British Army

The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. In contrast to the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Air Force, the British Army does not include "royal" in its title, because of its roots as a collection of disparate units, many of which themselves do bear the "royal" prefix. Throughout its history the British Army has taken part in many campaigns throughout the world. Today, the British Army is one of the most technologically advanced, disciplined and highly trained land forces in the world. The Army is deployed in many of the world's war zones as part of a fighting force, and in United Nations peacekeeping forces.

History

See main article, History of the British Army

The British Army came into being with the merger of the Scottish Army and the English Army, following the unification of the two countries' parliaments and the creation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. Although England had made many earlier claims to sovereignty in Scotland, there had been no unified British state prior to that time (other than a brief period during which the Roman province of Britain had achieved political independence-although even that had failed to establish complete control over the north of the island). The new British Army incorporated existing English and Scottish regiments, and was controlled from London.

From around 1763 until at least 1914, the United Kingdom was the dominant military and economic power of the world. The British Empire expanded in this time to include colonies, protectorates, and Dominions throughout the Americas, Africa, Asia and Australasia. Although the Royal Navy is widely regarded as having been vital for the rise of Empire, and British dominance of the world, the British Army played important roles in colonisation. First, the British Army provided garrisons for the colonies, protecting them against foreign powers and hostile natives. Second, the troops also helped capture strategically important territories for the British, allowing the British Empire to expand throughout the globe. The Army also involved itself in numerous wars meant to pacify the borders, or to prop-up friendly governments, and thereby keep other, competitive, empires away from the British Empire's borders. Notable amongst these were its serial interventions into Afghanistan, which were meant to maintain a friendly buffer state between British India and the Russian Empire. Keeping the Russian Empire at a safe distance was also one of Britain's motivations for coming to Turkey's aid in the Crimean War.

As had its predecessor, the English Army, in building the Empire, the British Army fought Spain, France, and the Netherlands for supremacy in North America and the West Indies. It also battled many Native American nations and groups, including the many disgruntled former allies who launched Pontiac's War in response to the wave of British settlers that flooded over the Appalachians following the defeat of France in the Seven Years' War. The British Government's attempt to mollify the Natives by delineating the Appalachians as the westward limit for European settlement was the primary motivator of the American colonies in launching the secessionist American War of Independence. The British Army fought American colonists and their Native and French allies in that war.

The British army was heavily invloved in the Napoleonic Wars in which the army served from Spain across to Europe to North Africa in the South. The British Army finally came to defeat Napoleon at one of Britain's greatest military victories at the battle of Waterloo.

Under Oliver Cromwell, the English Army had been active in the re-conquest, and the settlement, of Ireland since the 1650s. It (and subsequently, the British Army) have been almost continuously involved in Ireland ever since, primarily in suppressing numerous native revolts and guerilla and terrorist campaigns. It was faced with the prospect of battling British settlers in Ireland, who had raised their own volunteer army and threatened to emulate the American colonists if their conditions (primarily concerning freedom of trade) were not met, but the British Government acceded to these demands. The British Army still found itself fighting Irish rebels (Wolfe Tone's United Irishmen) in the unrelated, Napoleon-supported 1798 rebellion.

In addition to battling the armies of other European Empire's (and of its former colonies, the United States, in the American War of 1812,) in the battle for global supremacy, the British Army fought the Chinese in the First and Second Opium Wars, and the Boxer Rebellion; Māori tribes in the first of the New Zealand Wars; Indian princely forces and British East India Company mutineers in the Indian Mutiny; the Boers in the Boer Wars; Irish Fenians in Canada during the Fenian raids; and Irish separatists in the Anglo-Irish War.

Following William and Mary's usurpation of the English throne, England involved itself in the War of the Grand Alliance primarily to prevent a French invasion restoring Mary's father, James II. Following the 1707 union of England and Ireland, and then the 1801 creation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, British foreign policy, on the continent, was to contain expansion by its competitor powers such as France and Spain. The territorial ambitions of the French led to the War of the Spanish Succession and the Napoleonic Wars. Russian activity led to the Crimean War.

Great Britain's dominance of the world had been challenged by numerous other powers, notably Germany. The UK was allied with France (by the Entente Cordiale) and Russia, and when war broke out in 1914, the British Army sent the British Expeditionary Force to France and Belgium to prevent Germany from occupying these countries. The War would be the most devastating in British military history, with over 900,000 men killed and over 2 million wounded. In the early part of the war, the professional force of the BEF was decimated and, by turns, a volunteer (and then conscripted) force replaced it. Major battles included the Battle of the Somme. Advances in technology saw British advent of the tank and advances in aircraft design which were to be decisive in future battles. Trench warfare dominated strategy, and the use of chemical and poison gases added to the devastation.

In 1939, World War II broke out with the German invasion of Poland. British assurances to the Polish led the British Empire to declare war on Germany, allied with France. Again an Expeditionary Force was sent to France, only to be hastily evacuated as the German forces swept through the Low Countries and across France in 1940. Only the Dunkirk evacuations saved the entire Expeditionary Force from capture. Later, however, the British would have success defeating the Italians and Germans at the Battle of El Alamein in North Africa, and in the D-Day invasions of Normandy. In the Far East, the British Army battled the Japanese in Burma. World War II saw the British army develop its Commando units including the Special Air Service. During the war the British army was one of the major fighting forces on the side of the allies.

After the end of World War II, the British Empire declined with the independence of India, and other colonies in Africa and Asia. Accordingly the strength of the British military was reduced, in recognition of Britain's reduced role in world affairs. However, a large deployment of British troops remained in Germany, facing the threat of Soviet invasion. The Cold War saw massive technological advances in warfare, and the Army saw more technological advanced weapons systems installed.

Despite the decline of the British Empire, the Army was still deployed around the world, fighting in the Korean War, the Suez crisis of 1956, and colonial wars in Oman and Malaysia. In 1982 the British Army, alongside the Royal Marines, helped to recapture the Falkland Islands during the Falklands War against Argentina.

In the three decades following 1969, the Army was heavily deployed in Northern Ireland, to support the Royal Ulster Constabulary (later the Police Service of Northern Ireland) in their conflict with loyalist and republican paramilitary groups. The locally-recruited Ulster Defence Regiment was formed, later becoming the Royal Irish Regiment in 1992. Over 700 soldiers were killed during the Troubles. Following the IRA ceasefires between 1994 and 1996 and since 1997, demilitarisation has taken place as part of the peace process, much reducing the military presence in the area.

Recent Conflicts

Gulf War

The ending of the Cold War saw a 40% cut in manpower. Despite this, the Army has been deployed in an increasingly global role. In 1991, the United Kingdom was the second largest contributor to the coalition force that fought Iraq in the Gulf War. The nation supplied just under 50,000 personnel and was the nation put in control of Kuwait after it was liberated.

Balkans Conflicts

The British Army was deployed to Yugoslavia in 1992. Initially these forces were part of the United Nations Protection Force, but from 1995 command has been in the hands of SFOR. Over 10,000 troops were sent. In 1997 British troops were sent as part of IFOR to Kosovo during the conflict there.

Afghanistan

In 2001 The Parachute Regiment were deployed in Kabul, Afghanistan to assist in the liberation of the troubled capital. Royal Marines Commandos also swept the Afghan mountains but this force is considered part of the Royal Navy. The British Armed forces are currently incharge of UN forces in the nation. The British army is today in Afgahnistan concentrated on fighting Taliban forces.

Iraq War

In 2003, the United Kingdom was the only other major contributor to the United States led invasion of Iraq. There was huge controversy at home but Prime Minister Tony Blair sent over 10,000 army personnel to the region. The British army is still the major coalition presence in the city of Basra and the Southern regions of Iraq.

Sierra Leone

The Army has also been deployed in many peacekeeping operations, such as in Sierra Leone and in the war against terrorism. Some peacekeeping operations are under United Nations mandates. The SAS unit of the British Army is specifically trained for anti-terror operations, and fought in Afghanistan in 2001. A squadron of SAS troops is always present on the UK mainland to respond to terrorist attacks.

Northern Ireland

There has been a reduction in the number of troops deployed in Northern Ireland since the Good Friday Agreement was signed in 1998. In 2005, after the IRA announced an end to armed conflict in Northern Ireland, it was revealed that the British Army would dismantle posts in the province and withdraw many troops.

The Army today

For equipment, see Modern equipment and uniform of the British Army

Statistics

British Army statistics Armed forces.co.uk
Personnel (Regular Army)	102,440
Personnel (Territorial Army)	35,000+
Main Battle Tanks	386 Challenger 2
Infantry fighting vehicles	667 Warrior (789 purchased)
APCs and reconnaissance vehicles	3,230 - 4,000+
Land Rover Wolf	15,000
Pinzgauer	2000
Utility Trucks	2300
Artillery pieces and mortars	2896
Air Defence	337
Aircraft	300+

Current deployments

Country	Dates	Deployment	Details
Afghanistan	2001-	One light-role infantry battalion (on rotation)	British troops have been based in Afghanistan since the US-led invasion there in 2001. The infantry battalion forms part of NATO's International Security Assistance Force. It is expected that 16 Air Assault Brigade will deploy to the country in 2006 and take over as the main military presence in combating remaining Taliban fighters
Belize	1981-	British Army Training and Support Unit Belize	British troops have been based in Belize since the country gained independence from the UK in 1981. Until 1994 Belize's neighbour, Guatemala claimed the territory, and British troops were based in Belize to provide a deterrent force
Bosnia	1995-	One light-role infantry battalion (on rotation)	British troops are based in Bosnia as peacekeepers under UN Security Council resolutions.
Brunei	1962-	One battalion from the Royal Gurkha Rifles and Army Air Corps flight	Centre of the Army's jungle warfare school.
Canada	1972-	British Army Training Unit Suffield	Training centre in the Alberta prairie. Regular exercises every year.
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 deployment in the Middle East. British forces are also deployed separately with UN forces.
Falkland Islands	1982-	An infantry company group and an Engineers Squadron	Constant occupation since 1833, except brief period in 1982 when Argentina invaded. Previously a platoon-sized Royal Marines Naval Party served as garrison. After 1982 the garrison was enlarged, and bolstered with an RAF base.
Germany	1945-	1st (UK) Armoured Division as part of British Forces Germany	British forces remained in Germany after the end of World War II. Forces declined considerably after the end of the Cold War, although the lack of accommodation in the UK means forces will continue to be based in Germany.
Gibraltar	1704-	One infantry battalion	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 regiment left in 1991.
Iraq	2003-	8,500 troops	As part of Operation Telic (Gulf War 2), the British Army participated in the invasion of Iraq. Following the decision for continued security operations, the UK commands the Multi-National Division (South-East) with a headquarters unit, National Support Element, and a combat brigade (at the moment 7 Armoured Brigade), along with troops from Italy, Norway, Romania, Denmark, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Portugal, and Lithuania. A large number of Territorial Army soldiers have been used for a variety of tasks, both as individuals serving and as formed units.
Kenya		British Army Training and Liaison Staff 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
Kosovo	1999	3,500 troops	After the Kosovo War in 1999, the British Army led the NATO deployment in Kosovo to restore peace to the province. Since then, the UK has withdrawn some forces, as other nations provided troops..
Rest of Middle East	1990	3,700 troops	Since the Gulf War 1 in 1991, the UK has had a considerable military presence in the Middle East. Besides Iraq, there are also an additional 3,500 troops in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, as well as regular training missions in Oman.
Sierra Leone	1999	around 100	The British Army were deployed to Sierra Leone, a former British colony, 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 Leone government.
Northern Ireland	1969-	11,000 troops	Re-deployed in large numbers from 14th August 1969 after loyalist attacks upon nationalist civil rights marchers. They were initially welcomed by the nationalist community as protectors but most eventually came to oppose their continued presence especially as a result of Operation Demetrius (internment) (that was used almost entirely on nationalists) and the events of Bloody Sunday, when members of the Parachute Regiment shot dead 14 civil rights marchers. The Army became involved in a conflict with the PIRA, smaller republican splinter groups and loyalist terrorists. 763 soldiers have been killed in Northern Ireland since 1969, mostly in Belfast and Armagh. Counter-terrorist experience in Northern Ireland later proved useful in Iraq.

Equipment

A summary of the major equipment currently in service with the British Army. For a more comprehensive list with details, see Modern equipment and uniform of the British Army.

For a list of historic and obsolete equipment that has been used by the British Army, see Historic equipment and uniform of the British Army.

Firearms
SA80A2 (L85) 5.56mm
LSW (L86) 5.56mm
Minimi Light Machine Gun (SAW) 5.56mm
SIG-Sauer P220
FN MAG (L7 GPMG) 7.62mm
LRR Sniper Rifle (L96) 7.62mm & .338cal

Armour
Challenger 2 MBT
Warrior IFV
CVR(T)

Artillery
AS90 Self-Propelled Gun
MLRS
L118 Light Gun
Rapier Missile System
Starstreak HVM
L121 Field Howitzer

Aircraft
WAH-64 Apache
Westland Gazelle
Westland Lynx
Bell 212
Britten-Norman Islander

Logistics
DROPS
Land Rover (TUL/TUM)
ATMP
BV206 Tracked, Articulated

Electronics & Comms
MSTAR
Bowman
Skynet 5
Spyglass Thermal Imager
Cobra Artillery Location Radar

Formation and structure

See main article: Structure of the British Army The structure of the British Army is complex, due to the different origins of its various constituent parts. In terms of the nature of its servicemen, it is divided into the Regular Army (full-time professional soldiers) and the Territorial Army (part-time paid soldiers). In terms of its military structure it is divided into corps (administrative groupings by common function), and divisions and brigades (large formations, somewhat fluid in nature).

The regiment is in some respects the most important unit of the British Army. It is the largest "permanent" tactical unit in most corps, although it is only an administrative and ceremonial grouping of battalions in the infantry. Typically, a regiment or battalion consists of around 700 soldiers and is commanded by a Lieutenant-Colonel. Many infantry regiments today consist of only one regular battalion, although many also contain another Territorial Army battalion.

Infantry organisation:

Brigade
- Battalion, commanded by a Lieutenant-Colonel, the Commanding Officer (CO).
  - Company of about 100 soldiers, commanded by a Major, the Officer Commanding (OC).
    - Platoon of about 30 soldiers, commanded by a Second Lieutenant or Lieutenant, with a Sergeant overseeing the day to day running of the platoon.
      - Section of about 8 to 10 soldiers, commanded by a Corporal with a Lance-Corporal acting as second in command (2IC).

The Royal Armoured Corps uses Regiment, Squadron and Troop in place of Battalion, Company and Platoon.

Sections can be subdivided into two fire teams for tactical purposes.

Aerial Components

The British Army is heavily in co-operation with the RAF for air support but the army also has its own Army Air Corps.

The AAC has in its arsenal:

Westland Apache Helicopters

Westland Lynx Helicopters

Westland Gazelle Helicopters

Bell 212 Helicopters

Britten-Norman Islander Aircraft

Battlegroups

The main tactical formation in the British Army is the battlegroup. This is a mixed formation of armour, infantry, artillery, engineers and support units, and is structured according to whatever task it is called on to perform ; it is formed around the core of either an armoured regiment or infantry battalion, and has other units added or removed from it as necessary. A battlegroup will typically consist of between 600 and 700 soldiers under the command of a Lt. Colonel.

Special Forces

See main article, United Kingdom Special Forces

The British army contributes 2 of the 4 special forces branches to the UK armed forces. Its largest and most famous special forces branch is the The Special Air Service (SAS). The SAS, which was formed in 1942, is seen by many as the role model for every other Special Force in the world.

Today the regiment remains one of the prime anti-terrorist, hostage rescue and covert fighting units in the world. Its headquarters are at the Duke of York Barracks in London whilst the training and depot headquarters are located in Hereford and there is a second Garison at Wolverhampton. Today it consists of 5 squadrons: A, B, D, Guard and Reserve.

The other special forces unit of the British Army is the Special Reconnaissance Regiment (SRR) which was formed in 2005. This unit specialises in reconnaissance and surveillance on suspected threats to national security and suspected terrorists.

Recruitment

The Army mainly recruits within the United Kingdom, and normally has a recruitment target of around 25,000 soldiers per year. Low unemployment in Britain has resulted in the Army having difficulty in meeting its target, and in the early years of the 21st century there has been a marked increase in the number of recruits from other (mostly Commonwealth) countries, who as of mid-2004 comprised approximately 7.5% of the Army's total strength. By 2005 this number had risen to almost 10%. There were 6,460 foreign soldiers from 54 countries in the Army (not counting over 3,000 Nepalese Gurkhas). After Nepal, the nation with most citizens in the British Army is Fiji, with 1,965, followed by Jamaica with 975; soldiers also come from more prosperous countries such as Australia and South Africa (650). The Caribbean island of St Lucia, which has a population of just over 150,000, provides 220 soldiers.Graeme Wilson One in 10 soldiers is recruited overseas in the Daily Telegraph 13 April, 2006

In 2003, nearly 10,000 teenagers joined the army, including more than 3000 16-year-olds.Tom Wall Our boy soldiers in The New Statesman 6 December 2004

Oath of Allegiance

All soldiers must take an oath of allegiance upon joining the Army: this is known as "attestation". Those who believe in God use the following words:

I swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, her heirs and successors and that I will as in duty bound honestly and faithfully defend Her Majesty, her heirs and successors in person, crown and dignity against all enemies and will observe and obey all orders of Her Majesty, her heirs and successors and of the generals and officers set over me. ^*

Others replace the words "swear by Almighty God" with "solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm".

Flags and ensigns

The British Army does not have its own specific ensign, unlike the Royal Navy, which uses the White Ensign, and the RAF, which uses the Royal Air Force Ensign. Instead, the Army has different flags and ensigns, for the entire army and the different regiments and corps. The official flag of the Army as a whole is the Union Flag, flown in ratio 3:5. A non-ceremonial flag also exists, which is used at recruiting events, military events and exhibitions. Whilst at war, the Union Flag is always used, and this flag represents the Army on the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London (the UK's memorial to war dead). A British Army ensign also exists for vessels commanded by a commissioned officer, the Blue Ensign defaced with the Army badge. However, there are currently no commissioned vessels in the Army.

Each line regiment (except the Rifle Regiments) also has its own flags, known as the Colours - the Regimental Colour and the Queen's Colour. These colours have been taken into battle in the past and serve as a great sense of pride to the regiment. There is great variation in the different regimental colours. Typically the colour has the regiment's badge in the centre.

Ranks, Specialisms and insignia

¹ Now an honorary or wartime rank only.

Abbreviation	FM	Gen.	Lt-Gen.	Maj-Gen.	Brig.	Col.	Lt-Col.	Maj.	Capt.	Lt.	2nd Lt.

Every regiment and corps has its own distinctive insignia, such as cap badge, beret and stable belt.

Throughout the army there are many official specialisms. They do not affect rank, but they do affect pay bands.

Band 2 Specialisms:	Band 3 Specialisms:
Bandsman	Survey Technician
Farrier	Lab Technician
Driver Tank Transporter	Registered General Nurse
Radar Operator	Telcom Op (Special)
Meteorologist	Aircraft Technician
Bomb Disposal Engineer	SAS Soldier
Telcom Op (Linguist)
Operator Special Intelligence
Construction Materials Technician
Gun Fitter
Driver Specialist
Vehicle Electrician
Armoured Engineer

Royal Navy and RAF Infantry Units

Not all British infrantry units are part of the British Army. The Royal Marines and the Special Boat Service are part of the Royal Navy, and the RAF has its own Regiment.

External links

Footnotes

British Army | 1707 establishments

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