6/36 (Arcot 1751) Battery Royal Artillery

6/36 (Arcot 1751) Battery Royal Artillery On 11th January 1993, under the Options for Change 36 (Arcot 1751) Missile Battery amalgamated with 6 Battery to become 6/36 (Arcot 1751) Battery within 40th Regiment Royal Artillery “The Lowland Gunners”. 27th Field Regiment Royal Artillery and 50th Missile Regiment Royal Artillery were both placed into suspended animation. In October 1994, the Regiment handed over its M109 Howitzers to the Austrian Army, prior to re-equipping with the 155mm AS90 Self Propelled Howitzer. Full Conversion to AS90 and the BATES Command and Control system was delayed by three months as the Regiment deployed to Northern Ireland as the Girdwood Roulemont Battalion in 1995. Between July 1997 and January 1998 the Battery has deployed to Bosnia on Operation LODESTAR. In the same year arms plotted from Hohne, Northern Germany, to Topcliffe in North Yorkshire, UK. The Battery deployed to Bosnia on Operation PALATINE, July 1999- January 2000 and was split between 137 (Java) Battery and 38 (Seringapatam) Battery Royal Artillery. 40th Regiment Royal Artillery “The Lowland Gunners” deployed on a Pan Balkan tour, Operation Agricola, June- October 2001, 6/36 (Arcot 1751) Battery deployed as the Kosovo Battery for this. Following the second Gulf War the Battery deployed on Operation Telic 2 to AZ Zubayr in Southern Iraq, in the infantry role from June- November 2003. The Future Army structure changes of 2004 saw 6/36 (Arcot 1751) Battery re role from an AS90 Battery to a light gun Battery. The Battery deployed on Operation Telic 9 in November 2006-June 2007 and conducted four types of jobs while on tour, they took part in security, counter-IDF and prison guard duties. Most importantly the light gun was deployed to 6/36 (Arcot 1751) Battery to give Artillery support, the British Area of Operations (AO). The guns were fired for the first time in three years in that AO. The Battery was based in Shaibah Logistics Base and assisted in the close down of this location, then moved to Basra Air Station for the rest of the duration of their tour. Shortly after the return from Op TELIC 40th Regiment Royal Artillery prepared for the move from Topcliffe, North Yorkshire to Lisburn, Northern Ireland in September 2008. It did not take long for the Regiment to settle and it was soon back into pre-deployment Training, for Op HERRICK in Afghanistan March 2009, for a 6 month summer tour. 6/36 (Arcot 1751) Battery’s gun group deployed out to FOB INKERMAN during OP HERRICK 10 while the Tac group deployed to Kajaki Dam and Sangin DC. During the tour the Battery lost a valued member. Lance Bombardier Matthew Hatton who was killed in Afghanistan on Thursday 13 August 2009. He was caught in an improvised explosive device blast whilst on foot patrol as part of Op GHARTSE KERS 4, providing security for a pre-election shura in the Sangin area of Helmand province. With result of 40th Regiment Royal Artillery “The Lowland Gunners” being placed into suspended animation in 2011, 6/36 (Arcot 1751) Battery lost their guns and re rolled to a Tac Battery. They joined 4th Regiment Royal Artillery “The North East Gunners” in December 2011. 40th Regiment Royal Artillery “The Lowland Gunners” finally had the Disbandment parade held at Edinburgh Castle in August 2012. This saw the Commanding Officer of 40th Regiment Royal Artillery “The Lowland Gunners” hand over 6/36 (Arcot 1751) Battery’s flag to its new Commanding Officer of 4th Regiment Royal Artillery “The North East Gunners”. 6/36 (Arcot 1751) Battery moved back to Topcliffe in December 2011 and swiftly started training within their new role as a Tac Battery and preparing themselves for upcoming Operations. 4th Regiment Royal Artillery “The North East Gunners” re rolled as a Light gun Regiment and taking on the 105mm l118 Light Gun. 6/36 (Arcot 1751) Battery deployed out to Afghanistan on Operation HERRICK 17 from October 2012 to March 2013 for the harsh cold weather of a winter tour. The Battery was based in Lash Kar Gar, and conducted in Artillery support throughout the tour. Since returning from Op HERRICK, the Battery has transitioned to be part of the Adaptive Force. It has taken part in Ex VIKING STAR 14, with 103 Regiment Royal Artillery (R), as part of the work to integrate the Reserves. It has also completed an intensive training year which saw the Battery supporting 1 Rifles BG on Ex WESSEX STORM during March 2015