British Army : Ask Biography

Military unit

Unit name

British Army

Allegiance

HM Queen Elizabeth II

Type

Army

Size

110,210 regulars
33,100 territorials
121,800 regular reserves

Part of

Ministry of Defence

Patron

Monarch

Commanders

Chief of the General Staff

Gen. Sir Peter Wall KCB CBE ADC Gen

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Want to British Army latest news on your twitter account??? British Army \|\| Military_Unit \|\| Government
Now blast resistant goggles for British troops - iNewsOne iNewsOne--London, April 10 (IANS) Protective sunglasses and goggles that can withstand a shotgun blast from just 16 feet away will be issued to -British- troops in Afghanistan, a media report said Sunday. The Sawfly glasses and Bullet Ant goggles are fitt - Date : Sun, 10 Apr 2011 07:56:06 GMT+00:00
Soldier dies of Afghan bomb wounds - The Press Association The Press Association--A -British- soldier has died of his wounds almost a year after he was injured by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence said. Colour Sergeant Alan Cameron from 1st Battalion Scots Guards, 42, died suddenly at his ho - Date : Sat, 09 Apr 2011 10:50:00 GMT+00:00
Michael Morpurgo on horses' military service - CBS News CBS News---...- National Theatre of Great Britain, tells the story of a farm boy whose horse is sold to the -British Army- to serve on the front lines in World War I. Based on the young adult novel by Michael Morpugo, it is having its New York premiere th - Date : Sun, 10 Apr 2011 13:54:06 GMT+00:00
Afghanistan troops seize bombs haul - The Press Association The Press Association--Afghan National -Army- (ANA) soldiers working with -British- forces found 50 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in two bomb factories in Helmand province. The weapons haul, which included 84lb of explosives, rocket-propelled grenad - Date : Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:45:00 GMT+00:00
BRITISH ARMY DEFUSE VAN BOMB IN ULSTER TOWN OF NEWRY - Agenzia Giornalistica Italia Agenzia Giornalistica Italia--(AGI) London - Ulster police yesterday defused a 500-pound van bomb in Ulster's Newry, located between Belfast and Dublin. Bomb squad experts described the bomb as a 'sophisticated' device. The van in which the - Date : Sat, 09 Apr 2011 16:09:35 GMT+00:00
McGuinness in police support call - BBC News BBC News--"I think that people throughout the island of Ireland and here in the north, including many who stood against the -British army- and the forces that supported the -British army- are absolutely and totally revulsed and disgusted at the m - Date : Sun, 10 Apr 2011 10:18:16 GMT+00:00
Lockheed Martin upgraded fleet management technology deploys to UK Armed Forces - Shephard Group Shephard Group---...- and Engineering Solutions (JAMES) programme, a web-based software system, enables users to track and monitor the performance of millions of assets, military vehicles and other equipment, used by the -British Army-, the Royal Navy and - Date : Wed, 09 Mar 2011 11:15:42 GMT+00:00
IS THE SAS STILL THE WORLD'S FI NEST ELITE FORCE? - Express.co.uk Express.co.uk--This was the unconventional beginning, in July 1941, of the Special Air Service - the principal special forces unit of the -British Army- that has served as a model for similar regiments in many other countries. Its reputation for taking on - Date : Tue, 08 Mar 2011 13:51:34 GMT+00:00
Libya: British Army ready for mission at 24 hours' notice - Telegraph.co.uk Telegraph.co.uk---British- troops have been put on stand-by for deployment to Libya if the crisis in the country worsens. Sources confirmed that The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland, had been placed on heightened readiness, prepar - Date : Fri, 04 Mar 2011 22:35:07 GMT+00:00
AgustaWestland wins £76m Lynx Wildcat training facility contract - Shephard Group Shephard Group--The state-of-the-art training centre will be located at RNAS Yeovilton in South West England, alongside Royal Navy and -British Army- AW159 Lynx Wildcat squadrons. The facility will provide training courses for Army aircrew and maintainers - Date : Tue, 08 Mar 2011 19:44:52 GMT+00:00

Want to British Army latest news on your twitter account???

British Army

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Now blast resistant goggles for British troops - iNewsOne

iNewsOne--London, April 10 (IANS) Protective sunglasses and goggles that can withstand a shotgun blast from just 16 feet away will be issued to -British- troops in Afghanistan, a media report said Sunday. The Sawfly glasses and Bullet Ant goggles are fitt - Date : Sun, 10 Apr 2011 07:56:06 GMT+00:00

Soldier dies of Afghan bomb wounds - The Press Association

The Press Association--A -British- soldier has died of his wounds almost a year after he was injured by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence said. Colour Sergeant Alan Cameron from 1st Battalion Scots Guards, 42, died suddenly at his ho - Date : Sat, 09 Apr 2011 10:50:00 GMT+00:00

Michael Morpurgo on horses' military service - CBS News

CBS News---...- National Theatre of Great Britain, tells the story of a farm boy whose horse is sold to the -British Army- to serve on the front lines in World War I. Based on the young adult novel by Michael Morpugo, it is having its New York premiere th - Date : Sun, 10 Apr 2011 13:54:06 GMT+00:00

Afghanistan troops seize bombs haul - The Press Association

The Press Association--Afghan National -Army- (ANA) soldiers working with -British- forces found 50 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in two bomb factories in Helmand province. The weapons haul, which included 84lb of explosives, rocket-propelled grenad - Date : Fri, 08 Apr 2011 17:45:00 GMT+00:00

BRITISH ARMY DEFUSE VAN BOMB IN ULSTER TOWN OF NEWRY - Agenzia Giornalistica Italia

Agenzia Giornalistica Italia--(AGI) London - Ulster police yesterday defused a 500-pound van bomb in Ulster's Newry, located between Belfast and Dublin. Bomb squad experts described the bomb as a 'sophisticated' device. The van in which the - Date : Sat, 09 Apr 2011 16:09:35 GMT+00:00

McGuinness in police support call - BBC News

BBC News--"I think that people throughout the island of Ireland and here in the north, including many who stood against the -British army- and the forces that supported the -British army- are absolutely and totally revulsed and disgusted at the m - Date : Sun, 10 Apr 2011 10:18:16 GMT+00:00

Lockheed Martin upgraded fleet management technology deploys to UK Armed Forces - Shephard Group

Shephard Group---...- and Engineering Solutions (JAMES) programme, a web-based software system, enables users to track and monitor the performance of millions of assets, military vehicles and other equipment, used by the -British Army-, the Royal Navy and - Date : Wed, 09 Mar 2011 11:15:42 GMT+00:00

IS THE SAS STILL THE WORLD'S FI NEST ELITE FORCE? - Express.co.uk

Express.co.uk--This was the unconventional beginning, in July 1941, of the Special Air Service - the principal special forces unit of the -British Army- that has served as a model for similar regiments in many other countries. Its reputation for taking on - Date : Tue, 08 Mar 2011 13:51:34 GMT+00:00

Libya: British Army ready for mission at 24 hours' notice - Telegraph.co.uk

Telegraph.co.uk---British- troops have been put on stand-by for deployment to Libya if the crisis in the country worsens. Sources confirmed that The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland, had been placed on heightened readiness, prepar - Date : Fri, 04 Mar 2011 22:35:07 GMT+00:00

AgustaWestland wins £76m Lynx Wildcat training facility contract - Shephard Group

Shephard Group--The state-of-the-art training centre will be located at RNAS Yeovilton in South West England, alongside Royal Navy and -British Army- AW159 Lynx Wildcat squadrons. The facility will provide training courses for Army aircrew and maintainers - Date : Tue, 08 Mar 2011 19:44:52 GMT+00:00

High intensity operations :
Country	Dates	Deployment	Details
Afghanistan	2001 �	About 10,000 troops	British troops have been based in Afghanistan since the US-led invasion there in 2001. Currently, under Operation Herrick, the Army maintains troops in Camp Souter, Kabul and a brigade on 6-monthly rotation in the southern province of Helmand, mostly based in Camp Bastion and forward operating bases. In late 2009, the resident brigade is 11 Brigade. This brigade has previously served tours in Afghanistan. In 2009, the then Secretary of State for Defence Bob Ainsworth announced British troop numbers in Afghanistan to increase by 500 to a new high of more than 9,500 by late 2009.

High intensity operations :

Country

Dates

Deployment

Details

Afghanistan

2001 �

About 10,000 troops

British troops have been based in Afghanistan since the US-led invasion there in 2001. Currently, under Operation Herrick, the Army maintains troops in Camp Souter, Kabul and a brigade on 6-monthly rotation in the southern province of Helmand, mostly based in Camp Bastion and forward operating bases. In late 2009, the resident brigade is 11 Brigade. This brigade has previously served tours in Afghanistan. In 2009, the then Secretary of State for Defence Bob Ainsworth announced British troop numbers in Afghanistan to increase by 500 to a new high of more than 9,500 by late 2009.

Low intensity operations :
Country	Dates	Deployment	Details
Cyprus	1960 �	Two resident infantry battalions, Royal Engineers, 16 Flight Army Air Corps and Joint Service Signals Unit at Ayios Nikolaos as a part of British Forces Cyprus	The UK retains two Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus after the island's independence. The bases serve as forward bases for deployments in the Middle East. British forces are also deployed separately with UN peacekeeping forces on the island. Principal facilities are Alexander Barracks at Dhekelia and Salamanca Barracks at Episkopi.
Falkland Islands	1982 �	An infantry company group and an Engineer Squadron	Previously a platoon-sized Royal Marines Naval Party acted as the military presence. After the 1982 war between Argentina and the UK, the garrison was enlarged and bolstered with an RAF base at Mount Pleasant on East Falkland.
Gibraltar	1704 � 1991	One infantry battalion, Joint Provost and Security Unit as a part of British Forces Gibraltar	British Army garrison is provided by an indigenous regiment, the Royal Gibraltar Regiment, which has been on the Army regular establishment since the last British battalion left in 1991.
Northern Ireland	1920 �	About 3,200 troops	Since 2007 part of Operation Helvetic which replace Operation Banner.
Sierra Leone	1999	Only a few	The British Army were deployed to Sierra Leone, a former British colony on Operation Palliser in 1999 to aid the government in quelling violent uprisings by militiamen, under United Nations resolutions. Troops remain in the region to provide military support and training to the Sierra Leonean government.
Pakistan	2009 � 2012	24 instructors	24 instructors from the British Army along with 6 American Army personnel will be training Pakistan’s paramilitary Frontier Corps over a period of 3 years
Libya	2011-	12 advisors and 4 Apaches	12 officers from the British army and 12 from the French army deployed in a non combat advisory role to the National Transitional Council, 4 Apache AH.1 attack helicopters have been deployed from the army air corps to create a buffer zone around Misurata and may additionally carry snipers and military commanders.

Low intensity operations :

Country

Dates

Deployment

Details

Cyprus

1960 �

Two resident infantry battalions, Royal Engineers, 16 Flight Army Air Corps and Joint Service Signals Unit at Ayios Nikolaos as a part of British Forces Cyprus

The UK retains two Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus after the island's independence. The bases serve as forward bases for deployments in the Middle East. British forces are also deployed separately with UN peacekeeping forces on the island. Principal facilities are Alexander Barracks at Dhekelia and Salamanca Barracks at Episkopi.

Falkland Islands

1982 �

An infantry company group and an Engineer Squadron

Previously a platoon-sized Royal Marines Naval Party acted as the military presence. After the 1982 war between Argentina and the UK, the garrison was enlarged and bolstered with an RAF base at Mount Pleasant on East Falkland.

Gibraltar

1704 � 1991

One infantry battalion, Joint Provost and Security Unit as a part of British Forces Gibraltar

British Army garrison is provided by an indigenous regiment, the Royal Gibraltar Regiment, which has been on the Army regular establishment since the last British battalion left in 1991.

Northern Ireland

1920 �

About 3,200 troops

Since 2007 part of Operation Helvetic which replace Operation Banner.

Sierra Leone

1999

Only a few

The British Army were deployed to Sierra Leone, a former British colony on Operation Palliser in 1999 to aid the government in quelling violent uprisings by militiamen, under United Nations resolutions. Troops remain in the region to provide military support and training to the Sierra Leonean government.

Pakistan

2009 � 2012

24 instructors

24 instructors from the British Army along with 6 American Army personnel will be training Pakistan’s paramilitary Frontier Corps over a period of 3 years

Libya

2011-

12 advisors and 4 Apaches

12 officers from the British army and 12 from the French army deployed in a non combat advisory role to the National Transitional Council, 4 Apache AH.1 attack helicopters have been deployed from the army air corps to create a buffer zone around Misurata and may additionally carry snipers and military commanders.

Permanent overseas postings :
Country	Dates	Deployment	Details
Belize	1940s �	British Army Training and Support Unit Belize and 25 Flight Army Air Corps	British troops have been based in Belize from the late 1940s until 1994. Belize's neighbour, Guatemala claimed the territory and there were numerous border disputes. At the request of the Belizean government, British troops remained in Belize after independence in 1981 to provide a defence force.
Falkland Islands	1982 �	An infantry company group and an Engineer Squadron	Previously a platoon-sized Royal Marines Naval Party acted as the military presence. After the 1982 war between Argentina and the UK, the garrison was enlarged and bolstered with an RAF base at Mount Pleasant on East Falkland.
Brunei	1962 �	One battalion from the Royal Gurkha Rifles, British Garrison, Training Team Brunei (TTB) and 7 Flight Army Air Corps	A Gurkha battalion has been maintained in Brunei since the Brunei Revolt in 1962 at the request of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin III. The Training Team Brunei (TTB) is the Army's jungle warfare school, while the small number of garrison troops support the battalion. 7 Flight Army Air Corps provides helicopter support to both the Gurkha battalion and the TTB.
Canada	1972 �	British Army Training Unit Suffield and 29 (BATUS) Flight Army Air Corps	A training centre in the Alberta prairie which is provided for the use of British Army and Canadian Forces under agreement with the government of Canada. British forces conduct regular, major armoured training exercises here every year, with helicopter support provided by 29 (BATUS) Flight AAC.
Germany	1945 � 2020	1st (UK) Armoured Division as part of British Forces Germany	British forces remained in Germany after the end of the Second World War. Forces declined considerably after the end of the Cold War, and in October 2010 Prime Minister David Cameron announced large cuts in defence with all UK troops currently in Germany to leave by 2020.
Kenya	2010 �	British Army Training Unit Kenya	The Army has a training centre in Kenya, under agreement with the Kenyan government. It provides training facilities for three infantry battalions per year

Permanent overseas postings :

Country

Dates

Deployment

Details

Belize

1940s �

British Army Training and Support Unit Belize and 25 Flight Army Air Corps

British troops have been based in Belize from the late 1940s until 1994. Belize's neighbour, Guatemala claimed the territory and there were numerous border disputes. At the request of the Belizean government, British troops remained in Belize after independence in 1981 to provide a defence force.

Falkland Islands

1982 �

An infantry company group and an Engineer Squadron

Brunei

1962 �

One battalion from the Royal Gurkha Rifles, British Garrison, Training Team Brunei (TTB) and 7 Flight Army Air Corps

A Gurkha battalion has been maintained in Brunei since the Brunei Revolt in 1962 at the request of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin III. The Training Team Brunei (TTB) is the Army's jungle warfare school, while the small number of garrison troops support the battalion. 7 Flight Army Air Corps provides helicopter support to both the Gurkha battalion and the TTB.

Canada

1972 �

British Army Training Unit Suffield and 29 (BATUS) Flight Army Air Corps

A training centre in the Alberta prairie which is provided for the use of British Army and Canadian Forces under agreement with the government of Canada. British forces conduct regular, major armoured training exercises here every year, with helicopter support provided by 29 (BATUS) Flight AAC.

Germany

1945 � 2020

1st (UK) Armoured Division as part of British Forces Germany

British forces remained in Germany after the end of the Second World War. Forces declined considerably after the end of the Cold War, and in October 2010 Prime Minister David Cameron announced large cuts in defence with all UK troops currently in Germany to leave by 2020.

Kenya

2010 �

British Army Training Unit Kenya

The Army has a training centre in Kenya, under agreement with the Kenyan government. It provides training facilities for three infantry battalions per year

Structure of units :
Type of Unit	Division	Brigade	Battalion / Regiment	Company / Squadron	Platoon / Troop	Section	Fire Team
Contains	2 � 3 Brigades	3 � 5 Battalions	5 Companies	3 Platoons	3 Sections	2 Fire Teams	4 Individuals
Personnel	10,000	5,000	550 � 750	100	30	8 � 10	4
Commanded by	Maj-Gen	Brig	Lt Col	Maj	Capt, Lt or 2nd Lt	Cpl	LCpl

Structure of units :

Type of Unit

Division

Brigade

Battalion / Regiment

Company / Squadron

Platoon / Troop

Section

Fire Team

Contains

2 � 3 Brigades

3 � 5 Battalions

5 Companies

3 Platoons

3 Sections

2 Fire Teams

4 Individuals

Personnel

10,000

5,000

550 � 750

100

8 � 10

Commanded by

Maj-Gen

Brig

Lt Col

Maj

Capt, Lt or 2nd Lt

Cpl

LCpl

Divisions :
Name	Headquarters	Subunits
1st Armoured Division	Herford, Germany	3 Armoured or Mechanised Brigades.
2nd Infantry Division	Craigiehall, near Edinburgh	Four regional brigades.
3rd Infantry Division	Bulford, Salisbury	Two mechanized brigades, one light brigade and one infantry brigade.
4th Infantry Division	Aldershot	Three regional brigades.
5th Infantry Division	Shrewsbury	Three regional brigades, one air assault brigade and Colchester Garrison.
6th Infantry Division	York	Deployable divisional HQ. Created to support the UK's rotational command of HQ Regional Command South.

Divisions :

Name

Headquarters

Subunits

1st Armoured Division

Herford, Germany

3 Armoured or Mechanised Brigades.

2nd Infantry Division

Craigiehall, near Edinburgh

Four regional brigades.

3rd Infantry Division

Bulford, Salisbury

Two mechanized brigades, one light brigade and one infantry brigade.

4th Infantry Division

Aldershot

Three regional brigades.

5th Infantry Division

Shrewsbury

Three regional brigades, one air assault brigade and Colchester Garrison.

6th Infantry Division

York

Deployable divisional HQ. Created to support the UK's rotational command of HQ Regional Command South.

Training establishments : Current Overseas Territories Regiments
Abbreviation	FM	Gen	Lt Gen	Maj Gen	Brig	Col	Lt Col	Maj	Capt	Lt	2nd Lt

Training establishments : Current Overseas Territories Regiments

Abbreviation

Gen

Lt Gen

Maj Gen

Brig

Col

Lt Col

Maj

Capt

2nd Lt

Training establishments : Current Overseas Territories Regiments
Ranger	Paratrooper
Musician	Survey Technician
Farrier	Biomedical Scientist
Driver Tank Transporter	Registered General Nurse
Radar Operator	Telecom Op (Special)
Meteorologist	Aircraft Technician
Military Engineer Bomb Disposal	Special Air Service Soldier
Telecom Op (Linguist)	Ammunition Technician
Operator Special Intelligence
Construction Materials Technician
Driver Specialist
Armoured Engineer
Royal Armoured Corps Crewman
Army Diver

Training establishments : Current Overseas Territories Regiments

Ranger

Paratrooper

Musician

Survey Technician

Farrier

Biomedical Scientist

Driver Tank Transporter

Registered General Nurse

Radar Operator

Telecom Op (Special)

Meteorologist

Aircraft Technician

Military Engineer Bomb Disposal

Special Air Service Soldier

Telecom Op (Linguist)

Ammunition Technician

Operator Special Intelligence

Construction Materials Technician

Driver Specialist

Armoured Engineer

Royal Armoured Corps Crewman

Army Diver

British Army Arms and Services

Combat Arms
Royal Armoured Corps
Infantry
Guards Division Scottish Division King's Division Queen's Division Prince of Wales' Division Royal Irish Regiment Parachute Regiment Royal Gurkha Rifles The Rifles Special Air Service
Army Air Corps
Combat Support Arms
Royal Artillery
Royal Engineers
Royal Corps of Signals
Intelligence Corps
Combat Services
Royal Army Chaplains Department
Royal Logistic Corps
Army Medical Services
Royal Army Medical Corps Royal Army Dental Corps Royal Army Veterinary Corps Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps
Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Adjutant General's Corps
Educational and Training Services Branch Army Legal Services Branch Royal Military Police Military Provost Staff Corps
Small Arms School Corps
Army Physical Training Corps
General Service Corps
Corps of Army Music

British Army Arms and Services

Combat Arms

Royal Armoured Corps

Infantry

Guards Division
Scottish Division
King's Division
Queen's Division
Prince of Wales' Division
Royal Irish Regiment
Parachute Regiment
Royal Gurkha Rifles
The Rifles
Special Air Service

Army Air Corps

Combat Support Arms

Royal Artillery

Royal Engineers

Royal Corps of Signals

Intelligence Corps

Combat Services

Royal Army Chaplains Department

Royal Logistic Corps

Army Medical Services

Royal Army Medical Corps
Royal Army Dental Corps
Royal Army Veterinary Corps
Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps

Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

Adjutant General's Corps

Educational and Training Services Branch
Army Legal Services Branch
Royal Military Police
Military Provost Staff Corps

Small Arms School Corps

Army Physical Training Corps

General Service Corps

Corps of Army Music

United Kingdom Ministry of Defence

Armed Forces
UK Naval Service (Royal Navy) (Royal Marines) * Army * Royal Air Force
Defence Council

Political		Secretary of State for Defence * Minister of State for the Armed Forces * Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology * Minister for International Security Strategy * Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans
Military		Chief of the Defence Staff * Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff * Chief of the Naval Staff and First Sea Lord * Chief of the General Staff * Chief of the Air Staff * Chief of Defence Materiel
Civil Service		Permanent Under Secretary of State for Defence * Second Permanent Under Secretary of State * Chief Scientific Adviser
Service boards
Admiralty Board (Navy Board) * Army Board * Air Force Board
Executive agencies
British Forces Post Office * Defence Estates * Defence Equipment and Support * Defence Science and Technology Laboratory * Defence Storage and Distribution Agency * Defence Vetting Agency * Duke of York's Royal Military School * Met Office * Ministry of Defence Police and Guarding Agency * People, Pay and Pensions Agency * Service Children's Education * Service Personnel and Veterans Agency * United Kingdom Hydrographic Office

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