The British Army

A Pocket Guide, 2002–2003

Charles Heyman

• Publisher: Leo Cooper
• Year: 2008
• ISBN:
  9781783378968
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: History Reference
• Index: History

Since its inception in 1984, The British Army: A Pocket Guide has established itself as the market leader in this particular sphere of defense publishing. This the eighth edition has been brought completely up to date to reflect the current situation of the British Army and all the changes being made to it. The book will include a new chapter focusing on the proposed Rapid Intervention Forces.

CHAPTER 1 - OVERVIEW

General Information

Populations - European Union - Top Five Nations

(2002 estimates)

Germany: 82.4 million

United Kingdom: 59.5 million

France 59.2 million

Italy 57.2 million

Spain 39.7 million

Finance - European Union - Top Five Nations

(2001 figures)

UK Population

England - 49.9 million

Wales - 2.9 million

Scotland - 5.1 million

Northern Ireland - 1.6 million

Total - 59.5 million

Figures are from the 2001 UK Government population estimate. More accurate figures will be available in early 2003 when the results of the 2001 UK Census are published. The population split in Northern Ireland is approximately 56% Protestant and 41% Roman Catholic with the remaining 3% not falling into either classification.

UK Population Breakdown - Military Service Groups

UK Area (in square kilometres)

England - 130,423

Wales - 20,766

Scotland - 77,167

Northern Ireland - 14,121

Total - 242,477

UK Government

The executive government is vested nominally in the Crown, but for practical purposes in a committee of Ministers that is known as the Cabinet. The head of the Ministry and leader of the Cabinet is the Prime Minister. For the implementation of policy, the Cabinet is dependent upon the support of a majority of the Members of Parliament in the House of Commons. Within the Cabinet, defence matters are the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Defence.

United Kingdom - Defence Overview

Total British Armed Forces (as at 1 April 2001)

Regular: 205,700: Locally Entered 300; Regular Reserves 234,700; Volunteer Reserves 47,300; Cadet Forces 137,300; MoD Civilians 113,200.

Regular Army 109,500 (excluding 3,800 Gurkhas); Royal Navy 42,400 (including 5,700 Royal Marines); Royal Air Force 53,700.

Strategic Forces:

4 x Vanguard Class submarines each with 16 x Trident (D5) Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBM) deploying with 48 x warheads per submarine. If necessary a D5 missile could deploy with 12 MIRV (multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles). Future plans appear to be for a stockpile of 200 operationally available warheads and 58 missile bodies. Strategic Forces are provided by the Royal Navy.

Royal Navy: 42,400: 4 x SSBN; 12 x Tactical Submarines; 3 x Aircraft Carriers (1 in refit); 11 x Destroyers; 21 x Frigates; 6 x Amphibious Warfare Vessels; 23 x Mine Counter Measures Vessels; 7 x Offshore Patrol Craft; 16 x Coastal Patrol Craft; 1 x Ice Patrol Ship; 6 x Survey Vessels; 3 x Harrier Squadrons (under Joint Force Harrier); 10 x Helicopter Squadrons (4 more troop lift squadrons with Joint Helicopter Command); 3 x Royal Marines Commando Groups: Royal Fleet Auxiliary - 3 x Fleet Tankers; 4 x Support Tankers; 4 x Fleet Replenishment Ships; 1 x Aviation Training Ship; 5 x Landing Ships; 1 x Forward Repair Ship; 1 x Roll On-Roll Off Vessel.

Merchant Navy: Merchant Naval Vessels Registered in the UK, Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories: 101 x Tankers; 80 x General Cargo Ships; 44 x Refrigerated Cargo Ships; 78 x Cellular Container Ships; 45 x Ro-Ro Ships; 7 x Passenger (Cruise) Ships; 12 x Large Tugs.

Note: This listing refers to vessels of 500 gross tons and over.

Air Force: 53,700: 5 x Strike/Attack Squadrons with 60 x Tornado GR1/4; 3 x Offensive Support Squadrons with 51 x Harrier GR7/T10 and 32 x Jaguar GR1A/3/3A; 6 x Air Defence Squadrons with 84 x Tornado F3; 3 x Maritime Patrol Squadrons with 20 x Nimrod MR2; 3 x Reconnaissance Squadrons with 24 x Tornado GR1A/4A and 12 x Jaguar GRGR1A/3/3A; 2 x Intelligence and Electronic Warefare Squadrons with 3 x Nimrod R1 and 5 x Canberra; 2 x Airborne Early Warning Squadrons with 6 x AEW Sentry; 11 x Transport and Tanker Squadrons with 9 x VC10 C1K, 8 x Tristar, 45 x Hercules; 1 x Support helicopter Squadron with 3 x Wessex HC2; 4 x Search and Rescue Helicopter Squadrons with 21 x Sea King HAR3. 4 x RAF Regiment Surface to Air Missile Squadrons; 5 x RAF Regiment Ground Defence Squadrons; 3 x RAF Regiment STO Squadrons.

Army: 109,500 (excluding 3,800 Gurkhas): 1 x Corps Headquarters in Germany (ARRC); 1 x Armoured Divisional HQ in Germany; 1 x Mechanised Divisional HQ in UK; 3 x Divisional/District HQs in UK and 1 in Germany; 3 x Deployable Brigade Headquarters in Germany and 4 in the UK; 12 x Regional Brigade HQs in the UK; 3 x Infantry Brigade HQs in Northern Ireland.

Joint Forces: 1 x Permanent Joint HQ; 1 x Joint Force HQ; Under Command Director Special Forces - 3 x SAS Regiments (including 2 x TA); 4 x Special Boat Squadrons; 1 x Joint NBC Regiment; Joint Helicopter Command: 1 x Air Assault Brigade HQ; 4 x Royal Navy Helicopter Squadrons with 19 x Sea King HC4, 6 x Lynx AH7 and 9 x Gazelle; 6 x Army Air Corps Regiments (including 1 TA) with 116 Lynx, 113 Gazelle and 5 x Islanders (67 x Longbow Apache being delivered); 8 x RAF Helicopter Squadrons with 31 x Chinook HC1/2; 8 x Wessex HC1; 33 Puma and 6 x Merlin; Joint Force Harrier: 3 x Royal Navy Squadrons with 24 x Sea Harrier F/A2 and 4 x T4/T8; 4 x RAF Squadrons with 45 x Harrier GR7 and 6 x Harrier T10.

Note (1) Of these six battalions, one is based in England and on standby to return to the Province. (2) The Royal Gibraltar Regiment. (3) Surveillance and Target Acquisition

British Army Equipment Summary

Armour: 386 x Challenger 2; (300+ Challenger 1 for disposal); 136 x Sabre; 48 x Striker (with Swingfire ATGW); 315 x Scimitar; 1,100 x Fv 432; 736 x MCV 80 Warrior (550 in service); 520 x Spartan; 590 x Saxon; 11 x Fuchs (NBC).

Artillery and Mortars: 540 x 81 mm Mortar (including 110 x self- propelled); 2093 x 51 mm Light Mortar; 179 x AS 90; 63 x 227 mm MLRS; 31 x 155 mm FH 70; 155 x 105 mm Light Gun.

Air Defence: 70 x Rapier Fire Units (including 24 x SP); 330 x Javelin; 145 x Starstreak (LML); 135 x HVM (SP).

Army Aviation: 116 x Lynx; 113 Gazelle; 5 x BN-2; 7 x DHC2 and 21 Chipmunk (for training); 67 x WAH-64D Apache on order (12 in service on 1 Jan 2002). Helicopters available from RAF- 31 x Chinook; 8 x Wessex; 33 x Puma; 6 x Merlin.

Defence Roles and Responsibilities

The aim of the United Kingdom’s Armed Forces is to deliver and sustain an operational capability wherever and whenever it is required. This overall aim is translated into the three major National Defence Roles.

The Missions of the Armed Forces

The MoD mission statement for the armed forces reads as follows “Defence policy requires the provision of forces with a high degree of military effectiveness, at sufficient readiness and with a clear sense of purpose, for conflict prevention, crisis management and combat operations. Their demonstrable capability, conventional and nuclear, is intended to act as an effective deterrent to a potential aggressor, both in peacetime and during a crisis. They must be able to undertake a range of Military Tasks to fulfil the missions set out below, matched to changing strategic circumstances.” These missions are not listed in any order of priority:

A: Peacetime Security: To provide forces needed in peacetime to ensure the protection and security of the United Kingdom. To assist as required with the evacuation of British Nationals overseas, to afford Military Aid to the Civil Authorities in the United Kingdom, including Military Aid to the Civil Power, Military Aid to Other Government Departments and Military Aid to the Civil Community.

B: Security of the Overseas Territories: To provide forces to meet any challenges to the external security of a British Overseas Territory (including overseas possession...

Table of contents

• Front Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Chapter 1 - OVERVIEW
• Chapter 2 - ARMY ORGANISATIONS
• Chapter 3 - NATO
• Chapter 4 - THE HOUSEHOLD CAVALRY AND THE ROYAL ARMOURED CORPS
• Chapter 5 - INFANTRY
• Chapter 6 - ARTILLERY
• Chapter 7 - ARMY AVIATION
• Chapter 8 - ENGINEERS
• Chapter 9 - COMMUNICATIONS
• Chapter 10 - COMBAT SERVICE
• Chapter 11 - REGULAR ARMY UNITS
• Chapter 12 - RECRUITING, SELECTION AND TRAINING
• Chapter 13 - RESERVE FORCES
• Chapter 14 - MISCELLANEOUS