13th Signal Regiment (United Kingdom)
The 13th Signal Regiment is a specialist signals unit of the Royal Corps of Signals of the British Army. Originally formed in 1934, the regiment had a long history of service before being disbanded in 1994 following the initial Options for Change reforms. The regiment was be reformed in June 2020 as part of 1st Signal Brigade.
| 1st Wireless Regiment 13th Signal Regiment | |
|---|---|
![]() Cap badge of the Royal Corps of Signals | |
| Active | 1934–1995 2020–present |
| Country | |
| Branch | |
| Role | Cyber and Electromagnetic Signals Intelligence |
| Size | Regiment[lower-alpha 1] |
| Part of | 1st (United Kingdom) Signal Brigade |
| Corps | Royal Corps of Signals |
| Engagements | Second World War |
| Insignia | |
| Tactical Recognition Flash | |
| Regimental Badge | ![]() |
History
Formation
During the World War I, the Wireless Observation Groups of the Corps of Royal Engineers proven to be successful. As a result, a Royal Corps of Signals was planned to be formed in 1917 however, its formation was delayed until 1920.[1][2] The 4th Wireless Signal Company (War Office Signals) was formed in 1934 at Aldershot Garrison to provide signal intelligence activities under the command of the War Office.[1] In 1938, the company was re-titled as No. 2 Company, General Headquarters Signals. The company later expanded its responsibility to provide secure communications for the army.[1][2]
In September 1939, the unit was deployed to France as part of British Expeditionary Force.[1] It was later evacuated at Dunkirk and renamed as the 1st Special Wireless Group on 18 July 1940.[1][2] Following a short re-organisation, the group was deployed to the Middle East under the command of the 2nd Special Wireless Group.[1][2]
Cold War Years
During the Cold War years, the group was based in Minden and re-titled as the 1st Special Wireless Regiment. In August 1946, the regiment moved to Peterborough Barracks and in 1950 in Nelson Barracks in Münster.[1][2][3][4] By 1953, the regiment was moved as a result of an analysis of Soviet Forces in East Germany and by 1955, a brand new set of barracks was constructed in Wassenberg-Rothenbach, near Birgelen, on the German-Dutch Border.[2][3] In 1959, as a result of the 1957 Defence White Paper reforms, the regiment was further renamed as 13th (Radio) Signal Regiment.[5][6]
In 1994, the regiment was disbanded as part of the Options for Change reforms.[7]
21st Century
As a result of the Army 2020 Refine reforms the regiment was reformed on 1 June 2020 under the command of 1st (UK) Signal Brigade.[8][9]
Structure
The regiment's current structure is as follows:[10]
- Regimental Headquarters, at Blandford Camp[11][12][13]
- 224 (Cyber Protection Teams) Signal Squadron[14]
- 233 (Global Communication Networks) Signal Squadron, at Basil Hill Barracks, MoD Corsham
- 259 (Global Information Systems) Signal Squadron
- Combat Information Systems (CIS) Trails and Development Unit (CISTDU)
- Specialist Group Information Services (SGIS)
See also
Notes
- In the Royal Corps of Signals, a 'Regiment' is equivalent to a battalion in the infantry
References
- "History of the Royal Signals". Royal Signals Museum. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
- Lord and Watson, Page 49
- "13 Regiment". British Army Units 1945 On. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
- at 4:33pm, Simon Newton 4th June 2020. "Army Launches First-Ever Dedicated Cyber Regiment". Forces Network. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
- "13th Signal Regiment: British Army creates new cyber unit to protect forces". Sky News. 5 June 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
- at 4:33pm, Simon Newton 4th June 2020. "Army Launches First-Ever Dedicated Cyber Regiment". Forces Network. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
- at 4:33pm, Simon Newton 4th June 2020. "Army Launches First-Ever Dedicated Cyber Regiment". Forces Network. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
- "Armed Forces announce launch of first Cyber Regiment in major modernisation". British Ministry of Defence. 4 June 2020. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
- "The Caduceus Programme" (PDF). Master of Signals. 2019. pp. 8 and 14. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 May 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
- "13 Signal Regiment". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 2021-12-14.
- Royal Signals Wire – Spring 2021.
- Royal Corps of Signals Regimental Information.
- Royal Corps of Signals, The Wire–Winter 2021.
- Royal Corps of Signals, The Wire – Winter 2020.
Sources
- Lord, Cliff, and Graham Watson. The Royal Corps of Signals Unit Histories of the Corps (1920-2001) and Its Antecedents. Helion and Company, 2003. ISBN 1874622922
- "Royal Signals". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 2019-10-20.
- Watson, Graham E. and Rinaldi, Richard A. The British Army in Germany (BAOR and After): An Organisational History 1947-2004 Tiger Lily Publications LLC 2005. ISBN 0-9720296-9-9

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