Structure of the British Army Totally Explained

Everything about Structure Of The British Army totally explained

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.
Naming conventions of units differ for traditional 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 may include several battalions. For operational tasks a battle group will be formed around a combat unit, supported by units or sub-units from other areas. Such an example would be a squadron of tanks attached to an armoured infantry battle group, together with a reconnaissance troop, artillery battery and engineering support.

Formations

Land Command

Land Command Headquarters is at Wilton, Wiltshire and has two main subdivisions, Field Army and Regional Forces. Commander Field Army commands 1st (Armoured) Division, 3rd (Mechanised) Division, Theatre Troops, and Director General Training Support. Commander Regional Forces commands 2nd Division, 4th Division, 5th Division 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.

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's 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 more formally used for administrative groupings by common function, such as the Royal Armoured Corps and Army Air Corps, with various Combat Support Arms and Services being referred to in the wider sense as a Corps, such as the Royal Corps of Signals.

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.

UK Defence Secretary Des Browne, during July 2007, announced the creation of another "two star" headquarters, to be known as HQ 6th Division. This unit will be a deployable headquarters unit to support deployed forces in Afghanistan. It is to be provisionally created until 2011.
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.

2nd Division - (Scotland and the North of England)

4th Division - (East Midlands and South East England)

5th Division - (Wales, West Midlands and South West England)

Headquarters Northern Ireland

London District HQ Northern Ireland is slightly different from the other national regenerative formations in that it not only has responsibility for the army stationed in the province, but also for units of both the RAF and the Royal Navy. As a consequence, the Commander of HQ Northern Ireland held the rank of Lt General until 2007. With the improvement of the security situation, the structure of the army in Northern Ireland has altered, with a single regional brigade being formed from the amalgamation of 39 Infantry Brigade and 107 (Ulster) Brigade.
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.
Several Infantry regiments are organised into five administrative Divisions based on the type of infantry unit or traditional recruiting areas:

Guards Division

Scottish Division

King's Division

Prince of Wales' Division

Queen's Division

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 deploy up to three separate battlegroups, the primary tactical formation employed in British doctrine. The battlegroup is 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.

Key

Armoured Regiment

Armoured Infantry Battalion

Artillery Regiment

Army Air Corps Detachment

Provost Unit

Royal Logistic Corps Squadron

Engineer Squadron

Javelin Air Defence Battery

Long-Range Anti-Tank Guided Weapons Troop

Mechanised Infantry Battalion

Combat formations

12 Mechanised Brigade

16 Air Assault Brigade

19 Light Brigade

20 Armoured Brigade

52 Infantry Brigade

Administrative Formations

United Kingdom Special Forces

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 Royal Horse Artillery parades with its guns.

Arms and Services

Combat Arms

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

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 isn't considered to be part of the RAC.

Armoured Regiments	ormation Reconnaissance Regiments
Royal Scots Dragoon Guards	Household Cavalry Regiment
The Royal Dragoon Guards	1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards
The Queen's Royal Hussars	9th/12th Royal Lancers
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.

Infantry

The Infantry is divided for administrative purposes into five divisions with battalions being trained and equipped to operate in one of five main roles:

Public Duties 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. Personnel will be "trickle posted" between battalions of the same regiment as required, and to further their careers.

Guards Division	b>Scottish Division	b>King's Division	b>Prince of Wales' Division	b>Queen's Division
1st Bn, Grenadier Guards	The Royal Scots Borderers, (1st Bn, The Royal Regiment of Scotland)	1st & 2nd Bn, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (King's Lancashire and Border)	1st, 2nd & 3rd Bn, The Mercian 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 & 2nd Bn, The Royal Anglian Regiment
1st Bn, Irish Guards	The Highlanders (4th Bn, The Royal Regiment of Scotland)			The Royal Gibraltar Regiment
1st Bn, Welsh Guards	The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (5th Bn, The Royal Regiment of Scotland)

Four further infantry units in the regular army are not grouped within the various infantry divisions:

1st Bn, The Royal Irish Regiment (27th (Inniskilling) 83rd and 87th and The Ulster Defence Regiment)

2nd & 3rd Bn, The Parachute Regiment

1st & 2nd Bn, The Royal Gurkha Rifles

1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th Bn, The Rifles. The role of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment is limited to the defence of Gibraltar.

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.

Special Forces

Special Air Service - The regular army's special forces formation is a single, battalion sized unit, 22nd SAS Regiment.

Special Reconnaissance Regiment - A tri-service element of the United Kingdom Special Forces alongside the SAS and Special Boat Service.

Special Forces Support Group - A tri-service unit formed around 1st Battalion, Parachute Regiment and enhanced with personnel from Combat Support Services, the Royal Marines and RAF Regiment. SFSG is designed to provide support to Special Forces operations. Note: UKSF is considered a joint organisation and as such falls outside the Army chain of command.

Army Air Corps

The Army Air Corps provides 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

Combat Support Arms

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

Royal Regiment of Artillery

The Royal Artillery consists of 16 regiments, four of which retain the cap badge and traditions of the Royal Horse Artillery. The Royal Artillery undertakes seven different roles:

Home Defence	ir Defence	eneral Support (MLRS)	lose Support (AS90)	lose Support (L118 Light Gun)	urveillance and Target Acquisition	raining
King's Troop, RHA	12 Regiment RA	39 Regiment RA	1st Regiment RHA	7th (Para) Regiment RHA	5 Regiment RA	14 Regiment RA
	16 Regiment RA		3rd Regiment RHA	29 (Cdo) Regiment RA	32 Regiment RA
	47 Regiment RA		4 Regiment RA	40 Regiment RA
			19 Regiment RA
			26 Regiment RA

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:

21 Engineer Regiment - 4th Mechanised Brigade

22 Engineer Regiment - 1st Mechanised Brigade

23 Engineer Regiment - 16th Air Assault Brigade

24 Engineer Regiment - 3rd Commando Brigade (This regiment is to form in 2007)

To subsume 59 Independent Commando Squadron

25 Engineer Regiment - HQ Northern Ireland

26 Engineer Regiment - 12th Mechanised Brigade

28 Engineer Regiment - 1st (UK) Armoured Division

32 Engineer Regiment - 7th Armoured Brigade

33 Engineer Regiment - Explosive Ordnance Disposal

35 Engineer Regiment - 20th Armoured Brigade

36 Engineer Regiment - 3rd (UK) Division

38 Engineer Regiment - 19th Light Brigade

42 Engineer Regiment - Geographic services

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); responsible 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

Two squadrons of 36 Engineer Regiment are cap badged as Queen's Gurkha Engineers and are manned predominantly by Gurkhas.

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 Signallers 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

Squadrons

200 Signal Squadron - 20 Armoured Brigade
204 Signal Squadron - 4 Mechanised 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

Two squadrons are cap badged as the Queen's Gurkha Signals and are manned predominantly by Gurkhas.

Intelligence Corps

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

1 Military Intelligence Battalion

2 Military Intelligence Battalion

4 Military Intelligence Battalion

15 (UK) Psychological Operations Group

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:

1st Royal Tank Regiment - 2 Squadrons

No 27 Squadron, Royal Air Force Regiment

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.

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

20 Logistic Support Squadron, London District

44 Support Squadron (Royal Military Academy Sandhurst)

89 Postal and Courier Unit (SHAPE)

105 Logistic Support Squadron (BATUS)

132 Aviation Supply Squadron (16 Air Assault Brigade)

Cyprus Service Support Unit (British Forces Cyprus)

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:

1st Battalion, REME - 4 Mechanised Brigade

2nd Battalion, REME - 7 Armoured Brigade

3rd Battalion, REME - 20 Armoured Brigade

4th Battalion, REME - 12 Mechanised Brigade

19 Combat Service Support Battalion - 19 Light Brigade

6th Battalion, REME - 1 Mechanised Brigade

7th Battalion, REME - 16 Air Assault Brigade

Medical services

The Army Medical Services provide primary and secondary care for the armed forces in fixed locations and whilst deployed on operations. Personnel are attached to a parent unit, one of five field regiments or the defence medical services. The AMS comprises four different Corps providing the range of medical and veterinary care, with the Royal Army Medical Corps also providing the administrative framework for the regiments.

Royal Army Medical Corps

1 Close Support Medical Regiment - 1st Armoured Division
3 Close Support Medical Regiment - 3rd Mechanized Division
4 General Support Medical Regiment - 101 Logistic Brigade
5 General Support Medical Regiment - 102 Logistic Brigade
16 Close Support Medical Regiment - 16 Air Assault Brigade

Royal Army Dental Corps

Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps

Royal Army Veterinary Corps

Administrative and Disciplinary services

The Adjutant General's Corps provides administrative, police and disciplinary and educational support to the army. The AGC is an amalgamation with three of the constituent units retaining their previous cap badge. Personnel from the AGC administrative and educational specialisations serve in attached posts to establishments or units of other arms. The police and disciplinary activities retain their own cap badges and act as discrete bodies. The Corps as a whole is divided into four separate branches:

Staff and Personnel Branch: The SPS branch is the largest part of the AGC and has responsibility for providing most administrative functions, including finance, IT support, human resources. The SPS branch was formed by the amalgamation of the Royal Army Pay Corps with elements of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps and Women's Royal Army Corps.

Education and Training Services Branch: The ETS branch provides for the educational needs of all serving personnel. These cover both professional development within the army, and wider personal development. The ETS branch was formed through the renaming of the Royal Army Educational Corps.

Army Legal Services Branch: The ALS branch provides legal advice to the army and to individuals requiring representation at Courts Martial. It is one of the smallest individual units, numbering 120 professionally qualified lawyers. All of its members are officers. The ALS branch retains the cap badge and traditions of the Army Legal Corps.

Provost Branch: The Provost branch consists of three separate elements:

Military Provost Staff: The MPS is the element of the provost branch responsible for administering military prisons. The MPS is one of the few elements in the army that doesn't recruit directly; instead, its members are volunteers from other branches of the army. The MPS retains the cap badge and traditions of the Military Provost Staff Corps.
Royal Military Police: The RMP provides the army's policing services, both in peacetime and in wartime. Units of the RMP are trained to deploy with the Field Army in the event of mobilisation. The RMP provides two regular regiments and supplements TA regiments with one Provost company each. A further provost company is trained in the air assault mission and is permanently attached to 16 Air Assault Brigade. The Corps also provides a number of specialist capabilities such as the Special Investigation Branch, Close Protection Teams and special escort capabilities.
- 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 - Air assault
Military Provost Guard Service: The MPGS is a unit dedicated to the guarding of military installations, allowing the army to replace civilian guards with trained soldiers. The MPGS has responsibilities at installations belonging to all three services.

Other Services

Royal Army Chaplains' Department

Army Physical Training Corps

Small Arms School Corps

Corps of Army Music

Training

Training in the British Army differs for soldiers and officers but in general takes place in at least two phases:
Phase one training is basic military training for all new recruits. Here candidates learn the basic standards of military performance including operation in the field, weapon handling, personal administration, drill etc.

Prospective officers attend the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, where they undergo basic training in soldiering, defence policy and the structure of government, administration, command and leadership. The Commissioning Course for new entry officers lasts 44 weeks. Some specialist branches, Medical and Legal, undergo a short course which provides basic military training.

Infantry soldiers undergo a 24 week course at the Infantry Training Centre at Catterick Garrison which combines phase one and phase two training. Infantry officers undergo Phase two training at ITC on completion of the Commissioning Course

Soldiers in other specialisations undergo the 20 week Army Development Course at one of four Army Training Regiments; Bassingbourne, Lichfield, Pirbright or Winchester, or the Army Foundation College, Harrogate. Phase two training is specific to the trade which the soldier or officer will follow and is conducted in a branch specialised school. Phase two training enables the individual to join an operational unit prepared to contribute to operational effectiveness. These schools are under the direction of the parent corps or arm of the service, as illustrated above, with the Infantry Training Centre being formed of four training battalions.

Units of the Territorial Army

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:

Royal Yeomanry

Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry

Royal Wessex Yeomanry

Queen's Own Yeomanry

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:

51st Highland, 7th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland

52nd Lowland, 6th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland

3rd Battalion, The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires)

The London Regiment

4th Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (King's, Lancashire and Border)

5th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

3rd Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment

4th Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment (14th/15th, 19th and 33rd/76th Foot)

4th Battalion, The Mercian Regiment

3rd Battalion, The Royal Welsh

2nd Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment (27th (Inniskilling), 83rd, 87th and Ulster Defence Regiment)

4th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment

6th Battalion, The Rifles

7th Battalion, The Rifles

21st Special Air Service Regiment (Artist's)

23rd Special Air Service Regiment 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.

Royal Artillery (TA)

Air Defence	eneral Support (MLRS)	lose Support (Light Gun)	urveillance and Target Acquisition
104 Regiment RA(V)	101 (Northumbrian) Regiment RA(V)	100 (Yeomanry) Regiment RA(V)	Honourable Artillery Company
105 Regiment RA(V)		103 Regiment RA(V)
106 (Yeomanry) Regiment RA(V)

Note: Although the Honourable Artillery Company currently has an Artillery role, it's a separate regiment in its own right, with its own colours, uniforms and traditions.

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's a separate regiment with its own cap badge, regimental colours and traditions.

Royal Signals (TA)

31 (City of London) Signal Regiment

32 (Scottish) Signal Regiment

33 (Lancashire and Cheshire) Signal Regiment

34 (Northern) Signal Regiment

35 (South Midlands) Signal Regiment

36 (Eastern) Signal Regiment

37 (Wessex and Welsh) Signal Regiment

38 (City of Sheffield) Signal Regiment

39 (Skinners) Signal Regiment

40 (Ulster) Signal Regiment

71 (Yeomanry) Signal Regiment

Intelligence Corps (TA)

3 (Volunteer) Military Intelligence Battalion

(Strategic Intelligence)

5 (Volunteer) Military Intelligence Battalion (Tactical Intelligence)

Army Air Corps (TA)

6 Regiment, Army Air Corps (Volunteers)

7 Regiment, Army Air Corps (Volunteers)

Services (TA)

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

Adjutant General's Corps

4 Regiment, Royal Military Police
5 Regiment, Royal Military Police

Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

101 Battalion (V), REME
102 Battalion (V), REME
103 Battalion (V), REME
104 Battalion (V), REME

Royal Logistic Corps

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
B250(Hull) Field Ambulance
253 (North Irish) Field Ambulance
254 (City of Cambridge) Field Ambulance
256 (City of London) Field Hospital
306 Field Hospital
335 Medical Evacuation Regiment
AMS Manpower Pool
First Aid Nursing Yeomanry

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.

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:

Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment

Nijmegen Company, Grenadier Guards

No 7 Company, Coldstream Guards

F Company, Scots Guards

Gun Salutes

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

King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery

Honourable Artillery Company

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:

Her Majesty's Bodyguard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms

Queen's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard

Royal Company of Archers, the Queen's Bodyguard for Scotland 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.

Others

Yeomen Warders of Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress the Tower of London: This corps provides the ceremonial guard at the Tower of London, with responsibility for guarding any prisoners housed in the fortress, and ensuring the security of the crown jewels. The most notable ceremony that the Yeoman Warders participate in is the Ceremony of the Keys. However, they also form a guard of honour in the annexe of Westminster Abbey at the coronation service.

Military Knights of Windsor: This is a small formation of retired army officers, who receive a pension and accommodation at Windsor Castle. They lead the procession of the Garter Knights on Garter Day.

Pikemen and Musketeers of the Honourable Artillery Company. The Pikemen and Musketeers (formed 1925, given a Royal Warrant 1955) are made up of veteran members of the HAC Regiment, they're the personal bodyguard of the Lord Mayor of London and form his Guard on ceremonial occasions.

High Constables of Holyroodhouse: This is the ceremonial guard of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, which parades whenever the Sovereign is in Edinburgh.

In-Pensioners of the Royal Hospital: While not strictly speaking a corps, the In-Pensioners of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea form a significant part of the army's heritage and history, and often take part in major occasions, especially those of remembrance.

Atholl Highlanders: A further ceremonial unit is the Atholl Highlanders. This is unique in that it's the only legal private army in Europe; instead of being in the service of the Crown, it's in the service of the Duke of Atholl.

Restructuring

In July 2004 and December 2004 a significant restructuring of the armed forces was announced with a wide ranging impact on all three services. For the army the infantry strength was to be reduced by four infantry battalions (three English and one Scottish) with the remaining single battalion regiments amalgamating within their division; Scottish, King's and Prince of Wales's. The armoured strength was to be rebalanced reducing the strength by seven Challenger 2 squadrons by re-roling one regiment as force reconnaissance. The artillery strength was to be rebalanced, reducing AS-90 battery numbers by six by re-roling a regiment to the light gun and reducing the size of individual Ground Based Air Defence batteries.
The brigade structure was to be restructured to become:

Two Armoured Brigades - 7 Armoured Brigade and 20 Armoured Brigade.

Three Mechanized Brigades - 1 Mechanised Brigade, 4 Mechanised Brigade and 12 Mechanised Brigade.

One Light Role Brigade - 19 Brigade.

One Infantry Brigade - 52 Infantry Brigade.

One Air Assault Brigade - 16 Air Assault Brigade.

One Commando Brigade - 3 Commando Brigade. (This is a Royal Naval Commando formation, not part of the Army Chain of Command)

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.

Guards Division

Although there will remain five single battalion Guards regiments, operationally these will conform to the new structure, with each battalion being given a specific role (1 armoured infantry, 2 light infantry, 2 public duties). Operationally therefore, the Guards will be a single large regiment. The London Regiment will be transferred to the Guards Division, and become the Guards TA battalion.

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.

Bands

The British Army has 23 military bands of varying strength. There are seven bands which 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. The Bands of the Household Cavalry also play mounted.

New Infantry Structure and Order of Precedence

Regular Army

Guards Division	a href=http://Scottish_Division.totallyexplained.com title="Scottish Division - Totally Explained">Scottish Division	a href=http://King_s_Division.totallyexplained.com title="King's Division - Totally Explained">King's Division	a href=http://Prince_of_Wales__Division.totallyexplained.com title="Prince of Wales' Division - Totally Explained">Prince of Wales' Division	a href=http://Queen_s_Division.totallyexplained.com title="Queen's Division - Totally Explained">Queen's Division	a href=http://Light_Division.totallyexplained.com title="Light Division - Totally Explained">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

1st Bn, Royal Irish Regiment

1st & 2nd Bn, Royal Gurkha Rifles

2nd & 3rd Bn, Parachute Regiment

22nd SAS Regiment

1st Bn, Parachute Regiment/JSFG

Royal Gibraltar Regiment

Territorial Army

Guards Division	cottish Division	ing's Division	rince of Wales' Division	ueen's Division	ight 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

Royal Irish Rangers

4th Bn, Parachute Regiment

21st and 23rd SAS RegimentFurther Information

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