In 1940 the regiment was equipped with 8 x 4.5 inch Howitzers &amp; 4 x 18/25 pounder guns, it remained in the United Kingdom until 1944 being attached to various formations: 54th (East Anglian) Infantry Division from mobilisation until 9 June 1942, then 42nd Armoured Division until 3 May 1943. When 21st Army Group was formed in July 1943 to prepare for the Allied invasion of Normandy (Operation Overlord), 86th Fd Rgt was assigned to I Corps as a self-propelled field artillery regiment. During this time it used a number of new self-propelled artillery vehicles including the Bishop, Priest and the Sexton self-propelled guns. The regiment trained in amphibious assault techniques for Overlord as part of Second Army Troops, assigned to support 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division on D-Day (6 June 1944). It later participated in the following battles: Normandy, Antwerp, Nijmegen, Ardennes, Rhine Crossing, Bremen.