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Under the Future Army Structure (FAS) proposals the UK Armed Forces will
have the following operational brigades available for deployment once
restructuring is complete:
Light Brigades - 16 Air Assault
Brigade; 19 Light Brigade; 3 Commando Brigade (Royal
Marines)
Mechanised Brigades -
1 Mechanised Brigade; 4 Mechanised Brigade; 12 Mechanised Brigade
Armoured Brigades - 7 Armoured Brigade; 20 Armoured Brigade
LOGISTIC BRIGADES - 101
Logistic Brigade, 102 Logistic Brigade and 104 Logistic Brigade.
Armoured Brigade Organisation
The following diagram illustrates the possible composition of an Armoured
Brigade in 1(UK) Armd Div on operations.
Totals:
58 x Challenger MBT
(Possibly)
145 x Warrior AIFV
320
x AFV 432/Spartan Armoured Vehicles
24
x AS 90 SP Gun
Approx
5,000
personnel
Notes:
(1) Armoured Regiment with
approx 58 x Challenger MBT
(2) Armoured
Infantry Battalion with approx 52 x Warrior with rifle companies) and approx 40 x
FV432
(3) Artillery Regiment with
24 x AS 90 SP
Guns
(4)
Army Air Corps Detachment (possibly Lynx and Gazelle)
(5)
Transport Squadron RLC, with approximately 60-70 trucks
(6)
Engineer Squadron with 68 vehicles but size of squadron depending upon the task
(7)
Long-Range Anti-Tank Guided-Weapon Troop (Swingfire) but due to be
replaced in the longer term
(8)
Royal Artillery Battery with possibly 36 x HVM AD missiles
(9)
Armoured Recce Squadron
This
Brigade could provide the Headquarters for three Battlegroups.
3 (UK) Division Mechanised Brigade
Organisation
The following is an example of the possible Mechanised Brigade
organisation (dependent on task).
Note: (1) Long Range Anti Tank Guided
Weapons Currently Striker/Swingfire.
Where appropriate Army Air Corps assets
may be allocated.
16 Air Assault Brigade
Nearly 10,000 personnel form the personnel
component of 16 Air Assault Brigade. Using everything from the latest
Apache helicopter to air-mobile artillery equipment and high velocity air
defence missiles, this Brigade has marked a considerable leap forward in
Britain’s defence capability.
The Brigade capitalises on the combat capabilities of the former 24
Airmobile Brigade and 5 Airborne Brigade, including two parachute
battalions with an increase in combat service support. The introduction of
the Apache Attack Helicopter has provided anew generation of weapons
systems bringing major improvements in military capability. This brigade
is under the operational command of the JHC (Joint Helicopter Command) and
could be assigned to other formations for operations. On a daily basis the
brigade falls under the administrative command of 4th Division.
Until late 2005 the Brigade core group was based around the three
battalions of the Parachute Regiment. Under the Future Army Restructuring
plans 1 Para will re-role as a 'Ranger' type or Special Forces Support
Group available for operations from 2008. It is believed that the Special
Forces Support Group will be located at St Athan, in South Wales, close to
the SAS headquarters in Hereford.
The other two Parachute Regiment battalions will remain with 16 Air
Assault Brigade and continue to provide the lead airborne battlegroup in
rotation.
It would appear that 16 Air Assault Brigade will retain 4 x infantry
battalions with two non Parachute Regiments battalions assigned to the
Brigade.
Support helicopters are provided by the RAF (from the Joint Helicopter
Command) and the Brigade would normally expect to operate with 18 x
Chinook and 18 x Puma. An air assault infantry battalion can be moved by
20 x Chinook equivalents lifts. Each air assault infantry battalion has a
personnel strength of 687 and is equipped with 12 x Milan firing posts.
The following diagram shows a possible
configuration for 16 Air Assault Brigade during significant operations:
19
Light Brigade
On operations 19 Light Brigade could have the following configuration:
Note:
(1) Formation Reconnaissance with Scimitar
Logistic Brigades
There are three Logistic
Brigades - 101 Logistic Brigade, 102 Logistic Brigade and 104 Logistic
Brigade.
The operational role of a Logistic Brigade is to receive both troops and
equipment into the theatre of operations, and be responsible for
movement to the forward areas, ensuring that the combat formations have
the combat supplies necessary to achieve their aim. 102 Logistics
Brigade is also responsible for the establishment of Field Hospitals and
the evacuation of casualties to the UK.
In general terms a logistic brigade might consist of the following:
Supply Regiment RLC
2 x Transport Regiment RLC
General Support Medical Regiment RAMC
Regiment RMP
Military Dog Support Unit RAVC
Signals Squadron R Signals
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