British Army

V

The Post-1945 Era

In the decades following World War II, the British Army continued to be involved in conflicts all over the world. A contingent was sent to join the forces of the United Nations during the Korean War in 1950. Counter-insurgency operations were carried out in various colonial territories, notably Malaya (see Malayan Emergency), Kenya, Cyprus, Borneo, and Aden. Most of these campaigns preceded a withdrawal from the area concerned, as Britain gradually abandoned its former empire. One final counter-insurgency campaign occurred on home territory when substantial numbers of troops were committed to the troubled province of Northern Ireland between 1969 and 1997. A completely different challenge was met in 1982 when the army combined with the Royal Marines to provide the land forces that recaptured the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas). These islands, a British dependency in the South Atlantic, were also claimed by Argentina, which had occupied them (see Falklands War).

In the immediate aftermath of World War II Britain had joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and had developed an independent nuclear deterrent. These factors combined to permit a major reduction in the size of the army. Conscription (national service after 1947) was discontinued in 1960, with the last national servicemen being discharged in 1963. Emphasis then shifted to a smaller, better-trained army, equipped with increasingly sophisticated high-technology equipment. At the same time, a substantial number of troops were still deployed with the British Army of the Rhine in West Germany to counter the threat of an invasion from forces of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact. The end of the Cold War after 1989, and the collapse of the Soviet Union, reduced the need for Britain to maintain a large armed force in Germany. Defence cuts were planned but, before they could be implemented, Iraqi forces invaded Kuwait in 1990, prompting the biggest deployment of British forces since 1945. Soon after the subsequent Gulf War ended in 1991, a defence review entitled Options for Change proposed a number of cuts and amalgamations of regiments. By 2000 Britain’s defence budget had dropped to 2.7 per cent of gross domestic product compared to 5.3 per cent in 1984.

VI

The British Army Today

The British Army today is a force intended to be capable of deployment anywhere in the world. While much reduced in size since the end of the Cold War, it must be both well equipped and flexible, in order to deal with a variety of challenges. Its primary role is the defence of the United Kingdom. However, in the 21st century this seems increasingly likely to involve striking at enemies in far-flung parts of the world. In 2002 British troops took part in operations against the Al-Qaeda terrorist organization in Afghanistan, and in the following year it made a substantial contribution to the US-led invasion of Iraq to both disarm that nation and depose the regime of Saddam Hussein (see War on Iraq). The army might also be required to deploy peacekeeping troops to foreign trouble spots or to deliver humanitarian aid. Recent examples of this include intervention in the former Yugoslav states of Bosnia and Kosovo, and the West African country of Sierra Leone.

In 2004 the army comprised just over 100,000 personnel, with a reserve of a further 40,000 available in the form of the Territorial Army. The army consists of the following elements:

• Household Cavalry and Royal Armoured Corps. This comprises the Royal Tank Regiment and all the cavalry regiments; they provide the army’s armoured and ground-based reconnaissance forces. The main battle tank is the Challenger 2, with reconnaissance being carried out by Sabre light tanks.
• Infantry. In 2004 the infantry comprised 40 battalions, including 3 parachute battalions and 2 Gurkha battalions that are composed of volunteers recruited under a long-standing arrangement with Nepal. The standard infantry weapons are the controversial L86A2 rifle and light-support weapon. These are augmented by the L7A2 general-purpose machine-gun, 51-mm and 81-mm mortars, and the LAW 80 and MR Trigat anti-armour missile systems. The infantry is conveyed into battle in Warrior infantry fighting vehicles.
• Army Air Corps. This operates the army’s helicopters. Gazelle helicopters are employed for reconnaissance and artillery observation. The firepower of this corps is currently being enhanced by the adoption of Apache attack helicopters, to be used in a ground-attack role.
• Royal Regiment of Artillery. This is equipped with the proven 105-mm light gun, the AS90 150-mm self-propelled gun, and the devastating 227-mm multiple launch rocket system (MLRS). They also provide anti-aircraft defence with Starstreak HVM and Rapier missile systems.
• Corps of Royal Engineers.
• Royal Corps of Signals.
• Intelligence Corps.
• Royal Army Chaplains’ Department.
• Royal Logistic Corps. This is responsible for the provision and distribution of equipment and stores. It also provides catering for the army, and bomb disposal teams.
• Royal Army Medical Corps.
• Royal Army Dental Corps.
• Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.
• Adjutant General’s Corps. This carries out administrative and financial tasks.
• Small Arms School Corps.
• Army Physical Training Corps.
• Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps.
• Corps of Army Music.
• The 22nd Special Air Service Regiment (SAS). This is trained and equipped to operate behind enemy lines, and also has a counter-terrorist role.
• The Territorial Army. This is a volunteer reserve, with a regional structure that is integrated with that of the regular army.

A

Structure

The basic unit of infantry is a platoon of 25-30 soldiers. A company is composed of three platoons and a headquarters platoon, making a total of around 150 soldiers. A battalion is formed from three companies, a support company, and a headquarters company. A full-strength infantry battalion will contain approximately 650 soldiers.

The armoured (cavalry) units are organized in a similar fashion, with three troops of four tanks each combining with a headquarters troop to form a squadron. A regiment is composed of three squadrons with support and headquarters squadrons.

Artillery regiments are divided into batteries, which can be allocated to support other units at either brigade or divisional level; brigades and divisions are higher formations.

A brigade is a collection of different regiments and supporting units that have been grouped together for a specific purpose. A fighting brigade can contain infantry, cavalry, and artillery regiments together with many supporting units. The composition of brigades differs depending on their intended role, but they can contain as many as 5,000 soldiers. Divisions comprise three or four brigades, depending on the specific role they are to undertake, and are configured in a similar manner to a brigade but on a larger scale. They can be fighting formations, or administrative organizations. Currently 1 (UK) Division and 3 (UK) Division are fighting divisions, whereas 2, 4, and 5 Division are responsible for the administrative support of specific geographical areas.

B

Recruitment and Ranks

The British Army is composed entirely of volunteers, and current trends indicate a continuing decline in levels of recruitment. In late 2004 plans were announced to reduce the number of infantry battalions from 40 to 36. The basic rank structure of the army in order of ascending superiority is as follows:

• Other Ranks and Non-Commissioned Officers.
• Private.
• Lance Corporal.
• Corporal.
• Sergeant.
• Staff Sergeant.
• Warrant Officer Class II.
• Warrant Officer Class I.

• Officers.
• 2nd Lieutenant.
• Lieutenant.
• Captain.
• Major.
• Lieutenant-Colonel.
• Colonel.
• Brigadier.
• Major-General.
• Lieutenant-General.
• General.
• Field Marshal.

C

Training

Basic training for other ranks is carried out at the regimental depot, while officers are trained at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst. Specialist courses are held at training establishments, such as the Combined Arms Training Centre at Warminster, and the Artillery and Armoured Corps schools at Larkhill and Lulworth respectively. With the end of the Cold War, and the reduction of troop levels in Germany, British forces no longer use large training areas on the northern German plains. Large-scale training is now carried out at the British Army Training Unit Suffield in Canada. The reduction in training areas, coupled with the ever-increasing cost of ammunition for modern weapons systems, has prompted extensive use of simulators. With modern virtual-reality technology, these can be very realistic and provide a means of analysing a soldier's use of a weapon, so as to correct any errors before he or she takes to the field for live firing practice.