Coastal Artillery Royal Artillery Order of Battle July 1941

This article looks at the order of battle for the coastal artillery of the Royal Artillery serving in Britain in June 1941. It is one of a series of guides to help you research those who served in the British Army during the Second World War:

I also offer a soldier research and document copying service.

The Coastal Artillery Order of Battle June 1941

This page provides the order of battle for the coastal artillery of the Royal Artillery serving in Britain on 1 June 1941. On 30 June 1941, there were 1,402 officers and 36,337 other ranks serving with coast defence units in Britain. Most of these soldiers served in coast regiments. The information below was transcribed from a file held at the National Archives: Order of Battle: Coast Artillery with amendments 1 – 4: WO 212/117, recording which coast batteries served with which regiments. None of the subsequent movements of the coast batteries are shown, though they often remained with the same coast regiment for very long periods. Also shown are the catalogue references for any coast regiment or battery war diaries held at the National Archives.  A war diary was written by an officer of a unit and recorded its location and activities. They are the most important documents to view if you want to research a coastal regiment or battery during the war. I offer a copying service for these documents. The following tables appear on this page:

  • Coast Regiments
  • Special Coast Regiments
  • Independent Coast Batteries
  • Coast Observer Detachments
  • Coast Batteries

Coast Regiments

Coast RegimentBatteries Serving with the RegimentRegiment's War Diary
501st Coast Regiment211th, 241st, 242nd, 303rd and 304th Coast BatteriesWO 166/1705
504th Coast Regiment176th, 245th, 246th, 247th, 248th, 249th and 250th Coast BatteriesWO 166/1706
505th Coast Regiment251st, 252nd, 253rd, 254th, 255th, 309th and 310th Coast BatteriesWO 166/1707
506th Coast Regiment256th and 257th Coast BatteriesWO 166/1708
507th Coast Regiment258th Coast BatteryThere is no war diary for the Regiment
508th Coast Regiment259th, 260th, 261st, 262nd, 263rd and 348th Coast BatteriesWO 166/1709
(October - December 1941).
509th Coast Regiment264th, 265th, 312th and 314th Coast BatteriesWO 166/1711
510th Coast Regiment266th, 311th and 313th Coast BatteriesWO 166/1713
511th Coast Regiment139th, 267th, 268th and 315th Coast BatteriesWO 166/1714
512th Coast Regiment269th, 270th, 271st, 272nd, 273rd, 350th and 383rd Coast BatteriesWO 166/1715
513th Coast Regiment274th, 275th, 276th, 318th and 351st Coast BatteriesWO 166/1716
514th Coast Regiment215th, 225th, 226th, 277th, 325th and 326th Coast BatteriesWO 166/1717
515th Coast Regiment138th, 278th, 279th, 280th, 281st, 282nd, 283rd and 329th Coast BatteriesWO 166/1718
516th Coast Regiment220th, 284th, 285th, 286th, 287th, 288th and 357th Coast BatteriesWO 166/1719
517th Coast Regiment167th, 168th, 332nd, 356th and 419th Coast BatteriesWO 166/1720
518th Coast Regiment289th and 334th Coast BatteriesWO 166/1721
519th Coast Regiment291st, 292nd, 293rd, 294th and 418th Coast BatteriesWO 166/1722
520th Coast Regiment217th, 295th, 296th, 414th and 423rd Coast BatteriesWO 166/1723
521st Coast Regiment100th, 101st and 343rd Coast BatteriesWO 166/1724
522nd Coast Regiment102nd, 103rd, 104th, 105th, 106th, 107th, 134th and 387th Coast BatteriesThere is no war diary
523rd Coast Regiment108th, 216th, 394th and 395th Coast BatteriesWO 166/1725
524th Coast Regiment109th, 11th, 112th, 404th and 405th Coast BatteriesWO 166/1726
525th Coast Regiment113th, 114th, 115th, 380th and 381st Coast BatteriesWO 166/1727
526th Coast Regiment116th and 117th Coast BatteriesWO 166/1728
527th Coast Regiment118th, 119th and 120th Coast BatteriesWO 166/1729
528th Coast Regiment121st and 122nd Coast BatteriesWO 166/1730
529th Coast Regiment123rd, 124th and 125th Coast BatteriesWO 166/1731
530th Coast Regiment126th, 127th, 128th, 129th and 210th Coast BatteriesWO 166/1732
531st Coast Regiment130th, 192nd, 365th and 366th Coast BatteriesWO 166/1733
532nd Coast Regiment131st, 132nd, 367th and 368th Coast BatteriesWO 166/1734
533rd Coast Regiment133rd, 135th, 136th, 166th, 169th, 208th, 223rd and 224th Coast BatteriesWO 166/1735
534th Coast Regiment141st, 142nd, 144th and 158th Coast BatteriesWO 166/1736
535th Coast Regiment147th, 148th, 150th, 151st and 222nd Coast BatteriesWO 166/1737
538th Coast Regiment152nd, 153rd, 154th, 155th and 407th Coast BatteriesWO 166/1738
539th Coast Regiment165th, 209th and 417th Coast BatteriesWO 166/1739
540th Coast Regiment203rd and 290th Coast BatteriesWO 166/1740
565th Coast Regiment219th, 229th, 322nd and 323rd Coast BatteriesWO 166/1763
566th Coast Regiment159th, 160th and 161st Coast BatteriesWO 166/1764
567th Coast Regiment162nd, 163rd and 164th Coast BatteriesWO 166/1765
568th Coast Regiment137th, 156th and 157th Coast BatteriesWO 166/1766

 

Special Coast Regiments

Coast RegimentBatteries Serving with the RegimentRegiment's War Diary
541st Coast Regiment301st, 302nd, 371st and 420th Coast BatteriesWO 166/1741
542nd Coast Regiment243rd, 305th and 306th Coast BatteriesWO 166/1742
543rd Coast Regiment244th, 307th and 308th Coast BatteriesWO 166/1743
544th Coast Regiment316th, 317th and 349th Coast BatteriesThere is no war diary
545th Coast Regiment319th, 320th and 321st Coast BatteriesWO 166/1744
546th Coast Regiment228th, 324th, 352nd, 353rd and 384th Coast BatteriesWO 166/1745
547th Coast Regiment231st, 232nd, 327th, 328th, 354th, 355th and 409th Coast BatteriesWO 166/1746
548th Coast Regiment330th, 331st, 372nd and 373rd Coast BatteriesWO 166/1747
549th Coast Regiment297th, 333rd, 335th, 336th, 408th, 410th and 413th Coast BatteriesWO 166/1748
550th Coast Regiment338th, 339th, 340th and 412th Coast BatteriesWO 166/1749
551st Coast Regiment213th, 358th, 374th, 415th and 416th Coast BatteriesWO 166/1750
552nd Coast Regiment221st, 341st, 342nd, 360th, 375th and 385th Coast BatteriesWO 166/1751
553rd Coast Regiment344th, 345th, 346th and 359th Coast BatteriesWO 166/1752
554th Coast Regiment140th, 347th and 386th Coast BatteriesWO 166/1753
555th Coast Regiment376th, 377th, 388th and 389th BatteriesWO 166/1754
556th Coast Regiment361st, 362nd, 363rd, 378th, 390th and 391st Coast BatteriesWO 166/1755
557th Coast Regiment212th, 214th, 364th, 392nd and 393rd Coast BatteriesWO 166/1756
558th Coast Regiment379th, 389th, 399th and 400th Coast BatteriesWO 1661757
559th Coast Regiment146th, 298th, 401st and 402nd Coast BatteriesWO 166/1758
560th Coast Regiment369th and 403rd Coast BatteriesWO 166/1759
561st Coast Regiment406th and 422nd Coast BatteriesWO 166/1760
562nd Coast Regiment299th and 370th Coast BatteriesWO 166/1761
563rd Coast Regiment233rd, 234th, 235th, 337th and 411th Coast BatteriesWO 166/1762

 

Independent Coast Batteries

On 1 June 1941, the following coast batteries were not serving as part of a coast regiment but were independent. The batteries numbered between 188th and 191st were recorded as forming on 15 May 1941 while those numbered between 193rd and 196th were forming on 19 June 1941.

Independent Coast BatteryWar Diary
143rd Coast BatteryWO 166/1772
145th Coast BatteryWO 166/1774
149th Coast Battery
170th Coast BatteryWO 166/7195
171st Coast Battery
172nd Coast Battery
173rd Coast Battery
188th Coast Battery
189th Coast Battery
190th Coast Battery
191st Coast Battery
193rd Coast Battery
194th Coast BatteryWO 166/1781
195th Coast Battery
196th Coast BatteryWO 166/1782

Coast Observer Detachments

There are no war diaries for coast observer detachments from this period. However, there are war diaries for the coast regiments which they were attached to. These can be found by clicking on the relevant links in the tables above. At the time, coast observer detachments had twelve other ranks at full war establishment. Though, the actual number of soldiers serving with a detachment could vary dramatically. On 30 June 1941, the 35th Coast Observation Detachment at Woolwich only had a single soldier, while the 2nd Coast Observation Detachment at Bexhill had twenty-six.

Coast Observer DetachmentsAttached to
1st Coast Observer Detachment550th Coast Regiment
2nd Coast Observer Detachment552nd Coast Regiment
3rd Coast Observer Detachment552nd Coast Regiment
4th Coast Observer Detachment552nd Coast Regiment
5th Coast Observer Detachment540th Coast Regiment
6th Coast Observer Detachment520th Coast Regiment
7th Coast Observer Detachment549th Coast Regiment
8th Coast Observer DetachmentEastern Counter-Bombardment Fire Command
9th Coast Observer Detachment549th Coast Regiment
10th Coast Observer Detachment552nd Coast Regiment
11th Coast Observer Detachment521st Coast Regiment
12th Coast Observer Detachment521st Coast Regiment
13th Coast Observer Detachment553rd Coast Regiment
14th Coast Observer Detachment553rd Coast Regiment
15th Coast Observer Detachment553rd Coast Regiment
16th Coast Observer DetachmentEastern Counter-Bombardment Fire Command
17th Coast Observer Detachment530th Coast Regiment
18th Coast Observer Detachment550th Coast Regiment
19th Coast Observer Detachment549th Coast Regiment
20th Coast Observer DetachmentEastern Counter-Bombardment Fire Command
21st Coast Observer Detachment520th Coast Regiment
22nd Coast Observer Detachment552nd Coast Regiment
23rd Coast Observer DetachmentGeneral Headquarters

Coast Batteries

There aren’t many coast battery war diaries for this period, so you’ll need to use the coast regiment war diaries to research them.

Coastal BatteryRegimentBattery's War Diary
100th Coast Battery521st Coast Regiment
101st Coast Battery521st Coast Regiment
102nd Coast Battery522nd Coast Regiment
103rd Coast Battery522nd Coast Regiment
104th Coast Battery522nd Coast Regiment
105th Coast Battery522nd Coast Regiment
106th Coast Battery522nd Coast Regiment
107th Coast Battery522nd Coast Regiment
108th Coast Battery523rd Coast Regiment
109th Coast Battery524th Coast Regiment
111th Coast Battery524th Coast Regiment
112th Coast Battery524th Coast Regiment
113th Coast Battery525th Coast Regiment
114th Coast Battery525th Coast Regiment
115th Coast Battery525th Coast Regiment
116th Coast Battery526th Coast Regiment
117th Coast Battery526th Coast Regiment
118th Coast Battery527th Coast Regiment
119th Coast Battery527th Coast Regiment
120th Coast Battery527th Coast Regiment
121st Coast Battery528th Coast Regiment
122nd Coast Battery528th Coast Regiment
123rd Coast Battery529th Coast Regiment
124th Coast Battery529th Coast Regiment
125th Coast Battery529th Coast Regiment
126th Coast Battery530th Coast Regiment
127th Coast Battery530th Coast Regiment
128th Coast Battery530th Coast Regiment
129th Coast Battery530th Coast Regiment
130th Coast Battery531st Coast RegimentWO 166/1769
131st Coast Battery532nd Coast Regiment
132nd Coast Battery532nd Coast Regiment
133rd Coast Battery533rd Coast Regiment
134th Coast Battery522nd Coast Regiment
135th Coast Battery533rd Coast Regiment
136th Coast Battery533rd Coast Regiment
137th Coast Battery568th Coast Regiment
138th Coast Battery515th Coast Regiment
139th Coast Battery511th Coast Regiment
140th Coast Battery554th Coast Regiment
141st Coast Battery534th Coast RegimentWO 166/1770
142nd Coast Battery534th Coast RegimentWO 166/1771
143rd Coast BatteryIndependentWO 166/1772
144th Coast Battery534th Coast RegimentWO 166/1773
145th Coast BatteryIndependentWO 166/1774
146th Coast Battery559th Coast Regiment
147th Coast Battery535th Coast Regiment
148th Coast Battery535th Coast Regiment
149th Coast BatteryIndependent
150th Coast Battery535th Coast Regiment
151st Coast Battery535th Coast Regiment
152nd Coast Battery538th Coast Regiment
153rd Coast Battery538th Coast Regiment
154th Coast Battery538th Coast Regiment
155th Coast Battery538th Coast Regiment
156th Coast Battery568th Coast Regiment
157th Coast Battery568th Coast Regiment
158th Coast Battery534th Coast RegimentWO 166/1775
159th Coast Battery566th Coast Regiment
160th Coast Battery566th Coast Regiment
161st Coast Battery566th Coast Regiment
162nd Coast Battery567th Coast Regiment
163rd Coast Battery567th Coast Regiment
164th Coast Battery567th Coast RegimentWO 166/1777
165th Coast Battery539th Coast Regiment
166th Coast Battery533rd Coast Regiment
167th Coast Battery517th Coast Regiment
168th Coast Battery517th Coast Regiment
169th Coast Battery533rd Coast Regiment
170th Coast BatteryIndependent
171st Coast BatteryIndependent
172nd Coast BatteryIndependent
173rd Coast BatteryIndependent
176th Coast Battery504th Coast Regiment
188th Coast BatteryForming
189th Coast BatteryForming
190th Coast BatteryForming
191st Coast BatteryForming
192nd Coast Battery531st Coast Regiment
193rd Coast BatteryForming
194th Coast BatteryForming WO 166/1781
195th Coast BatteryForming
196th Coast BatteryForming WO 166/1782
203rd Coast Battery540th Coast Regiment
208th Coast Battery533rd Coast Regiment
209th Coast Battery539th Coast Regiment
210th Coast Battery530th Coast Regiment
211th Coast Battery531st Coast Regiment
212th Coast Battery557th Coast Regiment
213th Coast Battery551st Coast Regiment
214th Coast Battery557th Coast Regiment
215th Coast Battery514th Coast Regiment
216th Coast Battery523rd Coast Regiment
217th Coast Battery520th Coast Regiment
219th Coast Battery565th Coast Regiment
220th Coast Battery516th Coast Regiment
221st Coast Battery552nd Coast RegimentWO 166/1785
222nd Coast Battery535th Coast Regiment
223rd Coast Battery533rd Coast Regiment
224th Coast Battery533rd Coast Regiment
225th Coast Battery514th Coast Regiment
226th Coast Battery514th Coast Regiment
227th Coast BatteryIndependent
228th Coast Battery546th Coast Regiment
229th Coast Battery565th Coast Regiment
230th Coast BatteryIndependent
231st Coast Battery547th Coast RegimentWO 166/1786
232nd Coast Battery547th Coast RegimentWO 166/1787
233rd Coast Battery563rd Coast Regiment
234th Coast Battery563rd Coast Regiment
235th Coast Battery563rd Coast Regiment
236th Coast BatteryIndependent
237th Coast BatteryIndependent WO 166/1791
238th Coast BatteryIndependent
239th Coast BatteryIndependent
240th Coast BatteryIndependent
241st Coast Battery501st Coast Regiment
242nd Coast Battery501st Coast Regiment
243rd Coast Battery542nd Coast Regiment
244th Coast Battery543rd Coast Regiment
245th Coast Battery504th Coast Regiment
246th Coast Battery504th Coast Regiment
247th Coast Battery504th Coast Regiment
248th Coast Battery504th Coast Regiment
249th Coast Battery504th Coast Regiment
250th Coast Battery504th Coast Regiment
251st Coast Battery505th Coast Regiment
252nd Coast Battery505th Coast Regiment
253rd Coast Battery505th Coast Regiment
254th Coast Battery505th Coast Regiment
255th Coast Battery505th Coast Regiment
256th Coast Battery506th Coast Regiment
257th Coast Battery506th Coast Regiment
258th Coast Battery507th Coast Regiment
259th Coast Battery508th Coast Regiment
260th Coast Battery508th Coast Regiment
261st Coast Battery508th Coast Regiment
262nd Coast Battery508th Coast RegimentWO 166/1792
263rd Coast Battery508th Coast Regiment
264th Coast Battery509th Coast Regiment
265th Coast Battery509th Coast Regiment
266th Coast Battery510th Coast Regiment
267th Coast Battery511th Coast Regiment
268th Coast Battery511th Coast RegimentWO 166/1794
269th Coast Battery512th Coast Regiment
270th Coast Battery512th Coast Regiment
271st Coast Battery512th Coast RegimentWO 166/1795
272nd Coast Battery512th Coast Regiment
273rd Coast Battery512th Coast Regiment
274th Coast Battery513th Coast Regiment
275th Coast Battery513th Coast Regiment
276th Coast Battery513th Coast Regiment
277th Coast Battery514th Coast Regiment
278th Coast Battery515th Coast Regiment
279th Coast Battery515th Coast Regiment
280th Coast Battery515th Coast Regiment
281st Coast Battery515th Coast Regiment
282nd Coast Battery515th Coast Regiment
283rd Coast Battery515th Coast Regiment
284th Coast Battery516th Coast Regiment
285th Coast Battery516th Coast Regiment
286th Coast Battery516th Coast Regiment
287th Coast Battery516th Coast Regiment
288th Coast Battery516th Coast Regiment
289th Coast Battery518th Coast Regiment
290th Coast Battery540th Coast Regiment
291st Coast Battery519th Coast Regiment
292nd Coast Battery519th Coast Regiment
293rd Coast Battery519th Coast Regiment
294th Coast Battery519th Coast Regiment
295th Coast Battery520th Coast Regiment
296th Coast Battery520th Coast Regiment
297th Coast Battery549th Coast Regiment
298th Coast Battery559th Coast Regiment
299th Coast Battery562nd Coast Regiment
301st Coast Battery541st Coast Regiment
302nd Coast Battery541st Coast Regiment
303rd Coast Battery501st Coast RegimentWO 166/1810
304th Coast Battery501st Coast Regiment
305th Coast Battery542nd Coast Regiment
306th Coast Battery542nd Coast Regiment
307th Coast Battery543rd Coast Regiment
308th Coast Battery543rd Coast Regiment
309th Coast Battery505th Coast Regiment
310th Coast Battery505th Coast Regiment
311th Coast Battery510th Coast Regiment
312th Coast Battery509th Coast Regiment
313th Coast Battery510th Coast Regiment
314th Coast Battery509th Coast Regiment
315th Coast Battery511th Coast Regiment
316th Coast Battery544th Coast RegimentWO 166/1812
317th Coast Battery544th Coast RegimentWO 166/1813
318th Coast Battery513th Coast Regiment
319th Coast Battery545th Coast RegimentWO 166/1814
320th Coast Battery545th Coast RegimentWO 166/1815
321st Coast Battery545th Coast RegimentWO 166/1816
322nd Coast Battery565th Coast Regiment
323rd Coast Battery565th Coast Regiment
324th Coast Battery546th Coast Regiment
325th Coast Battery514th Coast Regiment
326th Coast Battery514th Coast Regiment
327th Coast Battery547th Coast RegimentWO 166/1817
328th Coast Battery547th Coast RegimentWO 166/1818
329th Coast Battery515th Coast Regiment
330th Coast Battery548th Coast Regiment
331st Coast Battery548th Coast Regiment
332nd Coast Battery517th Coast Regiment
333rd Coast Battery549th Coast Regiment
334th Coast Battery518th Coast Regiment
335th Coast Battery549th Coast Regiment
336th Coast Battery549th Coast Regiment
337th Coast Battery563rd Coast Regiment
338th Coast Battery550th Coast Regiment
339th Coast Battery550th Coast Regiment
340th Coast Battery550th Coast Regiment
341st Coast Battery552nd Coast RegimentWO 166/1828
342nd Coast Battery552nd Coast Regiment
343rd Coast Battery521st Coast Regiment
344th Coast Battery553rd Coast Regiment
345th Coast Battery553rd Coast Regiment
346th Coast Battery553rd Coast Regiment
347th Coast Battery554th Coast Regiment
348th Coast Battery508th Coast Regiment
349th Coast Battery544th Coast RegimentWO 166/1832
350th Coast Battery512th Coast Regiment
351st Coast Battery513th Coast Regiment
352nd Coast Battery546th Coast Regiment
353rd Coast Battery546th Coast Regiment
354th Coast Battery547th Coast RegimentWO 166/1834
355th Coast Battery547th Coast RegimentWO 166/1835
356th Coast Battery517th Coast Regiment
357th Coast Battery516th Coast Regiment
358th Coast Battery551st Coast Regiment
359th Coast Battery553rd Coast Regiment
360th Coast Battery552nd Coast RegimentWO 166/1839
361th Coast Battery556th Coast Regiment
362nd Coast Battery556th Coast Regiment
363rd Coast Battery556th Coast Regiment
364th Coast Battery557th Coast Regiment
365th Coast Battery551st Coast RegimentWO 166/1842
366th Coast Battery551st Coast RegimentWO 166/1843
367th Coast Battery532nd Coast Regiment
368th Coast Battery532nd Coast Regiment
369th Coast Battery560th Coast Regiment
370th Coast Battery562nd Coast Regiment
371st Coast Battery541st Coast Regiment
372nd Coast Battery548th Coast Regiment
373rd Coast Battery548th Coast Regiment
374th Coast Battery551st Coast Regiment
375th Coast Battery552nd Coast RegimentWO 166/1845
376th Coast Battery555th Coast Regiment
377th Coast Battery555th Coast Regiment
378th Coast Battery556th Coast Regiment
379th Coast Battery558th Coast Regiment
380th Coast Battery525th Coast Regiment
381st Coast Battery525th Coast Regiment
383rd Coast Battery512th Coast Regiment
384th Coast Battery546th Coast Regiment
385th Coast Battery552nd Coast RegimentWO 166/1850
386th Coast Battery554th Coast Regiment
387th Coast Battery522nd Coast Regiment
388th Coast Battery555th Coast Regiment
389th Coast Battery555th Coast Regiment
390th Coast Battery556th Coast Regiment
391st Coast Battery556th Coast Regiment
392nd Coast Battery557th Coast Regiment
393rd Coast Battery557th Coast Regiment
394th Coast Battery523rd Coast Regiment
395th Coast Battery523rd Coast Regiment
398th Coast Battery558th Coast Regiment
399th Coast Battery558th Coast Regiment
400th Coast Battery558th Coast Regiment
401st Coast Battery558th Coast Regiment
402nd Coast Battery558th Coast Regiment
403rd Coast Battery560th Coast Regiment
404th Coast Battery524th Coast RegimentWO 166/1863
405th Coast Battery524th Coast RegimentWO 166/1864
406th Coast Battery561st Coast Regiment
407th Coast Battery538th Coast Regiment
408th Coast Battery549th Coast Regiment
409th Coast Battery547th Coast RegimentWO 166/1866
410th Coast Battery549th Coast Regiment
411st Coast Battery563rd Coast Regiment
412th Coast Battery550th Coast Regiment
413th Coast Battery549th Coast Regiment
415th Coast Battery551st Coast Regiment
416th Coast Battery551st Coast Regiment
417th Coast Battery539th Coast Regiment
418th Coast Battery519th Coast Regiment
419th Coast Battery517th Coast Regiment
420th Coast Battery541st Coast Regiment
422nd Coast Battery541st Coast Regiment
423rd Coast Battery520th Coast Regiment