176 (Abu Klea) Battery Royal Artillery
 | This article needs to be updated. (February 2015) |
| 176 (Abu Klea) Battery Royal Artillery | |
|---|---|
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| Active | 1860-present |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Army |
| Type | Artillery |
| Part of | 26th Regiment Royal Artillery |
| Nickname(s) | "The Abus" |
| Anniversaries | Abu Klea Day 17 January |
| Equipment | MLRS |
| Battle honours | Abu Klea |
176 (Abu Klea) Battery Royal Artillery is the junior currently-existent regular battery of the Royal Artillery. Its name is pronounced "One Seven Six", and the battery is commonly referred to as "The Abus", and its members as "Abus", after the battery's Honour Title. The battery is one of the sub-units of 26th Regiment Royal Artillery, part of the British Army. It was formed in 1860 and since then has participated in many campaigns, most notably the Battle of Abu Klea in 1885, where Gunner Smith earned a Victoria Cross and later its Honour Title.[1]
Early History
5 Battery, 15 Brigade, Royal Artillery was officially raised in
, without being involved in any conflicts.In 1884, the
During the battle, the battery's guns were pushed out to the edge of the British square to fire at the charging enemy. The guns each managed to fire one round of
After service in Egypt and the Sudan the battery was stationed again in Malta, then posted to
The Second World War
At the start of the Second World War, the battery, now renamed 120 Field Battery and part of
120 Field Battery continued to serve with 25-pounders until the Allied advance reached
Post-war
In 1947 120 Field Battery was renamed 176 Field Battery, by which name it is still known today, bar changes in functional designation and the addition of the Honour Title. It was part of
176 Battery spent most of the post-war years until 1995, garrisoned in Sennelager, near Paderborn in Germany as part of the
The battery last changed role and equipment in 1990 with the adoption of the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS). The MLRS was hurried into service so that 39 Regiment, now 176 Battery's parent unit, could deploy on Operation Granby to use it in support of the Coalition Forces during the Gulf War. The battery therefore has the distinction of being the only battery of the Royal Artillery to have participated in both major UN actions since 1945, namely Korea and the Gulf.
During the remainder of the 1990s, the battery completed two tours with the
permanently back to the UK, and in 1999 completed another tour of Northern Ireland, and in 2006-2007 another in Cyprus.Present day
176 (Abu Klea) Battery was one of the constituent batteries of
Traditions
Abu Klea Day is held on 22 June. This is the anniversary of the awarding of the Honour Title "Abu Klea" in 1955. It is the primary date of celebration for the battery.
The battery's emblem is the kicking mule, in recognition of the important role played by mules in its history. It was reinstated on 22 June 1993, Abu Klea Day.
The battery also celebrates its birthday on 1 May, the anniversary of its foundation in 1860. The other date of significance is 17 January, the anniversary of the Battle of Abu Klea.