British Army

The British Army is the Army of the the United Kingdom. It belongs with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force to the British Armed forces ( British Armed Forces ). It took part in many conflicts through the years and the world, conferring a great prestige in the military History to him.

History

Creation

There did not exist permanent terrestrial army before the civil war in England in 1642. If need be, the king then raised a group of men according to the feudal law of then. After the civil war, the Parliament, coldly created, assumed and created an army while taking as a starting point the New Model Army of Cromwell. The January 26th 1661, the king Charles II founds officially the British army.

At the beginning of the 18th century, after being left victorious the War of succession of Spain where the army forged by William of Orange and the duke of Malborougth had brilliantly behaved, the major part of this one was laid off and its manpower passed from: 75000 men in 1710 with: 51000 men in 1783.

It was especially made up of Mercenaire S, where the Germans played for a great part (Hanovriens, Hessois) and it from now on was dedicated to external operations, in continental Europe and Overseas. It is rather marginal compared to the nation, except with regard to the body of the officers.

In spite of its efforts, it could not gain the Guerre of independence of the United States.

19th century

The wars against the First Empire saw the British and their allies to face the French Army on many occasions. The Bataille of Waterloo in 1815 was the final point at these almost twenty years of war.

Following the problems encountered at the time of the Crimean War where French, Turkish and the British fought together against Russia, the British government started a reorganization of British Army.

The secretaries with the war (Edward Cardwell and Hugh Childers) developed and reflect on foot between 1873 to 1881 a complete recasting of the units of infantry to lead in 1881 to the system which we know nowadays.

Their goal was the following: to have a battalion in operations while the other was in deposit for the formation of the new recruits and their drive. The battalions in deposit could be also regarded as an auxiliary force where necessary.

These deposits of drive formed regiments which took the name of their district. The battalions of reserve were also linked with these regiment-deposits and took the following number of the units of active.

World wars

Conflicts of the 20th century

After having taken part with the forces of the Commonwealth in the War of Korea, the British Army took part successfully in operations of war in the Kenya against a rebellion, in the Yemen during a civil war and in Malaysia against a communist guerilla and the infiltration of troops Indonesia on the island of Borneo during years 1950/1960.

It engaged later in two major conflicts (Guerre of the Falklands (1982) and Guerre of Kuwait (1990-1991)).

It also sent troops of maintenance of peace under the aegis of UNO or NATO. Let us quote like example the operations in Bosnia-Herzégovine, with the Kosovo or Cyprus. Certain of these operations still last, in particular in the Balkans.

Conflicts of the 21e century

Nowadays, the British Army leads operations in the war of Afghanistan and in Iraq to the sides of the American forces.

Current structure

Currently, British Army whose manpower was of 103.780 soldiers at the end of 2004 organizes with the turn of 2 divisions (1st (the U.K.) Armoured Division and 3rd (the U.K.) Division) like by an airborne brigade. To these units, we can add 3 divided, known as regenerative divisions : 2nd Division, 4th Division and 5th Division. These last have of the personnel coming from the army itself and the Territorial Army.

The combat brigades, gathered in divisions, are the following ones (at September 16th, 2005):

armor-plated Brigades: 4th Armoured Brigade, 7th Armoured Brigade and 20th Armoured Brigade
mechanized Brigades: 1st Mechanized Brigade and 12th Mechanized Brigade
light Brigade: 19th Light Brigade

With these brigades, we can add the 3rd Commando Brigade, Royal Navy, armed by the personnel with British Army and the Royal Navy.

To these large units, we can add two commands: London District and Command in Northern Ireland.

Divisions of combat

1 {{Re}} armor-plated division

Stationed in Germany, the 1st armor-plated division represents off the last division of British Army Rhine. This body less gathered during the cold war step than three armor-plated divisions. Since the end of this period, it gathers inter alia 3 armor-plated brigades:

4th Armoured Brigade;
7th Armoured Brigade;
20th Armoured Brigade.

At the beginning of 2005, the 1st armor-plated division does not gather less 17 000 men and aligns 150 tanks Challenger 2 and 450 combat armored vehicles of Warrior infantry.

During this year, this division counted 4 armor-plated regiments and 2 of recognition (divisional units), and 6 battalions of armor-plated infantry.

Let us notice that, during 2006, the 4th armor-plated brigade will be converted into mechanized brigade.

4th Armoured Brigade

During 2005, the 4th armor-plated brigade account 1 armor-plated regiment and 2 battalions of armor-plated infantry. Its staff is located at Osnabrück, Lower Saxony, in Germany.

7th Armoured Brigade

During 2005, the 7th armor-plated brigade account 2 armor-plated regiments and 2 battalions of armor-plated infantry. Its staff is in Bergen-Hohne, Lower Saxony, in Germany.

20th Armoured Brigade

During 2005, the 20th armor-plated brigade account 1 armor-plated regiment and 2 battalions of armor-plated infantry. Its staff is stationed in Paderborn, the Rhineland of North - Westphalia, in Germany.

3rd Division

Stationed in Great Britain, the 3rd division gathers inter alia 2 mechanized brigades and 1 light:

1st Mechanized Brigade;
12th Mechanized Brigade;
19th Light Brigade.

During 2005, the 3rd division counted 1 regiment of armor-plated recognition and 1 armor-plated, like 6 battalions from mechanized infantry, 3D' armor-plated infantry and 1 of light infantry

1st Mechanized Brigade

During 2005, the 1st mechanized brigade account 1 battalion of armor-plated infantry and 1 of mechanized infantry. Its staff is stationed in Tidworth, Wiltshire, in England.

12th Mechanized Brigade

During 2005, the 12th mechanized brigade account 1 regiment armor-plated and 3 battalions of mechanized infantry and 1 of armor-plated infantry. Its staff is located at Bulford (Salisbury), Wiltshire, in England.

19th Light Brigade

In the past called 19th Mechanized Brigade, this large unit changed name on January 1st, 2005 and took the name of 19th Light Brigade. During 2005, this light brigade gathers 4 battalions of infantry (1 armor-plated, 2 mechanized and 1 light), 1 artillery regiment, recently reconverted with tractor drawn guns, and 1 of armor-plated recognition. Its staff is in Catterick, North Yorkshire, in England.

Mixed divisions

Gathering units of active and reserve, mixed divisions (personnel of active and reserve) are called in the British terminology: regenerative divisions. They have only one administrative role in times of peace.

We count 3 of this type of them (2nd, 4th and the 5th divisions), distributed on all the territory of the United Kingdom. They are made up of brigades of infantry, aligning units of active and reserve, as well as units of support.

2nd Division

Division of the North of Great Britain, the 2nd division gathers 4 brigades of infantry including 2 Scottish (15th (North East) Brigade, 42nd (North West) Brigade, 51st (Scottish) Brigade and 52nd (Infantry) Brigade) as well as units of support and divisional support. Its staff is in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Composed of battalions of light infantry, the brigades of infantry are formed units either entirely of reservists, or entirely of personnel of active. Thus the 52e Brigade of Infantry is made up of 3 battalions of active. On the other hand, the other brigades are organized with the turn of two or three battalions of reserve.

4th Division

Division of the South-east of England, the 4th division is composed of 3 brigades of infantry (2nd (Infantry) Brigade, 145th (Counties Home) Brigade and 49th (Eastern) Brigade) and 1 of air attack (16th Air Asault Brigade) and of the divisional units. Its staff is located at Aldershot, Hampshire, in England.

As for preceding division, the brigades of infantry gather units of active or reserve. Thus we find near the 2nd Brigade of Infantry 2 battalions of light infantry and 1 of Gurkhas. On the other hand, the others are composed of only one battalion of reserve.

Gathering close to 10 000 men, the 16th Air Assault Brigade is the light unit of intervention as well as the 3rd Commando brigade of Royal the Marines. It is composed in particular of 4 battalions of infantry, of which units parachutists, like 3 regiments of combat helicopters. It also aligns its own units of support. Here the list of the various units attached in 2005:

16th (Air Assault) Brigade Headquarters and Signal Squadron (216)
1st Battalion, The Parachute Regiment
2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment
3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment
1st Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
7th Parachute Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery
3rd Regiment, AAC
4th Regiment, AAC
9th Regiment, AAC
23rd Engineer Regiment
156th Provost Company, RMP
13th Air Assault Support Regiment, RLC
383rd Commando Petroleum Troop, RLC (Volunteer)
7th Battalion, REME (Helicopter Support)
16th Closed Medical Support Regiment

5th Division

Division of Wales and the west of England, the 5th division gathers 3 brigades of infantry (43rd (Wessex) Brigade, 143rd (West the Midlands) Brigade and 160th (Wales) Brigade) and 1 of transmissions, as well as units of support and divisional support. Its staff is established in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, in England.

The 43e brigade of Infantry includes/understands not only 2 battalions of light infantry and 1 of reserve, but also the center of drive of the war in shift (Land Warfare Training Center) with 1 battalion of infantry and 1 armor-plated squadron. As for the 143e brigade of Infantry, it includes/understands only one battalion of reserve. On the other hand, the 160e brigade of Infantry is a mixed unit, i.e. it gathers of the units of active and of reserve. To be exact, it aligns two battalions of active and 1 of reserve.

Independent commands

In the British army, there exist various commands independent on the territory of the United Kingdom because of their specificity.

London District

As London is the capital of the United Kingdom, London District includes/understands not only units of combat, but also of the troops of parade and guard of the important places (like Buckingham Palace).

We do not find less than 3 battalions of active and 1 of reserve and 3 companies of infantry.

Command in Northern Ireland

Created because of the war internal (and civil) in Northern Ireland, the Command in Northern Ireland gathers 2 brigades of infantry (8th Infantry Brigade and 39th Infantry Brigade), 1 center of drive in Northern Ireland, in the past the 107e brigade, as well as the units of support.

The command in Northern Ireland gathers not only revolving battalions of light infantry and one of reserve, but also of the units of Home Defense. These last are remainders of the war in this area. They are used as a unit as safety and gather of the personnel of active full-time and part-time.

Ranks

the most literal translation of warrant officer is “officer by authorization”. This authorization distinguishes the warrant officers , of the Sous-officier S, the officers who are known as commissioned officers (patented officers).

the adjudants in some weapons are called Quartermaster-sergeant S.

It should be noted that the rank of sergeant is a rank of general officer, and the rank of major a rank of officer.

Branches of the Army

General administration

Body of Royal Military Organizes

Cash into semi-2004 a manpower of 2 040 men, the military police force ensures several missions:

to ensure the operational support,
to prevent the possible crimes,
to support the law and to maintain the discipline,
to 24 hours a day ensure a service of response in assistance, a council and information.

Nowadays, the Military Police force is organized with the turn of 5 regiments, including 2 with manpower of active and of reserve, as well as a company:

1st Regiment RMP: Based in Germany, the 1st military regiment of police force includes/understands three companies of active (110th Provost Company, 111th Provost Company and 115th Provost Company) and this unit is administratively attached to the 1st Armor-plated Division;
3rd Regiment RMP: Stationed in England, the 3rd military regiment of police force is articulated with the turn of three companies of active (150th Provost Company, 158th Provost Company and 174th Provost Company) and is under the command of the 3rd British division;
4th Regiment RMP: Two companies of reserve (116th Provost Company (Volunteer) and 253rd Provost Company (Volunteer)) and one of active (160th Provost Company) are attached to him;
5th Regiment RMP: Attached to the 102e brigade Logistic and based in Germany, the 5th Military Regiment of Police force incorporates two companies of active (101st Provost Company and 114th Provost Company) and two of reserve (243rd Provost Company (Volunteer) and 252nd Provost Company (Volunteer)) ;
6th Regiment RMP: The 6th military regiment of police force is stationed in Northern Ireland;

156th Provost Company: The 156e military company of police force is attached in the 16th Brigade of Air Attack and it is thus stationed in England.

Blindée Cavalry arms

The Armor-plated Weapon British Cavalry is composed of two bodies: The Household Cavalry (cavalry of the house of the king) and Royal The Armoured Body (the royal body armor-plated).

There exist 11 regiments of combat, distributed between three types, that is to say:

6 armor-plated regiments: equipped with tanks of battle Challenger 2, they are distributed in the orde of battle of the mechanized or armor-plated brigades and include/understand 3 squadrons of tanks to 14 Challenger 2;
4 regiments of recognition: equipped with vehicles tracked Scimitar, these regiments are organized with the turn of 3 squadrons of recognition with 12 Scimitar and are distributed in all the British army in the following way:

1 pennies authority of the command independent of London;
1 affiliated with the 1st Brigade of Armor-plated Recognition;
2 correspondent with the regiment of recognition of 1st and the 3rd division;

1 regiment of NBC recognition: regiment interarme, it is stationed on basis RAF of Honington/Warminster in England and its unit of affiliation is the 1st Brigade of Armor-plated Recognition.

Besides these regiments, there exists the regiment of cavalry with horse of the royal guard. It is used like regiment of parade and escort for horse.

The armor-plated regiment

The various armor-plated regiments correspond to the old heavy cavalry. These units are strong in the British army of 582 men and are organized in particular around their 4 armor-plated squadrons. The latter count each one 14 tanks Challengers. They are armed with guns 120 mm and have a crew of 4 men. Moreover, the squadron of staff includes/understands a section of recognition equipped with 8 Saber vehicles.

In 2005, the armor-plated regiments are 5 and are built-in the mechanized and armor-plated brigades.

The regiment of recognition

Forts of approximately 600 men in time of war, the regiments of standard recognition are organized with the turn of 3 squadrons of recognition. The latter count each one 12 armored vehicles of Saber recognition and 4 tracked vehicles able to draw from the anti-tank missiles. For the base, these units are used to collect information on the enemy and to clarify zones hypothetically at the risk.

In 2005, the regiments of recognition are 4 and are distributed as follows:

1 regiment of recognition in each division of combat, is one with close to the 1st Armoured Division and another with close to the 3rd Division;
1 regiment of recognition in the 1st Armoured Recognition Brigade;
1 regiment of recognition under the authority of the command independent of London.

At the end of the reorganization, it is envisaged to organize a squadron of command and support, incorporating a terrestrial section of monitoring.

The regiment of NBC recognition

In British Army, the single regiment of NBC recognition has in its center of the personnel of British Army (2 squadrons of cavalry) and of Royal Air Force (1 squadron of the RAF Regiment). This unit is based on basis RAF of Honington in Wiltshire in England. It is in particular equipped with armored vehicles with Fuchs wheel.

As its name indicates it, this regiment is used as a unit specialized in the nuclear, biological and chemical zones at the risk. These dangers become increasingly frequent in zone of war or even during the maintenance missions of peace. Thus, for example, the French Army could try out it at the time of its operation in Kosovo, more precisely in Mitrovica in a chemical plant

Artillery

The regiments of Artillerie ensures a support the troops of close combat. They ensure several roles:

air defense: the regiments of this category are equipped with missiles Rapier or Starstreak;
monitoring and acquisition of target;
monitoring with drones;
heavy artillery: these regiments of heavy support are equipped with MLRS, of the multiple Lance-roquettes of American design;
tractor drawn artillery: equipped with Gun Light (105 mm gauge), they are found in the regiment of artillery parachutists and that of Royal the Navy;
motorized artillery; equipped with the armor-plated guns ACES 90, the motorized artillery regiments are concentrated in the units concerned with the mechanized or armor-plated brigades.

In British Army, there exists a distinction within the artillery regiments: royal Artillery (RA) (" artillery royale") and Royal Horse Artillery (RHA) (" royal artillery with cheval".)

Army Air Body

Like many armies, the British army created a new weapon after the 2nd World war gathering its air means. It is known under the name of “Army Air Body”, its equivalent in the French Army is the light Aviation of the Army.

It includes/understands 7 regiments, including 1 of drive and 1 mainly armed by the reserve:

Teams of combat helicopters of the type AH-64 Apache, three of these regiments are gathered within the 16th brigade of air attack.

Infantry

The Infanterie is organized with the turn of 40 battalions of infantry ensuring various roles: light infantry, infantry armor-plated on tracked vehicles Warrior, infantry mechanized on vehicles Saxon, or infantry parachutist.

These same battalions are affiliated with regiments of infantry; the latter can gather from 1 to 3 battalions each one.

The majority of these units are gathered with the turn of 6 administrative divisions: The Guards Division, The Scottish Division, The Queen' S Division, The King' S Division, The Prince off Wales' S Division and The Light Division.

The remainder are units administratively independent such as The Parachute Regiment or The Royal Gurkha Rifles.

Except for the battalions of parachutists, the flow chart is the following:

1 staff
1 company of staff
1 company of support with anti-tank mortars and missiles Milan
3 company of combat

The company of support gathers a group of recognition on Scimitar, anti-tank devices, one of mortars and one of heavy machine guns (for the battalions of mechanized infantry) or pioneers of attack (for the battalions of armor-plated infantry).

As for the battalions parachutists, it is organized as follows:

1 company of staff
1 company of recognition
1 company of mortars
3 companies of combat

At the end of 2005, the British government decides to assign to during a 2007 battalion to the 3 Royal Commando Brigade Navy. It is the 1st battalion of the Riffles.

From here 2008, it is envisaged the reduction of 3 battalions and the reconversion of 1 in unit commando

Special forces

The Special forces whose creation goes back to 1940 are represented in the British Army by many units, of which most known is inter alia the regiments of SAS (1 of active and 2 of reserve).

As in the case of France (cf Command of special operations), the British army created a unified command of the Special forces, called UK' S Special Group Forces.

Genius

That it is within the French Army or of the British Army, the military Engineering ensures of many roles: destruction, construction, assistance with crossing, neutralization of explosive…

In the British army, the weapon of the genius is called the Royal Engineers Corps.

The body of genius contributes with 2 squadrons of genius (1 of active and 1 of reserve) to the 3rd Commando Brigade, Royal Navy, of the Royal Navy.

Future structure of the British Army

December 16th, 2004, the Minister for British Defense Geoff Hoon announced a reorganization of the British army because of the positive development of the peace process in Northern Ireland and lesson drawn from the last conflicts.

This reorganization will proceed in three phases:

2004 - 2008: change structural of the British army;
2008 - 2012: experimentation of the new equipment;
2012 -? : installation of this equipment.

Thus, in 2008, the British Army will have these combat brigades within these armed forces:

1 brigade of marine fusiliers (3rd Commando Brigade RM),
1 airborne brigade (16th Air Assault Brigade),
1 light brigade (19th Light Brigade),
2 armor-plated brigades (7th Armoured Brigade and 20th Armoured Brigade),
3 mechanized brigades (1st Mechanized Brigade, 4th Mechanized Brigade and 12th Mechanized Brigade).

Blindée Cavalry arms

The Weapon of Cavalry will be slightly seen transforming.

Here the list of the modifications:

an armor-plated regiment will be converted a regiment of recognition;
3 squadrons of Challenger 2 is converted into Interim Medium Armor Squadron (escadon light armoured tank);
in each regiment of recognition, it will be created a squadron of command and support.

In the long term, the British Army will have 5 regiments armor-plated, 5 of recognition and 1 of recognition NBC interarme.

Artillery

A motorized artillery regiment will be seen transforming into tractor drawn artillery regiment (for the 19th Light Brigade).

Infantry

The infantry will see the number of these reduced battalions. Thus, by 2008, it will count 36 battalions, or 37 if we count the battalion parachutist which will be useful in Special the Forces Group Support. The latter is a unit interarme of the type Rangers .

Consequently occasion, it will be created 5 new regiments: The Mercian Regiment, The Yorkshire Regiment (14th/15th, 19th and 33rd/76th) and The Duke off Lancaster' S Regiment (King' S, Lancashire and To border), The Riffles and The Royal Regiment off Scotland. That will make it possible to gather the battalions in regiments with several battalions.

The reduction of the battalions will be done as follows:

the battalions Scot will see reduced of a battalion of infantry via the meeting of The Royal Scots and of King' S Own Scottish Borderers.
The Devonshire and Dorset Regiment and Royal The Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment will amalgamate to form initially the 1st Bataillon, The Light Infantry and then the 1st Bataillon, The Rifles.
After its formation, The Duke off Lancaster' S Regiment (King' S, Lancashire and To border) will be tiny room of a battalion.

Special forces

In 2005, the British Army created two new regiments interarmées:

Special the Recognition Regiment (" Regiment of Spéciale" Recognition;) : heir to the units operating in Northern Ireland, whose 14th Company of Information (14th Company Intelligence), Special the Recognition Regiment is a unit of monitoring and recognition, which will operate in greatest discretion;

Special the Forces Support Group (" Group Support of the Spéciales" Forces;) : primarily composed by the elements of the 1st battalion of the Parachute Regiment, Special the Forces Support Group (" Group Support of the Forces spéciales") will have like mission of supporting the Special forces - as SAS - in their operations.

Moreover, it is also envisaged to reinforce the means in support and the helicopters of the British special forces.

Reference

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