British Army

A shrinking force, still primarily an infantry force, and the European army with the most experience in worldwide deployment. The basic structures have changed little, and the introduction of new equipment has always been slow, due to lack of funds. Cross attachment is practiced, but brigade structures are rigid unlike those of the American army.

British Brigade Headquarters 1958 to 1968 (May command 3 battalions)

HQ                                           1 HQ

1 Engineer Squadron               3 Truck, 3 Engr

1 Helicopter Flight                   2 Sioux, 2 Scout

Note                                                                             Armored brigades use the Saracen, others use trucks. Mechanized Brigades command one armored regiment, one armored infantry battalion and two mechanized infantry battalions.

British Infantry Brigade Headquarters 1969 to 1997 (May command 5 Battalions)

HQ                                           1 HQ

1 Engineer Squadron               3 Truck, 3 Engr

1 Helicopter Flight                   2 Gazelle, 3 Lynx/TOW

1 Anti Tank Battery                  4 FV438 or Striker

1 Air Defense Battery               3 Truck, 3 Blowpipe/Javelin [Javelin 1984]  

Note                                                                             Sioux remained in service until 1978, and Scout until 1985. If the Lynx is unarmed they can lift one infantry company.  Mechanized Brigades command one armored regiment, one armored infantry battalion and two mechanized infantry battalions.

British Armored Brigade Headquarters 1969 to 1997 (Commands 3 or 4 Battalion/Regiment)

HQ                                           1 HQ

1 Engineer Squadron               3 FV432, 3 Engr, 1 CEV, 1 AVRE

Air Defense Battery                  3 Spartan, 3 Blowpipe/Javelin [Javelin 1984]

1 Helicopter Flight                   2 Gazelle, 2 Lynx/TOW

Note                                                                             Sioux remained in service until 1978, and Scout until 1985. If the Lynx is unarmed they can lift one infantry company. The MBT can carry CO and may be:

                                                            Centurion 13 to 1975

                                                            Chieftain to 1995

                                                            Challenger I from 1986

                                                            Challenger II from 1996

Sultans entered in service in 1974 prior to then use FV 432, this may be used anyway.

British Tank Regiment 1958 to 1968

HQ                                                                               1 HQ, 2 Conqueror, 2 Sioux, 1 Ferret

            Recce Section             2 Ferret 2 

3 Squadrons                            5 Comet or Centurion 5, or Centurion 8 or Centurion 13

Note                                                                             Comets represent reserve regiments; they were probably replaced by 1965. The Conqueror Troops were removed by 1967; they were not issued to regiments with Centurion 13.   

British Tank Regiment 1969 to 1997

HQ                                                                               1 HQ, 1 AVLB

Recce Section                         2 Ferret 4 or 2 Scimitar

1 Anti Tank Troop                    2 FV438

3 or 4 Squadrons each             4 or 5 Centurion or Chieftain or Challenger I or II

Note                                                                             The AVLB is Centurion to 1979 or Chieftain from 1975. Chieftain regiments may have had 4 Tank troops from 1983 to 1987. The regiment may add one infantry company, or exchange one company/squadron with a mechanized battalion.

British Infantry Battalion 1958 to 1967

HQ                                           1 HQ, 1 MG      

3 Rifle Companies each           3 Rifle

1 Anti Tank Platoon                 2 LR/120

1 Mortar Battery                       2 Truck, 2 76M

Note                                                                             This unit may be on foot, as above, Motorized or Armored with Saracen or Humber Pig.

British Mechanized Battalion 1968 to 1978

HQ                                                                               1 HQ, 2 Ferret 1

Recce Section             2 Ferret 4

3 Rifle Companies each           3 FV432, 3 Rifle

1 Anti Tank Platoon                 2 FV432/Wombat

1 Mortar Platoon                      2 FV432M

Note                                         Saracen could be substituted up to 1970.

 

British Mechanized Battalion 1976 to 1990

HQ                                                                               1 HQ, 2 Ferret 1

            Recce Section             2 Scimitar

3 Rifle Companies each           3 FV432, 3 Rifle            

1 Anti Tank Platoon                 2 FV432, 2 Milan

1 GW Platoon                          1 FV438

1 Mortar Platoon                      2 FV432M

Note                                                                             Wombat could replace the Milan up to 1978.

British Royal Marine Battalion 1976 to 1997

HQ                                                                               1 HQ

            Recce Section             2 LR/MG, 1 LR

3 Rifle Companies each           3 BV206, 3 Rifle            

1 Anti Tank Platoon                 2 BV206, 2 Milan

1 Pioneer Platoon                    1 BV206, 1 Engr

1 Mortar Platoon                      1 BV206, 1 81M

Note                                                                             Wombat could replace the Milan up to 1978..

British Armored Infantry Battalion 1987 to 1997

HQ                                                                               1 HQ

            Recce Section                         2 Scimitar

3 Rifle Companies each           3 Warrior, 3 Rifle, 3 Milan

1 Mortar Platoon                      2 FV432M

1 Anti Tank Platoon                 2 Spartan MCT

Note                                                                             Up armored Warriors (Warrior UG) may be used in an “Action” situation, such as the Gulf or Bosnia. In a defensive role the Warriors form a separate company operating in a fire support role.  There are very few battalions equipped with warrior and all are deployed within the armored divisions in continental Europe.

British Airmobile Infantry Battalion 1967 to 1997

HQ                                                                               1 HQ, 1 MG, 1 Engr, 1 Truck

Recce Platoon                         2 LR, 2 Scout

3 Infantry Companies each      3 Rifle

1 Mortar Battery                       2 LR, 2 Trucks, 2 81M, 1 OP, 1 HQ

1 Anti Tank Platoon                 2 LR, 2 120RR

Or                                2 LR, 2 Milan (From 1978)

Note                                                                             This organization is used by most British Infantry units, including Marines, Paras, and Ghurkas. The unit maybe motorized with trucks or Saxon.  The unit may be lifted in Puma, or Wessex, and Lynx helicopters. This organization, with Milan is correct for the Falklands in theory, but many units reorganized themselves for the task.  In 2000 double the size of the anti tank platoon.

British Artillery Regiment 1956 to 1965

HQ                                                                               1 HQ

3 Batteries each                                   1 FAO, 2 Trucks and 2 25H or 2 105H or 2 5.5H or 2 203H, or 2 M44

Note                                                                              M44 are for an armored brigade, 25H for an Infantry brigade. 5.5” guns are divisional level weapons, and M115 corps level. 105H started to replace 25H from 1960.

British Armored Division Artillery Brigade 1964 to 1984

2 Light Regiment HQ each       1 HQ

            3 Batteries each           1 FAO, 2 Abbot

1 Heavy Regiment HQ              1 HQ

2 Batteries each           1 FAO, 2 M109

1 Battery                      1 FAO, 2 Abbot

Note                                                                             Individual batteries may be attached to Armored Regiments or Mechanized battalions. M110 battery is intended to fire counter battery fire Corps level artillery had M110 and M107 in Regiments of 3 batteries.

British Armored Division Artillery Brigade 1983 to 1997

3 Light Regiment HQ each       1 HQ

            3 Batteries each           1 FAO, 2 Abbot

            Or                                1 FAO, 2 M109

            Or                                1 FAO, 2 AS90

1 Heavy Regiment HQ              1 HQ

                        3 Batteries each           1 FAO, 2 M110

                        Or                                1 FAO, 2 MRLS

Note                                                                             Abbots appear to have been out of service by 1990/1, only M109 were taken to the Gulf. AS90 started entering service in 1991, post Desert Sabre, and may have fully replaced M109.  MRLS is post Gulf as well.

British Artillery Division Artillery Regiment 1984 to 1997  

            3 Batteries each                       1 FAO, 2 M107

                        Or                                1 FAO, 2 M110

            Or                                1 FAO, 2 MRLS

Note                                                                             M107 and M110 are to be replaced by MLRS. M107 went first by 1990, but M110 were still in service in 1991, and remained until 1993.

British Medium Air Defense Regiment 1985 to 1997

2 Towed Batteries each           4 Truck, 2 Rapier          

2 Self-Propelled Batteries ea   2 TR1, 2 M548

Note                                         These units may be attached out as individual troops.

British Light Air Defense Regiment 1997 to 2003

3 Self-Propelled Batteries ea   4 Starstreak

Note                                         These units may be attached out as individual troops.

British Towed Artillery Regiment 1966 to 1997

3 Batteries each                                   1 FAO, 2 Trucks, 2 105H or 5.5H or 155H

Note                                                                             105Ha were replaced in front line units by 1983. 5.5” guns remained until 1980, but 155H entered service in 1978. Airmobile units used the 105H and NATO brigades used the 155H.                                

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British Medium Recce Regiment 1958 to 1976

1 Flight                                                2 Sioux

1 Assault Squadron                  3 Saracen, 3 Rifle

3 Recce Squadrons each         2 Saladin, 2 Ferret 2 or 1 Ferret 2 and 1 Ferret 6

British Light Recce Regiment 1970 to 1986 (Territorial Army)

4 Recce Squadrons each         4 Fox, 1 Saracen 1 Rifle and 1 Ferret 6

British Medium Recce Regiment Germany 1972 to 1997

HQ                                                                               1 HQ, 2 Ferret 1

3 Squadrons each                                1 Spartan, 1 Striker, 4 Scorpion or 2 Scorpion, 2 Scimitar

Note                                                                             Units in NATO have all Scorpion Squadrons; other units have Mixed Scorpion/Scimitar Squadrons.  Scorpion replaced by Scimitar in 1999.  Scimitar is replaced by Sabre in 2003.

British Engineer Regiment 1976 to 2003

HQ                                                                               1 HQ

1 Field Squadron                                 3 Engr, 3 FV432

1 Armored Squadron                           1 AVLB, 1 AVRE, 1 Engr, 1 FV432, 1 Bridge

1 Support Squadron                            1 FV180, 1 Bridge, 1 Truck

Helicopter Regiment 1996 to 2003

2 Transport Squadrons each    3 Lynx (Commando Regiment has Sea King)

2 Attack Helicopter Sqns ea     5 AH64 (Commando Regiment has 2 Lynx and 3 Gazelle)

Large Units:

Armored Division – 3 Armored Brigades, 4 Engineer Regiment, 1 Air Defense Regiment, 1 Helicopter Regiment, 1 Recce Regiment, 1 Artillery Brigade (3 Field Regiments, 1 Heavy Regiment)

Infantry Division – 2 Mechanized Brigades, 2 Engineer Regiment, 1 Air Defense Regiment, 1 Helicopter Regiment, 1 Recce Regiment, 1 Artillery Brigade (3 Field Regiments, 1 Heavy Regiment)

Mechanized Division – 3 Mechanized Brigades, 4 Engineer Regiment, 1 Air Defense Regiment, 1 Helicopter Regiment, 1 Recce Regiment, 1 Artillery Brigade (3 Field Regiments, 1 Heavy Regiment)

Field Force – 2 Infantry Brigades, 1 Armored Brigade, 1 Engineer Regiment, 1 Light Air Defense Regiment (Javelin), 1 Helicopter Battalion, 1 Medium Recce Regiment, 1 Artillery Brigade (Towed), 1 Helicopter Regiment

3^rd Commando Brigade – 3 Commando Battalions, 1 Engineer Squadron, 1 Field Artillery Regiment (towed 105mm), 1 Air Defence Troop, 1 Helicopter Regiment

16^th Air Assault Brigade - 5 Airmobile Battalions, 1 Engineer Regiment, 1 Field Artillery Regiment (towed 105mm), 1 Air Defence Troop, 3 Helicopter Regiments, RAF Support Unit (6 CH47 and 6 Puma)

Territorial Army Brigade – 1 Light Recce Regiment, 5 Lorried Infantry Battalions, 1 Towed 105mm Artillery Battalion, 1  Detachment (Javelin), 1 Engineer Squadron