1 (UK) ARMOURED DIVISION

1 (UK) Armoured Division & British Forces Germany (BFG)

The 1st Armoured Division was formed in 1940. Since World War II the Division has been re-titled three times and became the 1st (United Kingdom) Armoured Division in 1993, having successfully fought in the Gulf War of 1991.

The Division has its headquarters at Herford in Germany and currently (2007) commands three Armoured Brigades situated throughout North West Germany and is the major component of British Forces Germany. By late 2008 we expect BFG to number approximately 21,800 personnel.

British Forces Germany (BFG) is the composite name given to the British Army, Royal Air Force and supporting civil elements stationed in Germany.

The terms British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) and Royal Air Force Germany (RAFG), until recently were the traditional names used to describe the two Service elements of the British Forces stationed in Germany.

For many years following World War Two, and as a result of the confrontation between NATO and the former Warsaw Treaty Organisation, the UK Government had stationed four Army Divisions and a considerable part of its Air Force at five airbases in the Federal Republic of Germany. On the whole, this level of commitment was maintained until 1992 and although these forces appeared to be solely national, they were in fact closely integrated with the NATO Northern Army Group (NORTHAG) and the 2nd Allied Tactical Air Force (2 ATAF).

As a result of political changes in Europe and the UK Government's 'Options for Change' programme, the British Army's presence in Germany has been reduced to three Armoured Brigades and a Divisional Headquarters. The majority of the RAF presence has been withdrawn.

1 (UK) Armoured Division has its headquarters at Herford in Germany (about 50kms from Hanover) and the three Armoured Brigades under command are located at Osnabruck, Bergen-Hohne and Paderborn. 

Divisional Structure HQ 1 (UK) Armoured Division

Notes:
(1) Under Future Army Structure proposals 4th Armoured Brigade became 4th Mechanised Brigade during 2006 and redeploys to Catterick (Yorkshire) in 2008–09, retaining a single Warrior Battalion. In general terms a Mechanised Brigade contains one Armoured Infantry Battalion equipped with Warrior. 1 (UK) Armoured Division will then consist of two Armoured Brigades.

(2) DAG (Divisional Artillery Group) This DAG could be reinforced by Rapier Air Defence and MLRS units from the UK as necessary.

Personnel total in Germany is approximately 21,800 with about 17,000 in 1 (UK) Armoured Division. During early 2008 this Division could probably provide the Headquarters (HQs) for up to six Battlegroups.

Non-UK brigades

For non-national operations such as NATO military tasks in support of the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC), 1 (UK) Armoured Division could have two extra brigades available for deployment. These two brigade would be the Danish Reaction Brigade and 4 (Czech) Reaction Brigade.

102 Logistics Brigade

This brigade provides third line combat service support wherever this is required army-wide but is the first ‘port of call’ for combat service support to 1 (UK) Armoured Division. The Brigade Headquarters is at Gütersloh in West Germany, reasonably close to the Headquarters of 1 (UK) Armoured Division in Herford.

102 Logistics Brigade has the following major/minor units under command:

262 Signal Squadron (Gütersloh)
6 Supply Regiment RLC (Gütersloh and Dulmen)
7 Transport Regiment RLC (Bielefeld and Fallingbostel)
8 Transport Regiment RLC (Catterick – Yorkshire)
5 Regiment RMP (Edinburgh – Scotland)
34 Field Hospital RAMC (Edinburgh – Scotland)
102 Military Working Dog Support Unit RAVC (Sennelager)

Estimate of Force Levels  1 (UK) Armoured Division (as at 1 Jan 2007)

It is probable that in the event of hostilities (as was in the case of recent operations in Iraq) considerable numbers of officers and soldiers from the Territorial Army (TA) would be used to reinforce this division. These reinforcements would consist of individuals, drafts of specialists, or by properly formed TA units varying in size from Mobile Bath Units of 20 men, to Major Units over 500 strong.

The following diagram illustrates the possible composition of an Armoured Brigade in 1(UK) Armoured Division, on operations.

1 (UK) Armoured Division - Armoured Brigade Organisation 

Totals: 

58 x Challenger MBT (Possibly)

145 x Warrior AIFV

340 x AFV 432/Spartan Armoured Vehicles

24 x AS 90 SP Gun

Approx 5,000 personnel

UKSC(G)

The United Kingdom Support Command (Germany) has responsibility for British Army Troops on the Continent of Europe that are not part of 1 (UK) Armoured Division. Its headquarters replaces that of the British Army of the Rhine, whose sign it has adopted. The headquarters of UKSC(G) is located at Rheindahlen and has about 3, 600 personnel under command.

Possible future changes in BFG Force Structure

In addition to the mid 2006 announcement of the move of 4 Armoured Brigade from Germany to the UK, the Secretary of State for Defence has announced the intention to make further adjustments to the structure of the British Forces in Germany. These include proposals for the possible return to the UK of Headquarters Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (HQ ARRC), 102 Logistic Brigade and 1 Signal Brigade, over the period 2008-2012, including identifying exactly where these units will be based in the UK.

A project team is being established to assess these proposals in greater detail, and to determine whether they are practicable and offer value for money. It is likely that the MoD will be in a position to announce a final decision late in 2007.

There are also plans for a series of minor moves within Germany which will lead to the closure of Osnabruck Station from early 2009. In the longer term there are proposals that may result in the closure of Munster Station and therefore Osnabruck Garrison as a whole. The current planning assumption is that this would not take place before 2010. The relocation of HQ ARRC (a NATO Headquarters), 102 Logistic Brigade and 1 Signal Brigade would allow the closure of Rhine Garrison in the period 2010-2012. This will result in the concentration of UK Germany-based forces in Hohne, Paderborn and Gutersloh garrisons.