Northumbrian Gunner: 101 RA - 1998

The 1998 Strategic Defence Review would have a profound change for the 101st (Northumbrian) Regiment Royal Artillery. They would cease to be equipped with guns, and become rocket Gunners equipped with Multi Rocket Launch System (MLRS).

In 1998, 101 Regiment converted to MLRS and fired that artillery system for the first time during annual camp. Twenty Five years later the Regiment is the Royal Artillery’s most experienced operators of MLRS and critical to the British Army’s fighting power.

101 (Northumbrian) Regiment RA

MLRS 1998—2003

101 (Northumbrian) Regiment was formed in 1967 and equipped with World War Two vintage 5.5 inch guns. In 1980 it re-equipped with 105mm Light Gun as part of the 2nd Infantry Divisional Artillery, with a role within the British Army of the Rhine. The ending of the Cold War in 1989 lead to a restructuring of the British Army under Options For Change. In 1994 101 Regiment would equip with FH70 with a role as General Support Artillery to 1st (UK) Armoured Division.

5.5 inch gun 1967-1980

105mm Light Gun 1980-1994

FH70 1994-1998

The organisation of 101 Regiment as a FH70 Regiment was three gun batteries, each of six guns, a Headquarter Battery (providing command elements, communications, mortar locating radars, and logistics), plus a Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) Workshop.

The first challenge for the Regiment in it’s transition from FH70 to MLRS was a change in organisation. A MLRS Regiment only had two Batteries, each of nine MLRS launchers. The change would potentially require the loss of one of the former gun batteries. An addition to the order of battle (ORBAT) was the task to provide a signals troop to support Headquarters 1st Artillery Brigade.

The Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. Bob Jammes plan for the reorganisation was to form two MLRS Batteries around 203 Battery (Blyth) and 205 Battery (South Shields) with two troops in each location, each of three MLRS. The third troop for each of the operational batteries would be based at Kingston Park and grouped together for training and support, along with the Artillery Brigade Troop as 204 Battery.

The conversion challenges from Guns to MLRS were extensive. The Regiment was now equipped with tracked vehicles requiring a major driver training effort. The gun drill and ammunition handling of FH70 was replaced by electronic fire control systems and integrated ammunition systems.

The operational aspects of the Regiment were another area of great change. The allocation of a 1 kilometre square Artillery Reserved Area (ARA) for the deployment of a gun battery, now became a 15 kilometre square Artillery Manoeuvre Area (AMA). The Regiment would no longer have it’s own Surveillance and Target Acquisition (STA) assets, target requirements would be co-ordinated in the Artillery Brigade Headquarters.

The initial conversion training was supported by 39 Regiment Royal Artillery, based at Albemarle Barracks in Northumberland who were also equipped with MLRS. Equipment conversion courses, driver training, command post exercises, reconnaissance exercises and presentations on future role brought the 101st towards joining the Royal Artillery ORBAT in it’s new role.

The final part of conversion would see 101 RA deploy to Castle Martin range in Wales under the command of Lt. Col. Alan Mears. The various elements of conversion training were brought together with battery training and regimental training preparing for the first ever live firing of MLRS by 101 Regiment Royal Artillery.

Under command of Major Ian Jones, Battery Commander 205 Battery, the battery’s nine launchers (including the 204 Battery Troop), plus a troop of 3 launchers from 203 Battery deployed and fired out to sea. The twelve launchers representing each of the Regiment’s Batteries becoming not only the first time 101 RA fired MLRS, but the first ever in the Territorial Army.

101 Regiment Royal Artillery - first firing of MLRS
Castle Martin 1998

The confirmation of training through the live firing of MLRS brought 101 Regiment into the operational ORBAT as part of 1st Artillery Brigade. The Regiment would join the two Regular Army MLRS Regiments (5 RA and 39 RA) in the Brigade.

The role of 1st Artillery Brigade was to provide artillery support to the multi-national Allied Rapid Reaction Corps, NATO’s prime war fighting capability.

On 11th September 2001 terrorists launched an attack on the United States of America, changing the global geopolitical situation and transforming British military thinking for the next two decades. The immediate threat was from terrorist groups, not nation states, and the War on Terror was proclaimed. Afghanistan was seen as the epicentre of terrorist activity, and within weeks of 9/11 American and British Special Forces were deployed to Afghanistan.

Operations in Afghanistan would lead to the requirement for the ongoing deployment of American, British and NATO troops. OP HERRICK, commencing in 2002, became a six month roulement of British troops which would last 12 years.

The War on Terror would shape the role of the Territorial Army with the mobilisation of individuals and groups up to sub unit strength for operations. The first troops mobilised from 101 RA were not destined for Afghanistan, they were mobilised for the Invasion of Iraq in 2003.

To provide reinforcements for the Surveillance and Target Acquisition (STA) Batteries of the Royal Artillery, 204 Battery re-roled as a STA Battery and returned to the operational ORBAT in 2006. With the focus on 101 RA providing reinforcements to the Regular Army, it’s operation as a formed Regiment for deployment ended with the disbanding of the Headquarter Battery.

Another significant change to the structure of 101 RA that occurred in the re-organisation of the Regiment was the subordination of 269 (West Riding) Battery based in Leeds. They joined the Regiment as a STA battery and like 204 Battery would provide reinforcements for deployment on operations.

MLRS first deployed to Afghanistan with 39 Regiment RA in April 2007 on OP HERRICK VI.

In May 2008,on OP HERRICK VIII, personnel from 101 RA were mobilised to serve alongside the Regular Army counterparts from 39 RA operating MLRS.

39 Regiment RA MLRS Afghanistan

Territorials from 101 RA would deploy to Iraq and Afghanistan until the ending of operations in both theatres. Personnel augmented 5th Regiment Royal Artillery in their STA role, and reinforced both Theatres in support roles.

Northern Gunners would fire on active service for the first time since the Second World War, firing MLRS whilst attached to 39 Regiment Royal Artillery.

The involvement of so many Territorials on active service and the vital support they provided led to a consultation exercise with Territorials, employers and other stakeholders resulting in the publication of the Future Reserves 2020 report. The provisions of the document mainly addressed the future terms of conditions of service aiming at increasing the capability and deployability of Britain's reserve forces.

One fundamental change resulting form the report would be the rebranding of the Territorial Army as the Army Reserve.

Operations in Iraq had ended at the end of 2009. In Afghanistan, Coalition Troops began to hand back control of the country to the Afghan Government, and OP HERRICK began to see fewer troops deployed. The last personnel from 101 Regiment Royal Artillery deployed on OP HERRICK XVII (Nov 2012-Apr 2013) The operation ceased in December 2014.

The ending of operations in Afghanistan resulted in a Strategic Defence Review in 2015 and the publication of the lamentable Army 2020 concept. The organisation of the British Army for the 2020s would have significant impact on the Royal Artillery.

39 Regiment Royal Artillery would be placed in suspended animation. The regimental flag was lowered on 20 February 2015 at Albemarle Barracks in Northumberland.

The MLRS Batteries were transferred to other Regiments to form of hybrid MLRS / Gun units in the 1st (UK) and 3rd (UK) Divisional Artillery Groups.

The Army 2020 re-organisation would see 204 Battery and 269 Battery convert from their Surveillance and Target acquisition role to become MLRS launcher batteries.

101 Regiment Royal Artillery would become the British Army’s sole dedicated MLRS Regiment tasked with reinforcing the Regular Army

101 Regiment Royal Artillery - MLRS in action

On 26th May 2016 the Royal Regiment of Artillery commemorated the Tercentenary of the Regiment.

A Royal Review was held at Larkhill, Salisbury Plain, with the Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Captain General of the Royal Artillery, reviewing the assembled Gunners.

On parade were representatives from all Gunner Regiments and the equipment they operated. The MLRS for the review was fielded by 101 (Northumbrian) Regiment Royal Artillery, it’s detachment being drawn from each of it’s MLRS Batteries.

Tercentenary Royal Regiment of Artillery
Royal Review Larkhill 26th May 2016
101 (Northumbrian) Regiment Royal Artillery

The shortcomings and weaknesses of the proposed future organisation under Army 2020 were addressed with the publication of Army 2020 Refine. This led to a restructuring of the Field Army. Of significance was the conversion of 26 Regiment Royal Artillery to MLRS as the 3rd (UK) Divisions Divisional Deep Fires Regiment.

At the end of 2019, 26 Regiment conducted exercise CONGREVE SPEAR confirming their operational readiness as a MLRS Regiment.

26 Regiment Royal Artillery Ex Congreve Spear 2019

At 23:00 GMT on 31st January 2020 the United Kingdom the United Kingdom withdrew from the European Union.

In the wake of Brexit, the Government published the Integrated Review which set out the UK Government’s national security and international policy. The British Army’s role, future doctrine and organisation was outlined in the Future Soldier concept.

Central to the Field Army of the future is a greater proportion of the force being dedicated to the deep battle. This makes 101 Regiment RA and it’s Multi Launch Rocket System (MLRS) key to the war fighting capability of the British Army.

To strengthen the Deep Fires capability in line with the Future Soldier operating concept, 3rd Regiment Royal Artillery based at Albemarle Barracks, Northumberland, would re-role to MLRS. They would join 26 Regiment, already operating MLRS, in a newly formed Brigade, 1st Deep Recce Strike Brigade (1 DRS).

The operational structure of 3 RHA and 26 RA would consist of three MLRS launcher batteries. Each Regiment would have two Regular Army MLRS batteries, their third battery would be drawn from 101 Regiment RA. The Northern Gunners would retain their four MLRS batteries, being tasked to deploy two formed MLRS batteries to reinforce 3 RHA and 26 RA on operations. In addition 26 Regiment will also field an Exactor Battery.

On the 1st July 2022 the 1st Deep Recce Strike Brigade Combat Team was formed with 101 Regiment RA integral to the new formation.

It was established through the merger of 1st Artillery Brigade and 1st Armoured Infantry Brigade.

1st Deep Recce Strike Brigade Combat Team (1 DRS BCT) will focus on the Army’s deep fight, combining deep fires with reconnaissance and the ability to integrate non-lethal effects.

In the 25 years that 101 (Northumbrian) Regiment has been equipped with the Multi-Launch Rocket System (MLRS) there has been considerable changes in the global geopolitical situation. It has also been a period of significant change in the organisation of the British Army as well as a transformation from the Territorial Army to the Army Reserve

During that 25 years 101 RA has continued to adapt to the ongoing challenges. They have reinforced the Regular Army on active service and at one stage were the only MLRS Regiment in the Royal Artillery. Today they form an essential element of the British Army’s warfighting capability as the most experienced rocket Gunners in the Royal Artillery today.