Multi-Domain Command Europe


Multi-Domain Command Europe is a command of the United States Army. It is the Force Field Artillery Headquarters for U.S. Army Europe and Africa, tasked to "synchronize, integrate, and control fires and effects" for U.S. land forces.
It was originally formed on 14 September 1942, as the 56th Coast Artillery Brigade and has been reorganized and redesignated several times until its inactivation on 30 June 1991, following the reunification of Germany and the end of the Cold War. United States Army Europe and Africa conducted the reactivation ceremony for the 56th Artillery Command on 8 November 2021, at Lucius D. Clay Kaserne, Wiesbaden, Germany. At the change of command ceremony on July 11, 2025 56th Artillery Command was renamed the Multi-Domain Command Europe.

History

The 56th Coast Artillery Brigade was organized in the Army of the United States on 14 September 1942, and over six months later, it was activated at Camp Stewart, Georgia on 10 April 1943. The unit was reorganized and redesignated as the 56th Antiaircraft Artillery Brigade on 28 May 1943 and deployed to the European Theater for operations in World War II. The 56th deployed from England to Belgium and played a crucial role in the defense of the Allies’ most important port, Antwerp Harbor, from October 1944 to March 1945. The 56th defended the port from V-1 and V-2 rockets, conducting 24 hour operations during a 175-day bombardment. For the Defense of Antwerp Harbor, the Headquarters Battery earned two Belgian Army Order of the Day citations and the Belgian Fourragère. During World War Two, the 56th earned campaign participation credits for the Northern France, the Rhineland, and the Central Europe campaigns before participating in the occupation of Germany. Headquarters & Headquarters Battery is entitled to permanently display the Belgian Fourragère from the spearhead of its guidon.
The 56th was inactivated 3 December 1945 at Camp Shanks, New York.

56th Antiaircraft Artillery Brigade

On 10 February 1951, the 56th Antiaircraft Artillery Brigade was reactivated at Camp Edwards, Massachusetts and assigned to the United States First Army. On 5 November 1951, The 56th AAA Brigade transferred from Camp Edwards to Fort Devens, Massachusetts and was assigned to the Eastern Army Antiaircraft Command. They were then transferred to Fort Totten, New York on 24 January 1953. The unit transferred back to Fort Devens on 15 July 1956. They were redesignated as the 56th Air Defense Artillery Brigade on 20 March 1958.
The 56th Artillery Brigade was inactivated on 24 December 1964, in Coventry, Rhode Island.

56th Artillery Group/Brigade

On 18 April 1963, the 56th Artillery Group was activated in Schwäbisch Gmünd, West Germany commanded by Col. Douglas C. France, Jr. The group prepared for the deployment of the new weapons system, the Pershing 1 nuclear missile. Headquarters & Headquarters Battery was initially stationed at Hardt Kaserne and moved to Bismarck Kaserne in November 1968.
In 1965, the 56th Artillery Group assumed the critical role of a Quick Reaction Alert force and was required to maintain an element of each unit at the highest level of combat readiness. These elements were designated to react within seconds of verified orders, and the entire command was to be fully operational within 2 hours of any alert activation. The increased requirements of the QRA mission necessitated some modifications to upgrade the Pershing missile system and caused the Army to increase the number of launchers at each battalion from four to 36.
The 56th Artillery Group was redesignated as the 56th Artillery Brigade on 17 August 1970. The brigade was authorized an increased level in command positions in the firing units. Platoon leaders were captains, battery commanders were majors, battalion commanders were lieutenant colonels and the brigade commander was a colonel.
With the split of the Artillery Branch into Field Artillery and Air Defense Artillery, the brigade was redesignated as the 56th Field Artillery Brigade on 15 March 1972.

56th Field Artillery Brigade

The newly designated brigade was to command 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Battalion, 81st Field Artillery Regiment, and 3rd Battalion, 84th Field Artillery Regiment as Pershing firing battalions. Also subordinate to the brigade was 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, to meet firing units' security needs. A host of additional units provided support from medical to logistical, ensuring the brigade's ability to operate.
In November 1983, with the Soviets fully invested in the SS-20, the U.S. began fielding the Pershing II. By 1985 all three firing battalions were completely operational with Pershing II. On 11 January 1985, three soldiers, Staff Sergeant John Leach, SGT Todd A. Zephier, and PFC Darryl L. Shirley of Battery C, 3rd Battalion, 84th Field Artillery were killed in an explosion at Camp Redleg, Heilbronn. The explosion occurred while removing a missile stage from the storage container during an assembly operation. An investigation revealed that the Kevlar rocket bottle had accumulated a triboelectric charge in the cold dry weather; as the engine was removed from the container the electrical charge began to flow and created a hot spot that ignited the propellant. A moratorium on missile movement was enacted through late 1986 when new grounding and handling procedures were put into place.

56th Field Artillery Command

In January 1986, the 56th Field Artillery Brigade was upgraded in status. It was redesignated the 56th Field Artillery Command and authorized a major general as its commander. 1st Battalion, 81st Field Artillery inactivated and reformed as 1st Battalion, 9th Field Artillery in Neu-Ulm. 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery inactivated and reformed as 2nd Battalion, 9th Field Artillery in Schwäbisch-Gmünd. 3rd Battalion, 84th Field Artillery inactivated and reformed as 4th Battalion, 9th Field Artillery in Heilbronn. Along with 3rd Battalion, 9th Field Artillery at Fort Sill, the four firing units were then under the 9th Field Artillery Regiment. Additionally, the 55th Maintenance Battalion redesignated as 55th Support Battalion, E Company, 55th Maintenance Battalion deactivated and reformed as the 193rd Aviation Company, and the communications assets at each battery, were removed and consolidated into the 38th Signal Battalion.
Under the reorganization, the 56th Field Artillery Command would always report directly to the highest commander in Europe at the time. Therefore, during peacetime, they reported to the Commander in Chief of United States Army Europe, whereas, during heightened tension or war, command passed to NATO, with Allied Air Forces Central Europe as their next higher headquarters. Additionally, command levels for the field artillery batteries were increased by one grade over similar units. Platoons were commanded by a captain, and batteries by a major. Battalions continued to follow a lieutenant colonel while the command itself was led by a brigadier general and later a major general. These actions were meant to mitigate the increased responsibilities inherent with the mission they bore.
The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty was ratified on 27 May 1988. The firing batteries began to draw down their equipment as the missile launchers were destroyed. The Pershing first- and second-stage motors, reentry vehicles, warhead and radar section airframes were returned to Pueblo Depot Activity for elimination. On 30 June 1991, the 56th FA was inactivated, and "discontinued" on 30 September 1991.
Commanders
  • April 1963: Colonel Douglas Carter France, Jr.
  • August 1965: Colonel Rex H. Hampton, Sr.
  • 15 July 1967: Colonel Patrick William Powers
  • November 1968: Colonel James Edward Convey, Jr.
  • September 1970: Colonel Patrick William Powers; promoted to Brig. Gen.
  • December 1972: Brigadier General Tom Judson Perkins; died 24 February 1973
  • February 1973: Colonel Richard Donald Boyle; acting commander
  • May 1973: Brigadier General Milton Eugene Key
  • January 1975: Brigadier General Robert B. Hankins
  • July 1978: Colonel Richard Donald Boyle; promoted to Brigadier General
  • July 1980: Colonel Sidney Davis; promoted to Brigadier General 8 September 1980
  • July 1982: Brigadier General William Earl Sweet
  • 1984: Brigadier General Raymond E. Haddock; promoted to Major General 4 August 1987
  • 1987: Brigadier General Roger K. Bean; promoted to Major General 24 August 1989

    266th Chemical Detachment

The 266th Chemical Detachment was activated as part of the 56th Field Artillery Brigade on 13 September 1972. The detachment was attached to Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 56th Field Artillery Brigade and was garrisoned at Bismark Kaserne in Schwäbisch Gmünd.

55th Support Battalion

The 55th Maintenance Battalion activated as part of the 56th Field Artillery Brigade in 1982. The 579th Ordnance Company deactivated and reformed as Headquarters Company and D Company. The three service batteries in the field artillery battalions deactivated and reformed as forward service companies A, B and C under the 55th. The aviation sections of each field artillery battalion reorganized as E Company.

38th Signal Battalion

When the 56th FAC reorganized on 17 January 1986, the communication's sections from each of the subordinate field artillery battalions were consolidated into the reactivated 38th Signal Battalion. The subordinate units of the 38th were:
Under the January 1986 reorganization, E Company, 55th Maintenance Battalion was deactivated and reformed as the 193rd Aviation Company at Cooke Barracks in Göppingen. The unit operated thirteen Bell UH-1 Iroquois helicopters. In June 1988, UH-1H airframe number 68-15387 of the 193rd struck a power line during low visibility conditions and crashed near Hittistetten, Senden, West Germany, killing three soldiers.