TOTAL BRITISH ARMED FORCES

OVERVIEW (as at early 2009)

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

38,160 personnel (includes 7,500 Royal Marines)

4 x Nuclear Powered Ballistic Firing Submarines
9 x Tactical Submarines
3 x Aircraft Carriers: Mix of fixed wing Harriers and helicopters
1 x Helicopter Carrier
2 x Amphibious Assault Ships
8 x Destroyers
18 x Frigates
16 x Minehunters and Minesweepers
5 x Ocean Survey Vessels
1 x Antarctic Patrol Ship
4 x Patrol Vessels
16 x Patrol Craft (fishery protection and patrol duties)

Naval Aircraft

2 x Fixed wing (Harrier GR7/GR9) squadrons
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 - Anti Tank role

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

2 x Fast Fleet Tankers
2 x Small Fleet Tankers
4 x Support Tankers
4 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)
3 x Commando Assault Helicopter Squadrons
1 x Commando Light Helicopter Squadron
1 x Commando Regiment Royal Artillery
1 x Commando Squadron 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 2008 in the UK registered trading fleet numbered 646 vessels with an overall deadweight tonnage of around 13,000,000 tonnes. The fleet included:

134 x Tankers
133 x Ro-Ro Vessels
165 x Container Vessels
38 x Passenger Vessels

ARMY

105,750 trained and untrained personnel (but excluding 3,600 Gurkhas)

1 x Corps Headquarters in Germany (ARRC)
1 x Divisional HQ in Germany
1 x Divisional HQ in UK
5 x Non-deployable divisional type HQ in UK
8 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
11 x Engineer Regiments
12 x Signal Regiments
7 x Equipment Support Battalions
17 x Logistic Regiments
8 x Medical Regiments

ROYAL AIR FORCE

43,290 personnel

5 x Strike/Attack Squadrons
2 x Offensive Support Squadron
5 x Reconnaissance Squadrons
4 x Air Defence Interceptor Squadrons
2 x Maritime Patrol Squadrons
2 x Airborne Early Warning Squadrons
1 x ISTAR Squadron
8 x Transport and Tankers Squadrons
2 x Search And Rescue Squadrons (Helicopter)
7 x Helicopter Squadrons
6 x Field Squadrons

JOINT FORCES

Joint Force Harrier

2 x Royal Navy Squadrons
2 x Royal Air Force Squadrons

Joint Helicopter Command

4 x Royal Naval Helicopter Squadrons
6 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 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