Bristol Gunners

883 (GVA) Locating Bty R.A. (V)

When the TA was reconstituted on 1 January 1947, the 76th (Gloucester) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment was reformed as 266 (Gloucestershire Volunteer Artillery) HAA Rgt, RA in 72 AA Bde (the former 46 AA Bde at Bristol). On 1 April 1947, the Regular Army's 1st HAA Rgt took the GVA's old number and became 76 HAA Rgt.

When AA Command was disbanded in 1955 there were wholesale mergers among its units. 266 HAA Regiment was amalgamated with 312 (Gloucestershire) and 601 (City of Bristol) HAA Rgts to form 'P' (Gloucestershire Volunteer Artillery) Battery in the new 311 (City of Bristol) HAA Rgt. In 1961, that regiment was merged into 883 (Bristol) Locating Battery to form 883 (Gloucestershire Volunteer Artillery) Locating Battery.

By now there was little use for anti-aircraft guns which were replaced with guided missiles such as the Bloodhound and Thunderbird in 1958 and 1960 respectively. In 1961, an amalgamation of 883 Bty, with 311 Regt and the 43 Div CB Staff Troop formed the 883rd (Gloucestershire Volunteer Artillery) Locating Battery RA (TA,) this saw the Bristol Tradition and History of Artillery finally drawn together in to the hands of one unit.

883 Bty had three troops for locating, sound ranging and surveying. The Locating trrop used Green Archer radar to track mortar and artillery shells and calculate where they were fired from. The Sound Ranging (SR) troop use sensitive microphone ranges ,several miles long to determine, using triangulation, where artillery is fired from, and because accurate maps are required the Survey troop create and amend maps.

These photos and exercise reports come from 1956 and 1959.

Green Archer

The Green Archer scanner was first set so it scanned back and forth near the horizon line. When a mortar shell was seen on the display, the operator used a grease pencil to mark its location. He then pressed a button that quickly raised the scanner so it was pointed at a higher vertical angle. This happened rapidly enough that the bomb would take some time to reach this higher altitude, at which point it would appear on the display again and this second location would also be marked. The operator them placed cursors over the marks and input the plot to the radar's analogue computer.

These two plots, the time between them and the angle between the two beam positions gave two points on a parabolic curve. Such a curve is defined by two points and is a good approximation of a mortar bomb trajectory. Using these, the azimuth of the radar beam centre and the radar's coordinates, the mortar position coordinates were calculated. These could be adjusted to reflect the actual height of the ground.

Images from Fremington Camp

883 (GVA) Locating Bty R.A. (V)

883 (GVA) Locating Bty R.A. (V)
Green Archer Radar Troop

In the above photo, front row left to right: L/Bdr J. Brooks; 4th right, WOII Ellis R.A.; Capt Norman Webber (Troop OC); 7th right, Sgt R McGarver.
Rear row, the 2nd right is Gnr Jeff Rogerson.

Capt I. Johns and Capt (Chew) Winter-Smith

Capt I. Johns and Capt (Chew) Winter-Smith

In Action: Land Rover towing a Radar 3 Mk 7

In Action: Land Rover towing a Radar 3 Mk 7

Report on Annual Camp, 2-15 May 1959

1. Make-up of Battery

2. Assistance by the C.B. Wing. School of Artillery

3. General comments.

Two years ago, this unit could only muster some 12 men to come to camp; and those that did appear were apathetic, and for the most part disinterested last year the situation had improved, but only slightly.

This year the situation is vastly different and, for the first time for many years the battery was able to deploy both S.Rg and Radar sections; thereby introducing a competitive atmosphere.

The spirit of the men is most marked, and there does certainly appear to be a definite enthusiasm for the job in hand. It is also noticeable that a fair number of intelligent people have been recruited by the unit, which is attributed to the obvious efforts of the BC. and the Training Major.

4. Deployment

Needs more practice: there was a slight tendency to allow to much time for the task. This can be dangerous as giving a surfeit of work to do in a short time task.

A proper balance and making a correct assessment of a reasonable quota of work can instil a sense of urgency into a deployment, without losing efficiency.

Perhaps a little more action - for example, another deployment - could have been packed into the 13th, without even firing from one of the positions.

The deployments were well done with little fuss.

Attention could possibly be paid to track planning, but I think, this was noted and will doubtless be put right later.

5. Survey

S Rg – quite first class, Again, there was not much to do but that which be done all well. The Survey party is good, and well trained; whilst the

Svy Sgt, Sgt Smith, is very capable. He understands the Svy Problem thoroughly so does not attempt to complicate matters.

Radar -The Rader Section is rather frightened of this subject, and is to inclined to let the S-Rg section do the job for them. The section must include those competent to tackle all domestic survey problems.

There are methods of linear measurement other then taping, and these - subtending, stadia rod etc - should be included on the next leg of training.

6. Command Post Work

S /Rg. Well organised, with an efficient team, each man a the other man’s job. Minor points are: a pessimistic attitude towards the accuracy of the locations - which were invariably good; small points of drill, which were mentioned at the time.

Radar Telephone procedure between CP and radar needs improvement.

7. Radar drills

Telephone procedure and reports to the CP need watching. Identification of the B type display requires practice: perhaps greater use could be made of training rockets.

Checks during action’ are rarely carried out - consequently the drift is never corrected.

8. AP and LP Work

S RG - good.

Radar - requires more practice.

9. Administration

The admin arrangements for the battery seemed quite excellent; never have I seen a unit leave an area so clean and tidy.

10. Summary

The State of training of 883 Bty des not yet compare with a regular unit however, this is not surprising as the bulk of those attended have only been with the unit for a matter of weeks. Bearing this in mind, the Bty Comd has done a first rate job by:-

  • (a) Bringing to life a virtually dead unit, by filling it with really worthwhile material.
  • (b) Enthusing all ranks with a fine spirit – some achievement when training time is so short.
  • (c) Laying the foundation, by bringing the Bty to a reasonable state of competence this time, for a ambitious, and even more successful, camp next year.

D. Newman
ICB
Captain RA

14 May 1959

883 (GVA) Battery R.A. (T.A.)

883 (GVA) Battery R.A. (T.A.)
Annual Camp 1962

Sources and Resources

Derek Driscoll's original pages

883 (GVA) Battery R.A. (T.A.) Annual Camp 1962
883 Battery: Green Archer Radar Troop
Report on Annual Camp - 2-15 May 1959

Other References

Green Archer Radar - Wikipedia