13th Coast Artillery (United States)

The 13th Coast Artillery Regiment was a Coast Artillery regiment in the United States Army.

Lineage
Constituted 27 February 1924 as 13th Artillery (HD) Coast Artillery, and organized 1 July 1924 at Fort Barrancas from the following Companies: 121st, 145th, 162nd, 163rd, 170th, 179th, 180th, 181st, 182nd, 183rd, and 188th. 1st Battalion HHB activated 8 January 1940 at Key West Barracks 3rd Battalion HHB activated 15 January 1941 at Fort Barrances on 15 January 1942 3rd battalion activated with Batteries F, and H, moved to Point of embarkation Charleston, as part of Task Force 5614 Sailed 27 January 1942 for Bora Bora. arrived Bora Bora 27 February 1942. (Operation Bobcat) On 23 April 1942 Key West Elements transferred to Camp Pendleton and reassigned to 53rd Coast Artillery (155mm)
 * Batteries HHB, and A battery assigned to Fort Barrances.
 * Battery B assigned to Fort Pickens
 * Battery D assigned to Fort Moultrie.
 * Battery E assigned to Key West Barracks
 * Battery G assigned to Fort Crockett
 * Battery G inactivated January 1940 (personnel transferred to HHB 20th Coast Artillery at Fort Crockett.
 * HHB, and Batteries F,and H inactivated 5 October 1942 personnel transferred to 276th Coast Artillery Battalion.
 * 1st Battalion HHB and Battery E inactivated at Fort Story 20 July 1942, then reactivated and assigned to New Orleans November 1942.
 * Battery D inactivated 23 April 1942 Personnel transferred to 263rd Coast Artillery.
 * Batteries G, H, and I inactivated 31 May 1944
 * HHB 13th Coast artillery redesignated HHB Habor Defense Pensacola
 * HHB 1st Battalion reconstituted, reactivated, and redesignated HHB 13th Coast Artillery Battalion and assigned to operate THD New Orleans at Burrwood, Louisiana.
 * Battery A redesignated Battery C 13th CA Battalion.
 * Battery B redesignated Battery B 181st Coast Artillery Battalion.
 * Battery C redesignated Battery B 13th Coast Artillery Battalion.
 * HHB 2nd Battalion reorganized and redesignated HHD 13th Coast Artillery Battalion
 * Battery D inactivated 31 August 1944 and disbanded
 * Battery E redesignated Battery B 181st Coast Artillery Battalion
 * Battery F redesignated Battery A 13th Coast Artillery Battalion
 * HHB 3rd Battalion and Batteries G,H,and I inactivated and disbanded
 * Battery K redesignated Battery K Harbor Defense Pensacola

Distinctive unit insignia
A Gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches (2.86 cm) in height consisting of a shield blazoned: Gules on a saltire Or voided of the field a fleur-de-lis of the second. Attached below and to the sides of the shield a Gold scroll inscribed “QUOD HABEMUS DEFENDEMUS” in Black letters. The red of the shield signifies Air Defense Artillery. The outline in gold of the saltire or diagonal cross denotes that the Regiment was organized in the south; viz: The Coast Defenses of Charleston, Pensacola, Key West and Galveston. The saltire is taken from the battle flag of the Confederacy and, as only its outline appears on the shield, denotes a suggestion of the south. The fleur-de-lis stands for the service in France of the 121st Company, C.A.C. (Battery C, 61st Regiment, C.A.C.). The motto translates to "What We Hold We Will Defend.”                     The distinctive unit insignia was originally approved for the 13th Coast Artillery Regiment on 11 August 1924.  It was redesignated for the 13th Artillery Group on 20 November 1967.  The insignia was amended to add the motto on 20 November 1967.  It was redesignated for the 13th Air Defense Artillery Group on 4 April 1972.
 * Description
 * Symbolism
 * Background

Blazon
Gules on a saltire Or voided of the field a fleur-de-lis of the second (Or). On a wreath of the colors Or and Gules, a saltire Gules charged with three cannon paleways Or. Motto QUOD HABEMUS DEFENDEMUS (What We Hold We Will Defend).
 * Shield
 * Crest

Symbolism
The red of the shield signifies Artillery. The outline in gold of the saltire or diagonal cross denotes that the Regiment was organized in the south; viz; The Coast Defenses of Charleston, Pensacola, Key West and Galveston. The saltire is taken from the battle flag of the Confederacy and, as only its outline appears on the shield, denotes a suggestion of the south. The fleur-de-lis stands for the service in France of the 121st Company, C.A.C. (Battery C, 61st Regiment, C.A.C.) The red saltire represents the Regiment being organized in the south and the three cannons symbolize Artillery.
 * Shield
 * Crest

Background
The coat of arms was approved on 9 August 1924.

Campaign streamers
none

Decorations
none