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226 Signal Squadron (Electronic Warfare)
226 Signal Squadron (Wireless)
226 Signal Squadron (Radio)
Insignia of 14th Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare)
14th Signal Regiment badge
Active 1 September 1959 – 1 July 1977
1 April 1993–Present
Country Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom
Branch

Flag of the British Army British Army

Role Electronic Warfare
Size Squadron
Part of 16th Air Assault Brigade Combat Team
Garrison/HQ MoD St Athan
Engagements
Insignia
Corps cap badge Royal Corps of Signals cap badge

226 Signal Squadron is a electronic warfare unit of the British Army part of the Royal Corps of Signals. The squadron was initially formed in 1959 and provided wireless and radio communications until it cuts to the army in 1975 and was disbanded in 1977. In 1993, the squadron was reformed by re-designation of a squadron of 14th Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare), the regiment which it remains part of today. The squadron's current role is electronic warfare and provides support to the 16th Air Assault Brigade Combat Team at Colchester Garrison.

1st Formation (1959)[]

On 1 September 1959 following the 1957 Defence White Paper, No. 30 Wireless Squadron RAF was disbanded and subsequently reformed as 226 Signal Squadron (Wireless) under the Royal Corps of Signals. This new unit was formed at RAF Scharfoldendorf where it remained for only two years. By 1961 the squadron was employed on listening duties which continued until that year when it moved to Wesendorf. After this move, the squadron was renamed as 226 Signal Squadron (Radio) but it is unknown if the squadron was under 13th (Radio) Signal Regiment which had the same role and location as the squadron. On 1 July 1977 following the reorganisations after the 1975 Mason Review, the squadron became 2 Squadron, 14th Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare), ending the lineage. During their time in Wesendorf, the squadron gained two regimental links with the following; Royal Air Force when at Putlos, Gatow and the United States when at Mt Meisener. During their time here, the squadron also contained a detachment at Dannenburg.[1][2]

2nd Formation (1993)[]

On 1 April 1993 following the end of the Cold War and reorganisations after the Options for Change reform, No.2 Squadron 14 Signal Regiment was renamed as 226 Signal Squadron (Electronic Warfare), and was based at Taunton Barracks in Celle and tasked with as a depth/out of area duties. In December 1995 following the 1994 Front Line First reform, the 14th Signal Regiment and the squadron moved to Cawdor Barracks near St Davids, Wales and subsequently assigned to the 1st Signal Brigade.[3][1][2]

Under the 2010 defence review, known in the army as Army 2020, the 14th Signal Regiment was transferred from the 1st Signal Brigade to the new 1st Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Brigade, and its base subsequently announced to be sold. In 2015 there was an amendment to the 2010 defence review, and called in the army the Army 2020 Refine. Under this reform, the regiment moved from Cawdor Barracks in Brawdy to its current location at MoD St Athan. According to a FOI(A), the regiment is due to move to a new location by 2027, although it is unknown where this will be. According to another FOI(A), as of September 2020 the regiment has not moved to St Athan yet, and is still based in Brawdy.[4][5][6][7][8]

Electronic Systems Operator Royal Signals

lien=Special:FilePath/Electronic_Systems_Operator_Royal_Signals.jpg

Today the squadron has the following structure;[1][3]

  • Squadron Headquarters, a General Support Troop
  • H (Hotel) Troop, a Close Support Troop
  • R (Romeo) Troop, a Close Support Troop

After the Army 2020 Refines, the squadron now provides support to the Air Assault Task Force and 16th Air Assault Brigade. Also as a result of these reforms.[3][9][10][11]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lord & Watson, pp. 50–53, 93, 128, 283, 285, 293.
  2. 2.0 2.1 224 to 226 Squadrons at British Army units from 1945 on.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 “14 Signal Regiment.” Royal Signals Museum, https://www.royalsignalsmuseum.co.uk/14-signal-regiment/.
  4. British Army, Transforming the British Army an Update, July 2013. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  5. Regular Army Basing Matrix by Formation and Unit.
  6. FOI(A), Army 2020 Refine changed since 2017 and future. 18 July 2019. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  7. Ministry of Defence, Regular Army Basing Plan - 5 Mar 13, Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  8. FOI(A), Map showing Regional Command's regular unit laydown. 13 August 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  9. An Update from the Master of Signals. (2019). [ebook] pp.8 and 14. Available at: https://royalsignals.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/20170921-Master-of-Signals-Presentation.pdf [Accessed 31 Aug. 2019].
  10. Dropbox. (2019). FOI Request, made Public.jpg. [online] Available at: https://www.dropbox.com/s/tap5avlxu29c604/FOI%20Request%2C%20made%20Public.jpg?dl=0 [Accessed 31 Aug. 2019].
  11. "14 Signal Regiment" (in en-GB). https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/royal-signals/14-signal-regiment-electronic-warfare/. Retrieved 2020-09-17 

Sources[]