fired the gun became blurred as the war progressed. The ATS rank and file, if not always their officers, took to the new role with enthusiasm and 'Mixed' batteries and regiments with the ATS supplying two-thirds of their personnel quickly proved a success.
234:
524:
While the male members of the regiment wore the Royal
Artillery's 'gun' cap badge, the women wore the ATS cap badge, but in addition they wore the RA's 'grenade' collar badge as a special badge above the left breast pocket of the tunic. Both sexes wore the white RA
458:), were required to deal effectively with V-1s, but 21st Army Group's mobile HAA units did not have experience with this equipment. 139th (M) HAA Regiment was the first Mixed unit sent from AA Command to reinforce the Brussels 'X' defences.
496:
for the last few weeks.) The number of missiles launched at
Brussels dropped rapidly as 21st Army Group continued its advance, and in the last week the AA defences destroyed 97.5 per cent of those reaching the defence belt.
197:
890:
300:
410:, which took over additional responsibilities for units left in the North Midlands until 63 AA Bde HQ returned. The first 'Diver' offensive ended when the launching sites in Normandy were overrun by
880:
870:
250:
875:
330:
847:
The
Hertfordshire Yeomanry Regiments, Royal Artillery, Part 2: The Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment 1938–1945 and the Searchlight Battery 1937–1945; Part 3: The Post-war Units 1947–2002
240:
493:
342:. As new units joined AA Command, more experienced ones were being posted away to train for service overseas, particularly for the planned invasion of North Africa (
885:
282:
338:
139th (M) HAA Regiment sent a cadre to 7th HAA Training Rgt at
Oswestry where it formed 582 (M) HAA Bty on 27 July 1942; this battery served with
621:
174:, tasked with defending the UK against air attack, was suffering a manpower shortage. In April its commander-in-chief, Lieutenant-General Sir
406:
was put into effect, with large numbers of AA units moving to South East England. 139th (M) HAA Regiment came under the temporary command of
368:
339:
304:
290:
407:
636:
Order of Battle of Non-Field Force Units in the United Kingdom, Part 27: AA Command, 14 May 1942, with amendments, TNA file WO 212/81.
163:
854:
840:
816:
367:, which was now responsible for the region, shuffled some of its units. This included 139th (M) HAA Rgt, which by August came under
483:
387:
351:
270:
470:
823:
Gen Sir Frederick Pile's despatch: "The Anti-Aircraft Defence of the United Kingdom from 28th July, 1939, to 15th April, 1945"
364:
382:
In the autumn of 1943, AA Command was asked to make cuts to free manpower for the forthcoming Allied invasion of Normandy (
350:
in August, while its AA Command commitments were taken up by other formations: 139th (M) HAA Rgt came under the command of
430:
179:
135:
386:), and some AA sites in the Midlands were abandoned. In February 1944, 139th (M) HAA Rgt was switched to the command of
620:
Order of Battle of Non-Field Force Units in the United Kingdom, Part 27: AA Command, 2 December 1941, with amendments,
347:
512:, near Derby, where the regiment and its three batteries were disbanded, five days before the war in Europe ended on
450:, which had power traverse and automatic fuze-setting, accompanied by the most sophisticated Radar No 3 Mark V (the
700:
659:
463:
139:
720:
648:
566:
239:
484 (M) HAA Bty, formed on 25 September 1941 at 206th HAA Training Rgt, Arborfield, from a cadre supplied by
289:
518 (M) HAA Bty, formed on 13 January 1942 at 206th HAA Training Rgt, Arborfield, from a cadre supplied by
146:
against aerial attack until it became the first Mixed anti-aircraft (AA) unit to serve overseas, defending
492:
improved considerably, with best results in February and March 1945. (101 AA Bde handed over command to
175:
171:
98:
508:
By 27 April, 139th (Mixed) HAA Regiment had been stood down, and on 3 May its personnel were back at
226:
191:
801:
History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series: The Defence of the United Kingdom
798:
447:
383:
320:
500:
402:, codenamed 'Divers', against London from Northern France. AA Command had planned for this and
850:
836:
812:
455:
822:
552:
399:
230:
411:
403:
343:
151:
127:
102:
68:
27:
334:
Members of the ATS operating a height and range finder at an HAA gun site, December 1942.
488:
312:
246:
218:
187:
143:
57:
864:
451:
209:, south-west London, in August 1941, and complete regiments soon followed, including
206:
390:
and 668 (M) HAA Bty was disbanded. Shortly after Operation Overlord was launched on
221:, on 1 December 1941. It was then joined on 15 December by the following batteries:
131:
72:
740:
Order of Battle of AA Command, 27 April 1944, with amendments, TNA file WO 212/85.
691:
Order of Battle of AA Command, 1 August 1943, with amendments, TNA file WO 212/84.
419:
327:
on 29 May, but the strongly defended towns of West Yorkshire were not attacked.
311:
In the spring of 1942, a new phase in the air campaign began with the so-called
315:
mainly directed against undefended British cities. In 10th AA Division's area,
475:
376:
183:
415:
359:
278:
225:
483 (M) HAA Battery, formed on 25 September 1941 at 205th HAA Training Rgt,
214:
833:
History of the Royal Regiment of Artillery: Anti-Aircraft Artillery 1914–55
162:
363:
made a few raids against East Coast towns including Hull and Grimsby, and
509:
439:
296:
147:
379:. It was joined by 668 (M) HAA Bty from 172nd (M) HAA Rgt on 28 August.
261:
245:
485 (M) HAA Bty, formed on 25 September 1941 at 209th HAA Training Rgt,
849:, Welwyn: Hertfordshire Yeomanry and Artillery Trust/Hart Books, 2003,
526:
443:
324:
295:
519 (M) HAA Bty, formed on 13 January 1942 at 211th HAA Training Rgt,
205:
The first of these new batteries took over an operational gun site in
513:
285:. In February, the regiment was joined by two additional batteries:
469:
434:
3.7-inch HAA gun of 484/139 (M) HAA Rgt, Belgium, 11 January 1945.
429:
391:
372:
329:
274:
260:
196:
161:
134:. It was one of the first 'Mixed' regiments in which women of the
307:
so that each regiment had the usual four batteries under command.
201:
An ATS member of a mixed 3.7-inch HAA gun battery, December 1942.
414:. A second campaign of air-launched missiles coming in from the
316:
891:
Military units and formations in the West Riding of Yorkshire
422:, but again 139th (M) HAA Rgt was unaffected by the moves.
303:; in June 519 (M) HAA Bty transferred within 62 AA Bde to
178:, proposed to overcome this by utilising the women of the
835:, London: Royal Artillery Institution/Brassey's, 1994,
138:
were integrated into the unit's personnel. It defended
235:
66th (Leeds Rifles) (West Yorkshire Regiment) HAA Rgt
190:
and ammunition loading under remote control from the
881:
Military units and formations disestablished in 1945
871:
Heavy anti-aircraft regiments of the Royal Artillery
108:
94:
86:
78:
63:
45:
37:
20:
346:). 62 AA Brigade HQ was one such, transferring to
876:Military units and formations established in 1941
269:In January 1942 the new regiment was assigned to
233:of experienced officers and gunners supplied by
811:, Vol II, Wakefield, Microform Academic, 1984,
474:ATS women of a mixed HAA battery off duty in a
418:led to a second redeployment by AA Command to
809:Lineage Book of British Land Forces 1660–1978
562:
560:
8:
644:
642:
607:
605:
603:
601:
599:
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454:set) and No 10 Predictor (the all-electric
687:
685:
213:, whose regimental headquarters formed at
211:139th (Mixed) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment
124:139th (Mixed) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment
26:
731:Routledge, pp. 407–18, Table LXX, p. 423.
632:
630:
576:
574:
499:
538:
170:By 1941, after almost two years of war
166:Auxiliary Territorial Service cap badge
886:Mixed regiments of the Royal Artillery
548:
546:
544:
542:
17:
803:, London: HM Stationery Office, 1957.
767:Routledge, pp. 333–4, 338–41, Map 31.
679:Routledge, p. 177; Table XXX, p. 188.
126:was an air defence unit of Britain's
7:
438:Once 21st Army Group had liberated
265:Formation sign of 10th AA Division.
14:
273:, responsible for the defence of
622:The National Archives (TNA), Kew
482:The Brussels 'X' defences under
319:was accurately hit on 28 April,
67:
50:
776:Routledge, Table LVII, p. 366.
21:139th (Mixed) HAA Regiment, RA
1:
180:Auxiliary Territorial Service
136:Auxiliary Territorial Service
504:Royal Artillery collar badge
41:1 December 1941 – 3 May 1945
611:Frederick, pp. 759–61, 786.
425:
357:In the summer of 1943, the
323:on 19 May and 31 July, and
301:99th (London Welsh) HAA Rgt
299:, from a cadre supplied by
283:10th Anti-Aircraft Division
249:, from a cadre supplied by
907:
701:Collier, Appendix XXXVIII.
660:Collier, Appendix XXXVII.
785:Sainsbury, Plate 9, p. 7.
90:Regiment (3–5 batteries)
32:Royal Artillery cap badge
25:
589:Routledge, pp. 338, 407.
464:Royal Canadian Engineers
281:in West Yorkshire under
580:Routledge, pp. 399–400.
529:on the right shoulder.
448:Mk IIC 3.7-inch HAA gun
426:Brussels 'X' deployment
114:Air defence of Brussels
721:Collier, Chapter XXIV.
567:Collier, Chapter XVII.
505:
479:
456:Bell Labs AAA Computer
435:
335:
266:
202:
167:
831:Brig N.W. Routledge,
749:Routledge, pp. 336–8.
670:Routledge, pp. 402–4.
503:
473:
433:
333:
264:
251:52nd (London) HAA Rgt
200:
172:Anti-Aircraft Command
165:
112:Air defence of the UK
99:Anti-Aircraft Command
845:Col J.D. Sainsbury,
649:Collier, Chapter 20.
176:Frederick 'Tim' Pile
369:32 (Midland) AA Bde
807:J.B.M. Frederick,
758:Routledge, p. 338.
711:Routledge, p. 409.
506:
480:
436:
384:Operation Overlord
336:
267:
203:
168:
624:, file WO 212/80.
340:172nd (M) HAA Rgt
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827:18 December 1947
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553:Pile's despatch.
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478:, November 1944.
400:V-1 flying bombs
398:began launching
152:V-1 flying bombs
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53:
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18:
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799:Basil Collier,
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489:Proximity fuzes
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412:21st Army Group
404:Operation Diver
344:Operation Torch
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128:Royal Artillery
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103:21st Army Group
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484:101 AA Brigade
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313:Baedeker Blitz
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219:West Yorkshire
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144:North Midlands
140:West Yorkshire
130:formed during
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58:United Kingdom
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452:SCR-584 radar
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305:152nd HAA Rgt
302:
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291:122nd HAA Rgt
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280:
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271:62 AA Brigade
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207:Richmond Park
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120:Military unit
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241:93rd HAA Rgt
210:
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188:fuze-setting
169:
158:Organisation
132:World War II
123:
122:
95:Part of
73:British Army
15:
420:East Anglia
109:Engagements
82:Air defence
865:Categories
793:References
476:Nissen hut
377:Nottingham
365:5 AA Group
348:First Army
257:Deployment
227:Arborfield
184:gun-laying
494:50 AA Bde
416:North Sea
408:41 AA Bde
396:Luftwaffe
388:63 AA Bde
371:covering
360:Luftwaffe
352:65 AA Bde
279:Sheffield
247:Blandford
229:, from a
215:Rotherham
192:predictor
520:Insignia
510:Ticknall
440:Brussels
297:Oswestry
150:against
148:Brussels
142:and the
527:lanyard
444:Antwerp
325:Grimsby
46:Country
853:
839:
815:
514:VE Day
394:, the
64:Branch
55:
38:Active
533:Notes
392:D Day
373:Derby
275:Leeds
231:cadre
851:ISBN
837:ISBN
813:ISBN
442:and
375:and
321:Hull
317:York
277:and
87:Size
79:Role
867::
684:^
641:^
629:^
594:^
573:^
559:^
541:^
516:.
354:.
217:,
186:,
154:.
857:.
819:.
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