We have recently undertaken the challenging task
of converting from Light Air Defence to Field Artillery with great grace
and is adjusting to a totally new organisation.
We are one of two troops comprising the 208th (3rd West
Lancs) Battery of the Royal Artillery. Our sister troop, B (Kings) Troop
is descended from the Liverpool Rifles battalion of the Kings, while our
battery HQ is descended from the 3rd West Lancashire Field Artillery Brigade
of the Great War. The battery is one of 3 which are part of the 103rd (Lancashire
Artillery Volunteers) Regiment of the Royal Artillery. 103 RA was formed
in the 1967 TAVR II reorganisation, and is the only Volunteer RA Regiment
with a history older than 1967.
The Troop is a platoon sized subunit with 3 105mm Light
Guns commanded by a junior officer (a Lieutenant) with a Troop Sergeant
Major (generally a WO2) as her (or his) second and gunline section commander.
The gun detachments consist of 7 men each, commanded by a Bombardier (Corporal
in the RA) or Sergeant. The organisation is the det is thus
-
Detachment Commander (Bdr/ Sgt)
-
Wheelman/ Rammer (Gnr)
-
Layer (Gnr)
-
Loader (Gnr)
-
Ammunition Handler (Gnr)
-
Second in Command/ Ammunition Handler (LBdr)
Driver (Gnr)
The Troop also has a number of Land Rovers attached for the
TC, TSM and any other attachments. In addition, the troop would have an
ammunition vehicle in wartime (probably a DROPS) and an additional gun.
In time of war, the troop would thus comprise at least 33 men, probably
more with attachments for ammunition handling and local defence.
Pop Quiz Fact
Lieutenant is latin, meaning literally "Place Holder".
Historically a Lieutenant would a a Captains right hand man, with no command
of their own. Also, the American pronunciation is technically correct in
English, the British pronunciation is a Germanic corruption.
