TOTAL BRITISH ARMED FORCES

OVERVIEW (as at early 2012)

STRATEGIC FORCES

4 x Vanguard Class submarines capable of carrying 16 x Trident (D5) Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBM) deploying with 48 x warheads per submarine. If necessary a D5 missile could deploy with 12 MIRV (multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicles). Future plans appear to be for a stockpile of 200 operationally available warheads and 58 missile bodies. Strategic Forces are provided by the Royal Navy.

We would expect the UK Government to replace the Vanguard Class submarines in the mid to late 2020s.

ROYAL NAVY

35,430 personnel (includes 7,500 Royal Marines)

4 x Nuclear Powered Ballistic Firing Submarines
9 x Tactical Submarines
1 x Helicopter Carrier
2 x Amphibious Assault Ships
7 x Destroyers
17 x Frigates
16 x Minehunters and Minesweepers
4 x Ocean Survey Vessels
1 x Antarctic Patrol Ship
4 x Patrol Vessels
16 x Patrol Craft (fishery protection and patrol duties)

Naval Aircraft

8 x Helicopter squadrons with:
30 x Merlin Helicopters
12 x Sea King MK6
23 x Lynx Helicopters
11 x AEW Sea King Helicopters
41 x Sea King Commando Helicopters
6 x Lynx Helicopters
8 x Gazelle Helicopters

FLEET SUPPORT SHIPS
(Manned by Royal Fleet Auxiliary Personnel, supply fuel, stores and ammunition at sea to fleet units)

1 x Fast Fleet Tankers
2 x Small Fleet Tankers
3 x Support Tankers
2 x Replenishment Ships
1 x Aviation Training Ship
1 x Forward Repair Ship
4 x Landing Ships

Royal Marines

1 x Commando Brigade Headquarters
3 x Royal Marine Commando (Battalion Size)
2 x Commando Assault Helicopter Squadrons
1 x Commando Light Helicopter Squadron
1 x Commando Regiment Royal Artillery
1 x Commando Regiment Royal Engineers
1 x Commando Logistic Regiment
1 x Commando Assault Group (Landing-Craft)
1 x Fleet Protection Group
4 x Special Boat Service Squadrons

MERCHANT NAVY

In late 2011 in the UK registered trading fleet included:

87 x Tankers
130 x Ro-Ro Vessels
150 x Container Vessels / Cargo Vessels
37 x Passenger Vessels

ARMY

101,300 trained and untrained personnel (but excluding 3,600 Gurkhas)

1 x Corps Headquarters
1 x Divisional HQ in Germany
1 x Divisional HQ in UK
7 x Deployable Brigade HQ (excluding 3 Commando Brigade)
10 x Regional Brigade HQ
1 x Northern Ireland Brigade HQ

Major Units

10 x Armoured Regiments
36 x Infantry Battalions
15 x Artillery Regiments
12 x Engineer Regiments
12 x Signal Regiments
7 x Equipment Support Battalions
17 x Logistic Regiments
13 x Medical Regiments / Field Hospitals

ROYAL AIR FORCE

40,090 personnel

5 x Multi-role Squadrons (Typhoon)
2 x Offensive Support Squadron (Tornado)
1 x Reconnaissance Squadrons
2 x Airborne Early Warning Squadrons
8 x Transport and Tankers Squadrons
2 x Search And Rescue Squadrons (Helicopter)
9 x Helicopter Squadrons
8 x Field Squadrons
1 x UAV Squadron

JOINT FORCES

Joint Helicopter Command

4 x Royal Naval Helicopter Squadrons
5 x Army Aviation Regiments (including 1 x Volunteer Reserve)
7 x Royal Air Force Helicopter Squadrons (including 1 x RAuxAF Helicopter Support Squadron)

Joint Special Forces Group

1 x Regular Special Air Service (SAS) Regiment
2 x Volunteer Reserve Special Air Service Regiments
4 x Special Boat Service (SBS) Squadrons
1 x Special Reconnaissance Regiment
1 x Special Forces Support Group
1 x Joint Special Forces Air Wing

1 x Joint Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Regiment

NATIONAL POLICE FORCES

England and Wales 141,000
Scotland 16,675
Northern Ireland 7,500
British Transport Police 2,500
Ministry of Defence Police 3,400
Civil Nuclear Constabulary 800