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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.

Formations[]

Commands[]

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.

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[]

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
Territorial Army units in 2012
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[]

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

The British Army has one deployable division, 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[]

A brigade contains three or four battalion-sized units, around 5,000 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.

Deployable Brigades:

Adaptable Brigades:

Regional Command Groups[]

Other Support Brigades:

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[]

Combat Arms[]

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[]

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.

Heavy Armoured Medium Armoured Medium Reconnaissance Light Cavalry Regiments Yeomanry Regiments
Royal Tank Regiment The Queen's Royal Hussars (The Queen's Own and Royal Irish) Household Cavalry Regiment 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards The Royal Yeomanry
The King's Royal Hussars Royal Dragoon Guards Royal Lancers The Light Dragoons The Queen's Own Yeomanry
The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry
The Royal Wessex Yeomanry (Heavy)

Infantry[]

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, Welsh, and Irish Division King's 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 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 Bn The Yorkshire Regiment (14th/15th, 19th and 33rd/76th Foot) 1st Bn, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers
1st Bn, Scots Guards The Black Watch (3rd Bn, The Royal Regiment of Scotland) 1st & 2nd, The Mercian Regiment 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 Balaklava Company, Royal Regiment of Scotland
The London Regiment 1st Bn, The Royal Welsh
1st Bn, The Royal Irish Regiment (27th (Inniskilling) 83rd and 87th and Ulster Defence Regiment)

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.

The three senior regiments of foot guards, plus the Royal Regiment of Scotland, each maintain an additional reinforced company that retains custody of the colours of battalions that are in suspended animation:

  • Nijmegen Company, Grenadier Guards (ex 2nd Bn, Grenadier Guards)
  • No. 7 Company, Coldstream Guards (ex 2nd Bn, Coldstream Guards)
  • F Company, Scots Guards (ex 2nd Bn, Scots Guards)
  • Balaklava Company, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, The Royal Regiment of Scotland (ex 5th Bn, The Royal Regiment of Scotland)
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.

Special Forces[]

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

Army Air Corps[]

The Army Air Corps provides battlefield air support with 7 Regiments and 4 independent squadrons and 3 separate flights:

Combat Support Arms[]

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

Royal Regiment of Artillery[]

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:

Air Defence General Support
(MLRS)
Close Support
(AS90)
Close Support
(L118 Light Gun)
Surveillance and
Target Acquisition
Training Medium Artillery (Ajax Artillery) UAV and MUAS
12th Regiment, Royal Artillery 26th (West Midlands) Regiment, Royal Artillery 19th Regiment, Royal Artillery 7th Parachute Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery 5th Regiment, Royal Artillery 14th Regiment, Royal Artillery 3rd Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery 32nd Regiment Royal Artillery
16th Regiment, Royal Artillery 101st (Northumbrian) Regiment, Royal Artillery 1st Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery 29th (Commando) Regiment, Royal Artillery 4th Regiment, Royal Artillery 47th Regiment Royal Artillery
103rd (Lancashire Artillery Volunteers) Regiment Royal Artillery
105th (Scottish and Ulster) Regiment Royal Artillery
104th Regiment Royal Artillery

Corps of Royal Engineers[]

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:

  • Combat Engineer School
    • 3 Royal School of Military Engineering Regiment
      • 55 Training Squadron Royal Engineers
      • 57 Training Squadron Royal Engineers
      • 63 Training Support Squadron Royal Engineers
    • Communication Information Systems Wing
  • Construction Engineer School
    • 1 Royal School of Military Engineering Regiment
      • 24 Training Squadron Royal Engineers
      • 36 Training Squadron Royal Engineers
    • Civil Engineering Wing
    • Electrical and Mechanical Wing
  • Royal Engineers Warfare Wing
    • United Kingdom Mine Information and Training Centre
  • Defence Explosive Munitions and Search School
  • 28 Training Squadron, Army Training Regiment
  • Diving Training Unit (Army)
  • Band of the Corps of Royal Engineers

The remainder are field regiments attached to various deployable formations:

Royal Corps of Signals[]

The regular Royal Signals is a corps of 11 Regiments and 3 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.

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

Intelligence Corps[]

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

  • 1 Military Intelligence Battalion (Supporting 16 Air Assault, and 3 Commando Brigades, and JFHQ)
  • 2 Exploitation Military Intelligence Battalion
  • 4 Military Intelligence Battalion (Supporting 3rd (UK) Division)
  • Defence Cultural Specialist Unit
  • Land Intelligence Fusion Centre
  • Weapons Material and Personnel Exploitation Capicity

Combat Service Support Arms[]

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[]

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:

Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers[]

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[]

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[]

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[]

Training[]

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 Army Reserve[]

Intelligence Corps[]

There are currently 7 MI battalions of the Intelligence Corps (IC) of which 4 are volunteer.

  • 3rd Military Intelligence Battalion
  • 5th Military Intelligence Battalion
  • 6th Military Intelligence Battalion
  • 7th Military Intelligence Battalion

Royal Corps of Signals[]

Before the Army 2020 reform, the Royal Corps of Signals (RCS) controlled 11 reserve regiments, but after the reform this was reduced to just 4. The RCS also control two specialist reserve sub-units.

Royal Armoured Corps[]

There are currently four reserve regiments of the Royal Armoured Corps all designated as "Yeomanry" regiments to distinguish them from the regular "armour" regiments of the corps.

Infantry[]

There are currently 15 volunteer infantry battalions plus one volunteer regiment. These units are almost all "paired" with a regular battalions.

Royal Artillery[]

The Royal Artillery currently consists of 5 reserve regiments with all but one supporting the 3rd (United Kingdom) Division in a multitude of roles.

Corps of Royal Engineers[]

The Royal Engineers (RE) currently maintain three reserve regiments with specialist roles, in addition to multiple separate specialist sub-units.

Ceremonial units[]

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[]

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.

Public duties in the City of London are carried out by the Honourable Artillery Company.

Public duties in Edinburgh will be the responsibility of a new incremental company, formed through the reduction of a battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland:

Gun salutes[]

The following units provide gun salutes in London:

Army 2020[]

UK Army 2020

Structure of the British Army after the "Army 2020" reform (click to enlarge)

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 (4th, 7th, and 51st) 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.

Along with three three main elements are a Territorial Army, now designated as the Army Reserve.

All units from Germany will slowly move back to the UK. The basing plan was released on 5 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 three Armoured Regiments and the six Armoured Infantry Battalions in the Salisbury Plain training area.[13][14]

The full army structure under Army 2020 until September 2016 is to be:[15][16]

Reaction Force[]

  • 3rd (United Kingdom) Division, Bulford
    • Royal Wessex Yeomanry, Bovington (Army Reserve) (MBT Crew Replacement for any of the three Type 56 Regiments below)
    • 1 Regiment Army Air Corps, Yeovilton (works with Reaction Force, part of the aviation reconnaissance force, commanded by the Joint Helicopter Force[17])
    • 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[18]
    • 12th Armoured Infantry Brigade, Bulford
      • The Royal Lancers, Catterick [19]
      • The King's Royal Hussars, Tidworth
      • 1st Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment, Warminster
      • 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh, Tidworth[20]
      • 1x Guards Division Regiment[15][21] (to be 1st Battalion Scots Guards, Aldershot)[22] (Note: This Heavy Protected Mobility Infantry Unit rotates amongst the five Guards Division Battalions)[23]
    • 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[18][dead link]
      • 4th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, Catterick[24]
    • 101 Logistic Brigade, Aldershot
      • Close Support Logistic Regiment
        • 3 Close Support Logistic Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps, Aldershot (supports 1st Armoured Infantry Brigade)
        • 4 Close Support Logistic Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps, Abingdon (supports 12th Armoured Infantry Brigade)
        • 1 Close Support Logistic Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps, Bicester (supports 20th Armoured Infantry Brigade)
      • Theatre Logistic Regiment
        • 10 The Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment, Aldershot (supports 1st Armoured Infantry Brigade)
        • 151 Transport Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps, Croydon(Army Reserve)(paired with 10 The Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment)
        • 27 Theatre Logistic Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps, Abingdon (supports 12th Armoured Infantry Brigade)
        • 154 (Scottish) Transport Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps, Dunfermline(Army Reserve) (paired with 27 Theatre Logistic Regiment)
        • 9 Theatre Logistic Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps, Hullavington (supports 20th Armoured Infantry Brigade)
        • 157 (Welsh) Transport Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps, Lancaster(Army Reserve) (paired with 29 Theatre Logistic Regiment)
      • Reserve Supply Regiment
        • 156 Supply Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps, Liverpool(Army Reserve)
      • Armoured Medical Regiment
        • 1 Armoured Medical Regiment, Tidworth (supports 1st Armoured Infantry Brigade)
        • 4 Armoured Medical Regiment, Aldershot (supports 12th Armoured Infantry Brigade)
        • 5 Armoured Medical Regiment, Tidworth (supports 20th Armoured Infantry Brigade)
        • 225 (Scottish) Medical Regiment, Dundee (Army Reserve) (under 102 Logistic Brigade, paired with 101 Armoured Medical Regiment)
        • 253 (North Irish) Medical Regiment, Sunderland (Army Reserve) (under 102 Logistic Brigade, paired with 101 Armoured Medical Regiment)
        • 254 (East of England) Medical Regiment, Cambridge (Army Reserve) (under 10 Logistics Brigade, paired with 101 Armoured Medical Regiment)
      • Armoured Close Support (REME)
        • 6 Armoured Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Tidworth(supports 1st Armoured Infantry Brigade)
        • 101 Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Wrexham (Army Reserve) (under 102 Logistics Brigade, but paired the 6 REME in 101 Logistic Brigade)
        • 4 Armoured Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Tidworth (supports 12th Armoured Infantry Brigade)
        • 103 Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Crawley (Army Reserve)(paired with 4 REME)
        • 3 Armoured Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Tidworth (supports 20th Armoured Infantry Brigade)
        • 105 Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Bristol (Army Reserve) (paired with 3 REME)
      • Force Support
        • 5 Force Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Cottesmore[25]
        • 104 Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Northampton (Army Reserve)(under 102 Logistics Brigade, but paired with 5 Force Support REME)
  • 16th Air Assault Brigade, Colchester (under the command of Joint Helicopter Command, but part of Reaction Force)
    • 216 (Air Assault) Signal Squadron, Colchester
    • 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment,Colchester
    • 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, Colchester
    • 4th Battalion The Parachute Regiment, Pudsey (Army Reserve)
    • 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 Medical Regiment, Colchester (includes 144 Parachute Medical Squadron (Volunteers), Hornsey, Glasgow, Cardiff and Nottingham (Army Reserve)
    • 156 Provost Company Royal Military Police, Colchester

Adaptable Force[]

  • 1st (United Kingdom) Division, York
    • Specialized Infantry Group, Aldershot
    • 4th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters North East, Catterick
      • The Light Dragoons, Catterick[26]
      • The Queen's Own Yeomanry, Newcastle (Army Reserve) (paired with the Light Dragoons)
      • 2nd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment (rotates to British Forces Cyprus)
      • 4th Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment, York (Army Reserve) (paired with 2 YORKS)
    • 7th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters East, Chilwell
      • 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards, Swanton Morley[27]
      • The Royal Yeomanry, London/Fulham and Croydon (Army Reserve)(paired with 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards)[26]
      • 2nd Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment, Cottesmore
      • 3rd Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment, Bury St Edmunds (Army Reserve)(paired with 2 R ANGLIAN)
    • 11th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters South East, Aldershot
      • 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles, Brunei/Shorncliffe (rotates with 2RGR to Brunei)
      • 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, Pirbright
      • 3rd Battalion The Royal Welsh, Cardiff (Army Reserve)(paired with 1 R WELSH)
      • 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, Aldershot
      • The London Regiment, Westminster (Army Reserve) (paired with 1st Battalion, The Grenadier Guards)
    • 38th Irish Brigade, Lisburn
      • 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, Belfast[24]
      • 2nd Battalion The Rifles, Ballykinler[26]
      • 7th Battalion The Rifles, Reading (Army Reserve) (paired with 2nd Rifles)[26]
    • 42nd Infantry Brigade and Headquarters North West, Preston
      • 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment, Chester
      • 4th Battalion The Mercian Regiment, Wolverhampton (Army Reserve)(paired with 2nd MERCIA)
      • 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, Weeton (rotates to British Forces Cyprus)
      • 4th Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, Preston (Army Reserve) (paired with 2 LANCS)
    • 51st Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Scotland, Edinburgh
      • Royal Scot Dragoon Guards, Leuchars
      • The Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry, formerly The Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry, Edinburgh (Army Reserve) (paired with the Royal Scot Dragoon Guards)[26]
      • 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, Edinburgh
      • 6th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, Glasgow (Army Reserve)(paired with 2 SCOTS)
      • 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, Fort George[24]
      • 7th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, Perth (Army Reserve) (paired with 3 SCOTS)
      • 3rd Battalion The Rifles, Edinburgh[18][dead link]
      • 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, Newcastle (Army Reserve)(paired with 3rd Rifles)
    • 160th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Wales, Brecon
      • 6th Battalion The Rifles, Exeter (Army Reserve)(paired with 1 RIFLES) [28][29]
    • 102 Logistic Brigade, Grantham
      • Force Logistics Regiment
        • 6 Logistic Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps, Dishforth
        • 150 Transport Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps, Hull (Army Reserve) (paired with 6 Logistic Regiment)
        • 7 Logistic Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps, Cottesmore
        • 158 Transport Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps, Peterborough (Army Reserve) (paired with 7 Logistic Regiment)
      • Reserve Supply Regiment
        • 159 Supply Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps, Coventry/Canley (Army Reserve)
      • Medical Regiment
        • 2 Medical Regiment, N Luffenham
        • 3 Medical Regiment, Preston
      • Close Support
        • 1 Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Catterick
        • 102 Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Newton Aycliffe (Army Reserve)(paired with 1 Close Support REME)
        • 2 Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Leuchars
        • 106 Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, East Kilbride (Army Reserve)(paired with 2 Close Support REME)
      • Also under 102 Logistic Brigade but working with 101 Logistic Brigade are:
        • 225 (Scottish) Medical Regiment, Dundee (Army Reserve)
        • 253 (North Irish) Medical Regiment, Sunderland (Army Reserve)
        • 254 (East of England) Medical Regiment, Cambridge (Army Reserve)
        • 104 Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Northampton (Army Reserve)
        • 101 Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Wrexham (Army Reserve)
  • London District, London
    • The Household Cavalry Regiment, Windsor (but subordinate to 20th Armoured Infantry Brigade permanently)
    • The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, Hyde Park
    • The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery, Woolwich
    • 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, Windsor
    • 1st Battalion Irish Guards, Hounslow
    • Nijmegan (No.2) Company, Grenadier Guards
    • No.7 Company, Coldstream Guards
    • F (No.7) Company, Scots Guards

Force Troops[]

Force Troops HQ, Upavon

  • 1st Artillery Brigade and Headquarters South West, Tidworth
    • 1st Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, Larkhill
    • 19th Regiment Royal Artillery, Larkhill
    • 26th Regiment Royal Artillery, Larkhill
    • 101st (Northumbrian) Regiment Royal Artillery (Army Reserve)(MLRS)(initially paired with 39 RA until it disbands in 2015, then paired with 1st, 19th and 26th and 3 RHA)
    • 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, Albemarle
    • 105th Regiment Royal Artillery, Edinburgh (Army Reserve)(paired with 3RHA)
    • 4th Regiment Royal Artillery, Topcliffe
    • 103rd (Lancashire Artillery Volunteers) Regiment Royal Artillery, St Helens(Army Reserve)(paired with 4 RHA)
  • 8 Engineer Brigade, Minley
    • Close Support 25 (Close Support) Engineer Group, Minley
      • 21 Engineer Regiment, Catterick
      • 22 Engineer Regiment, Perham Down
      • 26 Engineer Regiment, Perham Down
      • 32 Engineer Regiment, Catterick
      • 35 Engineer Regiment, Perham Down
    • Force Support 12 (Force Support) Engineer Grouo, Wittering
      • 36 Engineer Regiment, Maidstone
      • 75 Engineer Regiment, Warrington (Army Reserve)(paired with 36 Engineer)
      • 39 Engineer Regiment, Kinloss
      • 71 Engineer Regiment, Leuchars(Army Reserve) (paired with 39 Engineer)
      • 20 Works Group Royal Engineers (Air Support), Wittering
    • Infrastructure Support 170 (Infrastructure Support) Engineer Group, Chiwell
      • 62 Works Group Royal Engineers, Chilwell
      • 65 Works Group Royal Engineers, Chilwell (Army Reserve)(paired with 62 Works Grouo)
      • 63 Works Group Royal Engineers, Chilwell
      • 64 Works Group Royal Engineers, Chilwell
      • The Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers (Militia), Monmouth (Army Reserve)(paired with 64 Works Group)
      • 66 Works Group Royal Engineers, Chilwell
    • Explosive Ordinance Disposal & Search 29 Explosive Ordinance Disposal & Search Group, Aldershot
      • 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps, Didcot
      • 33 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), Wimbish
      • 101 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), Wimbish
      • 1 Military Working Dogs Regiment (Royal Army Veterinary Corps), N Luffenham
  • 1st Signal Brigade, Innsworth
    • ARRC and JRRC Support
      • 22nd Signal Regiment, Stafford
      • 30th Signal Regiment, Bramcote
      • ARRC Support Battalion,Innsworth
    • Special Communications
      • 299 Signal Squadron (Special Communications), Bletchley
  • 11th Signal and Headquarters West Midlands Brigade, Donnington
    • 7 Signal Group
      • Close Support
        • 1st Signal Regiment, Stafford
        • 16th Signal Regiment, Stafford
        • 21st Signal Regiment, Colerne
      • General Support
        • 2nd Signal Regiment, York
        • 3rd Signal Regiment, Bulford
    • 2 Signal Group
      • Specialist Technical Support Regiment
        • 10th Signal Regiment, Corsham
        • 15th Signal Regiment (Information Systems), Blandford
      • Reserve Signal Regiment
        • 32nd Signal Regiment, Glasgow (Army Reserve) (paired with 2nd Signal Regiment in 7 Signal Group)
        • 37th Signal Regiment, Redditch (Army Reserve) (paired with 1st and 16th Signal in 7 Signal Group)
        • 39th Signal Regiment, Bristol (Army Reserve) (paired with 21st Signal Regiment in 7 Signal Group)
        • 71st (City of London) Yeomanry Signal Regiment, Bexleyheath (Army Reserve) (paired with 3rd Signal Regiment in 7 Signal Group)
  • 104 Logistic Support Brigade, South Cerney
    • Port & Maritime Regiment
      • 17 Port & Maritime Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps, Marchwood
      • 165 (Wessex) Port and Enabling Regiment, Plymouth (Army Reserve) (paired with 17 Port & Maritime Regiment)
    • Postal, Courier & Movement Regiment
      • 29 Postal Courier & Movement Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps, South Cerney
      • 162 Postal Courier & Movement Regiment, Nottingham (Army Reserve) (paired with 29 Postal Courier & Movement Regiment)
    • No pairing but bespoke logistic capability across Reaction & Adaptable Forces, as well as Force Troops
      • 152 Fuel Support Regiment, Belfast (Army Reserve)
      • 167 Catering Support Regiment, Grantham (Army Reserve)
      • 2 Operational Support Group, formerly Operational Headquarters Support Group (Logistic and Movement Staff), Grantham (Army Reserve)
  • 2 Medical Brigade, Strensall
    • Under 2 Medical Brigade HQ
      • 306 Hospital Support Regiment, Strensall (Army Reserve)
      • 335 Medical Evacuation Regiment Strensall (Army Reserve
      • Operational Support HQ Group, formerly known as Army Medical Services Operational HQ Support Group Strensall (Army Reserve)
    • Field Hospitals
      • 22 Field Hospital, Aldershot
      • 202 (Midlands) Field Hospital, Birmingham (Army Reserve) (paired with 22 Field Hospital)
      • 207 (Manchester) Field Hospital, Manchester (Army Reserve) (paired with 22 Field Hospital)
      • 208 (Liverpool) Field Hospital, Liverpool (Army Reserve) (paired with 22 Field Hospital)
      • 33 Field Hospital, Gosport
      • 203 (Welsh) Field Hospital, Cardiff (Army Reserve) (paired with 33 Field Hospital)
      • 243 (Wessex) Field Hospital, Keynsham (Army Reserve) (paired with 33 Field Hospital)
      • 256 (City of London) Field Hospital, Walworth (Army Reserve) (paired with 33 Field Hospital)
      • 34 Field Hospital, Strensall
      • 201 (Northern) Field Hospital, Newcastle (Army Reserve) (paired with 34 Field Hospital)
      • 204 (North Irish) Field Hospital, Belfast (Army Reserve) (paired with 34 Field Hospital)
      • 205 (Scottish) Field Hospital, Glasgow (Army Reserve) (paired with 34 Field Hospital)
      • 212 (Yorkshire) Field Hospital, Sheffield (Army Reserve) (paired with 34 Field Hospital)
  • 1 Intelligence & Surveillance Brigade, Upavon
    • Surveillance and Target Acquisition
      • 5th Regiment Royal Artillery, Catterick
      • The Honourable Artillery Company, City of London (Army Reserve)
    • Unmanned Aerial System
      • 32nd Regiment Royal Artillery, Larkhill
      • 47th Regiment Royal Artillery, Larkhill
      • 104th Regiment Royal Artillery, Newport (Army Reserve)
    • Electronic Warfare
      • 14th Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare), St Athan
    • Military Intelligence
      • 1 Military Intelligence Battalion, Catterick
      • 3 Military Intelligence Battalion, London (Worship St)(Army Reserve)(paired with 1 Military Intelligence Battalion)
      • 5 Military Intelligence Battalion, Edinburgh (Army Reserve)(paired with 1 Military Intelligence Battalion)
      • 2 Military Intelligence Battalion, Upavon
      • 6 Military Intelligence Battalion, Manchester (Army Reserve) (paired with 2 Military Intelligence Battalion)
      • 4 Military Intelligence Battalion, Bulford
      • 7 Military Intelligence Battalion, Bristol (Army Reserve) (paired with 4 Military Intelligence Battalion)
      • Land Intelligence Fusion Centre, Hermitage
      • Defence Cultural Specialist Unit, Hermitage
      • Specialist Group Military Intelligence, formerly known as Intelligence Officers Support Section and Technical Intelligence Staff Officer Section, 3 Military Intelligence Battalion, Hermitage (Army Reserve)
  • Security and Assistance Group, Hermitage
    • Specialist Support
      • Military Stabilisation Support Group, Hermitage
      • 15 Psychological Operations Group, Hermitage
      • Media Operations Group, Kingston upon Thames (Army Reserve)
  • 1st Military Police Brigade, Andover
    • Military Police Regiment
      • 1st Regiment Royal Military Police, Catterick
      • 3rd Regiment Royal Military Police, Bulford
      • 4th Regiment Royal Military Police, Aldershot
    • Specialist Units
      • Special Investigation Branch Regiment Royal Military Police, Bulford
      • Special Operations Unit Royal Military Police, Longmoor (Army Reserve)
      • Military Corrective Training Centre, Colchester
  • Support Command, Aldershot
  • Cyprus
    • 2nd Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, Cyprus
    • 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, Cyprus
  • Brunei
    • 2nd Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles, Shorncliffe/Brunei
  • The Falklands Islands
    • Falklands Roulement Company (from an Adaptable Force Infantry Regiment)
    • Falklands Islands Defence Force (Company sized)
    • Rapier Air Defence Battery from 16th Regiment Royal Artillery
    • Joint Communications Unit Royal Signals
    • Engineer Detachment
    • Royal Logistics Corps Detachment
  • Defence (unknown) [15]
    • 2 (Training) Army Air Corps, Middle Wallop
    • 5 Regiment Army Air Corps, Belfast (part of the aviation reconnaissance force)
    • 7 Regiment Army Air Corps (Training), Middle Wallop
    • Aviation Specialist Group, formerly the Central Volunteer Headquarters Army Air Corps, Middle Wallop
  • Air Command (joint with RAF).[15][30][31][32]
    • 12th Regiment Royal Artillery, Thorney Island
    • 16th Regiment Royal Artillery, Thorney Island
    • 106th (Yeomanry) Regiment Royal Artillery (Army Reserve)(one battery however will re-role to Light Gun)[33]
    • 49 (Inkerman) Battery(controlling Land Environment Air Picture Provision (LEAPP))[34]
  • Joint Forces Command
    • 42 Engineer Regiment (Geographic), RAF Wyton
    • Defence Human Intelligence Unit, Chicksands
  • Under Director Special Forces
    • 22 SAS Regiment,
    • 21 SAS Regiment (Army Reserve)
    • 23 SAS Regiment (Army Reserve)
    • Special Reconnaissance Regiment
    • 1st Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (Special Forces Support Group)
    • 18th Signal Regiment, Royals Corps of Signals
    • 675 Squadron, Army Air Corps
    • 8 Flight, Army Air Corps
  • 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, Edinburgh (reduced to company size, public duties only)[24]
  • 59 Independent Commando Squadron Royal Engineers, Chivenor (subordinate to Royal Marines 3 Commando Brigade)
  • 131 Independent Commando Field Squadron Royal Engineers, London, Plymouth and Bath (subordinate to 32 Engineer Regiment, working with Royal Marines 3 Commando Brigade)
  • 383 Commando Petroleum Troop, Plymouth(subordinate to Royal Marines 3 Commando Brigade)
  • 29th Commando Regiment Royal Artillery, Plymouth (subordinate to Royal Marines 3 Commando Brigade)

Note: 2 YORKS in the above structure will be the original 1 YORKS (renumbered). 1 YORKS was 3 YORKS (also reunumbered).[35][36]

Other corps of the British Armed Forces[]

British Army restructuring[]

The British Army[]

Traditions[]

Notes[]

  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. 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. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/9911295/Famed-Desert-Rats-to-lose-their-tanks-under-Army-cuts.html. 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). 5 March 2013. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/136406/regular_army_basing_plan.pdf. Retrieved 2013-03-09. 
  14. Major Army sites - basing
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Regular Army basing matrix by formation and unit
  16. Army 2020 Update
  17. Army 2020 Update page 6
  18. 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 The Rifles and The Royal Gloucestershire,Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment Newsletter 2013[dead link]
  19. "9th/12th Charitable Association Website". Delhispearman.org.uk. 5 July 2012. http://delhispearman.org.uk/notice-of-regimental-amalgamation-5thjuly-2012/. Retrieved 2013-03-13. 
  20. 11:50 (11 February 2013). "Regimental Update". Rwf-forum.co.uk. http://rwf-forum.co.uk/vBulletin/showthread.php?17113-Regimental-Update. Retrieved 2013-03-13. 
  21. pages 21 22
  22. Army 2020 Update, page 7
  23. Regular Army Basing Announcement footnote 10
  24. 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 The Red Hackle November 2012
  25. REME battalion marks name change
  26. 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 26.4 Army 2020 Update, page 9
  27. 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)
  28. Summary of Army 2020 Reserve Structure and Basing, page 24
  29. Army 2010 Update, page 9
  30. The Economics of Joint Forces
  31. "Uncorrected Evidence 1". Publications.parliament.uk. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmselect/cmdfence/uc1655/m165502.htm. Retrieved 2013-07-10. 
  32. Ministry of Defence (2013-04-11). "UK forces put to the test in largest European exercise". GOV.UK. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-forces-put-to-the-test-in-largest-european-exercise. Retrieved 2013-07-10. 
  33. Summary of Army 2020 Reserve Structure and Basing, page 5
  34. 49 Battery
  35. Warminster Colours Handover Parade - 25 July
  36. Yorkshire Regimental Changes

External links and sources[]

  • 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)
All or a portion of this article consists of text from Wikipedia, and is therefore Creative Commons Licensed under GFDL.
The original article can be found at Structure of the British Army and the edit history here.
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