The British Army, 2008–2009

A Pocket Guide

Charles Heyman

• Publisher: Pen & Sword Military
• Year: 2020
• Print ISBN: 9781844156443
• eBook ISBN: 9781783408115
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: History Reference
• Index: History

The British Army Pocket Guide 2008–2009 is a comprehensive guide to the organization, equipment and tactics of today's British Army. This latest edition incorporates details of all army reorganization and regimental amalgamations plus details of major systems and equipment introduced.

CHAPTER 1 – THE MANAGEMENT OF DEFENCE

GENERAL INFORMATION

Populations – European Union – Top Five Nations (2007 estimates)

Germany	82 million
France	60 million
Italy	58 million
United Kingdom	60 million
Spain	40 million

Finance – European Union – Top Five Nations (2006 Figures)

	GDP	Per Capita Income
Germany	US$2,970 bn	US$36,100
United Kingdom	US$2,430 bn	US$40,233
France	US$2,270 bn	US$37,300
Italy	US$1,880 bn	US$32,400
Spain	US$1,250 bn	US$30,900

UK Population – 58.7 million (2001 census)

The population split in Northern Ireland is approximately 56% Protestant and 41% Roman Catholic with the remaining 3% not falling into either classification (2001 Census).

UK Area (in square kilometres)

England	–	130,423
Wales	–	20,766
Scotland	–	77,167
Northern Ireland	–	14,121
Total	–	242,477

UK Population Breakdown – Military Service Groups (2007 estimates)

There are about 10.9 million in the 0 – 14 age group and about 9 million in the age group 65+.

Government

The executive government of the United Kingdom is vested nominally in the Crown, but for practical purposes in a committee of Ministers that is known as the Cabinet. The head of the Ministry and leader of the Cabinet is the Prime Minister and for the implementation of policy, the Cabinet is dependent upon the support of a majority of the Members of Parliament in the House of Commons. Within the Cabinet, defence matters are the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Defence. The Secretary of State for Defence has three principal deputies; the Minister for the Armed Forces; Minister for Defence Equipment and Support Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans Affairs.

TOTAL BRITISH ARMED FORCES

Regular: 190,420 (1 Apr 2007) Regular Reserves 201,650 (1 Apr 2006); Volunteer Reserves 39,600 (1 Apr 2006); Cadet Forces 132,700 (1 Apr 2006); MoD Civilians 98,050 (1 Apr 2007).

Regular Army 106,200 (1 Apr 2007 – trained and untrained but excluding Gurkhas); Royal Navy 38,860 (1 Apr 2007 – including 7,400 Royal Marines); Royal Air Force 45,360 (1 Apr 2007).

Strategic Forces:

Strategic Forces are provided by the Royal Navy: 4 x Vanguard Class submarines each with up to 16 x Trident (D5) Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBM) deploying with up to 48 x warheads per submarine. If necessary a D5 missile could deploy with 12 MIRV (multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles). Future plans appear to be for a stockpile of 200 operationally available warheads and 58 missile bodies.

Royal Navy: 38,860 (including 7,400 Royal Marines) 10 x Tactical Submarines; 3 x Aircraft Carriers; 1 x Helicopter Carrier; 2 x Assault Ships; 3 x Landing Ships; 26 x Destroyers and Frigates; 16 x Mine Warfare Vessels; 5 x Survey Ships; 24 x Patrol Craft; 1 x Antarctic Patrol Ship. Royal Fleet Auxiliary: 2 x Fast fleet tankers; 3 x Small fleet tankers; 4 x Support tankers; 4 x Replenishment ships; 1 x Aviation training ship; 1 x Forward repair ship; 6 x Ro-Ro Ships (4 under civil management). Naval Aircraft: 2 x Fixed wing (Harrier GR7/GR9) squadrons; 8 x Helicopter squadrons with 38 x Merlin Helicopters; 12 x Sea King MK6. 23 x Lynx Helicopters; 11 x AEW Sea King Helicopters; 41 x Sea King Commando Helicopters; 6 x Lynx Helicopters. Anti-Tank role; 8 x Gazelle Helicopters.

Royal Marines: 1 x Commando Brigade Headquarters; 3 x Royal Marine Commando (Battalion Size); 3 x Commando Assault Helicopter Squadrons; 1 x Commando Light Helicopter Squadron; 1 x Commando Logistic Regiment; 1 Commando Assault Group (Landing-Craft); 1 x Fleet Protection Group; 4 x Special Boat Service Squadrons: Supported by the following army major units – 1 x Commando Regiment Royal Artillery; 1 x Commando Regiment Royal Engineers; 1 x Infantry Battalion (1 Rifles).

Royal Air Force: 45,360; 5 x Strike/Attack Squadrons (includes 1 x reserve squadron); 1 x Offensive Support Squadron; 4 x Air Defence Squadrons; 3 x Maritime Patrol Squadrons (includes 1 x Reserve Squadron); 5 x Reconnaissance Squadrons; 2 x Airborne Early Warning Squadrons; 9 x Transport and Tankers Squadrons; 10 x Helicopter Squadrons; 6 x Ground (Field) Defence Squadrons.

Regular Army: 106,200 trained and untrained but excluding 3,360 Gurkhas; 1 x Corps Headquarters in Germany (ARRC); 1 x Armoured Divisional HQ in Germany; 1 x Mechanised Divisional HQ in UK; 3 x Non-deployable divisional type HQ in UK; Germany: 3 x Armoured Brigade Headquarters (to be two by mid 2008) and 1 x Logistics Brigade HQ; UK: 4 x Deployable Combat Brigade HQ and 1 x Logistics Brigade HQ; 10 x Regional Brigade HQ; Major Units: 11 x Armoured Regiments; 36 x Infantry Battalions; 15 x Artillery Regiments; 14 x Engineer Regiments; 12 x Signal Regiments; 4 x Army Air Corps Regiments; 7 x Equipment Support Battalions; 18 x Logistic Regiments; 5 x Medical Regiments and 3 x Field Hospitals.

Territorial Army: 32,150 (1 Apr 2006); 14 x Infantry Battalions; 4 x Yeomanry Regiments; 7 x Artillery Regiments; 5 x Engineer Regiments; 2 x Special Air Service Regiments; 11 x Signals Regiments; 4 x Equipment Support Battalions; 15 x Logistic Regiments; 2 x Intelligence Battalions; 2 x Army Aviation Regiments; 12 x Field Hospitals and 3 x Medical Regiments; 2 x Military Police Battalions.

BRITISH ARMY EQUIPMENT SUMMARY

Armour: 345 x Challenger 2; 136 x Sabre; 48 x Striker (with Swingfire ATGW); 320 x Scimitar; 1,492 x Fv 432/430 family; 793 x MCV 80 Warrior; 478 x Spartan; 622 x Saxon; 108 x Mastiff; 11 x Fuchs (NBC)....

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• CHAPTER 1 – THE MANAGEMENT OF DEFENCE
• CHAPTER 2 – ORGANISATIONS
• CHAPTER 3 – INTERNATIONAL COMMITMENTS
• CHAPTER 4 – THE HOUSEHOLD CAVALRY AND THE ROYAL ARMOURED CORPS
• CHAPTER 5 – INFANTRY
• CHAPTER 6 – ARTILLERY
• CHAPTER 7 – ARMY AVIATION
• CHAPTER 8 – ENGINEERS
• CHAPTER 9 – COMMUNICATIONS
• CHAPTER 10 – COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
• CHAPTER 11 – UNITS OF THE REGULAR ARMY (during late 2007)
• CHAPTER 12 – RECRUITING, SELECTION AND TRAINING
• CHAPTER 13 – RESERVE FORCES
• CHAPTER 14 – MISCELLANEOUS