Constituted in July 1917 under the designation of the 6th Provisional Regiment, Coast Artillery Corps at Fort Adams, RI from the following companies-
Headquarters Company 2nd Co. at Fort Mott, NJ formed in June 1917
Supply Company 2nd Co. at Fort Mott, NJ formed in June 1917
Battery A 1st Co. at Fort McKinley, ME originally organized in 1808
Battery B 2nd Co. at Fort Greble, RI originally organized in 1901
Battery C 3rd Co. at Fort Strong, MA originally organized in 1847
Battery D 5th Co. at Fort McKinley, ME organized in April 1917
Battery E 1st Co. at Fort Preble, ME originally organized in 1901
Battery F 4th Co. at Fort Williams, ME originally organized in 1901
Battery G 3rd Co. at Fort Williams, ME originally organized in 1861
Battery H 2nd Co. at Fort Williams, ME originally organized in 1812
Battery I 2nd Co. at Fort Andrews, MA originally organized in 1907
Battery K 1st Co. Fort Banks, MA originally organized in 1813
Battery L 3rd Co. at Fort Andrews, MA originally organized in 1907
Battery M 4th Co. at Fort Andrews, MA originally organized in 1916
arrived in France 11 September 1917 and redesignated 51st Artillery on 5 February 1918.
HHB as HHB
Battery A as Battery A 51st Artillery
Battery B as Battery B 51st Artillery
Battery C redesignated as Battery C 43rd artillery
Battery D redesignated as Battery D 43rd artillery
Battery E redesignated as Battery E 43rd artillery
Battery F redesignated as Battery C 57th Artillery
Battery G redesignated as Battery D 57th Artillery
Battery H redesignated as Battery F 43rd Artillery
Battery I redesignated as Battery C 44th Artillery
Battery K redesignated as Battery D 44th Artillery
Battery L redesignated as Battery C 51st Artillery
Battery M redesignated as Battery D 51st Artillery
Batteries E and G 53rd Artillery transferred to 51st as Batteries E and F.
The 51st had a mixed armament in France: the 1st Battalion with six French-made tractor-drawn 240 mm howitzers, the 2nd Battalion with eight French-made 270 mm mortars, and the 3rd Battalion with eight British-made tractor-drawn 8-inch howitzers. After the Armistice the regiment turned in its heavy equipment and was moved back to the United States, where it was rearmed with 24 8-inch howitzers. 51st Coast Artillery arrived New York City 3 February 1919 and moved to Camp Mills then reassigned to Fort Hamilton, then reassigned on 15 October 1919 to Camp Jackson, SC.
on 31 July 1921 2nd and 3rd Battalions HHB inactivated at Camp Jackson.
Battery C 56th Artillery redesignated as 2nd Battalion HHD&CT 51st Artillery on 1 August 1921.
On 22 October 1921 51st Artillery reassigned to Camp Eustis, VA.
On 1 July 1924 51st Artillery, CAC, redesignated as 51st Coast Artillery Regiment, armed with 24 155 mm guns.
51st Coast Artillery reassigned to Fort Monroe on 8 May 1931.
51st Coast Artillery Regiment Redesignated 51st Coast artillery Regiment on 8 March 1942, and 2nd Battalion authorized.
2nd Battalion HHB, Battery C, and 3rd platoon Battery G activated at Borinquen Army Airfield on 16 March 1942
Battery D 2nd Battalion activated at Borinquen Airfield 1 May 1942.
HHB 1st Battalion, Battery B and Battery G reassigned to Port of Spain, Trinidad on 8 December 1943 followed by 2nd Battalion HHB, and Batteries A, C, and D.
1st Battalion reorganized and redesignated as 51st Coast Artillery Battalion.
HHB 51st CA redesignated as the 145th Coast Artillery Group.
Battery G inactivated and disbanded. 12 June 1944.
On 28 February 1946 51st and 52nd Coast artillery Battalions deactivated and disbanded.
Distinctive unit insignia
Description
A Gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/4 inches in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned: Gules on a bend Or a caterpillar passant Vert.
Symbolism
The field of the shield is red, the Artillery color. Service in Lorraine is shown by the bend, a distinctive feature of the Lorraine arms, “Or, a bend Gules,” reversing the tinctures. The caterpillar on the bend symbolizes the tractor.
On a wreath of the colors Or and Gules, a lion’s face Gules jessant-de-lis Or. Motto "En Avant".
Symbolism
Shield
The field of the shield is red, the Artillery color. Service in Lorraine is shown by the bend, a distinctive feature of the Lorraine arms, “Or, a bend Gules,” reversing the tinctures. The caterpillar on the bend symbolizes the tractor.
Crest
The lion’s face of the crest commemorates the initial war service of Battery “A” which took part in the War of 1812, and the fleur-de-lis symbolizes the organization of the Regiment for service in France.
