Structure of the British Army

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The structure of the British Army is broadly similar to that of the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, with a single command based at Andover known as "Army Headquarters". As top-level budget holder, this organisation is responsible for providing forces at operational readiness for employment by the Permanent Joint Headquarters.

The command structure is hierarchical with divisions and brigades controlling groupings of units from an administrative perspective. Major Units are regiment or battalion-sized with minor units being either company sized sub-units or platoons. All units within the service are either Regular (full-time) or Territorial Army (part-time), or a combination with sub-units of each type.

Naming conventions of units differ for traditional British historical reasons, creating a significant opportunity for confusion; an infantry battalion is equivalent to a cavalry regiment. An infantry regiment is an administrative and ceremonial organisation only and may include several battalions. For operational tasks a battle group will be formed around a combat unit, supported by units or sub-units from other areas. Such an example would be a squadron of tanks attached to an armoured infantry battle group, together with a reconnaissance troop, artillery battery and engineering support.

Contents

Formations [edit]

Commands [edit]

A command is a military formation that handles a specific task or region, and can direct forces as large as multiple corps or as little as a few battalions.

Under a major army command reorganisation effective 1 November 2011 the Chief of the General Staff took direct command of the Army through a new structure, based at Andover[1] and known as "Army Headquarters".[2][3]

Reporting to the Chief of the General Staff are: the Commander Land Forces, the Adjutant-General and the Commander Force Development and Training. The Commander Land Forces is responsible for generating and preparing forces for current and contingency operations, the Adjutant-General is responsible for developing the Army's personnel policies and supporting its people and the Commander Force Development and Training is responsible for recruiting and training the Army, and developing its capability, sustainability and doctrine.[4]

The Commander Land Forces commands 1st (Armoured) Division, 3rd (Mechanized) Division and Theatre Troops. He also commands the administrative organisation of garrisons in mainland UK through HQ Support Command based in Aldershot and British Forces Germany.

Support Command Structure

The Chief of the General Staff is the Standing Joint Commander (UK) (SJC(UK)), responsible for overall command of Military Aid to Civil Power within mainland United Kingdom.[5]

Previously the Army had regional commands in the UK, including Aldershot Command, Eastern Command, Northern Command, Scottish Command, Southern Command and Western Command.

Corps [edit]

United Kingdom
British Army lists
Commands and Army groups
Field armies in World War I
Field armies in World War II
Corps in World War I
Corps in World War II
Divisions in World War I
Divisions in World War II
Brigades in World War I
Brigades in World War II
Royal Armoured Corps Regiments in World War II
Royal Artillery Batteries
Regiments of Foot
Regiments in 1881
Territorial Force Units in 1908
Regiments in 1962
Regiments in 1994
Regiments in 2008
Nicknames of regiments


A corps is a formation of two or more divisions, potentially fifty thousand personnel or more.

Whilst the British Army has the capability there is no standing UK Corps organisation, forces being allocated through a number of multi-partite arrangements to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and European commitments, providing much of the headquarters capability and framework for the multinational Allied Rapid Reaction Corps.

The word corps is more formally used for administrative groupings by common function, such as the Royal Armoured Corps and Army Air Corps, with various Combat Support Arms and Services being referred to in the wider sense as a Corps, such as the Royal Corps of Signals.

Divisions [edit]

A division is a formation of three or four brigades, around twenty thousand personnel, commanded by a Major General.

The British Army has two deployable divisions, capable of deploying the headquarters and subordinate formations immediately to operations.

London District is responsible for the maintenance of capability for the defence of the capital and the provision of ceremonial units and garrisons for the Crown Estate in London, such as the Tower of London.

Several infantry regiments are organised into five administrative divisions based on the type of infantry unit or traditional recruiting areas:

Brigades [edit]

A brigade contains three or four battalion-sized units, around 5000 personnel and is commanded by a one star officer, a Brigadier. The brigade will contain a wide range of military disciplines allowing the conduct of a spectrum of military tasks.

The brigade would be required to deploy up to three separate battlegroups, the primary tactical formation employed in British doctrine. The battlegroup is a mixed formation around the core of one unit, an armoured regiment or infantry battalion, with sub-units providing artillery, engineers, logistics, aviation, etc., as required.

Combat formations [edit]

Order of precedence [edit]

See also: British Army Order of Precedence

The British Army parades according to the order of precedence, from right to left, with the unit at the extreme right being highest on the order.

The Household Cavalry has the highest precedence, unless the Royal Horse Artillery parades with its guns.

Arms and services [edit]

Combat Arms [edit]

The Combat Arms are the "teeth" of the British Army, infantry, armoured and aviation units which engage in close action.

Household Cavalry and Royal Armoured Corps [edit]

Main articles: Household Cavalry and Royal Armoured Corps

Regiments of line cavalry and the Royal Tank Regiment together form the Royal Armoured Corps which has units equipped with either main battle tanks or with light armour for formation reconnaissance. An additional reconnaissance regiment is provided by the Household Cavalry Regiment, of the Household Cavalry, which administratively is not considered to be part of the RAC, but is included among the RAC order of battle for operational tasking.

Armoured Regiments Formation Reconnaissance Regiments
The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
(Carabiniers and Greys)		 The Household Cavalry Regiment
The Royal Dragoon Guards 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards
The Queen's Royal Hussars
(Queen's Own and Royal Irish)		 9th/12th Royal Lancers
(Prince of Wales's)
The King's Royal Hussars The Light Dragoons
2nd Royal Tank Regiment The Queen's Royal Lancers

The 1st Royal Tank Regiment operates dual roles, with two squadrons allocated to each:

  • Main battle tank training squadrons within the Combined Arms Training Battlegroup at Land Warfare Centre, Warminster.
  • Divisional augmentation troops attached to 3 Division

Infantry [edit]

Main article: Infantry of the British Army

The Infantry is divided for administrative purposes into five divisions with battalions being trained and equipped to operate in one of five main roles:

Under the arms-plot system, a battalion would spend between two and six years in one role, before re-training for another. Following a review of the operation of the army it has been demonstrated that the system is inefficient and the system is being phased out, with battalions specialising in role - this will see armoured infantry, mechanised infantry and air assault battalions remaining in a single posting; however, light infantry battalions will continue to be periodically rotated between postings. Personnel will be "trickle posted" between battalions of the same regiment as required, and to further their careers.

Guards Division Scottish Division King's Division Prince of Wales' Division Queen's Division
1st Bn, Grenadier Guards The Royal Scots Borderers, (1st Bn, The Royal Regiment of Scotland) 1st & 2nd Bn, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (King's Lancashire and Border) 1st, 2nd & 3rd Bn, The Mercian Regiment 1st & 2nd Bn, The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires)
1st Bn, Coldstream Guards The Royal Highland Fusiliers (2nd Bn, The Royal Regiment of Scotland) 1st, 2nd & 3rd Bn The Yorkshire Regiment (14th/15th, 19th and 33rd/76th Foot) 1st & 2nd Bn, The Royal Welsh 1st & 2nd Bn, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
1st Bn, Scots Guards The Black Watch (3rd Bn, The Royal Regiment of Scotland) 1st & 2nd Bn, The Royal Anglian Regiment
1st Bn, Irish Guards The Highlanders (4th Bn, The Royal Regiment of Scotland) The Royal Gibraltar Regiment
1st Bn, Welsh Guards The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (5th Bn, The Royal Regiment of Scotland)

Four further infantry units in the regular army are not grouped within the various infantry divisions:

The role of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment is limited to the defence of Gibraltar.

Brigade of Gurkhas [edit]
Main article: Brigade of Gurkhas

The Royal Gurkha Rifles is the largest element of the Brigade of Gurkhas which includes its own support arms. These units are affiliated to the equivalent British units, but have their own unique cap badges.

  • Support units of the Brigade of Gurkhas
    • Queen's Gurkha Engineers:
      • 69 Field Squadron, 36 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers
      • 70 Field Support Squadron, 36 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers
    • Queen's Gurkha Signals:
      • 246 Gurkha Signal Squadron, 2 Signal Regiment, Royal Signals
      • 248 Gurkha Signal Squadron, 22 Signal Regiment, Royal Signals
      • 250 Gurkha Signal Squadron, 30 Signal Regiment, Royal Signals
    • Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment:
      • 10 The Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment

Special Forces [edit]

Main article: United Kingdom Special Forces

Note: UKSF is considered a joint organisation and as such falls outside the Army chain of command.

Army Air Corps [edit]

The Army Air Corps provides battlefield air support with 6 Regiments and 4 independent squadrons and flights:

  • 1 Regiment, AAC - 1st Armoured Division (Lynx)
  • 2 Regiment, AAC - Training Regiment
  • 3 Regiment, AAC - Attack Regiment - 16 Air Assault Brigade (Apache)
  • 4 Regiment, AAC - Attack Regiment - 16 Air Assault Brigade (Apache)
  • 5 Regiment, AAC - Northern Ireland (Gazelle)
  • 7 Regiment, AAC - Training Regiment
  • 9 Regiment, AAC - Attack Regiment - 16 Air Assault Brigade (Lynx)
  • 667 Squadron, AAC
  • 7 Flight - Aviation support to British Forces in Brunei
  • 8 Flight - Joint Special Forces Air Wing
  • 25 Flight - Aviation support to British Forces in Belize

Combat Support Arms [edit]

The Combat Support Arms provide direct support to the Combat Arms and include artillery, engineer, signals and aviation.

Royal Regiment of Artillery [edit]

The Royal Artillery consists of 16 regiments, four of which retain the cap badge and traditions of the Royal Horse Artillery. The Royal Artillery undertakes seven different roles:

Home Defence Air Defence General Support
(MLRS)		 Close Support
(AS90)		 Close Support
(L118 Light Gun)		 Surveillance and
Target Acquisition		 Training
King's Troop, RHA 12 Regiment RA 39 Regiment RA 1st Regiment RHA 7th (Para) Regiment RHA 5 Regiment RA 14 Regiment RA
16 Regiment RA 3rd Regiment RHA 29 (Cdo) Regiment RA 32 Regiment RA
47 Regiment RA 4 Regiment RA 40 Regiment RA
19 Regiment RA
26 Regiment RA

Corps of Royal Engineers [edit]

The Royal Engineers is a corps of 15 regiments in the regular army providing military engineering (civil engineering, assault engineering and demolition) capabilities to the field army and facilities management expertise within garrisons.

Regiments are associated with Brigade level formations with a number of independent squadrons and support groups associated with specific tasks:

The Royal School of Military Engineering (RSME) comprises two recruit training regiments:

  • 1 RSME Regiment - Construction Engineer School
  • 3 RSME Regiment - Combat Engineer School

The remainder are field regiments attached to various deployable formations:

  • 8 Force Engineer Brigade
    • 12 (Air Support) Engineer Group, support to the RAF:
      • 39 Engineer Regiment (Air Support) - engineering support to the RAF
      • 529 Specialist Team Royal Engineers (Air Support)

Two squadrons of 36 Engineer Regiment are cap badged as Queen's Gurkha Engineers and are manned predominantly by Gurkhas.

    • 170 (Infrastructure Support) Engineer Group (formerly Military Works Force); responsible for permanent and temporary infrastructure development, including water, fuel, communications and utilities:
      • 62 Works Group, RE - Water Infrastructure
      • 63 Works Group, RE - Utilities Infrastructure
      • 64 Works Group, RE - Fuel Infrastructure
      • 65 Works Group, RE - Line of Communications Infrastructure
      • 530 Specialist Team Royal Engineers (Materials)
      • 627 Works Marines Comabat engineers (Destruction)

Royal Corps of Signals [edit]

The Royal Signals is a corps of 10 Regiments and 13 independent squadrons which provides communications and information systems support to formations of Brigade level and above. Below the Brigade level support is provided by Battalion Signallers drawn from the parent unit. Within the deployable brigades the Signal Regiment also provides support to the HQ function including logistics, life support and force protection capabilities.

  • Regiments
    • 1 (UK) Armoured Division HQ and Signal Regiment
    • 2 Signal Regiment - 11 Signal Brigade
    • 3 (UK) Division HQ and Signal Regiment
    • 7 Signal Regiment - 1 Signal Brigade (Allied Rapid Reaction Corps)
    • 10 Signal Regiment - 2 (National Communications) Signal Brigade
    • 11 Signal Regiment - Royal School of Signals (Training)
    • 14th Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare) - 11 Signal Brigade (Electronic Warfare)
    • 15 Signal Regiment - HQ Northern Ireland
    • 16 Signal Regiment - 1 Signal Brigade
    • 18 Signal Regiment - UK Special Forces
    • 21 Signal Regiment - Joint Helicopter Command
    • 22 Signal Regiment - 1 Signal Brigade
    • 30 Signal Regiment - 11 Signal Brigade
  • Squadrons
    • 200 Signal Squadron - 20 Armoured Brigade
    • 204 Signal Squadron - 4 Mechanised Brigade
    • 207 Signal Squadron - 7 Armoured Brigade
    • 209 Signal Squadron - 19 Light Brigade
    • 213 Signal Squadron - 39 Infantry Brigade (NI)
    • 215 Signal Squadron - 1 Mechanised Brigade
    • 216 Signal Squadron - 16 Air Assault Brigade
    • 218 Signal Squadron - 8 Infantry Brigade (NI)
    • 228 Signal Squadron - 12 Mechanised Brigade
    • 261 Signal Squadron - 101 Logistic Brigade
    • 262 Signal Squadron - 102 Logistic Brigade
    • 628 (UK) Signal Troop - Allied Forces North (AFNORTH)
    • Cyprus Communications Unit

Two squadrons are cap badged as the Queen's Gurkha Signals and are manned predominantly by Gurkhas.

Intelligence Corps [edit]

The Intelligence Corps provides intelligence support including collection, interpretation and counter-intelligence capabilities with three battalions and a joint service group:

Combat Service Support Arms [edit]

The Combat Service Support Arms provide sustainment and support for the Combat and Combat Support Arms. Whilst CSS personnel are not intended to close with and engage opposition forces the fluidity of the modern battlefield means that these personnel are likely to be engaged in close combat at times, particularly when associated with Battle Groups.

Royal Logistic Corps [edit]

The Royal Logistic Corps is the largest single corps in the British Army; responsible for a range of supply, sustainment and movement tasks. Within the corps there are 21 regiments and 6 independent sub-units:

  • 1 Logistic Support Regiment
  • 2 Logistic Support Regiment
  • 3 Logistic Support Regiment
  • 4 Logistic Support Regiment
  • 5 Training Regiment
  • 6 Regiment
  • 7 Regiment
  • 8 Regiment
  • 9 Regiment
  • 10 Regiment, Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment
  • 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment
  • 12 Logistic Support Regiment
  • 13 Air Assault Support Regiment
  • 17 Port and Maritime Regiment
  • 19 Combat Service Support Battalion[6]
  • 23 Pioneer Regiment
  • 24 Postal Courier and Movement Regiment
  • 25 Training Regiment
  • 27 Regiment
  • 29 Postal Courier and Movement Regiment
  • ARRC Support Battalion

Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers [edit]

The Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers is a corps which provides maintenance support to equipment. Most units will have either a Light Aid Detachment (LAD) or Workshop (Wksp) attached. Seven battalions provide support to formations of brigade level and above:

  • 1st Battalion, REME - 4 Mechanised Brigade
  • 2nd Battalion, REME - 7 Armoured Brigade
  • 3rd Battalion, REME - 20 Armoured Brigade
  • 4th Battalion, REME - 12 Mechanised Brigade
  • 19 Combat Service Support Battalion[6] - 19 Light Brigade
  • 6th Battalion, REME - 1 Mechanised Brigade
  • 7 Air Assault (Air Asslt) Battalion, REME - 16 Air Assault Brigade

Medical services [edit]

The Army Medical Services provide primary and secondary care for the armed forces in fixed locations and whilst deployed on operations. Personnel are attached to a parent unit, one of five field regiments or the defence medical services. The AMS comprises four different Corps providing the range of medical and veterinary care, with the Royal Army Medical Corps also providing the administrative framework for the regiments.

Adjutant General's Corps [edit]

The Adjutant General's Corps provides administrative, police and disciplinary and educational support to the army. The AGC is an amalgamation with three of the constituent units retaining their previous cap badge. Personnel from the AGC administrative and educational specialisations serve in attached posts to establishments or units of other arms. The police and disciplinary activities retain their own cap badges and act as discrete bodies. The Corps as a whole is divided into four separate branches:

  • Staff and Personnel Branch: The SPS branch is the largest part of the AGC and has responsibility for providing most administrative functions, including finance, IT support, human resources. The SPS branch was formed by the amalgamation of the Royal Army Pay Corps with elements of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps and Women's Royal Army Corps.
  • Education and Training Services Branch: The ETS branch provides for the educational needs of all serving personnel. These cover both professional development within the army, and wider personal development. The ETS branch was formed through the renaming of the Royal Army Educational Corps.
  • Army Legal Services Branch: The ALS branch provides legal advice to the army and to individuals requiring representation at Courts Martial. It is one of the smallest individual units, numbering 120 professionally qualified lawyers. All of its members are officers. The ALS branch retains the cap badge and traditions of the Army Legal Corps.
  • Provost Branch: The Provost branch consists of three separate elements:
    • Military Provost Staff: The MPS is the element of the provost branch responsible for administering military prisons. The MPS is one of the few elements in the army that does not recruit directly; instead, its members are volunteers from other branches of the army. The MPS retains the cap badge and traditions of the Military Provost Staff Corps.
    • Royal Military Police: The RMP provides the army's policing services, both in peacetime and in wartime. Units of the RMP are trained to deploy with the Field Army in the event of mobilisation. The RMP provides two regular regiments and supplements TA regiments with one Provost company each. A further provost company is trained in the air assault mission and is permanently attached to 16 Air Assault Brigade. The Corps also provides a number of specialist capabilities such as the Special Investigation Branch, Close Protection Teams and special escort capabilities.
      • 1 Regiment, Royal Military Police
      • 3 Regiment, Royal Military Police
      • 160 Provost Company - 4 RMP
      • 101 Provost Company - 5 RMP
      • 114 Provost Company - 5 RMP
      • 156 Provost Company - Air assault
    • Military Provost Guard Service: The MPGS is a unit dedicated to the guarding of military installations, allowing the army to replace civilian guards with trained soldiers. The MPGS has responsibilities at installations belonging to all three services.

Other services [edit]

Training [edit]

Main article: Selection and Training in the British Army

Training in the British Army differs for soldiers and officers but in general takes place in at least two phases:

Phase one training is basic military training for all new recruits. Here candidates learn the basic standards of military performance including operation in the field, weapon handling, personal administration, drill etc.

  • Prospective officers attend the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, where they undergo basic training in soldiering, defence policy and the structure of government, administration, command and leadership. The Commissioning Course for new entry officers lasts 44 weeks. Some specialist branches, Medical and Legal, undergo a short course which provides basic military training.
  • Infantry soldiers undergo a 26 week course at the Infantry Training Centre at Catterick Garrison which combines phase one and phase two training.

Soldiers in other specialisations undergo the 14 week Army Development Course at one of two Army Training Regiments; Pirbright or Winchester, or the Army Foundation College, Harrogate.

Phase two training is specific to the trade which the soldier or officer will follow and is conducted in a branch specialised school. Phase two training enables the individual to join an operational unit prepared to contribute to operational effectiveness. These schools are under the direction of the parent corps or arm of the service, as illustrated above, with the Infantry Training Centre being formed of two training battalions.

Units of the Territorial Army [edit]

Main article: Territorial Army (United Kingdom)

Combat Arms [edit]

Armour (TA) [edit]

The four armoured regiments of the Territorial Army operate in two roles - provision of crew replacements for armoured and NBC regiments, and formation reconnaissance:

Infantry (TA) [edit]

Special Forces (TA) [edit]

Army Air Corps (TA) [edit]

  • 6 Regiment, Army Air Corps (Volunteers)

Combat Support [edit]

Royal Artillery (TA) [edit]

Air Defence General Support (MLRS) Close Support (Light Gun) Surveillance and Target Acquisition Patrols
104 Regiment RA(V) 101 (Northumbrian) Regiment RA(V) 100 (Yeomanry) Regiment RA(V) Honourable Artillery Company
105 Regiment RA(V) 103 Regiment RA(V)
106 (Yeomanry) Regiment RA(V)
  • Note: Although the Honourable Artillery Company currently has an Artillery role, it is a separate regiment in its own right, with its own colours, uniforms and traditions.

Royal Engineers (TA) [edit]

  • The Engineer and Logistic Staff Corps - Specialist industry knowledge (invitation only, industry leaders)
  • Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers (Militia) - Field Regiment
  • 71 Engineer Regiment (Volunteers) - Air Support Regiment
  • 72 Engineer Regiment (Volunteers) - Field Regiment
  • 73 Engineer Regiment (Volunteers) - Air Support Regiment
  • 75 Engineer Regiment (Volunteers) - Field Regiment
  • 221 and 579 Squadrons of 101 (City of London) Engineer Regiment - Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment
  • 131 Independent Commando Squadron (Volunteers) - Commando Support
  • 135 Independent Geographic Squadron (Volunteers) - Topography
  • 591 Independent Field Squadron (Volunteers) - Field Regiment
  • 65 Works Group, RE (Volunteers) - Communications Infrastructure
  • 299 Parachute Squadron RE (Volunteers) - Field Regiment

Note: Although the Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers is part of the Royal Engineers order of battle, it is a separate regiment with its own cap badge, regimental colours and traditions.

Royal Signals (TA) [edit]

Intelligence Corps (TA) [edit]

Combat Service Support [edit]

Adjutant General's Corps [edit]

Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers [edit]

  • 101 Battalion (V), REME
  • 102 Battalion (V), REME
  • 103 Battalion (V), REME
  • 104 Battalion (V), REME

Royal Logistic Corps [edit]

Army Medical Services [edit]

  • 225 Medical Regiment (Volunteers) in Dundee
    • 153 Medical Squadron - Dundee
    • 222 Medical Squadron - Leicester with Derby detachment
    • 231 Evacuation Squadron - Glenrothes
    • 251 Medical Squadron - Sunderland
    • A Support Squadron - Dundee
  • 254 Medical Regiment (Volunteers) in Cambridge
    • HQ Squadron - Cambridge
    • A Squadron - Norwich
    • B Squadron - Colchester
    • C Squadron
    • D Squadron - Hitchin
  • 144 Parachute Medical Squadron (Volunteers) (part of 16 Medical Regiment)
  • 2 Medical Brigade
    • 201 (Northern) Field Hospital
    • 202 (Midlands) Field Hospital
    • 203 (Welsh) Field Hospital
    • 204 (North Irish) Field Hospital
    • 205 (Scottish) Field Hospital
    • 207 (Manchester) Field Hospital
    • 208 (Merseyside) Field Hospital
    • 212 (Yorkshire) Field Hospital
    • 243 (Wessex) Field Hospital
    • 256 (City of London) Field Hospital

Ceremonial units [edit]

The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment (HCMR) and King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery are units whose primary function is ceremonial. The HCMR is manned by fully trained soldiers who are periodically rotated through from operational units of the Household Cavalry.

Queen's Guard/Queen's Life Guard [edit]

The Queen's Guard at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle is primarily mounted by the two Foot Guards Battalions and one Line Infantry Battalion in London District together with the Foot Guards Incremental companies:

The guard at Horse Guards is normally drawn from the HCMR.

Gun salutes [edit]

The following units provide gun salutes in London:

Restructuring [edit]

Delivering Security in a Changing World [edit]

In July 2004 and December 2004 a significant restructuring of the armed forces was announced with a wide ranging impact on all three services. For the army the infantry strength was to be reduced by four infantry battalions (three English and one Scottish) with the remaining single battalion regiments amalgamating within their division; Scottish, King's and Prince of Wales's. The armoured strength was to be rebalanced reducing the strength by seven Challenger 2 squadrons by re-roling one regiment as force reconnaissance. The artillery strength was to be rebalanced, reducing AS-90 battery numbers by six by re-roling a regiment to the light gun and reducing the size of individual Ground Based Air Defence batteries.

The brigade structure was to be restructured to become:

  • One Air Assault Brigade - 16 Air Assault Brigade.
  • One Commando Brigade - 3 Commando Brigade. (This is a Royal Naval Commando formation, not part of the Army Chain of Command)
  • One Light Role Brigade - 19 Brigade.
  • Three Mechanized Brigades - 1 Mechanised Brigade, 4 Mechanised Brigade and 12 Mechanised Brigade.
  • Two Armoured Brigades - 7 Armoured Brigade and 20 Armoured Brigade.

Infantry restructuring [edit]

The arms plot is to be abolished, with all infantry battalions given a set role and (for armoured and mechanised battalions) location. In order that officers and soldiers can keep up the various skills gained through each of the distinct roles, all single battalion regiments (with the exception of the Guards regiments and the Royal Irish Regiment) will be amalgamated into large regiments. It is planned that each division will have a total of five battalions - of these, one will be armoured infantry, one will be mechanised infantry and the remainder light infantry.

Guards Division [edit]
Territorial Army [edit]
  • With the exception of the Royal Gurkha Rifles, every infantry regiment will receive one Territorial Army battalion, with the exception of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and The Rifles, which will receive two. The Guards Division will gain an affiliated TA battalion.

Bands [edit]

  • The British Army has 23 military bands of varying strength. There are seven bands which each have 49 musicians, whereas the other bands each have 35 musicians. All bands can play in many different formats, but primarily as a marching band or a concert band. The Bands of the Household Cavalry also play mounted.

New Infantry structure and Order of Precedence [edit]

Regular Army [edit]

Guards Division Scottish Division King's Division Prince of Wales' Division Queen's Division Light Division
1st Bn, Grenadier Guards 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th Bn, Royal Regiment of Scotland 1st & 2nd Bn, Duke of Lancaster's Regiment 1st & 2nd Bn, Royal Welsh 1st & 2nd Bn, Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th Bn, The Rifles
1st Bn, Coldstream Guards 1st, 2nd & 3rd Bn, Yorkshire Regiment 1st, 2nd & 3rd Bn, Mercian Regiment 1st & 2nd Bn, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
1st Bn, Scots Guards 1st & 2nd Bn, Royal Anglian Regiment
1st Bn, Irish Guards
1st Bn, Welsh Guards

Territorial Army [edit]

Guards Division Scottish Division King's Division Prince of Wales' Division Queen's Division Light Division
London Regiment 6th & 7th Bn, Royal Regiment of Scotland 4th Bn, Duke of Lancaster's Regiment 3rd Bn, Royal Welsh 3rd Bn, Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment 6th & 7th Bn, The Rifles
4th Bn, Yorkshire Regiment 4th Bn, Mercian Regiment 5th Bn, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
3rd Bn, Royal Anglian Regiment
  • 2nd Bn, The Royal Irish Regiment
  • 4th Bn, Parachute Regiment

Army 2020 [edit]

Main article: Future of the British Army (Army 2020)

In 2010, the incoming government conducted a new defence review. Those elements affecting the army were released as part of the Future British Army Structure (Next Steps publication:.[7] This was subsequently superseded by the Army 2020 concept announced in 2012. Under Army 2020 the army will be divided into:

  • Reaction forces comprising a modified 16 Air Assault Brigade and an armoured division (3rd (UK) Division) of three armoured infantry brigades. These will be the 1st, 12th and 20th Armoured Infantry Brigades.[8][9]
  • Adaptive forces comprising a division (1st (UK) Division) of seven infantry brigades, three which will be deployable. This will be assisted by another 2-star command, Support Command (British Army)[10][11][12]
  • Force troops and logistics support comprising eight brigades.

All units from Germany will slowly move back to the UK. The basing plan was released on 5th March 2013.. This positions 3rd (Mechanised) Division, to be renamed as 3rd (UK) Division as the head of the Reaction Force. 1st (Armoured) Division, to be renamed as 1st (UK) Division, will be the division in charge of the Adaptable Force, being based in York. This basing plan locates all three Reaction Force Brigades, along with the Type 56 Armoured Regiments and the six Warrior Battalions in the Salisbury Plain training area[13][14]

Based on a non-MOD source, the regular army structure under Army 2020 is likely to be:[15]

Reaction Force

  • 3rd (United Kingdom) Division, Bulford
    • 1st Armoured Infantry Brigade, Tidworth
      • The Household Cavalry Regiment, Windsor
      • Royal Tank Regiment, Tidworth
      • 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment, Bulford
      • 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, Tidworth
      • 4th Battalion The Rifles, Aldershot[16]
    • 12th Armoured Infantry Brigade, Bulford
      • The Royal Lancers, Catterick [17]
      • The King’s Royal Hussars, Tidworth
      • 1st Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment, Warminster
      • 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh, Tidworth[18]
      • 1x Guards Division Regiment/Battalion [15][19] (to be 1st Battalion Scots Guards, Aldershot (part of 12th Brigade)[20]
    • 20th Armoured Infantry Brigade, Bulford
      • The Royal Dragoon Guards, Catterick
      • The Queen’s Royal Hussars (Queen’s Own and Royal Irish), Tidworth
      • 1st Battalion The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, Bulford
      • 5th Battalion The Rifles, Bulford[16]
      • 4th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, Catterick[21]
    • 16th Air Assault Brigade, Colchester (autonomous but part of the Reaction Force)
      • 216 (Air Assault) Signal Squadron, Colchester
      • 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment,Colchester
      • 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, Colchester
      • 7th Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, Colchester
      • 3 Regiment Army Air Corps, Wattisham
      • 4 Regiment Army Air Corps, Wattisham
      • 23 Engineer Regiment (Air Assault), Woodbridge
      • 7 Air Assault Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Wattisham
      • 13 Air Assault Support Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps, Colchester
      • 16 Close Support Medical Regiment, Colchester
      • 156th Military Provost Staff Unit, Colchester
    • 101 Logistic Brigade, Aldershot
      • 1 Close Support Logistic Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps, Bicester
      • 3 Close Support Logistic Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps, Aldershot
      • 4 Close Support Logistic Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps, Abingdon
      • 3 Armoured Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Tidworth
      • 4 Armoured Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Tidworth
      • 5 Force Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Cottesmore
      • 6 Armoured Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Tidworth
      • 1 Armoured Medical Regiment, Tidworth
      • 4 Armoured Medical Regiment, Aldershot
      • 5 Armoured Medical Regiment, Tidworth
      • 9 Theatre Logistic Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps, Hullavington
      • 10 The Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment, Aldershot
      • 27 Theatre Logistic Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps, Abingdon
  • 1 Regiment Army Air Corps, Yeovilton (works with Reaction Force)

Adaptable Force

  • 1st (United Kingdom) Division, York
    • 4th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters North East, Catterick
      • The Light Dragoons, Catterick[22]
      • 2nd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment (rotates to British Forces Cyprus) [15]
    • 7th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters East, Chilwell
      • 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards, Swanton Morley[23]
      • 2nd Battalion The Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment
      • 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment, Cottesmore
      • 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment, Tern Hill
    • 11th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters South East, Aldershot
      • 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles, Brunei
      • 2nd Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles, Shorncliffe
      • 2x Guards Division Regiments
    • 38th Irish Brigade, Lisburn
      • 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, Belfast[21]
      • 2nd Battalion The Rifles, Ballykinler[16]
    • 42nd Infantry Brigade and Headquarters North West, Preston
      • 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment, Chester
      • 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, Weeton
    • 51st Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Scotland, Edinburgh
      • Royal Scot Dragoon Guards, Leuchars
      • 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, Edinburgh
      • 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, Fort George[21]
      • 3rd Battalion The Rifles, Edinburgh[16]
    • 160th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Wales, Brecon
      • 1st Battalion The Rifles, Chepstow[16]
    • 102 Logistic Brigade, Grantham
      • 2 Medical Regiment, N Luffenham
      • 3 Medical Regiment, Preston
      • 1 Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Catterick
      • 2 Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Leuchars
      • 6 Force Logistic Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps, Dishforth
      • 7 Force Logistic Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps, Cottesmore
  • London District, London
    • The Household Cavalry Regiment, Windsor (but subordinate to 20th Armoured Infantry Brigade)
    • The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, Hyde Park
    • 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, Aldershot
    • 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, Windsor
    • 1st Battalion Scots Guards, Aldershot (part of 12th Brigade)[20]
    • 1st Battalion Irish Guards, Hounslow
    • 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, Pirbright
    • Public Duties Incremental Companies, Wellington Bks
  • Force Troops, Upavon
    • 1st Artillery Brigade and Headquarters South West, Tidworth
      • 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, Larkhill
      • 4th Regiment Royal Artillery, Topcliffe
      • 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, Albemarle
      • 5th Regiment Royal Artillery, Catterick
      • 19th Regiment Royal Artillery, Larkhill
      • 26th Regiment Royal Artillery, Larkhill
    • 1 Intelligence & Surveillance Brigade, Upavon
      • 32nd Regiment Royal Artillery, Larkhill
      • 47th Regiment Royal Artillery, Larkhill
      • 14th Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare), St Athan
      • 1 Military Intelligence Battalion, Catterick
      • 2 Military Intelligence Battalion, Upavon
      • 4 Military Intelligence Battalion, Bulford
      • Land Intelligence Fusion Centre, Hermitage
      • Defence Cultural Specialist Unit, Hermitage
    • 8 Engineer Brigade, Minley
      • 21 Engineer Regiment, Catterick
      • 22 Engineer Regiment, Perham Down
      • 26 Engineer Regiment, Perham Down
      • 32 Engineer Regiment, Catterick
      • 33 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), Wimbish
      • 35 Engineer Regiment, Perham Down
      • 36 Engineer Regiment, Maidstone
      • 39 Engineer Regiment, Kinloss
      • 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps, Didcot
      • 101 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), Wimbish
      • 20 Works Group Royal Engineers (Air Support), Wittering
      • 62 Works Group Royal Engineers, Chilwell
      • 63 Works Group Royal Engineers, Chilwell
      • 64 Works Group Royal Engineers, Chilwell
      • 66 Works Group Royal Engineers, Chilwell
      • 1 Military Working Dogs Regiment (Royal Army Veterinary Corps), N Luffenham
      • Military Stabilisation Support Group, Hermitage
        • Security and Assistance Group, Hermitage
          • 15 Psychological Operations Group, Hermitage
    • 2 Medical Brigade, Strensall
      • 22 Field Hospital, Aldershot
      • 33 Field Hospital, Gosport
      • 34 Field Hospital, Strensall
    • 1st Signal Brigade, Innsworth
      • 22nd Signal Regiment, Stafford
      • 30th Signal Regiment, Bramcote
    • 11th Signal and Headquarters West Midlands Brigade, Donnington
      • 7 Signal Group
        • 1st Signal Regiment, Stafford
        • 2nd Signal Regiment, York
        • 3rd Signal Regiment, Bulford
        • 16th Signal Regiment, Stafford
        • 21st Signal Regiment, Colerne
      • 2 Signal Group
        • 10th Signal Regiment, Corsham
        • 15th Signal Regiment (Information Systems), Blandford
    • 1st Military Police Brigade, Andover
      • 1st Regiment Royal Military Police, Catterick
      • 3rd Regiment Royal Military Police, Bulford
      • 4th Regiment Royal Military Police, Aldershot
      • Special Investigation Branch Regiment Royal Military Police, Bulford
      • Special Operations Unit Royal Military Police, Longmoor
      • Military Provost Staff Unit, Colchester
    • 104 Logistic Support Brigade, South Cerney
      • 17 Port & Maritime Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps, Marchwood
      • 29 Postal Courier & Movement Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps, South Cerney
  • Support Command, Aldershot
    • 2nd Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment, Cyprus
    • 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, Cyprus
  • Defence (unknown) [15]
    • 5 Regiment Army Air Corps, Belfast
  • Air Command (unknown if 1-star or 2-star HQ, possibly joint with RAF).[15]
    • 12th Regiment Royal Artillery, Thorney Island
    • 16th Regiment Royal Artillery, Thorney Island
  • Joint Forces Command
    • 42 Engineer Regiment (Geographic), RAF Wyton
    • Defence Human Intelligence Unit, Chicksands
  • 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, Edinburgh (reduced to company size, public duties only)[21]
  • 59 Independent Commando Squadron Royal Engineers, Chivenor (subordinate to Royal Marines 3 Commando Brigade)
  • 29th Commando Regiment Royal Artillery, Plymouth (subordinate to Royal Marines 3 Commando Brigade)

See also [edit]

Other corps of the British Armed Forces [edit]

British Army restructuring [edit]

The British Army [edit]

Traditions [edit]

Notes [edit]

  1. ^ Correspondence from Army Secretariat
  2. ^ Army Command reorganization Defence Marketing Intelligence, 10 November 2011
  3. ^ Higher Command
  4. ^ Army conducts Top Level Organisational Review Defence News, 9 December 2009
  5. ^ Operations in the UK: The Defence Contribution to Resilience (Interim Joint Doctrine Publication 2)
  6. ^ a b 19 CSS Battalion is an integrated combat service support unit combining both RLC and REME elements.
  7. ^ Briefing Paper SN06038 Defence Basing Review: Headline Decisions House of Commons Library
  8. ^ "Famed Desert Rats to lose their tanks under Army cuts". Telegraph. 2013-03-05. Retrieved 2013-03-09. 
  9. ^ Army Basing Plan: The basing plan table labels them as "Armoured Infantry Brigades"
  10. ^ Army Basing Plan: The basing plan table labels them in order
  11. ^ Transforming the British Army Annex A
  12. ^ Transforming the British Army Annex C
  13. ^ "Regular army basing plan" (PDF). Retrieved 2013-03-09. 
  14. ^ Major Army sites - basing
  15. ^ a b c d e Regular Army basing matrix by formation and unit
  16. ^ a b c d e The Rifles and The Royal Gloucestershire,Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment Newsletter 2013
  17. ^ "9th/12th Charitable Association Website". Delhispearman.org.uk. Retrieved 2013-03-13. 
  18. ^ 11:50. "Regimental Update". Rwf-forum.co.uk. Retrieved 2013-03-13. 
  19. ^ pages 21 22
  20. ^ a b "Scots Guards". Scots Guards. Retrieved 2013-03-13. 
  21. ^ a b c d The Red Hackle November 2012
  22. ^ "Association Downloads". Lightdragoons.org.uk. Retrieved 2013-03-13. 
  23. ^ The Welsh Cavalry swap Scimitars for jungle boots (They are due to rerole to ‘Light Cavalry’ and move to Swanton Morley in Norfolk as part of the Army 2020 restructuring exercise)

External links and sources [edit]

  • Official Army Website
  • SaBRE
  • British Monarchy and the British Army
  • A Guide to Appointments and Invitations for Defence Staffs within High Commissions and Embassies in London, UK Ministry of Defence, June 2005 edition
  • Operations in the UK: The Defence Contribution to Resilience (Interim Joint Doctrine Publication 2)
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