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The regiment was formed in 1992 from the amalgamation of two [[regiment]]s, the [[13th/18th Royal Hussars|13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own)]] and the [[15th/19th The King's Royal Hussars]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/documents/general/RAC_History_Hussars.pdf|title=Hussars|accessdate=3 May 2014}}</ref>
The regiment was formed in 1992 from the amalgamation of two [[regiment]]s, the [[13th/18th Royal Hussars|13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own)]] and the [[15th/19th The King's Royal Hussars]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/documents/general/RAC_History_Hussars.pdf|title=Hussars|accessdate=3 May 2014}}</ref>


The regiment was deployed to the [[Balkans]] during the 1990s sent twice to Iraq on [[Operation Telic]] in 2003 and 2005.
Two squadrons were deployed to the [[Bosnia]] in May 1994 to help with peace-keeping duties<ref>{{cite web|url=http://britains-smallwars.com/Bosnia/bosnia-units.html|title=British units deployed to Bosnia|publisher=Britain's small wars|accessdate=3 May 2014}}</ref> and units were to Iraq on [[Operation Telic]] in 2003 and 2005.


Elements of the regiment were deployed on a tour of duty in [[Helmand Province]], [[Afghanistan]] on [[Operation Herrick]] 5 with [[3 Commando Brigade]] in 2006 and then with [[12 Mechanised Brigade]] on Operation HERRICK 6 in 2007.
Elements of the regiment were deployed on a tour of duty in [[Helmand Province]], [[Afghanistan]] on [[Operation Herrick]] 5 with [[3 Commando Brigade]] in 2006 and then with [[12 Mechanised Brigade]] on Operation HERRICK 6 in 2007.

Revision as of 18:19, 3 May 2014

The Light Dragoons
Cap badge of the Light Dragoons
Active1 December 1992-
CountryUnited Kingdom
BranchArmy
TypeLine Cavalry
RoleFormation Reconnaissance
SizeOne regiment
Part ofRoyal Armoured Corps
Garrison/HQRHQ - Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
Regiment - Swanton Morley
Motto(s)Viret in aeternum (It Flourishes Forever);
Merebimur (We shall be Worthy) (Latin)
MarchQuick - Balaklava
Slow - Denmark
Commanders
Colonel-in-ChiefHM The King of Jordan
Colonel of
the Regiment		Lt-General Sir Roderick Alexander Cordy-Simpson, KBE CB
Insignia
Tactical Recognition Flash
Arm BadgeNCOs - Royal Crest
From 15th/19th King's Royal Hussars
ORs - South Africa flash
From 13th/18th Royal Hussars
AbbreviationLD

The Light Dragoons (LD) is a cavalry regiment in the British Army. The regiment is a formation reconnaissance regiment with a history in the reconnaissance role which dates back to the early eighteenth century. Currently based in Robertson Barracks Swanton Morley, Norfolk (formerly RAF Swanton Morley), it is commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Sam Plant MBE.

History

The regiment was formed in 1992 from the amalgamation of two regiments, the 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own) and the 15th/19th The King's Royal Hussars.[1]

Two squadrons were deployed to the Bosnia in May 1994 to help with peace-keeping duties[2] and units were to Iraq on Operation Telic in 2003 and 2005.

Elements of the regiment were deployed on a tour of duty in Helmand Province, Afghanistan on Operation Herrick 5 with 3 Commando Brigade in 2006 and then with 12 Mechanised Brigade on Operation HERRICK 6 in 2007.

The Light Dragoons recruit principally in the North East of England (Northumberland, Tyne and Wear and County Durham) and in South Yorkshire and have strong connections with these areas. For this important reason, the regiment is known as England’s Northern Cavalry.[3]

The Light Dragoons will convert to Jackal mounted light cavalry under Army 2020.[4]

Formation Reconnaissance

By means of formation reconnaissance (FR), commanders at brigade and divisional level are able to gain accurate and timely information from the battlefield.

Operating up to fifty miles ahead of the main body, the FR taskforce identifies the strengths and weaknesses of the enemy’s defences, or locates the main thrust of his attack. FR soldiers achieve this either by advancing into contact with the enemy and probing his positions, or by establishing a matrix of covert observation posts which can identify, assess and report the enemy threat.

Information thus gained gives the commander the battlefield intelligence he requires to plan the battle ahead, allowing him to concentrate force against the enemy’s weakest point or to best counter an attack.

A formation reconnaissance regiment is equipped with the Scimitar. They also use other vehicles in this class, such as the Sultan command and control vehicle and the Samaritan field ambulance. The organisation is 3 Squadrons (A, B, C), each of 12 FV107 Scimitar and 4 FV103 Spartan, D Squadron has experts in demolitions, sniping, controlling fast jets (JTAC) and using the FGM-148 Javelin anti tank missile system.[citation needed]

Vehicles

Scimitar,Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked)
Spartan CVRT
Sultan CVRT

The Light Dragoons are equipped with the family of Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked) (CVR(T)) vehicles. Although they have been in service with the British Army for some 30 years, they are very capable, fast, manoeuvrable and well protected.

The main recce vehicle is the FV107 Scimitar which is armed with a 30mm cannon and a machine gun and uses a very efficient thermal imaging sight for gathering information and target acquisition.[citation needed]

The Spartan is used as an armoured personnel carrier and is crewed by recce soldiers who are experts in demolitions, sniping, controlling fast jets and the Javelin anti-tank missile system.

The FV105 Sultan is a command vehicle equipped with a state of the art communications system for controlling the battle.[5][dead link]

Nicknames

  • A Squadron "The Empire"
  • B Squadron "The Guards"
  • C Squadron "The Legion"
  • D Squadron "The Enemy"

Operational Honours

During service in Afghanistan the following members of the regiment were Mentioned in Despatches (MID):

  • Sergeant Michael WILKINSON
  • Lieutenant Nicholas William David BINNINGTON
  • Major John GODFREY

Colonels-in-chief

The Light Dragoons is one of only two regiments in the British Army to have a foreign monarch as its Colonel-in-Chief (the other being the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires). HM King Abdullah served in the 13th/18th Royal Hussars, one of the antecedents of the Light Dragoons.

The dragoons were in origin soldiers trained to fight on foot, but transport themselves on horseback. In other words, they moved as cavalry but fought as infantry. During the first half of the eighteenth century British dragoons became dedicated cavalry, but because of their origins were paid less than the "regiments of horse." In the 1750s the first British regiments to be styled "light dragoons" were converted from dragoons.

Alliances

Affiliated yeomanry

Order of precedence

Preceded by Cavalry order of precedence Succeeded by

Notes

  1. ^ "Hussars" (PDF). Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  2. ^ "British units deployed to Bosnia". Britain's small wars. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  3. ^ "Hundreds gather in Barnsley to welcome the Light Dragoons". army.mod.uk. 14 November 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  4. ^ "Army 2020 report" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 3 May 2014.
  5. ^ "Light Dragoons: equipment".

References

  • Light Dragoons: The Making of a Regiment By Allan Mallinson . Pen and Sword books . 362 pages . 2006. ISBN 1-84415-448-3
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