Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery
Encyclopedia
The Royal New Zealand Artillery forms the artillery
section of the New Zealand Army
. In its current form it was founded in 1947 with the amalgamation of the regular and volunteer units of artillery in New Zealand
.
The Battle Honors of the above three Territorial Force artillery units are for South Africa, World War I
and World War II
.
at Buckingham Palace
in 1964 (previously, the contingents sent to the Coronation
had mounted the guard).
161 Battery was awarded both the United States Meritorious Unit Commendation
and the South Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation
for its service in the Vietnam War
as part of the 1st Battalion Group, Royal Australian Regiment
(see Non-U.S. recipients of U.S. gallantry awards
).
but this is now being phased out in favour of a universal scarlet mess jacket for all branches of the Army. The traditional blue and red artillery colours still survive in the full dress of the band of the RNZA.
- Royal Canadian Artillery - Royal Australian Artillery
File:NZ artillery 25 pounder Korea 1951 (AWM HOBJ2238).jpg|New Zealand gunners firing a 25 pounder
in Korea.
File:RNZA carry out a fire mission, Vietnam.jpg|New Zealand gunners in Vietnam operating an M101A1 Howitzer.
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
section of the New Zealand Army
New Zealand Army
The New Zealand Army , is the land component of the New Zealand Defence Force and comprises around 4,500 Regular Force personnel, 2,000 Territorial Force personnel and 500 civilians. Formerly the New Zealand Military Forces, the current name was adopted around 1946...
. In its current form it was founded in 1947 with the amalgamation of the regular and volunteer units of artillery in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
Modern structure
Today, the RNZA consists of a single regiment:- 16 Field Regiment, Royal New Zealand Artillery
- Regimental Headquarters
- HQ Battery
- G Troop, 43 (Air Defence) Battery - MistralMistral missileMistral is an infrared homing surface-to-air missile manufactured by the European multinational company MBDA missile systems . Based on the French SATCP , the portable missile later to become the Mistral began development in 1974...
VLLAD Missile - Training Troop
- Workshops
- G Troop, 43 (Air Defence) Battery - Mistral
- 161 Battery (Close Support) - L119 Light GunL118 Light GunThe L118 Light Gun is a 105 mm towed howitzer, originally produced for the British Army in the 1970s and widely exported since, including to the United States, where a modified version is known as the M119A1...
- Headquarters Troop
- Able Troop
- Baker Troop
- Command Post Troop
- 163 Battery (Close Support) - L119 Light GunL118 Light GunThe L118 Light Gun is a 105 mm towed howitzer, originally produced for the British Army in the 1970s and widely exported since, including to the United States, where a modified version is known as the M119A1...
- Headquarters Troop
- Easy Troop
- Fox Troop
- Command Post Troop
- 39 Mortar Battery
- 81 Troop
- 82 Troop
- JOST Troop
Territorial units
In addition, there are a number of Territorial Force artillery units; these were formerly units of the RNZA, but were moved into the structure of the TF battalion groups on the restructuring of the army in the late 1990s:- 11/4 Battery (Close Support), 3rd Auckland (Countess of Ranfurly's Own) and Northland Battalion GroupAuckland (Countess of Ranfurly's Own) and Northland RegimentThe 3rd Battalion, and Northland Regiment is a Territorial Force Battalion of the New Zealand Army, one of three of the 1st Infantry Combat Brigade Group with Headquarters in Arch Hill Auckland Army Centre...
- 22(D) Battery (Air Defence), 7th Wellington (City of Wellington's Own) and Hawke's Bay Battalion GroupWellington (City of Wellington's Own) and Hawke's Bay RegimentThe Wellington and Hawke's Bay Regiment is a Territorial Force unit of the New Zealand Army. It was formed in 1964 during the reorganisation of the army by the amalgamation of two separate regiments:*5th Wellington Regiment...
- 32 Battery (Observation Post), 2nd Canterbury, and Nelson-Marlborough and West Coast Battalion GroupCanterbury, and Nelson-Marlborough and West Coast RegimentThe Canterbury, and Nelson-Marlborough and West Coast Regiment is a Territorial Force unit of the New Zealand Army. It was formed in 1964 during the reorganisation of the army by the amalgamation of two separate regiments:...
The Battle Honors of the above three Territorial Force artillery units are for South Africa, World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Distinctions
A composite unit of the RNZA became the first specific New Zealand unit to mount the Queen's GuardQueen's Guard
The Queen's Guard and Queen's Life Guard are the names given to contingents of infantry and cavalry soldiers charged with guarding the official royal residences in London...
at Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
in 1964 (previously, the contingents sent to the Coronation
Coronation of the British monarch
The coronation of the British monarch is a ceremony in which the monarch of the United Kingdom is formally crowned and invested with regalia...
had mounted the guard).
161 Battery was awarded both the United States Meritorious Unit Commendation
Meritorious Unit Commendation
The Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the United States military which is awarded to any military command which displays exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, heroic deeds, or valorous actions....
and the South Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation
Presidential Unit Citation (Vietnam)
The Republic of Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation was awarded by the Vietnamese government to all personnel in the Military Assistance Advisory Group, Indo-China, during August and September 1954. The emblem consists of three vertical red stripes on a golden yellow background, in a gold...
for its service in the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
as part of the 1st Battalion Group, Royal Australian Regiment
Royal Australian Regiment
The Royal Australian Regiment is the parent regiment for regular infantry battalions of the Australian Army and is the senior infantry regiment of the Royal Australian Infantry Corps...
(see Non-U.S. recipients of U.S. gallantry awards
Non-U.S. recipients of U.S. gallantry awards
-Individual Awards for Valor:Other than the awards to unknown soldiers of World War I, the Medal of Honor, the highest United States valor decoration, has not been awarded to a non-U.S. recipient. The highest valor decoration which non-U.S. individuals may receive is the service crosses of the...
).
Uniform
The RNZA were distinguished by a blue and red puggaree around the traditional "Lemon Squeezer" hat of the New Zealand Army, until this headdress fell into abeyance in the late 1950s. It has subsequently been reintroduced for ceremonial use but the RNZA now wear the same red puggaree as most other corps and regiments. Artillery officers wore a dark blue jacket and trousers with red lapels and trouser stripes for mess dressMess dress
Mess dress is the military term for the formal evening dress worn in the mess or at other formal occasions. It is also known as mess uniform and mess kit...
but this is now being phased out in favour of a universal scarlet mess jacket for all branches of the Army. The traditional blue and red artillery colours still survive in the full dress of the band of the RNZA.
Affiliations
- Royal ArtilleryRoyal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
- Royal Canadian Artillery - Royal Australian Artillery
Gallery
File:NZ artillery 25 pounder Korea 1951 (AWM HOBJ2238).jpg|New Zealand gunners firing a 25 pounder
Ordnance QF 25 pounder
The Ordnance QF 25 pounder, or more simply, 25-pounder or 25-pdr, was introduced into service just before World War II, during which it served as the major British field gun/howitzer. It was considered by many to be the best field artillery piece of the war, combining high rates of fire with a...
in Korea.
File:RNZA carry out a fire mission, Vietnam.jpg|New Zealand gunners in Vietnam operating an M101A1 Howitzer.