Structure of the British Army

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British Army

Components
British Army
Territorial Army
List of current regiments
Structure of the British Army
Administration
Land Command
British Forces Germany
British Forces Cyprus
Equipment
Modern Equipment
History
History of the British Army
Timeline of the British Army
Personnel
List of senior officers
Officer rank insignia
Enlisted rank insignia

The structure of the British Army is broadly similar to that of the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, being divided into two Commands as top-level budget holders; Land Command and the Adjutant-General. These are responsible for providing forces at Operational Readiness for employment by the Permanent Joint Headquarters. The Adjutant-Generals organisation is responsible for most of the recruitment and personal and professional training of personnel whilst the staff of Commander-in-Chief Land is responsible for commitment planning and ensuring that the operational formations are resourced and have undergone appropriate collective training. Headquarters Northern Ireland additionally has devolved responsibility for all activities in the Province.

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 smaller, 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.

For operational tasks a battle group will be formed around a combat unit, supported by units or sub-units from other areas.

Naming conventions of units differ fortraditional 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 includes several battalions. Many units will also include specialist sub-units in support.

Contents

[edit] Formations

[edit] Land Command

Land Command is headquartered at Wilton and has two main subdivisions, Field Army and Regional Forces. Commander Field Army commands 1 Division, 3 Division, Theatre Troops, and Director General Training Support. Commander Regional Forces commands 2, 4, and 5 Divisions and London District, the administrative organisation of garrisons in mainland UK, and United Kingdom Support Command (Germany).

Commander-in-Chief Land Command (CINCLAND) is the Standing Joint Commander (UK) (SJC(UK)), responsible for overall command of Military Aid to Civil Power within mainland United Kingdom.[1]

[edit] Corps

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 NATO and European commitments, providing much of the headquarters capability and framework for the multinational Allied Rapid Reaction Corps.

The word corps is used for administrative groupings by common function, such as the Infantry Corps, with various Combat Support and Combat Services being referred to in the wider sense as a Corps.

[edit] Divisions

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.

The remaining divisional headquarters, London District and HQ Northern Ireland, act as regional commands in the UK, training subordinate formations and units under their command for operations in the UK and overseas. This task leads to them being described as Regenerative Divisions. These divisions would only be required to generate field formations in the event of a general war.

Whilst the security situation in Northern Ireland has improved significantly since the late 1990s and the British Army's presence there has been reduced to a comparable level to that in the rest of the UK, Headquarters Northern Ireland retains a similar function to the three numbered divisions. It contains the Territorial Army British 107 (Ulster) Brigade, which has no Internal Security role as well as the 8th Infantry and 39th Infantry Brigades.

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.

The term Division is also used for the administrative groupings of the Infantry.

[edit] Brigades

A brigade contains three or four battalion-sized units, around 5000 personnel and is commanded by a one star officer, 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 delpoy up to three separate battlegroups, the primary tactical formation employed in british doctrine. The battlegroup is a 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.

A typical Brigade organisation
A typical Brigade organisation
  • Key
    • 1) Armoured Regiment
    • 2) Armoured Infantry Battalion
    • 3) Artillery Regiment
    • 4) Army Air Corps Detachment
    • 5) Provost Unit
    • 6) Royal Logistic Corps Squadron
    • 7) Engineer Squadron
    • 8) Javelin Air Defence Battery
    • 9) Long-Range Anti-Tank Guided Weapons Troop
    • 10) Mechanised Infantry Battalion

[edit] Administrative Formations

[edit] Order of Precedence

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 the Royal Horse Artillery parades with its guns.

[edit] Arms and Services

[edit] Combat Arms

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

[edit] Royal Armoured Corps

Main article: 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 is not considered to be part of the RAC.

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:

  • Contribution to the Joint CBRN Regiment in the NBC protection role.
  • Main battle tank training squadrons within the Combined Arms Training Battlegroup at Land Warfare Centre, Warminster.

[edit] Infantry

Main article: British Army Infantry

The Infantry is divided for administrative purposes into six 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.

Guards Division Royal Regiment of Scotland (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 & 3rd Bn, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (King's Lancashire and Border)[1] 1st Bn, The 22nd (Cheshire) 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 Bn, The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment (29th/45th Foot) 1st & 2nd Bn, The Royal Anglian Regiment
1st Bn, Irish Guards The Highlanders (4th Bn, The Royal Regiment of Scotland) 1st Bn, The Staffordshire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's) Royal Gibraltar Regiment
1st Bn, Welsh Guards The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (5th Bn, The Royal Regiment of Scotland)


Three 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.

↑  1st July 2006 - March 2007
↑  From February 2007

[edit] Royal Irish Regiment

The Royal Irish has a total of four battalions. The 1st Battalion, as has been stated, is a general service battalion that is part of the main body of infantry. However, the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Battalions are home service battalions, purely for service in Northern Ireland.

With the announcement of the IRA ceasefire in 2005 came the end of military support to the police in Northern Ireland, and a normalisation of the army's presence in the province. This has led to the announcement that the three home service battalions will be disbanded with the end of Operation Banner in August 2007.

[edit] Brigade of Gurkhas
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
      • 250 Gurkha Signal Squadron, 30 Signal Regiment, Royal Signals
    • Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment:
      • 28 Transport Squadron, 10 Transport Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
      • 94 Stores Squadron, 9 Supply Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps.

[edit] Special Forces
Main article: United Kingdom Special Forces

[edit] Combat Support Arms

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

[edit] Royal Regiment of Artillery

The Royal Artillery is a corps of 16 regiments four of which form the Royal Horse Artillery, retaining a distinctive cap badge and traditions. There are seven roles within the corps:

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 1 Regiment, RHA 7 (Para) Regiment, RHA 5 Regiment, RA 14 Regiment, RA
16 Regiment, RA 3 Regiment, RHA 29 (Cdo) Regiment, RA 32 Regiment, RA
47 Regiment, RA 4 Regiment, RA 40 Regiment, RA
19 Regiment, RA
26 Regiment, RA

[edit] 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:

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

The remainder are field regiments attached to various deployable formations:

  • 62 Cyprus Squadron - 62 Squadron provides the engineering support for British Forces in Cyprus.
  • 12 (Air Support) Engineer Group, support to airborne forces:
    • 39 Engineer Regiment - engineering support to the RAF
    • Works Group, RE (Airfields) - infrastructure support to the RAF
    • 529 Specialist Team Royal Engineers
  • 170 (Infrastructure Support) Engineer Group (formerly Military Works Force); responsibile for permanent and temporary infrastructure development, including water, fuel, communications and utilities:
    • HQ 170 Engineer Group, RE
    • 62 Works Group, RE - Water Infrastructure
    • 63 Works Group, RE - Utilities Infrastructure
    • 64 Works Group, RE - Fuel Infrastructure

[edit] Royal Corps of Signals

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 Signalers 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)
    • 14 Signal Regiment - 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 (Forming 2007)
    • 30 Signal Regiment - 11 Signal Brigade
    • Queens Ghurka Signals
  • Squadrons
    • 200 Signal Squadron - 20 Armoured Brigade
    • 204 Signal Squadron - 4 Armoured 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

[edit] Army Air Corps

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

  • 1 Regiment, AAC - 1st (Armoured) Division.
  • 2 Regiment, AAC - Training Regiment
  • 3 Regiment, AAC - Attack Regiment - 16 Air Assault Brigade
  • 4 Regiment, AAC - Attack Regiment - 16 Air Assault Brigade
  • 5 Regiment, AAC - Northern Ireland
  • 9 Regiment, AAC - Attack Regiment - 16 Air Assault Brigade
  • 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

[edit] Intelligence Corps

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

[edit] Joint CBRN Regiment

The Joint CBRN Regiment provides detection and defence against nuclear, biological, radiological and chemical weapons. A joint unit it includes Army and RAF assets:

[edit] 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 end 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.

[edit] 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:

  • 1 Logistic Support Regiment
  • 2 Logistic Support Regiment
  • 3 Logistic Support Regiment
  • 4 Logistic Support Regiment
  • 5 Training Regiment
  • 6 Supply Regiment
  • 7 Transport Regiment
  • 8 Transport Regiment
  • 9 Supply Regiment
  • 10 Transport 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
  • 21 Logistic Support Regiment
  • 23 Pioneer Regiment
  • 24 Postal Courier and Movement Regiment
  • 25 Training Support Regiment
  • 27 Transport Regiment
  • 29 Postal Courier and Movement Regiment
  • ARRC Support Battalion

[edit] 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 from its total of seven battalions:

  • 1st Battalion, REME - 4 Armoured Brigade
  • 2nd Battalion, REME - 7 Armoured Brigade
  • 3rd Battalion, REME - 20 Armoured Brigade
  • 4th Battalion, REME - 12 Mechanised Brigade
  • 5th Battalion, REME - 19 Light Brigade
  • 6th Battalion, REME - 1 Mechanised Brigade
  • 7th Battalion, REME - 16 Air Assault Brigade

[edit] Other Services

  • Army Medical Services
  • Adjutant General's Corps - The Adjutant General's Corps, unlike the Army Medical Services, is a single corps; however, three of the units that were amalgamated to form it were permitted to retain their own cap badges:
    • Corps of Royal Military Police - While the majority of the Adjutant General's Corps forms part of other operational units, the Royal Military Police is formed into two regular regiments. In addition, there are regular provost companies in the TA regiments of the RMP, plus a single independent air assault trained company:
      • 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
    • Military Provost Staff Corps
    • Army Legal Corps

[edit] Training

There are two phases in the training for recruits into the army:

  • Phase 1: the initial phase features the basic training for all new recruits. There are two main strands, one for officers and one for other ranks.
    • Officers: Prospective officers first attend the Regular Commissions Board to determine whether they are suited to become officers. Once they pass the RCB, they attend the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, where they undergo basic training, not just in the elements of soldiering, but also leadership. The Commissioning Course, which is the standard course for new officers, lasts 44 weeks. However, there are also short course for those with professional qualifications joining one of the services (Medicine, Law etc) that provides basic military training.
    • Soldiers: Prospective ordinary soldiers (other than the infantry) attend either one of four Army Training Regiments or the Army Foundation College:
      • Army Foundation College, Harrogate
      • ATR Bassingbourn
      • ATR Lichfield
      • ATR Pirbright
      • ATR Winchester
    Here they undergo basic training, learning how to become soldiers. The basic course is the Army Development Course, which lasts for 20 weeks.

Once new recruits have passed their initial courses, either at RMAS or an ATR, then they move to Phase 2 Training.

  • Phase 2: the second phase involves the new officer or soldier choosing which branch of the service they wish to specialise in, and then undergoing the specific training. This is with one of the specialist schools located around the country:
    • Infantry Training Centre (see below) - the ITC is responsible for both Phase 1 and Phase 2 infantry training for soldiers. Officers undergo their Phase 1 training at Sandhurst.
    • Armour Centre
    • Royal School of Artillery
    • School of Army Aviation
    • Royal School of Military Engineering
    • Royal School of Signals
    • Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Training Group
    • Defence Logistic Support Training Group
    • Defence Medical Services Training Centre
    • AGC Training Group
    • Royal Military School of Music

[edit] Infantry Training Centre

As of 2001, infantry training is undertaken as a single 24 week course at the Infantry Training Centre at Catterick Garrison, as opposed to being divided into Phase 1 and Phase 2 training. The ITC is divided into four separate battalions; these are divided into companies, each of which are responsible for one of the infantry's administrative divisions:

  • 1st Battalion, Infantry Training Centre
    • Queen's Division Company
    • King's Division Company
    • Light Division Company
  • 2nd Battalion, Infantry Training Centre
    • Scottish Division Company
    • Prince of Wales's Division Company
    • Somme Company
  • 3rd Battalion, Infantry Training Centre
    • Guards Division Company
    • Parachute Regiment Company
    • Gurkha Company
    • Gurkha Language Wing
  • 4th Battalion, Infantry Training Centre
    • HQ Company
    • Williams Company
    • Hook Company
    • Army School of Ceremonial
    • Army School of Bagpipe Music & Highland Drums
    • Gym EL Wing

[edit] Units of the Territorial Army

[edit] Armour (TA)

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

[edit] Infantry (TA)

The 1999 reorganisation of the Territorial Army saw a number of new, multi-cap badge battalions take the place of the old territorial battalions of regular regiments. However, starting in 2006, these regiments will be replaced by a number of single cap-badged battalions attached to the new large infantry regiments:

A further infantry unit, not officially on the British Army list but still technically a British unit, is The Bermuda Regiment. This is a territorial infantry battalion which is responsible for the internal security of Bermuda.

[edit] Royal Artillery (TA)

Air Defence General Support (MLRS) Close Support (Light Gun) Surveillance and Target Acquisition
104 Regiment, RA(V) 101 Regiment, RA(V) 100 Regiment, RA(V) Honourable Artillery Company
105 Regiment, RA(V) 103 Regiment, RA(V)
106 Regiment, RA(V)

[edit] Royal Engineers (TA)

  • 71 Engineer Regiment (Volunteers) - Air Support Regiment
  • 73 Engineer Regiment (Volunteers) - Air Support Regiment
  • 75 Engineer Regiment (Volunteers) - Field Regiment
  • 101 (City of London) Engineer Regiment (Volunteers) - Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment
  • Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers (Militia) - Field Regiment
  • 131 Independent Commando Squadron (Volunteers) - Commando Support
  • 135 Independent Geographic Squadron (Volunteers) - Topography
  • 65 Works Group, RE (Volunteers) - Communications Infrastructure

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.

[edit] Royal Signals (TA)

[edit] Intelligence Corps (TA)

[edit] Army Air Corps (TA)

  • 6 Regiment, Army Air Corps (Volunteers)
  • 7 Regiment, Army Air Corps (Volunteers)

[edit] Services (TA)

In addition to the combat units, there are Territorial Army units in:

  • Adjutant General's Corps
  • Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
    • 101 Battalion (V), REME
    • 102 Battalion (V), REME
    • 103 Battalion (V), REME
    • 104 Battalion (V), REME
  • Royal Logistic Corps
    • 87 Postal and Courier Regiment
    • 88 Postal and Courier Regiment
    • 150 (Northumbrian) Transport Regiment
    • 151 (Greater London) Logisitic Support Regiment
    • 152 (Ulster) Transport Regiment
    • 155 Transport Regiment
    • 156 (North-West) Transport Regiment
    • 157 (Wales and Midlands) Logistic Support Regiment
    • The Scottish Transport Regiment
    • 158 (Royal Anglian) Transport Regiment
    • 159 Logistic Support Regiment
    • 160 Transport Regiment
    • 162 Movement Control Regiment
    • 163 Movement Control Regiment
    • 165 Port Regiment
    • 166 Supply Regiment
    • 168 Pioneer Regiment
    • Catering Support Regiment
    • 383 Commando Petroleum Troop
    • 395 Air Despatch Troop
  • Army Medical Services
    • 144 Field Ambulance
    • 152 Ambulance Regiment
    • 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 (Liverpool) Field Hospital
    • 212 (Yorkshire) Field Hospital
    • 220 (1st Home Counties) Field Ambulance
    • 222 (East Midlands) Field Ambulance
    • 243 (The Wessex) Field Hospital
    • 253 (North Irish) Field Ambulance
    • 254 (City of Cambridge) Field Ambulance
    • 256 (City of London) Field Hospital
    • 306 Field Hospital
    • 335 Medical Evacuation Regiment
    • First Aid Nursing Yeomanry

[edit] Ceremonial Units

Although the majority of the British Army performs both operational and ceremonial roles, there are some units that are purely ceremonial. These are manned by fully trained soldiers who are periodically transferred from operational units.

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

The following are units of the regular army that most regularly mount the guard at Buckingham Palace, Horse Guards and Windsor Castle:

[edit] Gun Salutes

The following are units that provide gun salutes in various parts of London:

[edit] Sovereign's Bodyguard

The following are not part of the army, but perform the ceremonial role of Sovereign's Bodyguard. They tend to be made up of retired officers and NCOs:

One of the significant duties that all of the above units (with the exception of the King's Troop and the Honourable Artillery Company) perform is to guard the catafalque upon which the coffin of a state funeral rests in Westminster Hall.

[edit] Others

[edit] Restructuring

In July 2004, the Government announced its proposals for restructuring of the armed forces. The main points concerning the army included:

  • Cutting four infantry battalions (three English and one Scottish) with the remaining single battalion regiments of the Scottish Division, King's Division and Prince of Wales's Division amalgamating. These will see either one regiment of four or more battalions, or two regiments of between two and three battalions in each division.
  • One armoured regiment being re-roled as force reconnaissance, with seven Challenger 2 squadrons being cut.
  • One heavy artillery regiment being re-roled as light artillery, with six AS-90 batteries being cut.
  • A reduction in the number of Ground Based Air Defence units, with the disbandment of the RAF Regiment squadrons, and a reduction in the size of the Royal Artillery batteries.

On 16 December 2004, Geoff Hoon announced restructuring plans. The new operational structure of the army will feature:

  • Two Armoured Brigades - these will be 7 Armoured Brigade and 20 Armoured Brigade.
  • Three Mechanised Brigades - these will be 1 Mechanised Brigade and 12 Mechanised Brigade, to be joined by the current 4 Armoured Brigade, which will convert to mechanised by 2006.
  • One Light Role Brigade - this will see 19 Mechanised Brigade convert to the light role, beginning at the start of 2005.
  • One Air Assault Brigade - 16 Air Assault Brigade.

Rumours were also confirmed, with the restructuring of the infantry along the large regiment lines. This involved the Royal Scots and the King's Own Scottish Borderers amalgamating into a single battalion on the 1st August 2006, after the two regiments had formed single battalions of the Royal Regiment of Scotland in March 2006, with battalions retaining their former titles. The regiments of the King's Division and the Prince of Wales's Division will also merge, with one battalion lost from the King's Division, and two from the Prince of Wales's. Thus, each will have one regiment of three battalions and one regiment of two battalions.

The restructuring will be as follows:

[edit] Royal Armoured Corps restructuring

In 2005, the Queen's Royal Lancers will begin conversion from the Armoured role, equipped with Challenger 2, to the Formation Reconnaissance role, equipped with Scimitar.

[edit] Royal Artillery restructuring

In 2005, 40 Regiment, Royal Artillery will begin conversion to the L118 Light Gun from the AS-90.

[edit] Royal Engineers restructuring

Engineering support for 3 Commando Brigade to be expanded to a full regiment with the establishment of 24 Commando Engineer Regiment. This brings it into line with the other brigade sized formations.

[edit] Royal Signals restructuring

Establishment of a new signals regiment, 22 Signal Regiment.

[edit] Infantry restructuring

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.

[edit] Guards Division

[edit] Scottish Division

  • Royal Scots and King's Own Scottish Borderers to amalgamate into a single battalion. The combined Royal Scots/KOSB to merge with the Royal Highland Fusiliers, Black Watch, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and The Highlanders into the Royal Regiment of Scotland.
    • The Royal Scots Borderers (1st Bn, Royal Regiment of Scotland)
    • The Royal Highland Fusiliers (2nd Bn, Royal Regiment of Scotland)
    • The Black Watch (3rd Bn, Royal Regiment of Scotland)
    • The Highlanders (4th Bn, Royal Regiment of Scotland)
    • The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (5th Bn, Royal Regiment of Scotland)
  • The 52nd Lowland Regiment with form the 6th Bn, and the 51st Highland the 7th.

[edit] Prince of Wales's Division

  • The breakup of the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment has been cancelled. It will merge directly with the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment to form 1st Battalion, The Light Infantry.
  • The Staffordshire Regiment, 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment and Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment to merge into the Mercian Regiment.
    • 1st Bn, Mercian Regiment (Cheshires)
    • 2nd Bn, Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters)
    • 3rd Bn, Mercian Regiment (Staffords)
  • A 4th Bn will be formed from the TA West Midlands Regiment and the Cheshires element of the Kings and Cheshire Regiment
  • The Royal Welch Fusiliers and Royal Regiment of Wales to merge into the Royal Welsh.
    • 1st Bn, Royal Welsh (Royal Welch Fusiliers)
    • 2nd Bn, Royal Welsh (Royal Regiment of Wales)
  • The TA Royal Welsh Regiment will become 3rd Battalion, Royal Welsh

[edit] King's Division

  • The King's Own Royal Border Regiment, King's Regiment and Queen's Lancashire Regiment to merge into the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (King's Lancashire and Border).
    • 1st Bn, Duke of Lancaster's Regiment
    • 2nd Bn, Duke of Lancaster's Regiment
  • 4th Bn, Duke of Lancaster's Regiment will be formed from the Kings Regiment elements of the TA Kings and Cheshire Regiment and Lancastrian and Cumbrian Volunteers Regiment.
  • The Duke of Wellington's Regiment, Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire and the Green Howards to merge into the Yorkshire Regiment (14th/15th, 19th and 33rd/76th Foot).
    • 1st Bn, Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own)
    • 2nd Bn, Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards)
    • 3rd Bn, Yorkshire Regiment (Duke of Wellington's)
  • 4th Bn, Yorkshire Regiment will be formed from the TA East and West Riding Regiment and the Green Howards elements of the Tyne Tees Regiment.

[edit] Queen's Division

  • The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires), Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and the Royal Anglian Regiment are unaffected.
  • The RRF and R ANGLIAN gain a Territorial Army Battalion. The Tyne-Tees Regiment will be the 5th Bn, RRF and the East of England Regiment will become the 3rd Bn R ANGLIAN.

[edit] Light Division

[edit] The Parachute Regiment

  • 1st Battalion, the Parachute Regiment remains in the infantry order of battle roled to form the core of the Special Forces Support Group in support of United Kingdom Special Forces. Battalion strength is reduced to 450 men, with the remainder distributed among the remaining two battalions.
  • 2nd and 3rd Battalions, the Parachute Regiment remain unaffected.
  • 4th Battalion will conform it the new TA infantry structure but is otherwise unaffected.

[edit] Royal Irish Regiment

  • In order to retain an 'infantry footprint' in Northern Ireland, the Royal Irish Regiment will retain its single general service battalion.
  • The Royal Irish Rangers will become TA battalion of the R IRISH.
  • With the announcement by the Provisional IRA that they will cease armed conflict, the three home service battalions will be disbanded.

[edit] Royal Gurkha Rifles

  • The Royal Gurkha Rifles remain unaffected by the changes to the infantry structure.

[edit] Special Forces

[edit] Territorial Army

  • 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.

[edit] Bands

  • The British Army has 29 military bands of varying strength. The seven bands of the Household Division 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.

[edit] Brief comment

While the Government maintains that regimental traditions will remain through the addition of subtitles to battalions, it should be noted that in the reforms of the 1960s, which brought the likes of the Queen's Regiment, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, Royal Green Jackets and Light Infantry, the individual regiments that made them up also retained their individual titles for only a brief period, before these were removed to promote the harmonisation of the new regiments.

The government has also announced that the concept of arms plotting will be ended; however, since the announcement of reorganisation, it has been revealed that light infantry battalions will continue to be rotated, to prevent units staying in unpopular postings (Cyprus, Northern Ireland, public duties etc) for too long.

[edit] New Infantry Structure and Order of Precedence

[edit] Regular Army

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

[edit] Territorial Army

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 3rd Bn, King's Lancashire and Border 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

[edit] See also

[edit] Other Corps of the British Armed Forces

[edit] British Army Restructuring

[edit] The British Army

[edit] Traditions

[edit] External Links and Sources

  • 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)
  • Official Army Website
  • Regiments.Org
  • British Monarchy
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