Royal Horse Artillery

The Royal Horse Artillery (RHA) is a corps in the British Army. Two troops of Royal Horse Artillery were raised in January 1793 to provide fire support for the cavalry, joined by two more in November 1793. All RHA personnel were mounted.

Related Topics:
British Army - Cavalry

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Today, the RHA is operationally part of the Royal Artillery order of battle; there are currently four separate regiments that wear the cap badge of the RHA:

Related Topics:
Royal Artillery - Cap badge

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery is primarily a ceremonial unit and uses vintage 13 pounder guns for firing salutes. However, it also has an operational role as part of the territorial defence of the United Kingdom. The King?s Troop is located at Regent?s Park Barracks, convenient for firing gun salutes in Hyde Park.
• 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery
• 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery (The Liverpool and Manchester Gunners)
• Both 1RHA and 3RHA are armed principally with the AS90 155mm armoured self-propelled gun.
• 7th (Parachute) Regiment Royal Horse Artillery - this was formed in 1962 as a direct descendant from the World War II 33rd Parachute Light Regiment Royal Artillery, and is armed with 105mm Light Gun which is portable by helicopter.

When on parade with its guns, the Royal Horse Artillery takes precedence over every other regiment and corps in the British Army, and parades at the right of the line. Otherwise, it immediately follows the Household Cavalry.

Related Topics:
Parade - Household Cavalry

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Because it is part of the Royal Artillery structure, posting between the RA and the RHA is fairly common. However, within the Royal Artillery as a whole, the Royal Horse Artillery regiments are perceived as being an élite, and being posted to an RHA unit is seen as a significant career advancement.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Royal Horse Artillery has provided the Queen's Guard on two occasions:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• 1 RHA - January 1979
• 7 RHA - March 1989

The Royal Horse Artillery is allied to the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 
Royal Horse Artillery: External links ►