SUMMARY OF HQ LAND FORCES

HQ Land Forces is located at Andover in Hampshire (from mid 2009) and commands almost 100% of the Army’s fighting capability. HQ Land Forces replaced HQ Land Command in 2008.

HQ Land Forces’ role is to deliver and sustain the Army's operational capability, whenever required throughout the world, and the Command comprises of all operational troops in Great Britain, Germany, Nepal and Brunei, together with the Army Training Teams in Canada, Belize and Kenya.

HQ Land Forces is the largest single service Top Level Budget Holder, with a budget of almost £6.5 billion. It contains all the Army's fighting equipment, including attack helicopters, Challenger 2 tanks, Warrior Infantry Fighting Vehicles, AS90 and the Multi Launched Rocket System (MLRS).

HQ Land Forces is responsible for providing all the Army's fighting troops throughout the world. These are organised into eight formations and are commanded by Major Generals.

From late 2010 Lieutenant General NR Parker KCB, CBE is the Commander-in-Chief Land Forces.

The personnel total at HQ Land Forces is just under 2,000 (986 military and 1,002 civilian)

LAND FORCES SUPPORT

The Defence Supply Chain provides a range of support functions to enable the British armed forces to carry out operations. These include storing and distributing all the supplies needed by the forces, such as equipment, mail, medical supplies, fuel, clothing, food and ammunition, as well as transporting personnel and freight anywhere in the world.

FIELD ARMY STRUCTURE

The Commander Field Army has operational command of all Field Army Formations. This includes training designated forces for all types of military operations and providing appropriate military capability to Permanent Joint Headquarters and/or the Joint Rapid Reaction Forces as required.

Major units under the direct command of the Field Army include:

• 1st Division (Herford - Germany) (See Note 1)

• 3rd Division (Bulford – UK) (See Note 2)

• 6th Division (York) (See Note 3)

• Combat Service Support Group (United Kingdom)

• Combat Service Support Group (Germany)

• Land Warfare Centre

Note 1: Current (mid 2011) speculation is that HQ 1st Division will be the operational division title that is retained when the majority of UK troops have returned to the UK – possibly around 2014. This division would probably command the 6 x brigades in the High Readiness Force.
Note 2: HQ 3 Div will probably be the title that is retained for command of the Lower Readiness Force.
Note 3: HQ 6th Division was formed in August 2008 as the third deployable divisional headquarters. Depending on the results of post SDSR studies it may be ‘stood down’.

REGIONAL FORCES STRUCTURE

This grouping will probably be retained with the Commander Regional Forces maintaining, and where possible, enhancing the provision of the military capability and infrastructure support required to meet HQ Land Forces’ operational requirements.

In addition, Commander Regional Forces at HQ Land Forces is the Inspector General of the Territorial Army, with addition responsibilities for Cadets and the University Officer Training Corps (UOTC).

Currently (mid 2011) Major units that assist Commander Regional Forces are amongst the following:

• 2 Division (Regenerative Division)

• 4 Division (Regenerative Division)

• 5 Division (Regenerative Division)

• United Kingdom Support Command (Germany)

• London District

• Army Recruiting & Training Division

It is likely that 2 Division, 4 Division and 5 Division will be disbanded during 2012.

JOINT HELICOPTER COMMAND

The Joint Helicopter Command's primary role is to deliver and sustain effective Battlefield Helicopter and Air Assault assets, operationally capable under all environmental conditions, in order to support UK's defence missions and tasks.

JHC major formations are as follows:

• All Army Aviation Units

• RAF Support Helicopter Force

• Commando Helicopter Force

• 16 Air Assault Brigade

• Combat Support Units

• Combat Service Support Units

• Joint Helicopter Command and Standards Wing

THEATRE TROOPS (2011)

Commander Theatre Troops (under the Field Army heading) is responsible for the following:

1 Artillery Brigade
16 Regiment RA
1 Signal Brigade
2 (NC) Signal Brigade
11 Signal Brigade
8 Force Engineer Brigade
2 Medical Brigade
1 Reconnaissance Brigade
1 Military Intelligence Brigade
101 Logistic Brigade
102 Logistic Brigade
104 Logistic Brigade
Equipment Support Theatre Troops
HQ RLC TA
 

Land Equipment (LE)

The Land Equipment Directorate (under the command of Defence Equipment and Support) exists to provide front line support and ‘through life’ equipment solutions for land operations. LE is composed of five major groups with each group having a number a number of subsidiary teams providing specific support to various group activities. Director Land Equipment (DLE) is responsible for the operations of these major groups which are:

Combat Tracks Group (CTG)
Systems Team (ST); Combat Tracks Group Platforms Team; Armoured Vehicle Support Transformation Team; Artillery Systems Team (AST); Platforms Team (PT); The Medium Armoured Tracks Team (MATT);

Combat Wheels Group (CWG)
Protected Mobility Team (PMT); Manoeuvre Support Team (MST); Utility Vehicle Team (UVT).

Gen Support Group (GSG)
Battlefield Utilities Unit (BFU);Deployable Support and Test Equipment Team(DS&TE); Expeditionary Campaign Infrastructure (ECI); General Support Vehicles (GSV); Service Provision (SP).

Individual Capability Group (ICG)
Integrated Soldier Systems Executive (ISSE); Dismounted Soldier Systems Team (DSST); Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Night Observation (STANO); Light Weapons, Photographic & Batteries Team (LWPBT).

Joint and Battlefield Trainers; Simulation & Synthetic Environments Group (JBTSE)
 

READY DIVISIONS (2011)

There are two 'Ready' Divisions: the 1st (UK) Armoured Division, based in Germany, and the 3rd (UK) Division in the United Kingdom. Both of these divisions are earmarked to form part of the Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC), NATO's premier strategic formation, but they also have the flexibility to be employed on rapid reaction tasks or in support of other defence roles.

In addition to their operational roles, they also command the Army units in specified geographic areas. In the case of the 1st Division, this area is made up of the garrisons in Germany where the Division's units are based; and in the case of the 3rd Division, the South West of England.

As explained previously this will change with 1 x Division Headquarters commanding the High Readiness Force and the other Headquarters commanding the Lower Readiness Force.

REGENERATIVE DIVISIONS

The 2010 SDSR has stated that these formations will be replaced by a single headquarters and we would expect that this will happen towards the end of 2012.

In mid 2011 there are three Regenerative Divisions, based on older UK military districts. These are the 2nd Division with its Headquarters at Edinburgh, the 4th Division with its Headquarters at Aldershot, and the 5th Division with its Headquarters at Shrewsbury. These Regenerative Divisions are responsible for all army units within their boundaries and could provide the core for three new divisions, should the Army be required to expand to meet a major international threat.

MILITARY DISTRICTS

Two Districts remain: London (although subordinated to 4th Division for budgetary purposes), and the United Kingdom Support Command (Germany).

LONDON DISTRICT

London District is responsible for all Army units within the M25 boundary. The activity for which the Headquarters and the District is most well known is State Ceremonial and Public Duties in the Capital. The district insignia shows the Sword of St Paul representing the City of London and the Mural Crown representing the County of London. The District has its Headquarters in Horse Guards and is commanded by a Major General.

Between 500 and 600 troops are involved at any one time in MoD-sponsored equipment trials, demonstrations and exhibitions. Public Duties in London also take up two/three battalions at any one time. All troops not otherwise operationally committed are also available to provide Military Aid to the Civil Authorities in the United Kingdom.

THE UNITED KINGDOM SUPPORT COMMAND - GERMANY (UKSC(G)

With its Headquarters at Rheindahlen UKSC)G) has about 3,600 personnel and provides essential support functions for 1 (UK) Armoured Division and the Headquarters of the ARRC.

HQ UKSC(G) also commands the only garrison west of the River Rhine, designated Rhine Garrison, which comprises mainly a signal brigade and logistic support units. It also has administrative responsibility for the four other British Army Garrisons in Germany – at Osnabrück, Bergen-Hohne, Paderborn and Gütersloh.

It is likely that the majority of personnel from this grouping will have returned to the UK by 2016.

There are two Combat Service Support (CSS) Groups:

Combat Service Support Group (United Kingdom) consists of a supply regiment, two transport regiments, general support medical regiment which has both Regular and Territorial Army squadrons, three field hospitals, and a field medical equipment depot. For operations, the group may have assigned to it two Territorial Army transport regiments, five Territorial Army field hospitals, and a Territorial Army Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers maintenance battalion.

Combat Service Support Group (Germany) consists of a supply regiment; two transport regiments, and a general support medical regiment which has both Regular and Territorial Army squadrons. For operations, the group may have assigned to it a Territorial Army transport regiment, six Territorial Army field hospitals, a Territorial Army field medical equipment depot, and a Territorial Army Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Maintenance Battalion.

Other areas and tasks

Although Land Command is not responsible for running operations in Northern Ireland, the Former Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Sierra Leone, Cyprus, the Falkland Islands and Iraq (a responsibility of PJHQ), it will provide the operational troops for these areas. Some 3,900 troops have been stationed in Northern Ireland since 2008; and a further 15,000 are deployed in Afghanistan, Cyprus, the Balkans, Sierra Leone the Falkland Islands and Iraq.

Some 500 troops are involved at any one time in MoD - sponsored equipment trials, demonstrations and exhibitions. Public Duties in London take up two/three battalions at any one time. All troops not otherwise operationally committed are also available to provide Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (MACA) in the United Kingdom.