Active From 1943 as the 12th (Air Formation) Sig Regt.
In 1958 it was re-designated as 21 Sig Regt (Air Formation).
In 1971 it moved to its current home in Colerne, Wilshire, and was designated 21 Sig Regt (Air Support)
In 2022, the regiment was re-rolled and become 21 Sig Regt (Electronic Warfare)
Role: Electronic Warfare
21 Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare) employs a wide array of trade-persons in a variety of roles.
Unit trade roles include:
· Electronic Warfare & Signals Intelligence
· Information Services Engineer
· Networks Engineers
· Supply Chain Operative
· Power Engineer
· Operator Military & Technical Intelligence
· SUPPORT TRADES
Soldiers and Officers of 21 Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare) must be robust, resilient and adaptable. To ensure effective Electronic Warfare and Electronic Counter Measures (Force Protection) is delivered the Army, the Regiment utilises a wide range of the Corps’ capabilities. These include:
· Electronic Warfare
· Tactical Communication Systems
· Electronic Counter Measures (Force Protection)
21 Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare) can trace its roots back to the Second World War as an Air Formation Signals unit; hence the Bristol Beaufighter as its regimental emblem – the most advanced fighter-bomber of the war which was particularly effective at night due to the (then secret) EW equipment it carried.
Post-War, the Regiment was based in West Germany supporting the British Army of the Rhine. Following the fall of the Berlin Wall and the rebasing of units back to the United Kingdom, the Regiment moved to its current home of Azimghur Barracks, formerly RAF Colerne, in the mid 1990s. Here it became Defence’s only Air Formation Signals unit, and supported the Joint Helicopter Command throughout the Iraq and Balkans campaigns.
Since returning to the United Kingdom, 21 Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare) has also been a Campaign Signal Regiment and a STRIKE Communications Regiment, seeing it’s soldiers operationally deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq, Estonia and South Sudan, whilst undertaking exercises in Germany, Canada, the United States and Oman. They also supported UK operations, notably during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In September 2022, the regiment resubordinated to Field Army Troops and became an Electronic Warfare unit, doubling the Electronic Warfare capability of the British Army.
21 Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare) is located in Colerne, Wiltshire, just outside of the historic City of Bath. The Regiment has a strong affiliation with Bath, having been awarded the Freedom of the City following operations in Afghanistan in 2011.
The Regiment also has one dislocated Squadron in Lisburn, Northern Ireland.