Title: United Kingdom - Strategic Defence Review - Factsheets - Army

THE POST-SDR STRUCTURE OF DEPLOYABLE DIVISIONS

- The SDR has placed increased emphasis on force projection. This has been reflected in the structure of the Army's two deployable divisions.

- In addition to meeting its permanent commitments in the United Kingdom, Cyprus and elsewhere, the SDR has identified a requirement for the Army to be able to:


• maintain a brigade deployed indefinitely on a peace keeping mission such as SFOR, and at the same time deploy an armoured or mechanised brigade for warfighting for a period up to six months; or


• be capable of deploying a warfighting division.



- The Army's current structure will not meet post-SDR readiness requirements without overstretch. A sixth deployable brigade will therefore be formed and placed in 3(UK)Division.

- Divisional Combat Arms Structure Post SDR:


• 1(UK)Armoured Division:



* one armoured reconnaissance regiment within divisional combat support;
* three armoured brigades each consisting of one armoured regiment with four squadrons and two armoured infantry battalions.

• 3(UK)Division:



* three mechanised brigades, each consisting of an armoured regiment with four squadrons, an armoured reconnaissance regiment, an armoured infantry battalion and two mechanised infantry battalions;
* 5 Airborne Brigade will re-roled to become the third mechanised brigade in 3 (UK) Division. The new formation will be called 12 Mechanised Brigade.
* 24 Airmobile Brigade: two parachute battalions together with parachute capable command and control, combat support and combat service support, will be transferred to 24 Airmobile Brigade. They will provide the ability to mount parachute operations at battalion group level.


- Formation readiness cycle: this new structure will allow the Army to implement a balanced formation readiness cycle. Brigades will spend a year training, followed by a year at high readiness as part of the Joint Rapid Reaction Forces pool, followed by a year either preparing for, deployed on (for six months) or recovering from peace support operations such as Bosnia. Specifically, the cycle will deliver:


• an armoured or mechanised brigade at high readiness for warfighting


• two brigades annually to meet an indefinite non-warfighting commitment;


• a division of up to three brigades with a choice of capabilities at graduated readiness;


• an armoured and a mechanised brigade able to train coherently within existing resources.





The Formation Readiness Cycle



- Joint Rapid Reaction Forces (JRRF) Requirements: as well as delivering an armoured or mechanised brigade annually at high readiness for JRRF operations, the six brigade formation readiness cycle will also deliver a range of very high readiness battlegroups: the lead aviation/armoured reconnaissance, lead armoured, and lead parachute/tactical air land operations battlegroups. The spearhead battlegroup will be an infantry battalion from either 24 Airmobile Brigade, the 3(UK)Division ready brigade or 3 Commando Brigade.

- Air Manoeuvre Formation: following the introduction of the Apache attack helicopter, 24 Airmobile Brigade will become the Army's first air manoeuvre brigade. It will consist of three attack helicopter regiments and two airborne infantry battalions together with artillery, engineers and other combat and combat service support. The Brigade will have a battalion-level parachute capability in place of the current brigade-level capability. The precise combined arms structure of the air manoeuvre brigade is the subject of further work.

- Implementation: full implementation of the post-SDR structure will not be complete until the Army is recruited to new manpower levels and sustainability shortfalls are met. We intend that the JRRF should be operational in 2001.




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JOINT RAPID REACTION FORCES - LAND ASSIGNED FORCES

- The Joint Rapid Reaction Forces (JRRF) are a pool of readily available forces for short notice deployments. They will comprise all of our higher readiness forces from all three Services.

- The JRRF will provide force packages up to brigade size in support of Britain's foreign and security policy objectives, including NATO commitments.

- JRRF forces can undertake any mission up to and including modern warfare against the most demanding opposition.

- The JRRF pool of combat and support forces is configured in two echelons according to readiness:


• First Echelon Forces can deploy rapidly to provide our initial capability to respond to a crisis.


• Second Echelon Forces can provide more substantial capabilities in terms of firepower, tactical mobility and protection, and follow up First Echelon Forces as required.



- The land component of JRRF First Echelon forces will comprise:


• the most readily available 'spearhead forces' to provide an immediate response. The Spearhead Battlegroup is our highest readiness battlegroup and is based on a light infantry battalion or commando group drawn from either 3 Commando Brigade RM, the 'ready brigade' of 3 (UK) Mechanised Division or 24 Airmobile Brigade;


• lead battlegroups, which can deploy rapidly with integral combat support and logistic support assets. The tactical brigade headquarters of its parent formation may also be required to deploy.



- The lead battlegroups and their supporting forces will be:


• the lead Commando battlegroup, with Lynx TOW and support helicopters, and protected all terrain vehicles, drawn from 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines;


• the lead parachute/tactical air landing operations battlegroup based on a parachute battalion drawn from 24 Airmobile Brigade;


• the lead aviation/armoured reconnaissance battlegroup with Lynx TOW helicopters, armoured reconnaissance and mechanised infantry sub-units, drawn from the ready brigade of 3 (UK) Division and 24 Airmobile Brigade;


• the lead armoured battlegroup, with two armoured squadrons equipped with Challenger 2 and two armoured infantry companies equipped with Warrior, drawn from 1 (UK) Armoured Division;


• a combat support group, with artillery, electronic warfare, air defence, engineer, nuclear, biological and chemical defence, intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance, and other assets;


• a combat service support group tailored to activate the line of communications in order to sustain the forces.



- JRRF Second Echelon Forces provide more substantial capabilities to follow up First Echelon Forces as necessary. The composition and readiness of the land elements of the Second Echelon pool is:


• staff and divisional assets from 1 (UK) Armoured Division or 3 (UK) Mechanised Division;
• JRRF brigades:



* 3 Commando Brigade, enhanced as necessary with assets from the 3 (UK) Mechanised Division 'ready brigade' to provide a maritime-based, joint landing force suited to theatre;
* the 'ready brigade' of 3 (UK) Mechanised Division to provide armoured reconnaissance, armoured and mechanised forces;
* the 'ready brigade' of 1 (UK) Armoured Division to provide armoured forces;
* 24 Airmobile Brigade to provide aviation and parachuting/tactical air landing operations capabilities;
* a tailored combat service support group to establish and operate the line of communications in order to sustain the force.




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THE ARMY IN GERMANY

- Basing ground forces in Germany is a key aspect of Britain's defence policy. It:


• provides a visible demonstration of our commitment to NATO;


• provides a similar demonstration of our commitment to NATO's Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC);


• enables us to train and exercise effectively alongside our Allies; and


• enables us to take maximum advantage of the excellent training facilities in Germany and elsewhere in Europe.



- We will therefore continue to base in Germany both 1(UK) Armoured division and its three brigades, and Headquarters ARRC with its Signals Brigade.

- The SDR has, however, examined the balance between forces based in Britain and Germany as part of the Army's wider restructuring. Our aim has been to ensure that we can:


• meet operational commitments;


• train for high intensity warfare;


• be ready to deploy force packages at short notice; and


• reduce overstretch.



- To help achieve these aims and create a better balance between the two deployable divisions, we will withdraw three armoured regiments from Germany, one from each armoured brigade.

- Of these three regiments:


• one will remain equipped with main battle tanks;


• one will become an armoured reconnaissance regiment;


• one will become the Army's contribution to an enhanced joint nuclear, biological and chemical defence capability (see fact sheet on the Royal Armoured Corps).



- The three armoured regiments still based in Germany will be larger (see the fact sheet on the Royal Armoured Corps).

- A small number of minor units may also be withdrawn as part of the restructuring process.

- The total number of Army personnel redeployed from Germany will be about 2,500. This will take some years to complete.

- No decisions have yet been taken on which garrisons, regiments or units will be affected.

- Our continued presence in Germany is now established as a fundamental element of British defence into the next century.




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ROYAL ARMOURED CORPS

- The Royal Armoured Corps will continue to be a key component of the Army's ground manoeuvre capability in the post- SDR structure.

- Armour: previous plans for the purchase of Challenger 2 have been fully confirmed. The emphasis will therefore be on reconfiguring the Army's armoured capability to maximise its potential in modern warfare whilst maintaining the wide utility of our armoured regiments in other operations.

- Armoured Reconnaissance: this will continue to be an essential component of the Army's information and intelligence gathering capability. The driving factor in determining the size and shape of the armoured reconnaissance force has been the need for greater flexibility in responding to emerging crises and the provision of the reconnaissance framework elements of a lead aviation/armoured reconnaissance battlegroup for the Joint Rapid Reaction Forces.

- Nuclear Biological and Chemical Defence: the continued proliferation of chemical and biological warfare weapons, and the increased risk of their use by a potential aggressor, has led to a high priority being given to Britain's nuclear, biological and chemical defence capability.

For the Royal Armoured Corps, all this means:


• a change from eight small to six large armoured regiments. Each regiment will be reconfigured into a doctrinally robust structure based on four squadrons of 14 tanks. All six of the Army's routinely deployable brigades will be provided with an all-arms capability to enable them to train and deploy with armour;


• an increase in the number of Regular armoured reconnaissance regiments from three to four to maintain division level formation reconnaissance requirements, and to provide the high readiness elements needed to support the new JRRF concept;


• formation of a joint nuclear, biological and chemical defence capability, the Army component of which will be based on a regular Royal Armoured Corps regiment;


• maintaining the current buy of 386 Challenger 2 and continuing investment to develop the potential of our armour;


• continued development of reconnaissance capabilities as part of the Army's future intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance architecture and introduction into service of some of the world's most advanced nuclear, biological and chemical detection systems.



We will achieve this by:


• reconfiguring the Royal Armoured Corps current organisation from eight Type 38 armoured regiments to six Type 58s. Three armoured regiments will remain in Germany and three will be based in Britain;


• as part of a new method of managing the tank fleet known as 'whole fleet management', each armoured regiment will have in regimental lines 30 tanks for peacetime training;


• this will meet the JRRF's high readiness demands and local training needs. Regiments will be provided with the balance of their tanks for larger scale training and on deployment for operations. It will allow regiments to concentrate on training rather than tank park maintenance and servicing;


• re-roling one armoured regiment as an armoured reconnaissance regiment, and redistributing Scimitar and Striker accordingly. In the longer term, it is anticipated that these regiments will be equipped with Tracer, and perhaps with complementary unmanned aerial vehicle systems to provide the Army with a balanced information and intelligence gathering capability;


• transferring the nuclear, biological and chemical defence role from the Territorial Army (TA) to a Regular joint unit, although an element of the TA will continue to provide a Reserve component. The Army element of this joint unit will be provided by a regular Royal Armoured Corps regiment, which is likely to be paired with an armoured regiment in order that it can also provide the Combined Arms Training Centre armoured squadron and allow trickle posting of manpower between roles.






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INFANTRY

- The SDR has reconfirmed the vital role of the infantry in the new strategic environment. There will be no change to the overall size of the Regular infantry although there will be some re-roling.

- The creation of a third mechanised brigade within 3 (UK) Division by re-roling 5 Airborne Brigade requires an additional armoured infantry battalion and two mechanised infantry battalions.

- Allied to this is the transfer of responsibility for delivering a battalion sized parachute capability to 24 Airmobile Brigade. The two infantry battalions in 24 Brigade will therefore come from the Parachute Regiment.

- The infantry will retain 40 regular battalions. Changes to roles and capabilities are as follows:


• an increase from eight to nine armoured infantry battalions and from four to six mechanised infantry battalions, to allow 5 Airborne Brigade to be re-roled into a mechanised brigade;


• replacement of the two airmobile battalions in 24 Airmobile Brigade with two battalions of the Parachute Regiment, which will assume the airmobile role. They will also provide a single battalion-level parachute capability;


• there is no change to the number of battalions in Northern Ireland, Cyprus and Brunei and for Public Duties;


• the Allied Command Europe Mobile Force (Land) battalion will no longer be a specific unit. This NATO commitment will be met from the pool of very high readiness units in the Joint Rapid Reaction Forces;


• the Combined Arms Training Centre battlegroup will fulfil the operational armour delivery role.



- In addition, the infantry will establish a resident battalion headquarters and headquarters company to meet the UNFICYP commitment in Cyprus. Its sub-units will be provided on a roulement basis from combat and combat support units in their other tasks year within the formation readiness cycle.




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ARMY AVIATION

- Army aviation has been confirmed by the SDR as an increasingly important component of the Army's capabilities.

- There will be no change to the front-line structure or size of Army aviation from that envisaged before SDR.

- At present the major units are as follows:


• two anti-tank (Lynx/TOW) regiments in 24 Airmobile Brigade;


• a divisional anti-tank regiment in each of 1 (UK) Armoured Division and 3 (UK) Division;


• a regiment in Northern Ireland.



- With the introduction into service of the Longbow Apache attack helicopter, this structure will change as follows:


• three attack helicopter regiments in the air manoeuvre brigade;


• a single general support (Lynx) regiment in support of both 1 (UK) Armoured Division and 3 (UK) Division;


• a regiment in Northern Ireland.



- All deployable Army aviation will come together with the Navy's commando helicopters and the RAF's support helicopters to form the new Joint Helicopter Command. It will have peacetime responsibility for the administration and training of all helicopters that are integral to the land battle.

- The Joint Helicopter Command is a major initiative that will maximise the military output of our battlefield helicopters and reinforces their growing importance across the spectrum of military operations.




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CHANGES TO REGULAR ARMY COMBAT SUPPORT

- The combat support force structure is integral to delivering the Army's operational output. In the changed international environment it is more important than ever. The SDR has concluded that it requires enhancement so as to be able to:


• deliver a third deployable mechanised brigade within 3 (UK) Division;


• deploy two concurrent lines of communication to separate theatres of operation;


• provide support to the other two Services.




Royal Artillery

- Field Artillery: The total number of units remains the same, but changes to roles and capabilities are required:


• the light gun regiment in 5 Airborne Brigade will be replaced with a sixth AS90 regiment to meet the Brigade's new mechanised role;


• the parachute artillery capability will be met by the light gun regiment in 24 Airmobile Brigade.



- Air Defence: There will be no structural changes to the Army's ground based air defence assets. Training on Rapier Field Standard C will continue to be undertaken on a joint basis at RAF Honington, and a joint headquarters responsible for ground based air defence on a tri-Service basis will be established.


Royal Engineers

- There will be significant enhancements to the Royal Engineers force structure:


• a sixth close support regiment will be formed as part of re-roling 5 Airborne Brigade into a mechanised formation;


• a regiment will be formed to support 24 Airmobile Brigade, which is to become the air manoeuvre formation. This will include the Royal Engineers parachute capability;


• two additional air support squadrons will be formed to enhance the Army's ability to provide support to the RAF on deployed operations;


• a fifth regular Engineer logistic squadron and an additional five regular specialist teams Royal Engineers will be formed to help meet the demands of deploying two concurrent lines of communication;


• three nuclear, biological and chemical decontamination cadres are to be formed to act as the basis for a deployed bulk decontamination capability.




Royal Signals

- There will be significant enhancements to the Royal Signals force structure:


• two regular air support squadrons will be added to 21 Signal Regiment to enhance the level of support provided to the RAF's support helicopter force;


• 5 Airborne Brigade Headquarters and Signals Squadron will re-role as a mechanised squadron;


• 24 Airmobile Brigade Headquarters and Signals Squadron will be enhanced to deliver a parachute capability and to meet the added demands of commanding attack helicopter regiments;


• the Strategic Communications Regiment is to be enhanced to support concurrent operations and to provide infrastructure support to deployed Joint Force Headquarters;


• two combat service support group headquarters and signals squadrons are to be created to provide the communications and headquarters infrastructure for these two deployable headquarters;


• all armoured and mechanised brigade headquarters and signals squadrons are to be enhanced to be able to undertake prolonged peace-support deployments.






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CHANGES TO ARMY COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT

- It is essential for the Army to have capable and deployable combat service support to support force projection operations in the new strategic environment.

- We need to be able to support two brigade size deployments in separate theatres concurrently. This requires two lines of communication. We cannot at present meet this requirement and there is major overstretch in some Regular combat service support units.

- The SDR has therefore sought to strike a better balance between combat, combat support and combat service support capabilities, with the most appropriate mix of Regular and TA elements.

- This is to be achieved by:


• an enhancement of around 2,000 additional Regular personnel in the combat support force structure, and


• piloting the concepts of Sponsored Reserves and Private Sector Logistic Support.



Detail of Changes

- There will be enhancements to logistic command and control:


• the formation of two fully established combat service support group headquarters and signal squadrons to meet the weaknesses of the current logistic command and control organisation. These will be Regular units and will be based on the existing skeleton Combat Service Support Group Headquarters;
• additional Royal Signals troops are to be established to provide the strategic communications necessary to support logistic command and control.



- There will also be a number of key changes to the logistics support structure:


• additional Royal Logistic Corps close support and general support squadrons will be established, each within one of the existing close support and general support regiments. This will allow the deployable brigades to have their affiliated brigade support squadron supporting them throughout the formation readiness cycle;


• a regiment's worth of bulk water carrying equipment will be procured and a regular bulk water distribution squadron will be established to support the equipment;
• the following additional units will be established:



* two postal and courier squadrons;
* additional Regular local resources, ration and petroleum troops.


This will help alleviate overstretch amongst specialist personnel;


• the Army's Landing Craft Logistic are now no longer required and will be withdrawn from service from 1 April 1999. Further work will be undertaken to ascertain the future requirement for heavy landing craft, including the best mix of the Army's Ramped Craft Logistic and the Royal Navy's Landing Craft Utility.

- There will be a major change to the equipment support structure with the establishment of an additional REME battalion, increasing the number of such battalions from six to seven. This will allow us to provide the support necessary under SDR planning assumptions, and will allow the brigades in the formation readiness cycle to be supported by their affiliated REME battalion.

- There will be a number of key changes in other areas:


• within the engineer support structure, an additional engineer logistic squadron will be established. The package also includes the establishment of a number of Regular specialist teams Royal Engineers to fulfil high readiness requirements and the establishment of sponsored reserve teams for longer notice commitments;


• to meet the requirement for additional Royal Military Police resources to support two lines of communication, an additional Royal Military Police provost company is to be established;


• a centralised pool of Adjutant Generals Corps personnel will be established to allow the formation of field cash and records offices to support operational deployments.



- Finally a pilot project to test the concept of private sector logistic support will be conducted to provide a bakery capability for non-warfighting deployments.

- The majority of the changes to the medical services are considered elsewhere, although it should be noted that the SDR has identified the requirement for:


• the establishment of a Royal Logistics Corps regular ambulance regiment;


• the full establishment of 84 Field Medical Equipment Depot.



- There will be a number of changes to the TA combat service support structure. In most cases these will be reductions and occur where a function has been transferred to the Regular order of battle to meet shorter notice operational commitments. There are also some instances where new capabilities are to be created or where complete capabilities are no longer required due to changes in planning assumptions. The details are as follows:


• an additional two combat service support group support squadrons will be created;
• a railway section will be moved from the Regular Army to the TA;


• four TA transport regiments will be disbanded, although some personnel may be retained for their specialist skills;


• three TA movement control squadrons will be disbanded.



- This package will rebalance and enhance the Army's combat service support order of battle and enable it to provide effective support to the Army on force projection operations.




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CHANGES TO THE TERRITORIAL ARMY

- The SDR has confirmed the important roles that our Reserve Forces can play as a vital component of Britain's overall defence capability. But the requirement is changing and the TA must change as well if it is to have a worthwhile future.

- The TA must be able to help meet the challenges we face today and could face tomorrow. It must therefore:


• offer utility across all defence missions and military tasks;


• be an integral element of the Army's operational force structure;


• provide both formed units and individual reinforcements.



- We will be building on success and the unique capabilities that TA personnel bring to defence. But we need to harness their skills and enthusiasm more effectively. The Reserve Forces Act 1996 will help us to do that. It allows much wider use to be made of reservists in the kind of operation we are now likely to conduct. We will, for example, now plan to compulsorily call out:


• a significant proportion of the TA to meet a divisional sized warfighting deployment (ie an operation around the size of our contribution to the Gulf War); and


• some TA medical forces as part of brigade level deployments



- TA personnel will continue to be encouraged to volunteer to assist in meeting routine commitments such as Bosnia, where they have made a major contribution.

- Other aspects of the TA's traditional role are no longer a high priority. In particular, the absence of any immediate major threat to British territory means that those elements of the TA currently held to meet this requirement can be reduced.

- However, those elements of the Army that are not required to meet high readiness operational commitments will be held within the TA.

- The TA will also continue to play a key role in maintaining links between the Armed Forces and society at large.

- All of these factors mean that the TA:


• will reduce to an established and manned strength of around 40,000 volunteers;


• will shift its emphasis from combat to combat service support forces.


• will be trained to operate key battle-winning equipment such as Challenger, AS90 and Rapier;



- To facilitate this increased reliance on the TA, we need to improve the peacetime management and operational mobilisation of Reserve personnel. This will be done by establishing:


• a new Reserves Training and Mobilisation Centre to conduct the pre- and post-deployment administration and training of individual TA volunteers and Regular Reserves; and
• a Reserves Manning and Career Management Division in the Army Personnel Centre, Glasgow, to centralise all personnel management for the TA, bringing it into line with the Regular Army and also providing a single focus for identifying and notifying individuals for mobilisation.

- Work is being undertaken now to determine the detailed changes to units and TA centres. This will not be complete before the autumn of 1998 and as yet no firm decisions have been reached on the overall order of battle, its locations or the detail of where reductions will be made. But we will make sure that decisions are taken and TA personnel are fully informed as quickly as possible.

- The SDR has given the TA a new and more robust role in support of Britain's security and defence policy. Its role in the 21st century will be different but often more important and more demanding, and the new emphasis on force projection will put it closer to the main focus of defence. A rebalanced, relevant, integrated and usable TA will be essential to the Army's operational success.




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ARMY DISTRICT ORGANISATION IN THE UK

- The Strategic Defence Review is likely to result in major changes to the Army district organisation in the United Kingdom.

- At present, there are six districts, with headquarters at Aldershot, Bulford, Edinburgh, London, Shrewsbury and York. Among these the headquarters at Bulford is unusual in that it has both regional responsibilities for Army units in south-west England, and operational responsibilities to provide one of the UK's two deployable war fighting divisions - 3 (UK) Division, which has units throughout the country.

- Final decisions on the new structure have not yet been taken. Proposals focus on the following main issues:


• whether we should free Headquarters 3(UK) Division from its regional responsibilities, thus enabling it to concentrate on its operational role;


• who should then carry out Headquarters 3(UK) Division's regional responsibilities, and where they would be based;


• how many districts there should be in the new structure: there will certainly be fewer headquarters each with a larger area of responsibility but no decision has been taken on how many or where the headquarters of the new districts will be based. The aim will be to merge headquarters within one of the existing sites rather than a new location.



- Most of these issues, and the initial proposals for improving and streamlining the headquarters structure, have been widely discussed within Land Command and outside. The Trades Unions have been informed in view of the likelihood of job losses. When decisions are taken there will be further consultation supported by full information on the reasons.