2 Searchlight Regiment RA formed in May 1938 taking over from 2 Anti-Aircraft Battalion Royal Engineers, which was disbanded. The Regiment served with the BEF, then in the UK and finally in North West Europe. It remained in the UK until November 1944 when it moved to Antwerp. Later in the campaign, batteries operated away from the Regiment for a lot of the time. 2 Searchlight Regiment RA was re-designated 84 Searchlight Regiment RA in April 1947.
Illustrations of the formation badges under which a unit served or supported are given. This is no guarantee that the unit used this formations badge.
| May 38 |  |
Formed in Southern Command | Portsmouth, Hampshire, UK |
| Jan 40 | 5 Anti-Aircraft (Searchlight) Brigade | France | |
| Jun 40 |  |
8 Anti-Aircraft Division, 64 Anti-Aircraft Brigade | South West Airfields, UK |
| Jun 44 |  |
2 Army, 50 Anti-Aircraft Brigade | UK |
| Nov 44 | |
2 Army, 76 Anti-Aircraft Brigade | Antwerp, Belgium |
| Feb 45 |  |
21 Army Group – Batteries in various locations | NW Europe |
Batteries
| May 38 | A, B |
| Feb 40 | A, B, 6, 475 |
| Jul 40 | 4, 5, 6, 475 |
| Sep 43 | 4, 5, 6, 475, 518 |
| Feb 44 | 4, 5, 6 |
Equipment
| 1939/40 | Thornycroft Searchlight Lorries |