8th Coast Artillery (United States)

The 8th Coast Artillery Regiment was a Coast Artillery regiment in the United States Army.

Lineage
Constituted 2 February 1924 as the 8th Coast Artillery (HD) Regiment, and organized at Fort Preble by redesignating 123rd, 154th, 155th, 171st, 196th, 156th, 246th, and 251st companies of Coast Artillery Corps. only Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, and Battery E activated. HHB for harbor defense Portland, Maine, Battery E for harbor defense Portsmouth, New Hampshire. On 11 September 1943 a third Battalion was authorized. The 8th Coast Artillery ordered to Camp Shelby 25 February 1944 (less Battery B) released to Army Ground Forces, and assigned to IX Corps (United States), Second United States Army. 8th Coast Artillery Regiment disbanded 31 May 1944.
 * Battery A activated at Fort Preble 1 July 1939.
 * Battery E inactivated at Fort Constitution 1 September 1939
 * Battery B activated at Fort Preble 29 July 1940
 * 1st Battalion Headquarters and Battery C activated 10 February 1941 at Fort Preble
 * 2nd Battalion Headquarters and Battery D, E, and F activated at Fort McKinley, Maine.
 * Battery G activated at Fort Preble 1 June 1941.
 * Battery G is redesignated Battery K. (SL).
 * 4th Battalion 241st Coast Artillery transferred from Boston to Portland and redesignated, as 3rd Battalion,
 * Batteries K and M 241st Coast artillery redesignated Batteries G, and H 8th CA.
 * Battery D 243rd Coast Artillery transferred from Long Island to Portlland, and redesignated Battery I 8th CA.
 * Battery E 10th Coast Artillery transferred to Portland and redesignated Battery L 8th CA.
 * Battery B ordered to Fort Jackson

Distinctive unit insignia
A Gold metal and enamel device 1 1/8 (2.86 cm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Per fess Gules and Argent, in chief a mullet of the last, in base a pine tree Proper. The 8th Regiment was organized under General Orders No. 8, 27 February 1924, on 30 June 1924, from the companies which composed the garrison of the Coast Defenses of Portland and Portsmouth. The design is taken from the coat of arms of the old Coast Defenses of Portland. The star has a dual significance. Its five points represent the five forts in the Coast Defenses; in addition it represents the Pole Star, those being the most northerly defenses in the country. It is set on a field of artillery red. The pine tree is the emblem of Maine, and is on a white field symbolic of the snows among which this particular pine (Pinus Rigidus) grows. The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 8th Coast Artillery Regiment on 24 March 1924. It was amended to add the method of wear on 10 November 1924. The insignia was redesignated for the 27th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion on 14 January 1952.
 * Description
 * Symbolism
 * Background

Blazon
Per fess Gules and Argent, in chief a mullet of the last, in base a pine tree Proper. On a wreath of the colors Argent and Gules a phoenix Purpure ailleroned Or rising from flames Proper. Motto: TERRAE PORTAM DEFENDAMUS (We Defend The Land Gate).
 * Shield
 * Crest

Symbolism
The 8th Regiment was organized under General Orders No. 8, 27 February 1924, on 30 June 1924, from the companies which composed the garrison of the Coast Defenses of Portland and Portsmouth. The coat of arms is that of the old Coast Defenses of Portland. The star has a dual significance. Its five points represent the five forts in the Coast Defenses; in addition it represents the Pole Star, those being the most northerly defenses in the country. It is set on a field of artillery red. The pine tree is the emblem of Maine, and is on a white field symbolic of the snows among which this particular pine (Pinus Rigidus) grows. The motto translates to “We Defend the Land Gate.” “Terrae Portam” is also the Latin equivalent for Portland and “Defendamus” is the motto of the Coast Artillery Corps. The crest is taken from the arms of the city of Portland which was thrice destroyed in war by burning, by the Indians in 1676, by the French in 1690 and by the English fleet in 1775, but each time it has risen phoenix like from its ashes.
 * Shield
 * Crest

Background
The coat of arms was originally approved for the 8th Coast Artillery Regiment on 13 March 1924. It was amended to correct the translation of the motto on 31 March 1928. The insignia was redesignated for the 27th Antiaircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion on 14 January 1952.