4 AD Regiment

http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/4air_def_regt/index_e.html

4^th Air Defence Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery, is a Regular Force lodger unit of CFB Gagetown with a projected Total Force establishment of 454 all ranks, approximately 45 percent of which are Reserve Force personnel. The Regiment is established with a Headquarters and 119 Air Defence Battery at Detachment Moncton, and 128 Air Defence Battery and 210 Air Defence Workshop at CFB Gagetown. As an operational unit, the Regiment employs some of the most modern air defence weaponry in the world, including the Air Defence Anti-Tank System (ADATS), the Twin 35mm Oerlikon Gun and the Skyguard Radar Fire Control System. From its birth to the present day, the Regiment has undergone many changes in roles and equipment.

4^th Air Defence Regiment was first formed on 27 November 1987 under authority of the Minister of National Defence. The Regiment was located at CFB Lahr and CFB Baden, Federal Republic of Germany. Its role at that time was to provide low level air defence for designated airfields and brigade groups within Canadian Forces Europe. The Regiment was established with a Headquarters, three Air Defence Batteries and a specialised second-line maintenance workshop. The authorized personnel establishment of the Regiment was some 620 all ranks. With the repatriation of Canadian troops from Germany in 1992, the Regiment was reduced to nil strength and removed from the order of battle.

On 12 April 1995, 119 Air Defence Battery, then located at CFB Chatham, was re-designated 4th Air Defence Regiment, RCA. 119 Air Defence Battery had previously been a unit of CFB Gagetown with a total strength of 169 all ranks.

The creation of 119 Air Defence Battery was authorized by the Minister of National Defence on 29 July 1985 with manpower and equipment obtained from the disbanding of Y Battery, 2 RCHA. The new battery - comprised of three Blowpipe troops, a command and recce element - was assigned the role of providing very low level air defence to a task force and to 5e Group Brigade du Canada (5 GBC). 119 Air Defence Battery deployed to Norway in support of the Allied Command Europe Mobile Force (Land) on two occasions and participated in many 5 GBC exercises here on Canadian soil.

On 4 December 1989, 119 Air Defence Battery was assigned to 1st Canadian Division with the task of providing very low-level air defence to Division operations. 119 Air Defence Battery also contributed to the victory in the Gulf War of 1990-91 by sending three Javelin missile sections aboard the HMCS TERRA NOVA, ATHABASKAN and PROTECTEUR during OPERATION FRICTION.

In 1992, the Battery received its first ADATS. The Battery personnel were divided into four ADATS troops and a Javelin troop with the new role of providing low-level air defence to a task force within the framework of 1st Canadian Division. The Battery first deployed its ADATS operationally by participating in EXERCISE RENDEZVOUS 92. Shortly thereafter, the Battery relinquished its Javelin role to the three Total Force Air Defence Regiments located across Canada.

The Battery reorganized once again in 1993. As 4th Air Defence Regiment had disbanded the previous year, 119 Air Defence Battery acquired the additional task of conducting trials for the Low-Level Air Defence Project. 119 Air Defence Battery grew to 266 all ranks after amalgamating with 128 Air Defence Battery, which had been repatriated to Canada following the closure of Canadian Forces Europe. 119 Air Defence Battery took on the dual role of being able to provide, on request, an installation battery - consisting of both a Gun/Skyguard and an ADATS troop - or a Brigade Air Defence Battery - consisting of 12 ADATS - in time of conflict. This role was effectively maintained until the re-formation of 4^th Air Defence Regiment.

To meet the growing danger posed to our forces by new aerial systems such as remotely piloted vehicles, stand-off munitions and low-observable aircraft, 4^th Air Defence Regiment was reactivated in Canada on 21 July 1996. The Army's first and only truly "Total Force" unit, with 224 Regular Force and 205 Reserve Force personnel, the Regiment's Headquarters and 119 Air Defence Battery were established in Moncton, NB. 128 Air Defence Battery, 210 Air Defence Workshop, Regimental Support Troop and C Troop were set up in CFB Gagetown. 4^th Air Defence Regiment Training and Liaison Detachment was placed in Cold Lake, Alberta, to provide constant contact with AIRCOM's Fighter Group. The Regiment continues to maintain and operate the ADATS, Skyguard Radar Fire Control Unit and Twin-35mm gun, and has been tasked to deliver a composite Air Defence Battery in support of elements of the Canadian Forces - air, naval, and land - deployed on operations world-wide.