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4th Air Defence
Regiment, RCA (4 AD Regt) was first formed on 27 November 1987 at CFBs
Lahr and Baden,
FRG with a headquarters, three batteries (127, 128 and 129 Air Defence
Batteries) and a second-line maintenance workshop (4 Air Defence
Workshop), and established at 620 all ranks. The regiment’s role was to
provide low-level air defence to designated airfields and a brigade group
within Canadian Forces Europe.
To
accomplish this task, the regiment’s Boffin anti-aircraft guns and
Blowpipe MANPADS missiles were withdrawn from service, and the regiment
was re-equipped during the in 1988-90 period with two new primary weapon
systems : the Oerlikon Aerospace Air Defence Anti-Tank System (ADATS), the
Oerlikon-Contraves Skyguard Radar Fire-Control Unit (FCU), and the
Oerlikon Twin 35 mm antiaircraft gun.
After
only five years’ service, the regiment was reduced to nil strength with
the closure of Canadian Forces Europe in 1992. Most of the regiment’s
personnel and equipment was relocated to 119 Air Defence Battery at CFB
Chatham, New Brunswick.
In
1994, Commander Land Force Command identified a need to provide air
defence to elements of the Canadian Forces deployed in support of the
objectives specified in the 1994 Defence White Paper. The regiment was
authorized to reorganize on 15 March 1995, and it stood to again in
Moncton, New Brunswick on 21 July 1996.
The
newly reorganized regiment was staffed by amalgamating 119 Air Defence
Battery (which had been in Gagetown since the closure of CFB Chatham), 210
Air Defence Workshop and 32 Service Battalion, a unit of the Primary
Reserve. The regiment was established at a total of 224 Regular and 205
Reserve Force personnel, for a total of 429 all ranks.
The
role of the regiment since reorganization has been to provide, on order, a
SHORAD battery to defend a brigade group deployed in support of UN or
coalition operations; a SHORAD battery to defend other deployed elements
of the CF; and a Divisional Air Defence Cell / Airspace Coordination
Centre as part of a deployed Joint Task Force Headquarters.
As
it was in Germany, the regiment is equipped with 20 ADATS, 16 Twin-35 mm
guns, and 8 Skyguard FCU. The regimental organization currently includes
Regimental Headquarters and 119 Air Defence Battery (-) at CFB Detachment
Moncton; 128 Air Defence Battery, 210 Air Defence Workshop, Regimental
Support Troop and C Troop, 119 AD Bty at CFB Gagetown; and 4 AD Regt
Training and Liaison Detachment at CFB Cold Lake, Alberta.
As
part of the reactivation plan, the regiment conducted individual training
during the 1996-97 period, and collective training from 1997-98. This
intensive training plan was rounded out Ex PERFECT KILL 98, (the tactical
combined live firing of all AD weapon systems), Ex PRAIRIE RAM 98
(exercising the Composite AD Battery in the brigade manoeuvre role) and Ex
MARCOT 1/98 (exercising the Composite AD Battery in a joint and combined
amphibious assault and the installation defence role). Following these
exercises, the regiment was declared operationally ready on 4 September
1998.
Major
operations and exercises conducted by the regiment since reactivation
include: Ex Perfect Kill 96 (Fort
Bliss,
Texas, May-Jun 96); Op Recuperation (Saint John, NB, Jan 98); Ex Perfect
Kill and Prairie Ram 98. |
