This is how the artillery defences of Malta developed between September 1939 and June 1942. That is, as far as I can tell.
September 1939
At the outbreak of war the artillery defences of Malta consisted of:
1st Heavy Regiment, RMA with the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Heavy Batteries, RMA
4th Heavy Regiment, RA with the 6th, 10th and 23rd Heavy Batteries, RA
7th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA with the 10th and 13th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Batteries, RA
26th Anti-Tank Regiment, RA with the 15th, 40th, 48th and 71st Anti-Tank Batteries, RA
5th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery, RMA an independent unit formed in July 1939
6th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery, RMA an independent unit formed in August 1939 and
That is a total of 14 batteries (9 British and 5 Maltese) and 4 regimental headquarters (3 British and one Maltese) or put another way, 4 anti-tank batteries, 4 HAA batteries and 6 heavy batteries.
The two heavy regiments were really coast artillery regiments. According to the source I am using the roles of the Coast Artillery were: Counter Bombardment; Close Defence; and the Examination Anchorage Service. The counter bombardment role was performed by 4th Heavy Regiment, RA with seven 9.2-inch guns. The other roles were performed by 1 Heavy Regiment, RMA with ten 6-inch guns and nine twin 6-pdrs.
26 Anti-Tank Regiment, RA had arrived in Malta in April 1939. It supported the Malta Infantry Brigade. According to the source I am using it manned the 18-pdr Beach Guns and the 12-pdr battery on Marfa Ridge. It also had two mobile batteries of 6-inch howitzers and one mobile battery of 3.7-inch howitzers.
Another source on British coast artillery says that there were seven 9.2-inch, ten 6-inch, six 12-pdr and nine twin 6-pdr guns on Malta in September 1939. It said that all the guns were operated by the 6 batteries of 4th Heavy Regiment, RA and 1st Heavy Regiment, RMA, but I think that the six 12-pdr guns were the guns on the Marfa Ridge manned by 26 Anti-Tank Regiment, RA.
The Committee of Imperial Defence had approved 112 heavy AA guns, 60 light AA guns and 24 searchlights for Malta in the summer of 1939. A HAA battery normally had 8 guns, a LAA battery normally had 12 guns and a searchlight battery normally had 24 searchlights. That works out as 14 HAA batteries, 5 LAA batteries and one searchlight battery. However, the only formations that existed at the outbreak of World War II were 4 HAA batteries.
June 1940
The RMA formed 7 batteries between September 1939 and the end of May 1940. However, the 5th HAA Battery, RMA was sent to Egypt in May 1940 and it would not return to Malta until March 1943. This meant the net increase was 6 batteries.
The grand total was 20 batteries (9 British and 11 Maltese) consisting of 6 heavy (3 British and 3 Maltese), 4 anti-tank (all British) and 10 air defence batteries (2 British and 8 Maltese).
The 10 air defence batteries consisted of:
6 HAA batteries (2 British and 4 Maltese).
3 LAA batteries (all Maltese).
One searchlight battery (Maltese).
Had the batteries been at full strength there would have been 48 HAA guns, 36 LAA guns and 24 searchlights, but the official history says that there were only 34 HAA guns, 8 LAA guns and 24 searchlights on Malta against a requirement for 112 HAA guns, 60 LAA guns and 24 searchlights.
The number of regimental headquarters had been increased from 4 to 6 (one anti-tank, 3 HAA and 2 heavy) by the formation of 2 Maltese HAA regiments.
The full order of battle was:
1st Heavy Regiment, RMA with the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Heavy Batteries, RMA
4th Heavy Regiment, RA with the 6th, 10th and 23rd Heavy Batteries, RA
2nd HAA Regiment, RA with the 6th HAA, 7th HAA, 8th Searchlight and 30th LAA Batteries, RMA
7th HAA Regiment, RA with the 10th and 13th HAA Batteries, RA
11th HAA Regiment, RMA with the 20th HAA, 21st HAA and 22nd LAA Batteries, RMA
26th Anti-Tank Regiment, RA with the 15th, 40th, 48th and 71st Anti-Tank Batteries, RA
The Dockyard Defence Battery, RMA an independent LAA battery
End 1940
In September 1940 the 26th Anti-Tank Regiment, RA became the 13th Mobile Coast Defence Regiment. Its 4 anti-tank batteries (15, 40, 48 and 71) were reorganised into 2 defence batteries (15/40 and 48/71).
Although this reduced the number of RA batteries on Malta to 7 it was more than compensated for by the arrival of 8 batteries (4 HAA, one LAA, one searchlight and 2 field) in October and November, which produced a net increase to 15 batteries made up of 6 HAA, one LAA, one searchlight, 3 coast, 2 defence and 2 field units. The number of regimental headquarters increased from 3 to 6 (2 HAA, one searchlight, one coast, one mobile coast defence and one searchlight) in November 1940 when 4th Searchlight, 10th HAA and 12th Field Regiments arrived.
Meanwhile 4 new RMA batteries (2 HAA, one LAA and one coast) were formed in the fourth quarter of 1940, bringing the total to 15 (4 coast, 7 HAA, 4 LAA and one searchlight). There were still 3 regimental headquarters (one coast, one HAA and one HAA).
The heavy regiments and batteries were renamed coast regiments and batteries in December 1940, but they retained their old numbers, for example 1st Heavy Regiment, RMA, became 1st Coast Regiment, RMA.
Thus the total strength of the artillery on Malta at the end of 1940 was 30 batteries (15 British and 15 Maltese) under 9 regimental headquarters (6 British and 3 Maltese) consisting of:
- 12 heavy anti-aircraft batteries (6 British and 6 Maltese) under 4 HAA regimental headquarters (7 RA, 10 RA, 2 RMA and 11 RMA). If at full strength the 12 batteries would have had a combined strength of 96 guns;
- 5 light anti-aircraft batteries (one British and 4 Maltese). There were no LAA regiments at this time. 2 batteries were independent, 2 batteries were under the command of 2 RMA and one was under the command of 11 RMA. If at full strength the 5 batteries would have had a combined strength of 60 guns;
- 2 searchlight batteries (one British and one Maltese) forming the 4th Searchlight Regiment, RA/RMA. If at full strength the 2 batteries would have had a combined strength of 48 searchlights;
- 7 coast batteries (3 British and 4 Maltese) in 2 regiments (4th Coast Regiment, RA and 1st Coast Regiment, RMA);
- 2 mobile coast defence batteries (all British) in one regiment (13th MCD Regiment, RA);
- 2 field batteries (all British) in one regiment (12th Field Regiment, RA). After the reorganisation of 1938 field batteries normally had twelve 25pdr gun-howitzers, so this regiment might have had 24 field artillery pieces.
The full order of battle was:
1st Coast Regiment, RMA with the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Coast Batteries, RMA
4th Coast Regiment, RA with the 6th, 10th and 23rd Coast Batteries, RA
12th Field Regiment, RA with the 6th/23rd and 49th/91st Field Batteries, RA
13th Mobile Coast Defence Regimen, RA with the 15th/40th and 48th/71st Mobile Coast Defence Batteries, RA
2nd HAA Regiment, RMA with the 6th, 7th and 9th HAA Batteries, RMA and the 10th and 30th LAA Batteries, RMA
7th HAA Regiment, RA with the 10th, 13th and 27th HAA Batteries, RA
10th HAA Regiment, RA with the 190th, 191st and 222nd HAA Batteries, RA
11th HAA Regiment, RMA with the 20th, 21st and 23rd HAA Batteries, RMA and the 22nd LAA Battery, RMA
4th Searchlight Regiment, RA/RMA with the 8th Searchlight Battery, RMA and the 484th Searchlight Battery, RA
59th LAA Battery, RA an independent battery
The Dockyard Defence Battery, RMA an independent LAA battery
End 1941
The expansion of the artillery in Malta led to the formation of HQ 7th Anti-Aircraft Brigade in January 1941 and 10th Anti-Aircraft Brigade in May 1941. These formations were not disbanded until the second quarter of 1944.
According to the source I am using there seems to have been a HQ Royal Artillery in 1941, with a HQ Fixed Defences under it to control the non-anti-aircraft units and the 2 AA brigades controlling the AA units.
- 12th Field Regiment, RA was reorganised in November 1941, when it was increased from 2 to 3 batteries.
- 13th MCD Regiment, RA was renamed 26th Defence Regiment on 29th June 1941. The regiment was increased from 2 to 3 batteries when 13th Defence Battery, RMA was formed in August 1941.
- 74th LAA Regiment, RA was formed on Malta in February 1941. Under it was the existing British LAA battery. It was gradually brought up to a strength of 4 batteries during the course of 1941 with batteries that arrived in March, July and August;
- 3rd LAA Regiment, RMA was formed in March 1941 to control the 4 existing Maltese LAA batteries, which had previously been independent or under the HAA regiments;
- 4th HAA Regiment, RA arrived at Malta on 24th July 1941. It had 2 batteries.
- 32nd LAA Regiment, RA arrived at Malta on 24th July 1941. It had 3 batteries.
At the end of the year there were 40 batteries on Malta (24 British and 16 Maltese) under 13 regimental headquarters (9 British and 4 Maltese). There were now 14 HAA batteries (8 British and 6 Maltese) with an establishment of 112 guns; and 11 LAA batteries (7 British and 4 Maltese) with an establishment of 132 guns. The searchlight establishment was still 48 "lights".
The full order of battle was:
HQ Fixed Defences (4 regiments with 13 batteries)
1st Coast Regiment, RMA with the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Coast Batteries, RMA
4th Coast Regiment, RA with the 6th, 10th and 23rd Coast Batteries, RA
12th Field Regiment, RA with the 6th, 23rd and 49th/91st Field Batteries, RA
26th Defence Regiment, RA with the 15th/40th Defence Battery, RA, 48th/71st Defence Battery, RA and 13th Defence Battery, RMA
HQ 7th AA Brigade (5 regiments with 14 batteries)
2nd HAA Regiment, RMA with the 6th, 7th and 9th HAA Batteries, RMA
4th HAA Regiment, RA with the 5th HAA Battery and 6th HAA Batteries, RA
7th HAA Regiment, RA with the 10th, 13th and 27th HAA Batteries, RA
10th HAA Regiment, RA with the 190th, 191st and 222nd HAA Batteries, RA
11th HAA Regiment, RMA with the 20th, 21st and 23rd HAA Batteries, RMA
HQ 10th AA Brigade (3 regiments with 11 batteries)
3rd LAA Regiment, RMA with the 10th, 22nd and 30th LAA Batteries, RMA and the Dockyard Defence Battery, RMA
32nd LAA Regiment, RA with the 55th, 98th and 233rd LAA Batteries, RA
74th LAA Regiment, RA with the 59th, 182nd, 186th and 225th LAA Batteries, RA
4th Searchlight Regiment, RA/RMA with the 8th Searchlight Battery, RMA and the 484th Searchlight Battery, RA
June 1942
The Commander Royal Artillery (CRA) controlled all the artillery units in Malta. At the beginning of the year he had 40 batteries under 13 regimental headquarters. This would be increased to 44 batteries under 14 regimental headquarters in January 1942 and to 46 batteries under 15 regimental headquarters in June 1942. This strength was maintained from June 1942 until March 1943.
There were 5 HAA regiments (4 RA, 7 RA, 10 RA, 2 RMA and 11 RMA) under 10th HAA Brigade at the beginning of 1942. No new regiments were formed, but the number of HAA batteries was increased from 14 to 15 (8 British and 7 Maltese) by the formation of the 14th HAA Battery, RMA in January. This was assigned to the 4th HAA Regiment, RA so that it now had 3 batteries instead of 2. This increased the number of heavy anti-aircraft guns on Malta from 112 to 120 if there were 8 guns per battery.
At the end of June 1942 the regiments were organised as follows:
2nd HAA Regiment, RMA with the 6th, 7th and 9th HAA Batteries, RMA
4th HAA Regiment, RA with the 5th HAA Battery, RA, 6th HAA Battery, RA and 14th HAA Battery, RMA
7th HAA Regiment, RA with the 10th, 13th and 27th HAA Batteries, RA
10th HAA Regiment, RA with the 190th, 191st and 222nd HAA Batteries, RA
11th HAA Regiment, RMA wit the 20th, 21st and 23rd HAA Batteries, RMA
There would be no further changes until March 1943.
There were 3 LAA regiments (32 RA, 74 RA and 3 RMA) under 7th LAA Brigade at the beginning of 1942. They were reinforced 3 batteries in January 1942 with the arrival of the 65th LAA Regiment, RA with 2 batteries and the formation of the 15th LAA Battery, RMA. There were now 14 LAA batteries (9 British and 5 Maltese) on the Island with a total establishment of 168 Bofors 40mm guns if there were 12 guns per battery.
At the end of June 1942 the regiments were organised as follows:
3rd LAA Regiment, RMA with the 10th, 15th, 22nd and 30th LAA Batteries, RMA and the Dockyard Defence Battery, RMA
32nd LAA Regiment, RA with the 55th, 98th and 233rd LAA Batteries, RA
65th LAA Regiment, RA with the 194th and 196th LAA Batteries, RA
74th LAA Regiment, RA with the 59th, 182nd, 186th and 225th LAA Batteries, RA
The 182nd LAA Battery, RA was transferred to the 65th LAA Regiment in September 1942, but other than that there were no changes until May 1943.
The 4th Searchlight Regiment, RA/RMA had 2 batteries (484th Searchlight Battery, RA and 8th Searchlight Battery, RMA) at the beginning of 1942 and it would be maintained at this strength until the end of February 1945.
The fixed defences were maintained at a strength of 13 batteries under 4 regimental headquarters until June 1942 when 5th Coast Regiment, RMA, 11th Coast Battery, RMA and 12th Coast Battery, RMA were formed. The new strength was 15 batteries (10 coast, 2 defence and 3 field) and 5 regimental headquarters (3 coast, one defence and one field). That is:
1st Coast Regiment, RMA with the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Coast Batteries, RMA
4th Coast Regiment, RA with the 6th, 10th and 23rd Coast Batteries, RA
5th Coast Regiment, RMA, with the 11th and 12th Coast Batteries, RMA
12th Field Regiment, RA, with the 6th, 23rd and 49th/91st Field Batteries, RA
26th Defence Regiment, RA with the 15th/40th Defence Battery, RA, 48th/71st Defence Battery, RA and 13th Defence Battery, RMA
The 13th Defence Battery, RMA was transferred to the 5th Coast Regiment, RMA on 1st July 1942. There were no further changes to the fixed defences until September 1943.