There was enemy air activity over the Bristol Channel and South Wales coast on most nights, but usually these were reconnaissances or nuisance raids, Heavier raids against Swansea began on 4/5 January 1941, when a bomb put all the GOR telephone lines out of action, but the gunsites continued with 'Ball of Fire' barrages.

In February 1941 the Luftwaffe began a new tactic of hitting the same towns on successive nights in an attempt to put them completely out of action.
Swansea was the first town so attacked.
On the night of 19/20 February the building housing both RHQ and the GOR was destroyed by a direct hit during a heavy raid.
Two officers and five other ranks (ORs) were killed or died of wounds, but the guns continued firing under local control and communications were maintained.

The Luftwaffe returned to continue the 'Swansea Blitz' on the nights of 20/21 and 21/22 February.
On the latter night there was confusion between the Sector Operations Room at RAF Pembrey and the Swansea GOR, resulting in the guns ceasing fire between 20.20 and 21.10, leaving the town centre unprotected.
Although some raiders were shot down once the restriction was lifted, the centre of Swansea was devastated, and fires and delayed-action bombs destroyed communications.
The GOR had to be temporarily relocated to Neath.

By the end of February 1941 the HAA guns in the Swansea GDA still only numbered 18 out of a planned establishment of 36.
These were distributed to sites as follows:
N1 Llansamlet – 4 x 3.7-inch (247 Bty)
N2 Neath – 4 x 3.7-inch (246 Bty)
N3 Jersey Marine – 4 x 3.7-inch (247 Bty)
N4 Ravenhill (under construction by 246 Bty)
N5 Mumbles – 4 x 3.7-inch (248 Bty)
N6 Sketty – 2 x 3.7-inch (248 Bty)
These had been increased a month later to 36, though an additional 18 were already being called for by 9 AA Division.
398 HAA Battery, formed by a cadre from 79th (HY) HAA Rgt (see below) joined the regiment from 207th HAA Training Rgt, Devizes, on 10 March 1941 to take over N8 (Margam) and N10 (Morfa Mawr).
The newly formed 384 and 386 Btys of 120th HAA Rgt also came under operational command of 79th (HY) HAA Rgt.

After a last burst of enemy activity in early May, the Blitz came to an end, and there was little more activity until the end of the year.
The equipment of the gunsites round Swansea was improved and 437 HAA Bty, also raised from a cadre provided by the regiment (see below), was regimented on 10 July and joined in August, while 248 Bty was transferred to 120th HAA Rgt (see below).
There was enemy air activity over the Bristol Channel and South Wales coast on most nights, but usually these were reconnaissances or nuisance raids, Heavier raids against Swansea began on 4/5 January 1941, when a bomb put all the GOR telephone lines out of action, but the gunsites continued with 'Ball of Fire' barrages.
In February 1941 the Luftwaffe began a new tactic of hitting the same towns on successive nights in an attempt to put them completely out of action. Swansea was the first town so attacked. On the night of 19/20 February the building housing both RHQ and the GOR was destroyed by a direct hit during a heavy raid. Two officers and five other ranks (ORs) were killed or died of wounds, but the guns continued firing under local control and communications were maintained.
The Luftwaffe returned to continue the 'Swansea Blitz' on the nights of 20/21 and 21/22 February. On the latter night there was confusion between the Sector Operations Room at RAF Pembrey and the Swansea GOR, resulting in the guns ceasing fire between 20.20 and 21.10, leaving the town centre unprotected. Although some raiders were shot down once the restriction was lifted, the centre of Swansea was devastated, and fires and delayed-action bombs destroyed communications. The GOR had to be temporarily relocated to Neath.
By the end of February 1941 the HAA guns in the Swansea GDA still only numbered 18 out of a planned establishment of 36. These were distributed to sites as follows:
N1 Llansamlet – 4 x 3.7-inch (247 Bty)
N2 Neath – 4 x 3.7-inch (246 Bty)
N3 Jersey Marine – 4 x 3.7-inch (247 Bty)
N4 Ravenhill (under construction by 246 Bty)
N5 Mumbles – 4 x 3.7-inch (248 Bty)
N6 Sketty – 2 x 3.7-inch (248 Bty)
These had been increased a month later to 36, though an additional 18 were already being called for by 9 AA Division. 398 HAA Battery, formed by a cadre from 79th (HY) HAA Rgt (see below) joined the regiment from 207th HAA Training Rgt, Devizes, on 10 March 1941 to take over N8 (Margam) and N10 (Morfa Mawr). The newly formed 384 and 386 Btys of 120th HAA Rgt also came under operational command of 79th (HY) HAA Rgt.
After a last burst of enemy activity in early May, the Blitz came to an end, and there was little more activity until the end of the year. The equipment of the gunsites round Swansea was improved and 437 HAA Bty, also raised from a cadre provided by the regiment (see below), was regimented on 10 July and joined in August, while 248 Bty was transferred to 120th HAA Rgt (see below).
79th (Hertfordshire Yeomanry) Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery