World War II 55th (Kent) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery

1 world war ii

1.1 blitz
1.2 middle east
1.3 sicily
1.4 italy

world war ii
blitz

in summer of 1940, along other aa units equipped older 3-inch , newer 3.7-inch aa guns, 55th designated heavy aa regiment. during blitz 55 (kent) haa regt operated part of 28 aa bde guarding thames, chatham , dover in 6 aa division.

in june 1941, 308 bty left regiment, , later served in west africa. newly formed 418 bty joined in july. in autumn of 1941 regiment left 28 aa bde (leaving behind 418 bty, joined 59th (essex regiment) haa rgt) , briefly joined 34th (south midland) aa bde covering birmingham , coventry in 11th aa division. left aa command , became part of war office reserve.

middle east

the regiment left uk in september 1942 , went sea via cape town iraq, in november joined paiforce (ghq persia , iraq).

55 haa regiment left iraq in april 1943 move north africa, came under command of middle east forces.

sicily

in july 1943 regiment assigned 15th army group allied invasion of sicily. initial landings on 10 july, 55 haa rgt s 3 batteries allotted beach groups of xxx corps arriving during first morning, regiments mixed , no overall aa hq landed, great deal of reorganisation required during first 2 days of operation. lightweight no 3 mark iii ( baby maggie ) mobile gunlaying radar sets proved fragile landing on open beach. also, radio , telephone communications not established, , allied airborne formations overflying beachheads drop zones suffered badly friendly fire. eighth army advanced east coast of island during july, batteries of 55 haa rgt stationed defend port of augusta, reported daily attacks messerschmitt bf 109s , nightly attacks junkers ju 88s operating 28,000 30,000 feet. @ augusta, 55 haa rgt came under command of 73 aa bde, while 307th bty @ syracuse under 62 aa bde.

italy

during invasion of mainland italy in late 1943, beginning italian campaign, 55 haa rgt @ first remained in sicily defending augusta. later, allied armies advanced, aa units followed protect vital airfields , ports in rear. 55th haa regiment crossed italy join 52 aa bde stationed @ airfield complex around foggia. later moved 66 aa bde supporting advance of fifth army particularly salerno bridgehead , airfields. after breakout anzio in may 1944, 66 aa bde took on area, , followed fifth army west coast through rome until reached livorno, 55 haa rgt defended important supply port. during winter of 1944–45, 55th haa rgt transferred 12 aa bde, supporting british eighth army.

the luftwaffe s strength in italy growing weaker, aa defence became less important , eighth army s haa guns increasingly used in medium artillery role support ground troops. effectiveness , accuracy of 3.7-inch gun , ample supply of aa ammunition made haa units useful addition artillery commanders. required find , train own men unfamiliar work in observation posts (ops) , command posts. counter-bombardment, defensive fire , harassing fire programmes carried out, , firing airbursts above entrenchments, , destroying hard targets such buildings became specialities of haa gunners. 55 haa regiment spent months of italian campaign engaged in way corps medium artillery, working air op spotters. result, 55 haa rgt escaped disbandment befell many other aa units war drew close, , still serving when instrument of surrender of german armies in italy signed on 29 april 1945.

55th (kent) haa regiment placed in suspended animation in 1946.