71 (East Lancashire) Searchlight Regiment RA (TA) formed in November 1938 at Manchester, with three batteries. The Regiment served in Anti-Aircraft Command until May 1943 including several months on Orkney. Because of the need to reduce the number of searchlight units, 71 (East Lancashire) Searchlight Regiment RA (TA) was reduced to a cadre in May 1943 and considered to have lapsed in to suspended animation in March 1944. It was re-constituted as 606 (East Lancashire) (Mixed) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment RA (TA) in January 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.
| Nov 38 |  |
4 Anti-Aircraft Division, 44 Anti-Aircraft Brigade | Manchester, UK |
| Nov 39 | |
4 Anti-Aircraft Division, 53 Light Anti-Aircraft Brigade | North Midlands, UK |
| Jun 41 |  |
OSDEF, 58 Anti-Aircraft Brigade | Orkney, UK |
| Feb 42 | |
4 Anti-Aircraft Division, 53 Light Anti-Aircraft Brigade | Liverpool, Merseyside, UK |
| Apr 43 |  |
2 Anti-Aircraft Group, 5 Anti-Aircraft Brigade | South Coast England |
| May 43 | Reduced to a cadre | ||
| Mar 44 | Suspended animation |
Batteries
| Nov 38 | 462, 463, 464 |
| Nov 40 | 462, 463, 464, 516 |
| Mar 42 | 462, 463, 464 |
Equipment
| Nov 38 | 90 cm Projector |