Royal Australian Artillery

Royal Australian Artillery
source
Unit name	Royal Australian Artillery
Caption	Badge of the Royal Australian Artillery
Dates	1 July 1902–present
Country	Australia
Branch	Australian Army
Role	Field artillery, air defence, surveillance and target acquisition
Garrison	Holsworthy Barracks
Nickname	"Gunners"
Motto	"Quo Fas Et Gloria Ducunt"
March	"The British Grenadiers"

Royal Australian Artillery is the artillery corps of the Australian Army, responsible for field artillery, air defence, surveillance, and target acquisition. Originating from colonial batteries and federated in the early 20th century, the corps has served in major conflicts including the Second Boer War, First World War, Second World War, Korean War, and Vietnam War. The corps maintains close links with the Royal Artillery (United Kingdom), the United States Army Field Artillery Branch, and Commonwealth artillery institutions such as the Canadian Army, New Zealand Army, and Indian Army.

History

The origins trace to colonial formations in New South Wales, Victoria (Australia), Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania (island) that provided volunteer batteries during the New Zealand Wars and the Second Boer War. After federation, the corps consolidated under the Defence Act 1903 (Cth), adopting organisation and doctrine influenced by the Royal Artillery (United Kingdom), the Imperial Defence Committee, and exchanges with the British Empire military establishments. In the First World War, Australian gunners served with the Australian Imperial Force at Gallipoli, the Western Front, and the Sinai and Palestine Campaigns alongside formations such as the ANZAC Mounted Division and the Australian Corps. During the Second World War, artillery units fought in the North African Campaign, including the Siege of Tobruk, the Battle of El Alamein, and later in the Pacific against the Empire of Japan in New Guinea and Borneo. Cold War commitments saw artillery deployed to the Korean War with the 1st Commonwealth Division and to Vietnam with the 1st Australian Task Force at Phuoc Tuy Province. Peacekeeping and coalition operations have included service in East Timor, Iraq War, and the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), cooperating with units from the United States Marine Corps, British Army, and New Zealand Defence Force.

Organisation and units

The corps comprises Regular and Reserve formations within the Australian Army. Key Regular units include the 1st Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery (air defence), 4th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery (surveillance and target acquisition), and the 8th/12th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery (field artillery), supported by training units at the School of Artillery, North Head and the 1st Close Health Battalion. Reserve artillery is raised in state-based brigades such as the 1st Brigade (Australia), 2nd Division (Australia), and regional units located at depots including Holsworthy Barracks and Townsville garrisons. Command relationships align with formations like Forces Command (Australia), 2nd Division (Australia), and coalition command structures such as United States Indo-Pacific Command. Liaison and exchange postings are frequent with the Royal Artillery (United Kingdom), United States Army Pacific, and the Canadian Armed Forces.

Equipment and artillery systems

Historically equipped with guns such as the 18-pounder field gun and the 25-pounder gun-howitzer, modernisation introduced towed and self-propelled systems including the M777 howitzer and trials of systems analogous to the AS90 and HIMARS capability. Air-defence units employ systems conceptually related to the RBS 70 family and integrate sensors such as counter-battery radars like the AN/TPQ-36 Firefinder and surveillance assets derived from platforms similar to the AN/TPQ-53. Fire-control and command systems link to networked architectures interoperable with the US Army Tactical Fire Direction System and the NATO fire control approach. Logistics and recovery use vehicles akin to the Perentie (vehicle) and the HMSA (Land Rover) equivalents, while target acquisition leverages unmanned aerial vehicles comparable to the Elbit Hermes 450 and electronic-warfare suites informed by Signals Directorate standards.

Operations and deployments

Gunners have been deployed to expeditionary and domestic operations, from trench warfare on the Western Front to jungle warfare in New Guinea campaign (World War II), providing indirect fire, counter-battery, and air-defence support. In Korea, artillery delivered sustained fire in battles such as the Battle of Kapyong alongside the Royal Canadian Regiment and British Commonwealth forces. Vietnam operations supported infantry at locations including Long Tan and Fire Support Base Coral, integrating with US artillery assets. More recent deployments supported stabilization missions in East Timor under INTERFET and coalition efforts in Iraq War (2003–2011) and War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), coordinating with units like the Special Air Service Regiment (Australia) and the 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. Domestic responses have included aid to civil authorities during natural disasters in regions such as Queensland and New South Wales, working with agencies like the Australian Federal Police and state emergency services.

Training and doctrine

Training occurs at the School of Artillery, North Head and specialist centres that mirror doctrines from the Royal Artillery Training Centre and joint concepts promulgated by the Australian Defence College. Courses cover gunnery, air-defence, target acquisition, electronic warfare, and unmanned systems integration, using simulations analogous to the Common Tactical Training System and live-fire ranges at locations including Puckapunyal and Kokoda Track training areas. Doctrine publications align with joint fires doctrine used by the Chief of Army (Australia) and interoperability standards developed with the United States Pacific Command and NATO partners. Professional development includes exchanges with the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, staff courses at the Australian Command and Staff College, and accreditation pathways linked to institutions such as the University of New South Wales.

Traditions and insignia

The corps maintains traditions inherited from the Royal Artillery (United Kingdom), including the motto "Quo Fas Et Gloria Ducunt" and the ceremonial use of the "gunner" appellation. Insignia include a bursting bomb badge and artillery colours displayed on standards at ceremonies at locations such as Anzac Memorial (Sydney), Australian War Memorial, and regimental parades at Duntroon. Honours and awards conferred on gunners include decorations such as the Victoria Cross, Distinguished Service Order, and Medal for Gallantry earned in campaigns like the Somme and Borneo campaign (World War II). Commemorative events mark engagements such as ANZAC Day and unit anniversaries that trace lineage to colonial batteries in Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide.

Category:Australian Army