British Army
From Free net encyclopedia
Template:British Army The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. In contrast to the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Air Force, the British Army does not include "royal" in its title, because of its roots as a collection of disparate units, many of which themselves do bear the "royal" prefix. The British Army has taken part in campaigns throughout the world, and has a long and distinguished history in warfare. Today the Army is one of the most technologically advanced land forces in the world, and is deployed in many of the world's war zones as part of a fighting force, and in United Nations peacekeeping forces.
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History
See main article, History of the British Army
Foundation
Prior to the English Civil War in 1642, there was no standing army in England or Scotland. Troops were raised by the King when required, a development of the feudal concept of fief (in which a lord was obligated to raise a certain quota of knights, men at arms and yeomanry, under greater control of the King). After the Civil War, Parliament assumed control of the Army, and standing companies based on Cromwell's New Model Army formed the concept of the first regiments. The Restoration of Charles II saw the Model Army kept as a standing force, and the King raised further regiments loyal to the Crown. On January 26th, 1661 Charles II issued the warrant that officially founded the British Army.
Bill of Rights
This period in British history saw the Union of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain. In an effort to control the powers of the monarch, Parliament passed the Bill of Rights 1689 to prevent a standing army in peacetime without the consent of Parliament. To this day, annual continuation notices are required for the British Army to remain legal in times of peace. However, Parliament still does not control the use of the army (only the monarch, and his/her government gives commands and declares war). The last ruling King to go into battle was King George II at the Battle of Dettingen in 1743. However the last king to go into battle was King George VI but he was still the Duke of York at this time.
British Empire
From around 1692 until at least 1914, the United Kingdom was the dominant military and economic power of the world. The British Empire expanded in this time to include colonies and Dominions throughout the Americas, Africa, Asia and Australasia. Although the Royal Navy is widely regarded as being vital for the rise of Empire, and British dominance of the world, the British Army played an important role in colonisation. Firstly, the British Army provided garrisons for the colonies, protecting them against foreign powers and hostile natives. Secondly, the troops also helped capture strategically important territories for the British, allowing the British Empire to expand throughout the globe.
The British Army fought American colonists in the American Revolutionary War; Irish rebels in the 1798 rebellion; the Chinese in the First and Second Opium Wars; Māori tribes in the first of the New Zealand Wars; Indian princely forces and British East India Company mutineers in the Indian Mutiny; the Boers in the Boer Wars; and Irish separatists in the Anglo-Irish War.
European wars
Despite its increasingly global commitments, Britain's backdoor was still unstable, and many wars on the European continent were fought with various opponents. As well as foreign powers, Britain was still not politically stable at home, with uprisings to support the direct heirs of James II, who had been deposed in the Revolution of 1688. The Jacobite Risings ended at the Battle of Culloden.
On the continent, British foreign policy was to contain aggression by its competitor powers such as France and Spain. The territorial ambitions of the French led to the War of the Spanish Succession and the Napoleonic Wars. Russian activity led to the Crimean War.
World Wars
By 1914, Great Britain's dominance of the world had been challenged by numerous other powers, notably Germany. The UK was allied with France (by the Entente Cordiale) and Russia, and when war broke out in 1914, the British Army sent the British Expeditionary Force to France and Belgium to prevent Germany from occupying these countries. The War would be the most devastating in British military history, with over 900,000 men killed and over 2 million wounded. In the early part of the war, the professional force of the BEF was decimated and, by turns, a volunteer (and then conscripted) force replaced it. Major battles included the Battle of the Somme. Advances in technology saw British advent of the tank and advances in aircraft design which were to be decisive in future battles. Trench warfare dominated strategy, and the use of chemical and poison gases added to the devastation.
In 1939, World War II broke out with the German invasion of Poland. British assurances to the Polish led the British Empire to declare war on Germany, allied with France. Again an Expeditionary Force was sent to France, only to be hastily evacuated as the German forces swept through the Low Countries and across France in 1940. Only the Dunkirk evacuations saved the entire Expeditionary Force from capture. Later, however, the British would have success defeating the Italians and Germans at the Battle of El Alamein in North Africa, and in the D-Day invasions of Normandy. In the Far East, the British Army battled the Japanese in Burma. World War II saw the British army develop its Commando units including the Special Air Service.
1945-1990
After the end of World War II, the British Empire declined with the independence of India, and other colonies in Africa and Asia. Accordingly the strength of the British military was reduced, in recognition of Britain's reduced role in world affairs. However, a large deployment of British troops remained in Germany, facing the threat of Soviet invasion. The Cold War saw massive technological advances in warfare, and the Army saw more technological advanced weapons systems installed.
Despite the decline of the British Empire, the Army was still deployed around the world, fighting in the Korean War, the Suez crisis of 1956, and colonial wars in Oman and Malaysia. In 1982 the British Army, alongside the Royal Marines, helped to recapture the Falkland Islands during the Falklands War against Argentina.
In the three decades following 1969, the Army was heavily deployed in Northern Ireland, to support the Royal Ulster Constabulary (later the Police Service of Northern Ireland) in their conflict with loyalist and republican paramilitary groups. The locally-recruited Ulster Defence Regiment was formed, later becoming the Royal Irish Regiment in 1992. Over 700 soldiers were killed during the Troubles. Following the IRA ceasefires between 1994 and 1996 and since 1997, demilitarisation has taken place as part of the peace process, much reducing the military presence in the area.
1990-present
Image:British gulf war.jpg The ending of the Cold War saw a 40% cut in manpower, significantly reducing the size of the Army. Despite this, the Army has been deployed in an increasingly global role. In 1991, the United Kingdom was the second largest contributor to the coalition force that fought Iraq in the Gulf War. Later the Army would see service in the former republics of Yugoslavia in the Bosnian War and the Kosovo War. In 2003, the United Kingdom was the only other major contributor to the United States led invasion of Iraq. In 2001 The Parachute Regiment were depolyed in Kabul, Afghanistan to assist in the liberation of the troubled capital. Royal Marines Commandos also swept the Afghan mountains but this force is considered part of the Royal Navy.
The Army has also been deployed in many peacekeeping operations, such as in Sierra Leone and in the war against terrorism. Some peacekeeping operations are under United Nations mandates. The SAS unit of the British Army is specifically trained for anti-terror operations, and fought in Afghanistan in 2001; capturing & securing the Bagram Airbase now used by U.S. Forces. A squadron of SAS troops is always present on the UK mainland to respond to terrorist attacks.
There has been a reduction in the number of troops deployed in Northern Ireland since the Good Friday Agreement was signed in 1998. In 2005, after the IRA announced an end to armed conflict in Northern Ireland, it was revealed that the British Army would dismantle posts in the province and withdraw many troops.
The Army today
For equipment, see Modern equipment and uniform of the British Army
Statistics
| British Army statistics <ref>Armed forces.co.uk</ref> | |
| Personnel (Regular Army) | 102,440 |
| Personnel (Territorial Army) | 35,000+ |
| Main Battle Tanks | 386 Challenger 2 |
| Infantry fighting vehicles | 667 Warrior (789 purchased) |
| APCs and reconnaissance vehicles | 3,230 - 4,000+ |
| Land Rovers | 15,000 |
| Artillery pieces and mortars | 2896 |
| Air Defence | 337 |
| Aircraft | 300+ |
Current deployments
| Country | Dates | Deployment | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | 2001- | One light-role infantry battalion (on rotation) | British troops have been based in Afghanistan since the US-led invasion there in 2001. The infantry battalion forms part of NATO's International Security Assistance Force. It is expected that 16 Air Assault Brigade will deploy to the country in 2006 and take over as the main military presence in combating remaining Taliban fighters |
| Belize | 1981- | British Army Training and Support Unit Belize | British troops have been based in Belize since the country gained independence from the UK in 1981. Until 1994 Belize's neighbour, Guatemala claimed the territory, and British troops were based in Belize to provide a deterrent force |
| Bosnia | 1995- | One light-role infantry battalion (on rotation) | British troops are based in Bosnia as peacekeepers under UN Security Council resolutions. |
| Brunei | 1962- | One battalion from the Royal Gurkha Rifles and Army Air Corps flight | Centre of the Army's jungle warfare school. |
| Canada | 1972- | British Army Training Unit Suffield | Training centre in the Alberta prairie. Regular exercises every year. |
| Cyprus | 1960- | Two resident infantry battalions, Royal Engineers, 16 Flight Army Air Corps and Joint Service Signals Unit at Ayios Nikolaos | The UK retains two Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus after the island's independence. The bases serve as forward bases for deployment in the Middle East. British forces are also deployed separately with UN forces. |
| Falkland Islands | 1982- | An infantry company group and an Engineers Squadron | Constant occupation since 1833, except brief period in 1982 when Argentina invaded. Previously a platoon-sized Royal Marines Naval Party served as garrison. After 1982 the garrison was enlarged, and bolstered with an RAF base. |
| Germany | 1945- | 1st (UK) Armoured Division as part of British Forces Germany | British forces remained in Germany after the end of World War II. Forces declined considerably after the end of the Cold War, although the lack of accommodation in the UK means forces will continue to be based in Germany. |
| Gibraltar | 1704- | One infantry battalion | British Army garrison is provided by an indigenous regiment, the Royal Gibraltar Regiment, which has been on the Army regular establishment since the last British regiment left in 1991. |
| Iraq | 2003- | 8,500 troops | As part of Operation Telic (Gulf War 2), the British Army participated in the invasion of Iraq. Following the decision for continued security operations, the UK commands the Multi-National Division (South-East) with a headquarters unit, National Support Element, and a combat brigade (at the moment 7 Armoured Brigade), along with troops from Italy, Norway, Romania, Denmark, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Portugal, and Lithuania. A large number of Territorial Army soldiers have been used for a variety of tasks, both as individuals serving and as formed units. |
| Kenya | British Army Training and Liaison Staff Kenya | The Army has a training centre in Kenya, under agreement with the Kenyan government. It provides training facilities for three infantry battalions per year | |
| Kosovo | 1999 | 3,500 troops | After the Kosovo War in 1999, the British Army led the NATO deployment in Kosovo to restore peace to the province. Since then, the UK has withdrawn some forces, as other nations provided troops.. |
| Rest of Middle East | 1990 | 3,700 troops | Since the Gulf War 1 in 1991, the UK has had a considerable military presence in the Middle East. Besides Iraq, there are also an additional 3,500 troops in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, as well as regular training missions in Oman. |
| Sierra Leone | 1999 | around 100 | The British Army were deployed to Sierra Leone, a former British colony, in 1999 to aid the government in quelling violent uprisings by militiamen, under United Nations resolutions. Troops remain in the region to provide military support and training to the Sierra Leone government. |
| Northern Ireland | 1969- | 11,000 troops | First deployed after communal violence broke out between Catholics and Protestants. They were initially welcomed by the Catholic community as a protection against Protestant mobs but most eventually came to oppose their continued presence, following internment without trial (that was used entirely on Catholics) and the events of Bloody Sunday, when members of the Parachute Regiment shot dead 14 civil rights marchers. The Army became involved in a conflict with the PIRA, smaller republican splinter groups and loyalist terrorists. 763 soldiers have been killed in Northern Ireland since 1969, mostly in Belfast and Armagh. Counter-terrorist experience in Northern Ireland later proved useful in Iraq. |
Equipment
A summary of the major equipment currently in service with the British Army. For a more comprehensive list with details, see Modern equipment and uniform of the British Army.
For a list of historic and obsolete equipment that has been used by the British Army, see Historic equipment and uniform of the British Army.
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Formation and structure
See main article: Structure of the British Army
The structure of the British Army is complex, due to the different origins of its various constituent parts. In terms of the nature of its servicemen, it is divided into the Regular Army (full-time professional soldiers) and the Territorial Army (part-time paid soldiers). In terms of its military structure it is divided into corps (administrative groupings by common function), and divisions and brigades (large formations, somewhat fluid in nature).
The regiment is in some respects the most important unit of the British Army. It is the largest "permanent" tactical unit in most corps, although it is only an administrative and ceremonial grouping of battalions in the infantry. Typically, a regiment or battalion consists of around 700 soldiers and is commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel. Many infantry regiments today consist of only one regular battalion, although many also contain another Territorial Army battalion.
Sections can be subdivided into two fire teams for tactical purposes.
Battlegroups
The main tactical formation in the British Army is the battlegroup. This is a mixed formation of armour, infantry, artillery, engineers and support units, and is structured according to whatever task it is called on to perform ; it is formed around the core of either an armoured regiment or infantry battalion, and has other units added or removed from it as necessary. A battlegroup will typically consist of between 600 and 700 soldiers under the command of a Lt. Colonel.
Recruitment
Image:ArmyCareersOxford20051022 CopyrightKaihsuTai.jpg
The Army mainly recruits within the United Kingdom, and normally has a recruitment target of around 25,000 soldiers per year. Low unemployment in Britain has resulted in the Army having difficulty in meeting its target, and in the early years of the 21st century there has been a marked increase in the number of recruits from other (mostly Commonwealth) countries, who as of mid-2004 comprised approximately 7.5% of the Army's total strength. By 2005 this number had risen to almost 10%. There were 6,460 foreign soldiers from 54 countries in the Army (not counting over 3,000 Nepalese Gurkhas). After Nepal, the nation with most citizens in the British Army is Fiji, with 1,965, followed by Jamaica with 975; soldiers also come from more prosperous countries such as Australia and South Africa (650). The Caribbean island of St Lucia, which has a population of just over 150,000, provides 220 soldiers.<ref>Graeme Wilson One in 10 soldiers is recruited overseas in the Daily Telegraph 13 April, 2006</ref>
In 2003, nearly 10,000 teenagers joined the army, including more than 3000 16-year-olds.<ref>Tom Wall Our boy soldiers in The New Statesman 6 December 2004</ref>
Oath of Allegiance
Image:UK Military Oath Of Allegiance Certificate.jpg All soldiers must take an oath of allegiance upon joining the Army: this is known as "attestation". Those who believe in God use the following words:
- I swear by Almighty God that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, her heirs and successors and that I will as in duty bound honestly and faithfully defend Her Majesty, her heirs and successors in person, crown and dignity against all enemies and will observe and obey all orders of Her Majesty, her heirs and successors and of the generals and officers set over me. [1]
Others replace the words "swear by Almighty God" with "solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm".
Flags and ensigns
Image:Army Flag.gif The British Army does not have its own specific ensign, unlike the Royal Navy, which uses the White Ensign, and the RAF, which uses the Royal Air Force Ensign. Instead, the Army has different flags and ensigns, for the entire army and the different regiments and corps. The official flag of the Army as a whole is the Union Flag, flown at ratio 3:5. A non-ceremonial flag also exists, which is used at recruiting events, military events and exhibitions. Whilst at war, the Union Flag is always used, and this flag represents the Army on the Cenotaph in Whitehall, London (the UK's memorial to war dead). A British Army ensign also exists for vessels commanded by a commissioned officer, the Blue Ensign defaced with the Army badge. However, there are currently no commissioned vessels in the Army.
Each line regiment (except the Rifle Regiments) also has its own flags, known as the Colours - the Regimental Colour and the Queen's Colour. These colours have been taken into batle in the past and serve as a great sense of pride to the regiment. There is great variation in the different regimental colours. Typically the colour has the regiment's badge in the centre.
Ranks, Specialisms and insignia
| Abbreviation | FM | Gen. | Lt-Gen. | Maj-Gen. | Brig. | Col. | Lt-Col. | Maj. | Capt. | Lt. | 2nd Lt. |
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Every regiment and corps has its own distinctive insignia, such as cap badge, beret and stable belt.
Throughout the army there are many official specialisms. They do not affect rank, but they do affect pay bands.
| Band 2 Specialisms: | Band 3 Specialisms: |
| Bandsman | Survey Technician |
| Farrier | Lab Technician |
| Driver Tank Transporter | Registered General Nurse |
| Radar Operator | Telcom Op (Special) |
| Meteorologist | Aircraft Technician |
| Bomb Disposal Engineer | SAS Soldier |
| Telcom Op (Linguist) | |
| Operator Special Intelligence | |
| Construction Materials Technician | |
| Gun Fitter | |
| Driver Specialist | |
| Vehicle Electrician | |
| Armoured Engineer |
See also
Further reading
- British Army Website
- The British Army in the Great War
- The British Army Rumour Service - an unofficial site for news, gossip and discussion.
- The ARRSEPedia - Wikipedia from the above
- British Army during the Napoleonic Wars
- Tom Wall, New Statesman, 6 December 2004, "Our boy soldiers"
- Women in the armed forces
Footnotes
<references />
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