Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery
Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery | |
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Active | 15 October 1902 – present |
Country | New Zealand |
Branch | New Zealand Army |
Type | Artillery |
Role | Field Artillery/Low Level Air Defence |
Garrison/HQ | Linton |
Motto(s) | Ubique (Everywhere) (Latin) |
March | Quick – The Right of the Line March Past – British Grenadiers Slow – The Duchess of Kent |
Engagements | Korean War
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Commanders | |
King Charles III[1] | |
Insignia | |
Tac-Sign |
New Zealand Army New Zealand Defence Force |
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Components |
Administration |
Regiments |
Corps |
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Equipment |
New Zealand portal |
The Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery is the artillery regiment of the New Zealand Army. It is effectively a military administrative corps, and can comprise multiple component regiments. This nomenclature stems from its heritage as an offshoot of the British Army's Royal Artillery. In its current form it was founded in 1947 with the amalgamation of the regular and volunteer corps of artillery in New Zealand. In 1958 in recognition of services rendered it was given the title the Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery.
History
Predecessors and formation
The Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery's predecessor units in the
Between 2–5 August 1914 pre-war plans to establish harbour examination batteries and mobilise the then Royal New Zealand Artillery (active force) and New Zealand Garrison Artillery (territorials) were carried out.
During the
Korean War
When the
1950s
In 1955, the regiment consisted of the following units:[13]
- District Troops
- Northern Military District
- Central Military District
- 10th Coast Regiment (Wellington)
- 14th Composite Anti-aircraft Regiment
- Southern Military District
- 11th Coast Regiment(Lyttleton Respectively)
- 151st Composite Anti-aircraft Battery RNZA (15th Composite AA Regiment disbanded Sept 1954)[14]
- Divisional Troops
- Headquarters Royal Artillery
- Command
- Royal Artillery Staff Troop
- Divisional Counter Bombardment Staff Troop
- 1st Field Regiment (Auckland)
- 2nd Field Regiment (Palmerston North)
- 3rd Field Regiment (Dunedin)
- 4th Medium Regiment (Hamilton)
- 5th Light Regiment (Wellington)
- 6th Light Anti-aircraft Regiment (Auckland)
- 12th Heavy Anti-aircraft Regiment (HQ Auckland)
- 1st Locating Battery
- Headquarters Royal Artillery
The 1957 National Government defence review directed the discontinuation of coastal defence training, and the approximately 1000 personnel of the 9th, 10th, and 11th Coastal Regiments had their
In 1958 the regiment was redesignated the Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery.
Vietnam War
A rotational RNZA battery was deployed to South Vietnam during the Vietnam War.
In 1965 the United States government committed its
The New Zealand battery and the Australian infantry battalion began their first major operation with the Americans on 14 September 1965 in Operation Ben Cat. Sergeant Alastair John Sherwood Don and Bombardier Robert White of 161 Bty were the first New Zealand casualties of the Vietnam War when the front of their vehicle was blown up by a
On operations New Zealand Forward Observers patrolled with U.S and Australian infantry to direct artillery fire when called upon.
In their first year, under U.S command, the battery took part in:
- Operation Ben Cat (14-28 September 1965)
- Battle of Gang Toi during Operation Hump
- Operation New Life (15 November – 16 December 1965)
- Operation Marauder (1–8 January 1966)
- Operation Crimp (8–16 January 1966)
- Operation Entrée in general support of 1/503 US Infantry's operations,
- Battle of Suoi Bong Trang during Operation Rolling Stone in support of 1RAR,
- Operation Abilene in support of 1st US Infantry Division,
- Operation Denver[24] as part of "Force Essex", and
- Operation Enoggera in support of newly arrived 6RAR.
In May 1966 it was decided to create an Australian task force with its own
The 1st Australian Task Force (1ATF) was formed in June 1966, with a base built at Nui Dat. The New Zealand government was given the choice of allowing the artillery battery to remain at Bien Hoa under U.S command with the 173rd Airborne or integrate the battery with the new task force. The decision was made to integrate the battery into 1ATF[26] under 105 Battery, Royal Australian Artillery which had arrived at the end of September 1965.
In the 1991 movie documentary The Cu Chi Tunnels Vietcong survivors who hid in the
As part of 1ATF, the New Zealand battery is remembered well for its role in the Battle of Long Tan on 18 August 1966, during which it played a key role in supporting the outnumbered Australian infantry from D Company, 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment hold off a regimental-sized Viet Cong force.[28] Three New Zealand artillery Forward Observers attached to D Company controlled the guns of their own battery, the two Australian batteries, and two American batteries – a total of 24 guns, in support of themselves and the rest of D Company for more than 3.5 hours firing 6-8 rounds per minute almost non-stop.[29]
In 1967 the battery's L5 howitzers were replaced by heavier and more robust American
Also in 1967, the first company of New Zealand infantry arrived, followed by a second company in December 1967. The two infantry companies eventually amalgamated with one of the three 1ATF battalions in March 1968 to form the "ANZAC Battalion." This practice continued with each New Zealand infantry company rotating with or within 6 months of a new rotation of Australian infantry, designated "ANZAC Battalion" each time.
The battery would continue to support allied forces throughout its entire time in Vietnam, notably Operation Bribie in 1967, and Operation Coburg, the Tet Offensive and the Battle of Coral–Balmoral in 1968.
As Australian and New Zealand combat units began to be withdrawn in keeping with US troop reductions, the battery was withdrawn in May 1971.[30] The battery was involved in 17 major operations during their time in Vietnam. It was the longest serving Allied unit in South Vietnam after the 173rd Airborne Brigade, having been continuously deployed for six years, ten months and 21 days.[31]
Approximately 750 members of the 161st Battery served in Vietnam[32] with a loss of 5 killed and 22 wounded.[33]
1980s–1990s
A range of new capabilities were introduced during this period. In 1986 the British designed, Australian produced 105-mm
Twenty-first century
Today, the RNZA consists of a single regiment:
- 16 Field Regiment, Royal New Zealand Artillery
- Regimental Headquarters
- HQ Battery
- JOST Troop
- 161 Battery (Close Support) – L119 Light Gun, L16A2 81mm mortar
- Headquarters Troop
- Able Troop
- Baker Troop
- Command Post Troop
- 163 Battery (Close Support) – L119 Light Gun, L16A2 81mm mortar
- Headquarters Troop
- Easy Troop
- Fox Troop
- Command Post Troop
Members of the 16th Field Regiment formed part of the New Zealand Battalion deployed on peacekeeping operations in East Timor.[11]
The School of Artillery is active.
Territorial units
In addition, there are a number of Territorial Force artillery units; these were formerly units of the RNZA, but were moved into the structure of the TF battalion groups on the restructuring of the army in the late 1990s:
- 11(A) Battery (Auckland) (Close Support), 3rd Auckland (Countess of Ranfurly's Own) and Northland Battalion Group (Amalgamated 1990s)
- 22(D) Battery (Wellington) (Air Defence), 7th Wellington (City of Wellington's Own) and Hawke's Bay Battalion Group (Disbanded 1990's)
- 31(B) Battery (Dunedin) 4th Otago and Southland Battalion Group (Disbanded 1990s)
- 32(E) Battery (Christchurch) (Observation Post), 2nd Canterbury, and Nelson-Marlborough and West Coast Battalion Group (Disbanded 1990s
- 4 (G) Medium Battery (Hamilton) (Amalgamated 1990s)
RNZA Territorial-Reserve Batterys/Troops as of 2020:
- 11/4 Battery RNZA (comes under 16 Field Regiment RNZA)
- 22 Troop RNZA (Linton) (comes under 16 Field Regiment RNZA)
The Battle Honours of the above three Territorial Force artillery units are for South Africa, World War I and World War II.
Distinctions
A composite unit of the RNZA became the first specific New Zealand unit to mount the
The South Vietnam
In 1995 the unit received the Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC) in recognition of its service with the United States 173rd Airborne Brigade during the Vietnam War.
In 2011 the Governor General of New Zealand, on behalf of HM Queen Elizabeth II, gave permission for 16 Field Regt RNZA to wear the South Korean Presidential Unit Citation, by all Officers and NCO's attached to the Regiment, however after their appoints finish with the Regiment the Citation is handed back to the Regiment.
In 2019 the Australian government awarded veterans of 161 Battery who had fought at the Battles of Coral and Balmoral the Australian Unit Citation for Gallantry for "extraordinary gallantry".
Uniform
The RNZA were distinguished by a blue and red
Band
The
Affiliations
- United Kingdom – Royal Artillery
- Royal Canadian Artillery
- Australia – Royal Australian Artillery
Gallery
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New Zealand gunners firing a25-pounderin Korea.
-
New Zealand gunners in Vietnam operating anM2A2 Howitzer.
Order of precedence
See also
Notes
- ^ "New RNZA Captain General". The Royal New Zealand Artillery Association. 25 August 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
- ^ a b c d McGibbon 2000, p. 470.
- ^ a b Henderson, Green & Cooke 2008, p. 83.
- ^ Henderson, Green & Cooke 2008, pp. 88–89.
- ^ "New Zealand and Australian Division". adfa.edu.au. Archived from the original on 23 April 2012.
- ^ Murphy 1966, p. 4.
- ^ Gillespie 1952, p. 48.
- ^ Fenton 1998.
- ^ McGibbon 2000, pp. 267–269.
- ^ a b c d McGibbon 2000, p. 43.
- ^ a b c "16 Field Regiment RNZA". The Royal New Zealand Artillery. Archived from the original on 8 November 2014. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
- ^ "New Zealand Army - New Zealand Defence Force". Archived from the original on 3 December 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
- ^ Royal New Zealand Artillery Association, Artillery units 1955–64 Archived 27 September 2012 at the Wayback Machine, accessed August 2012
- ^ Henderson, Green & Cooke 2008, p. 406.
- ^ Henderson, Green & Cooke 2008, p. 374.
- ^ Henderson, Green & Cooke 2008, p. 375.
- ^ a b McGibbon 2000, p. 20.
- ^ "5 Light Regiment RNZA". New Zealand Artillery: The Official Website of the RNZA Association. RNZA Association. 1998. Archived from the original on 13 May 2010. Retrieved 29 November 2013.
- ^ Film: 'New Zealanders in South East Asia'(1965) URL: https://www.facebook.com/battleoflongtan/videos/10153928021528375/ (New Zealand National Film Unit)
- ^ "Units Attached to the 173rd Airborne Brigade". 173rdairborne.com. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
- ^ McGibbon 2010, pp. 86–140.
- ^ ' Memories of Viet Nam - Wayne Robson ', URL: https://vietnamwar.govt.nz/memory/memories-viet-nam-wayne-robson, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 08-Jun-2021
- ^ Remembering Sergeant 'Al' Don, URL: https://vietnamwar.govt.nz/memory/remembering-sergeant-al-don, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 05-Sep-2013
- ^ "Operation Denver Lang Ba rubber plantation DPR/TV/372". awm.gov.au. Archived from the original on 18 August 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
- ^ Vietnam 1965-1966 URL: https://www.1rar.org.au/vietnam-1965-66/ Archived 12 February 2020 at the Wayback Machine (1RAR The First Battalion Association)
- ^ McGibbon 2000, pp. 133–134.
- ^ 'The Cu Chi Tunnels' URL: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0416668/
- ^ McGibbon 2000, pp. 562–563.
- ^ "161 Bty Royal New Zealand Artillery Vietnam 1965 - The Battle of Long Tan". 24 April 2016. Archived from the original on 25 February 2020. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
- ^ McGibbon 2000, p. 563.
- ^ McGibbon 2000, p. 460.
- ^ CM Rivers. "161 Bty in Vietnam". New Zealand Artillery. Archived from the original on 6 January 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 January 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "3 Field Regiment". New Zealand Artillery: The Official Website of the RNZA Association. RNZA Association. 1998. Archived from the original on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
- ^ Mills, T.F. "What Commonwealth Units Have Mounted the Guard in London?". Land Forces of Britain, The Empire, and Commonwealth. Regiments.org. Archived from the original on 28 December 2007. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
- ^ "Unit Citations Awarded to New Zealand Military Units – The United States Army Meritorious Unit Commendation". New Zealand Defence Force. Archived from the original on 14 January 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
- ^ "Unit Citations Awarded to New Zealand Military Units – The Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Presidential Unit Citation". New Zealand Defence Force. Archived from the original on 14 January 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
- ISBN 0-473-03289-9.
- ^ "Special Bibliography". Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
- ^ "Bulletin". 1970. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
References
- Fenton, Damien Marc (1998). A False Sense of Security: The force structure of the New Zealand Army 1946–1978. Wellington: Centre for Strategic Studies. ISBN 0475201035.
- Gillespie, Oliver A. (1952). The Pacific. The Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–1945. Wellington, New Zealand: Historical Publications Branch, Department of Internal Affairs. from the original on 26 October 2014. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
- Henderson, Alan; Green, David; Cooke, Peter (2008). The Gunners: A History of New Zealand Artillery. Auckland: Reid. ISBN 9780790011417.
- McGibbon, Ian, ed. (2000). The Oxford Companion to New Zealand Military History. Auckland: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-558376-0.
- McGibbon, Ian (2010). New Zealand's Vietnam War: A History Of Combat, Commitment and Controversy. Auckland, New Zealand: Exisle Publishing. ISBN 978-0-908988-96-9.
- Murphy, Walter Edward (1966). Second New Zealand Divisional Artillery. The Official history of New Zealand in the Second World War 1939–45. Wellington: Historical Publications Branch, Department of Internal Affairs. ISBN 978-1-8697-9446-0. Archivedfrom the original on 16 October 2012. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
Further reading
- Breen, Bob (1988). First to Fight: Australian Diggers, N.Z. Kiwis and U.S. Paratroopers in Vietnam, 1965–66. Australia: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 0-04-320218-7.
- Cooke, Peter; Crawford, John (2011). The Territorials: The History of the Territorial and Volunteer Forces of New Zealand. Auckland: Random House. ISBN 978-1-8697-9446-0.
- Lyles, Kevin (2004). ANZACs: Australian and New Zealand Troops in Vietnam 1962–72. United Kingdom: Osprey. ISBN 978-184-176702-4.
- Steinbrook, Gordon L. (1995). Allies & Mates: An American Soldier With The Australian And New Zealand Soldiers in Vietnam, 1966–67. United States Of America: University Of Nebraska Press. ISBN 0-8032-4238-7.