Tactical Communications Wing RAF

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Tactical Communications Wing (TCW) is a unit of the Royal Air Force which provides communications facilities to deployed units. Along with 'Tactical Supply Wing' (TSW) they are the only other section, other than the RAF Regiment, within the RAF that wears a DPM uniform full time. The distinguishing feature between RAF Regiment and TCW personnel is that the TCW do not have the Regiment shoulder flashes and instead wear rank slides embroided with the letters 'TCW'.

TCW is currently a lodger unit at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom. The 'Wing,' as it is colloqually known, is a group of four Squadrons, Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 Sqns TCW. In 2007 it is planned to move the Wing to RAF Leeming in Yorkshire. TCW's motto is ""Ubique Loquimur" or "We Speak Everywhere".

[edit] Organisational Structure

1 Sqn - The Base Support Squadron, 1 Sqn includes Electrical, Mechanical and Mechanical Transport flights. All maintinance tasks are co-ordinated by 1 Sqn when carried out at base at RAF Brize Norton.

2, 3, and 4 Sqn - The three Field Squadrons are split into teams that can deploy at short notice to anywhere in the world with a wide variety of equipment.
Folklore within the TCW ranks is that the newest squadron to join the Wing is potentially the most flexible, hardworking and most renowned in recent years.

Ops Sqn - Combining personnel support and headquarters functions as well as quality control and standards teams, Ops Sqn supplies essential non-technical functions.

TCW has been amalgamated into 90 Signals Unit as of the start of April 06.

[edit] Equipments

Satellite Communications - VSC 501E (Landrover borne), TSC 503 (transportable only in a truck with a capacity of at least 4 tons).

Telecommunications Systems - RTTS (Royal airforce Transportable Telecommunications System), RDV (Rapid Deployment Vehicle - Now disembodied from the Landrover's, and carried in 4 ton Vehicles or on trailers and now known as DPABX).