21st Signal Regiment, Royal Signals

The 21st Signal Regiment is a signal regiment of the Royal Corps of Signals within the British Army. The regiment was, until the initial Army 2020 reforms, the only signal regiment to support the Royal Air Force.

History
The regiment can trace its roots back to the "12th (Air Formations) Signals" formed in 1943. Each Royal Air Force group was assigned an "Air Formation Regiment" to the 21st Army Group.

The regiment was divided into two companies in 1944 upon moving into France including;
 * 2nd Tactical Air Force Main Company
 * 2nd Tactical Air Force Reserve Company

At the end of the Second World War, the regiment's two companies were stationed at Bad Eilsen and Bueckeburg in Western Germany.

From 1952 to 1954 the squadron supported the West Germany-based No. 83 Group RAF. In 1959, the 11th Air Formation Support and 12th Air Formation Support Signals Regiment were hurriedly deployed to the Far East but were disbanded in 1971 upon returning to Germany. As a result of their disbandments, 21st Signal regiment was the only remaining air formation signals regiment.

From 1971 until 1992 the regiment was part of the 4th Signal Group supporting the British Army of the Rhine. After the Options for Change plan, the regiment was re-designated as 21st Signal Regiment (Air Support) and moved to Colerne where it remains presently. After the initial Army 2020 reforms, the regiment is assigned as part of 7th Signal Group within 11th Signal Brigade and Headquarters West Midlands. The 21st Signals regiment is classified as a "Multi-Role" signal regiment. As part of the initial Army 2020 reforms, the regiment also is no longer designated as an air support signal regiment and 214 and 244 signals squadrons were transferred to 30th Signal Regiment and 2nd Signal Regiment respectively. Following further changes under the Army 2020 Refine, the regiment will now support a Strike Brigade.

Current Structure
The current structure is as follows:


 * 220 Signal Squadron
 * 215 Signal Squadron
 * Support Squadron