Coast Observer Detachments were formed from February 1941. The official establishment of a detachment was 12 men. However, they have been recorded as having anywhere between one and twenty-six. They manned radar sets watching the coastal areas for enemy shipping and low flying aircraft. Usually attached to a Coast Artillery Regiment, they were sometimes attached to a Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment. They were equipped with Radars CD (Coast Defence) No.1 Marks 4 to 6. These were based on the naval NT 271 Radar. These sets were transportable and self contained.
There are numerous gaps in the numbering of the Coast Observer Detachments. It is not known at present if these missing detachments existed or if no information has been found for them. Research is ongoing.
| Title | Attached | Dates | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Coast Observer Detachment | 550 Coast Regiment 570 Coast Regiment | Feb 41 – Dec 42 Dec 42 – May 43 disbanded | Folkestone, Kent Barry, Glamorgan |
| 2 Coast Observer Detachment | 552 Coast Regiment 570 Coast Regiment | Dec 41 – Dec 42 Dec 42 – May 43 disbanded | Bexhill, Sussex Barry, Glamorgan |
| 3 Coast Observer Detachment | 552 Coast Regiment 566 Coast Regiment 516 Coast Regiment 521 Coast Regiment 516 Coast Regiment | Feb 41 – Dec 42 Dec 42 – Jul 43 Jul 43 – Nov 43 Nov 43 – Mar 44 Apr 44 disbanded | Bexhill, Sussex Drake’s Island Plymouth Sheerness, Kent Newhaven, Sussex Sheerness, Kent |
| 4 Coast Observer Detachment | 552 Coast Regiment | Feb 41 – Apr 44 | Bexhill Sussex |
| 5 Coast Observer Detachment | 540 Coast Regiment 521 Coast Regiment | Feb 41 – Dec 42 Dec 42 – Apr 44 disbanded | Dover, Kent Newhaven, Sussex |
| 6 Coast Observer Detachment | 520 Coast Regiment | May 41 – May 43 disbanded | Dover, Kent |
| 7 Coast Observer Detachment | 549 Coast Regiment | Feb 41 – Jun 45 | Canterbury, Kent |
| 8 Coast Observer Detachment | Eastern Counter Bombardment Fire Command | Dover, Kent | |
| 9 Coast Observer Detachment | 549 Coast Regiment | Feb 41 – Jun 45 | Canterbury Kent |
| 10 Coast Observer Detachment | 552 Coast Regiment 521 Coast Regiment | Feb 41 – Nov 43 Nov 43 – Apr 44 | Bexhill, Sussex Newhaven, Sussex |
| 11 Coast Observer Detachment | 521 Coast Regiment | Apr 41 – Apr 44 disbanded | Newhaven, Sussex |
| 12 Coast Observer Detachment | 553 Coast Regiment 521 Coast Regiment | Apr 41 – Apr 44 disbanded | Newhaven, Sussex |
| 13 Coast Observer Detachment | 553 Coast Regiment 521 Coast Regiment | Feb 41 – Dec 42 Dec 42 – Apr 44 | Worthing, Sussex Newhaven, Sussex |
| 14 Coast Observer Detachment | 553 Coast Regiment 521 Coast Regiment 532 Coast Regiment | Feb 41 – Dec 42 Dec 42 – Jan 43 Jan 43 – Apr 44 disbanded | Worthing, Sussex Newhaven, Sussex Bexhill, Sussex |
| 15 Coast Observer Detachment | 553 Coast Regiment 521 Coast Regiment | Feb 41 – Dec 42 Dec 42 – Apr 44 | Worthing, Sussex Newhaven, Sussex |
| 16 Coast Observer Detachment | 551 Coast Regiment 520 Coast Regiment | Feb 41 – Apr 43 Apr 43 – Apr 44 disbanded | Lydd, Kent Dover, Kent |
| 17 Coast Observer Detachment | 530 Coast Regiment | Feb 41 – Jul 43 | Isle of Wight |
| 18 Coast Observer Detachment | 550 Coast Regiment | Feb 41 – Apr 44 disbanded | Folkestone, Kent |
| 19 Coast Observer Detachment | 549 Coast Regiment 510 Coast Regiment | Feb 41 – Jan 42 Jan 42 – Dec 42 | Canterbury, Kent Blyth, Northumberland |
| 20 Coast Observer Detachment | Eastern Counter Bombardment Fire Command | Dover, Kent | |
| 21 Coast Observer Detachment | 520 Coast Regiment 540 Coast Regiment | Jun 41 – Jan 42 Jan 42 – Apr 44 | Dover, Kent Dover, Kent |
| 22 Coast Observer Detachment | 552 Coast Regiment 520 Coast Regiment | Feb 41 – Nov 43 Nov 43 – Apr 44 | Bexhill, Kent Dover, Kent |
| 23 Coast Observer Detachment | GHQ 514 Coast Regiment 544 Coast Regiment 515 Coast Regiment | Jan 42 Jan 42 – Jul 42 Jul 42 – Nov 43 Nov 43 – Apr 44 disbanded | Lowestoft, Suffolk Lowestoft, Suffolk Great Yarmouth, Norfolk |
| 24 Coast Observer Detachment | 559 Coast Regiment 570 Coast Regiment | Jul 43 – Apr 44 Apr 44 – Jul 44 | Mumbles, Swansea Barry, Glamorgan |
| 26 Coast Observer Detachment | 523 Coast Regiment | Aug 41 – Dec 41 | Falmouth, Cornwall |
| 27 Coast Observer Detachment | 522 Coast Regiment | Feb 43 – Jan 45 | Portland, Dorset |
| 28 Coast Observer Detachment | 530 Coast Regiment | Dec 42 – Jul 43 | Isle of Wight |
| 29 Coast Observer Detachment | 521 Coast Regiment 544 Coast Regiment 526 Coast Regiment 545 Coast Regiment | Jun 41 – Jan 42 Jan 42 – Jul 42 Jul 42 – Nov 43 Nov 43 – Apr 44 disbanded | Newhaven, Sussex Lowestoft, Suffolk Pasley, Yorkshire Skegness, Lincolnshire |
| 30 Coast Observer Detachment | 553 Coast Regiment 545 Coast Regiment | Feb 41 – Jan 42 Jan 42 – Apr 44 disbanded | Worthing, Sussex Skegness, Lincolnshire |
| 31 Coast Observer Detachment | 522 Coast Regiment | Oct 41 – Feb 43 | Portland, Dorset |
| 32 Coast Observer Detachment | 559 Coast Regiment 532 Coast Regiment | Dec 41 – Dec 42 Dec 42 – Apr 44 | Mumbles, Swansea Milford Haven |
| 33 Coast Observer Detachment | 559 Coast Regiment 532 Coast Regiment 530 Coast Regiment | Dec 41 – Dec 42 Dec 42 – Jul 44 Jul 44 – Oct 45 | Mumbles, Swansea Milford Haven Isle of Wight |
| 35 Coast Observer Detachment | Woolwich | ||
| 37 Coast Observer Detachment | Malaya | ||
| 38 Coast Observer Detachment | Malaya | ||
| 40 Coast Observer Detachment | May/Jun 44 War Diary WO 169/16244 | Middle East | |
| 44 Coast Observer Detachment | Jan/May 45 War Diary WO 169/16245 | Middle East | |
| 47 Coast Observer Detachment | Feb 42 | Pasir Panjang, Malaya | |
| 48 Coast Observer Detachment | Malaya | ||
| 49 Coast Observer Detachment | 3 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regt ?? | Feb 42 ? | Malaya |
| 50 Coast Observer Detachment | Malaya | ||
| 51 Coast Observer Detachment | Malaya | ||
| 52 Coast Observer Detachment | 3 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regt ?? | Feb 42 ? | Malaya |
| 53 Coast Observer Detachment | Ceylon Garrison Artillery | Jun 44 formed | Ceylon |
| 54 Coast Observer Detachment | Ceylon Garrison Artillery | Jun 44 formed | Ceylon |
| 56 Coast Observer Detachment | 546 Coast Regiment 515 Coast Regiment | Feb 41 – Jul 42 Jul 42 – Apr 44 disbanded | Cromer, Norfolk Great Yarmouth, Norfolk |
| 57 Coast Observer Detachment | 522 Coast Regiment | Oct 41 – Jan 45 | Portland, Dorset |
| 58 Coast Observer Detachment | 555 Coast Regiment 569 Coast Regiment 555 Coast Regiment | Feb 41 – Jan 42 Jan 42 – Jul 42 Jul 42 – Apr 44 | Honiton, Devon Bridport, Dorset Honiton, Devon |
| 60 Coast Observer Detachment | 527 Coast Regiment | Jul 41 – Jul 43 disbanded | Isle of Wight |
| 62 Coast Observer Detachment | 532 Coast Regiment | Late 41 – Apr 44 disbanded | Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire |
| 63 Coast Observer Detachment | 523 Coast Regiment | Aug 41 – Dec 41 | Falmouth, Cornwall |
| 64 Coast Observer Detachment | 512 Coast Regiment 513 Coast Regiment | Dec 41 – Jul 42 Jul 42 – Apr 44 disbanded | Spurn Point, Yorkshire Filey, Yorkshire |
| 65 Coast Observer Detachment | 512 Coast Regiment | Dec 41 – Apr 44 disbanded | Spurn Head, Yorkshire |
| 66 Coast Observer Detachment | 544 Coast Regiment 513 Coast Regiment | Feb 41 – Oct 42 Oct 42 – Apr 44 disbanded | Lowestoft, Suffolk Filey, Yorkshire |
| 67 Coast Observer Detachment | 526 Coast Regiment | Formed July 41 – Apr 44 disbanded | Coatham, Yorkshire |
| 68 Coast Observer Detachment | 510 Coast Regiment | Aug 41 – May 43 | Blyth, Northumberland |
| 70 Coast Observer Detachment | 510 Coast Regiment | Aug 41 – Apr 44 disbanded | Blyth, Northumberland |
| 76 Coast Observer Detachment | 103 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regt | Jun 44 | Ouistreham, France |
| 77 Coast Observer Detachment | 544 Coast Regiment 513 Coast Regiment | Feb 41 – Jan 42 Jan 42 – Apr 44 disbanded | Lowestoft, Suffolk Filey, Yorkshire |
| 78 Coast Observer Detachment | 571 Coast Regiment | Nov 43 – Apr 44 | Brean Down, Somerset |
| 80 Coast Observer Detachment | 510 Coast Regiment | Apr 42 – Dec 42 | Blyth, Northumberland |
| 82 Coast Observer Detachment | 501 Coast Regiment 547 Coast Regiment 515 Coast Regiment | Apr 42 – ? ? – Nov 43 Nov 43 – Apr 44 | Cromarty, Highlands Saxmundham, Suffolk Felixstowe, Suffolk |
| 84 Coast Observer Detachment | 567 Coast Regiment | Formed April 42 – Jul 43 | Rame, Devon |
| 90 Coast Observer Detachment | 545 Coast Regiment | Oct 42 – Apr 44 disbanded | Skegness, Lincolnshire |
| 94 Coast Observer Detachment | 512 Coast Regiment | Oct 42 – Apr 44 disbanded | Kilnsea, Yorkshire |
| 97 Coast Observer Detachment | 510 Coast Regiment | Dec 42 – May 43 | Blyth, Northumberland |
| 98 Coast Observer Detachment | 522 Coast Regiment | Jul 42 – Jan 45 | Portland, Dorset |
| 100 Coast Observer Detachment | 519 Coast Regiment | Oct 42 – May 43 disbanded | Dover, Kent |
| 101 Coast Observer Detachment | 520 Coast Regiment | Oct 42 – Oct 45 disbanded | Dover, Kent |
| 103 Coast Observer Detachment | 103 Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regt | June 44 | Ouistreham, France |
| 104 Coast Observer Detachment | 567 Coast Regiment | Formed Oct 42 – Jul 43 | Rame, Devon |
| 105 Coast Observer Detachment | 570 Coast Regiment | Dec 42 – Apr 44 | Barry, Glamorgan |
| 106 Coast Observer Detachment | 570 Coast Regiment 532 Coast Regiment 570 Coast Regiment | Dec 42 – Jul 43 Jul 43 – Nov 43 Nov 43 – Apr 44 | Barry, Glamorgan Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire Barry, Glamorgan |
| 107 Coast Observer Detachment | 568 Coast Regiment | Formed Dec 42 – Apr 43 disbanded | Wembury, Devon |
| 109 Coast Observer Detachment | 521 Coast Regiment | Dec 42 – Apr 44 disbanded | Newhaven, Sussex |
| 112 Coast Observer Detachment | May/Jun 44 War Diary WO 169/16246 | Middle East |