3rd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery, W.A.A.

The 3rd H.A.A. Battery, W.A.A. was formed at Takoradi on 3rd June 1941 (tbc), absorbing the Takoradi detachment of the 197th H.A.A. Battery, R.A.  On 10th December, the 3rd H.A.A. Battery, W.A.A. and the 6th Coast Battery, W.A.A. became part of the 3rd H.A.A. Regiment, W.A.A.[1]

In October 1942, the 3rd H.A.A. Battery was listed as manning four, 4.5-inch gun sites, each of two guns.  (which guns were the 6th Coast Battery manning?).  The 4.5-inch gun was a dual-purpose weapon employed both for anti-aircraft and coast defence.  Two of these guns arrived on 7th June 1942 and were declared operational on ‘E’ Site on 22nd June.  (It was later decided that the 4.5-inch guns at Takoradi were to be retained in the coast defence role only.) [2]

On 20th April 1943, the 3rd H.A.A. Regiment, W.A.A. began mobilisation for overseas service. The 3rd H.A.A. Battery, W.A.A. left the 3rd H.A.A. Regiment, W.A.A. at Takoradi on 20th April 1943, to be attached to the 3rd Coast Regiment, W.A.A. for all purposes pending absorption.  [The war diary of the 3rd H.A.A. Battery for April 1943 is to be found within the diary of the 3rd Coast Regiment, however no mention is made of the Battery’s disbandment.][3]

15 August 2025