21 Signal Regiment (United Kingdom)

21 Signal Regiment is a signal regiment of the Royal Corps of Signals within the British Army. The regiment was, until the initial Army 2020 reforms, the only signal regiment to support the Royal Air Force.

21 Signal Regiment (Air Support)
21 Signal Regiment Banner
Active5 March 1943 - Present
Country United Kingdom
BranchArmy
TypeSignals
RoleMilitary Communications
SizeRegiment
340 personnel[1]
Part of11th Signal Brigade
Garrison/HQAzimghur Barracks, Colerne, Wiltshire
Commanders
Lieutenant ColonelSLR Gray

History

The regiment can trace its roots back to the "12th (Air Formations) Signals" formed in 1943. Each Royal Air Force group was assigned an "Air Formation Regiment" to the 21st Army Group.

The regiment was divided into two companies in 1944 upon moving into France including;[2]

  • 2nd Tactical Air Force Main Company
  • 2nd Tactical Air Force Reserve Company

At the end of the Second World War, the regiment's two companies were stationed at Bad Eilsen and Bueckeburg in Western Germany.[3]

From 1952 to 1954 the squadron supported the West Germany-based No. 83 Group RAF.[4] In 1959, the 11th Air Formation Support and 12th Air Formation Support Signals Regiment were hurriedly deployed to the Far East but were disbanded in 1971 upon returning to Germany. As a result of their disbandments, 21st Signal regiment was the only remaining air formation signals regiment.[5]

From 1971 until 1992 the regiment was part of the 4th Signal Group supporting the British Army of the Rhine.[5] After the Options for Change plan, the regiment was re-designated as 21st Signal Regiment (Air Support) and moved to Colerne where it remains presently.[5]

During the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, the regiment provided communication support for the Joint Helicopter Command (which consisted of 27 Puma and Chinook helicopters, as well as around 1,100 personnel).[6]

After the initial Army 2020 reforms, the regiment was assigned as part of 7th Signal Group within 11th Signal Brigade and Headquarters West Midlands. The 21st Signals regiment is classified as a "Multi-Role" signal regiment.[2] As part of the initial Army 2020 reforms, the regiment also was no longer designated as an air support signal regiment and 244 (now carrying the Air Support designation) and 214 signals squadrons were transferred to 30th Signal Regiment and 2nd Signal Regiment respectively.[7] Following further changes under Army 2020 Refine, the regiment will now support the Strike Brigade in the future.[8][9][10]

Current Organisation

The current organisation of the regiment is (with roles):[9][10]

  • Regimental Headquarters, at Azimghur Barracks, Colerne
  • 215 Signal Squadron (supports brigade HQ)
  • 220 Signal Squadron (supports brigade elements)
  • Support Squadron

    References
    1. "Army – Question for Ministry of Defence". p. 1. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
    2. "21 Sig Regt - British Army Website". 2018-01-13. Archived from the original on 2018-01-13. Retrieved 2019-03-12.
    3. Graham Watson and, Cliff Lord (2003). The Royal Corps of Signals: Unit Histories of the Corps (1920-2001) and its Antecedents. Solihull, West Midlands, England, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Helion and Company Publishing. p. 67. ISBN 1-874622-92-2.
    4. "British Army units from 1945 on - 21 Regiment". british-army-units1945on.co.uk. Retrieved 2019-03-12.
    5. "21 Signals Regiment History" (PDF). 2017-09-15. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-09-15. Retrieved 2019-03-12.
    6. Cordesman, Anthony H., The Iraq War: Strategy, Tactics, and Military Lessons, Praeger, 2003, ISBN 0275982270 ISBN 978-0275982270
    7. "Royal Signals". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 2019-03-12.
    8. "Royal Signals Presenatation" (PDF). royalsignals.org. p. 7.
    9. Royal Signals Interactive Map.
    10. "21 Signal Regiment". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
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