HHB2ND:56TH A.D.A.

HHB, 2nd Battalion, 56th Air Defense Artillery (HHB 2ND/56TH A.D.A.) traces its origins to earlier U.S. Army coastal and anti-aircraft artillery units, with lineage dating back to World War II and the Cold War. Reactivated during the 1950s and 1960s, the battalion became a key component of U.S. Army Europe’s air defense network, stationed primarily in Germany to counter potential Warsaw Pact air threats. As the headquarters and headquarters battery (HHB), the unit oversaw operations, training, and logistics for subordinate air defense batteries, often equipped with Nike Hercules surface-to-air missiles. The 2-56 ADA played a crucial role in NATO’s deterrence posture until its inactivation as part of post-Cold War military drawdowns.