Royal Artillery Regiment (Malaysia)

The Rejimen Artileri DiRaja (Royal Artillery Regiment) is the artillery corps of the Malaysian Army. Rejimen Artileri DiRaja was formed in Kajang on 15 August 1957 when a single battery was formed, drawn from Malay personnel formerly serving with the British Army's Royal Regiment of Artillery. Today Rejimen Artileri DiRaja is a modern fighting arm providing direct fire support to Malaysian Army units using field artillery pieces and MLRS.

History
In 1957, an officer from Malaya Command was sent to Singapore to invite Malayan citizens serving with the 1st Singapore Artillery regiment to return home and serve with the Federation Artillery Battery. The drive succeeded in recruiting 89 personnel of 1 Singapore Artillery to return and serve with the Federation Army.

On 15 August 1957, the 1st Field Battery, Federation Army was formed in Kajang with 89 gunners of all ranks, all veterans of the Royal Artillery in Singapore, this date is today marked as its regimental anniversary. The founding battery was equipped with the British 25 pounder field gun and was commanded by Major Sherston Baker, Royal Artillery. Its guns fired the 21 gun salute on Hari Merdeka around half a month later. His successor was Major Rowe and on 1 January 1962 the 1st Regiment Federation Artillery was formed under Lt Col W E Black, its first commander.

Colonel In Chief And Regimental Motto
H.R.H. Tuanku Al-Sultan Muhammad V, the Sultan of Kelantan is the Colonel-In-chief of the Rejimen Artileri DiRaja (Royal Artillery Regiment) since 13 September 2010. He is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Malaysian Armed Forces when he assumed office aa the 15th Yang Di-Pertuan Agong on 13 December 2016.

The regimental Motto is "TANGKAS TEGAS SAKSAMA".

The traditional heraldic emblem of the Malaysian Royal Artillery follows the design of the emblem of the Royal Artillery in the UK.

Role
The main role of Rejimen Artileri DiRaja is to provide direct and indirect artillery fire support in the fields of operations. The modern Rejimen Artileri DiRaja is equipped with a variety of equipment and fulfils a wide range of roles, including observation, Airborne Artillery, Armoured (Mechanised) Artillery, Long Range Missile Systems and Air defence. Regular units of the Rejimen Artileri DiRaja are complemented by members of the Askar Wataniah, which presently provide 5 Artillery Batteries.

Equipment
The regiment is equipped with Field Artillery pieces, Multiple Launched Rocket Launchers, Anti Aircraft Artillery and Air Defence Missiles. Presently the artillery inventory includes:


 * Astros II MLRS
 * G5 howitzer
 * OTO Melara Mod 56
 * M102 howitzer (later use for ceremony)
 * GIAT LG1
 * Rapier (missile)
 * Oerlikon 35 mm twin cannon (GDF-005 variant) and 15 FCU Skyguard Radar Systems
 * Bofors 40 mm (L70 variant)

Field Artillery Regiments
Field Artillery Regiments are equipped with 105mm Pack Howitzers which have a range of 10,500 metres.

Air Defence Artillery Regiments
Air Defence Artillery Regiments are equipped with either:
 * Radar guided anti-aircraft artillery such as the Oerlikon 35 mm gun system
 * Man portable Surface to Air missiles such as the Thales Starstreak, the Anza MK II and the Igla missile systems, with an effective slant range of 5,000 metres.
 * The BAe Jernas missile with a reported slant radius of 8,000 metres.

Guns and Colours
The Malaysian Royal Artillery maintains traditions of using Colours and Guns in formal ceremonies, a tradition inherited by the Royal Artillery with later infusions of the traditions of the Honourable Artillery Company.

While the tradition of parading a 25-pounder as Regimental Colour Gun is maintained by the Royal Artillery during the regimental day and Hari Merdeka consistent with the British traditions of the Royal Artillery in the UK, the 1st Artillery Regiment (Parachute), based in Malacca state, is the sole artillery battalion to parade a Regimental Colour in the presence of the Colonel in Chief, HRH the Sultan of Kelantan.

Units

 * Rejimen Pertama Artileri Diraja (PARA) based in Malacca
 * Rejimen Ke 2 Artileri Diraja based in Johor
 * Rejimen Ke 3 Artileri Diraja based in Perak
 * Rejimen Ke 4 Artileri Diraja based in Negeri Sembilan
 * Rejimen Ke 5 Artileri Diraja based in Kelantan
 * Rejimen ke 6 Artileri Diraja based in Sabah
 * Rejimen ke 7 Artileri Diraja based in Pahang
 * Rejimen ke 8 Artileri Diraja based in Sarawak
 * Rejimen ke 21 Artileri Diraja based in Negeri Sembilan
 * Rejimen ke 31 Artileri Diraja based in Kuala Lumpur
 * Rejimen ke 32 Artileri Diraja based in Malacca
 * Rejimen ke 33 Artileri Diraja based in Johor
 * Rejimen ke 34 Artileri Diraja based in Negeri Sembilan
 * 361 Battery (361 Bti) Rejimen Artileri Diraja (Parachute) based in Malacca
 * 41 Bti Rejimen Artileri Diraja based in Selangor (carries out ceremonial duties)
 * Rejimen ke 51 Artileri Diraja based in Negeri Sembilan
 * Rejimen ke 52 Artileri Diraja based in Kedah
 * Rejimen ke 61 Artileri Diraja based in Johor
 * Pusat Latihan Artileri (Artillery Training Centre) based in Negeri Sembilan
 * Rejimen ke 391 Artileri Diraja based in Negeri Sembilan