Constituted in the Regular Army 27 February 1924 as 13th Coast Artillery , and organized 1 July 1924 at Fort Barrancas in HD Pensacola, Florida by redesignating the following companies of the Coast Artillery Corps : 121st, 145th, 162nd, 163rd, 170th, 179th, 180th, 181st, 182nd, 183rd, and 188th.
HHB 3rd Battalion and Batteries F and H inactivated 5 October 1942, personnel used to activate the 276th Coast Artillery Battalion in Bora Bora, inactive units returned to the 13th Coast Artillery at Fort Barrancas.
In late July 1942, a detachment of Regimental HHB and Batteries B and D were sent to Burrwood, Louisiana to establish Temporary HD of New Orleans and maintain searchlight positions of Battery H at Port Eads and South Pass at the mouth of the Mississippi River.
1st Battalion HHB and Battery E inactivated at Fort Story 20 July 1942, then reactivated and assigned to THD of New Orleans November 1942.
In mid-August 1944, regiment broken up as follows:
HHB 13th Coast Artillery redesignated HHB HD Pensacola.
HHB 1st Battalion reconstituted, reactivated, and redesignated as HQ and HQ Detachment 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 A, 181st Coast Artillery Battalion.
Battery C redesignated Battery B, 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, HD Pensacola.
13th and 181st Coast Artillery Battalions inactivated 1 April 1945.
Distinctive unit insignia
Description
A Gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/8 inches 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.
Symbolism
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.. The motto translates to "What We Hold We Will Defend."
Background
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.
Coat of arms
Blazon
Shield
Gules on a saltire Or voided of the field a fleur-de-lis of the second.
Crest
On a wreath of the colors Or and Gules, a saltire Gules charged with three cannon paleways Or. Motto QUOD HABEMUS DEFENDEMUS.
Symbolism
Shield
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.
Crest
The red saltire represents the Regiment being organized in the south and the three cannons symbolize Artillery.
