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.
A typical battalion or regiment follows a structure similar to the
following:
Divisions and Brigades are the next smallest groupings after a Corps. The British Army comprises two active divisions and seven active manoeuvre brigades. The three remaining divisional headquarters act as regional commands in the UK itself, and would only become field formations in the event of a general war. Beyond the manoeuvre brigades, there are also a number of active brigades which have air defence, logistics and engineering functions. Finally, there are also a number of reserve manoeuvre brigades which command smaller regions than the reserve divisions. The numbering of the various brigades is not sequential, reflecting the rise and fall of various brigades over the years. The reserve brigades have often been divisions in times past, such as 51 (Scottish) Brigade being the direct descendant of the famous 51st (Highland) Division.
As well as the divisions of infantry and the Royal Armoured Corps, cavalry and infantry regiments of the British Army are listed in what is called the order of precedence, which dates back to when regiments had numbers rather than names. The order comes from the start of the regiment's service under the Crown, up to 1881 and the Cardwell Reforms, when the use of numbers was abolished in favour of county names. The regiments of the Household Division are always listed first, as they are the most senior, followed by the line regiments. In today's army, which has many regiments formed through amalgamations of other regiments, the rank in the order of precedence is that of the more senior of the amalgamated units. It is for this reason that the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, one of the youngest in the army, is ranked second in the line infantry order- it is the direct descendent of the 2nd Regiment of Foot.
Note: Although one of the antecedent regiments of the Queen's Royal Lancers was the 5th Lancers, this regiment was formed in the 1850s, resurrecting the number of an old regiment. Because it was formed so late, in the order of precedence it ranked after the 17th Lancers.
Note: Line cavalry is made up of Dragoon Guards, Dragoons, Hussars and Lancers. Dragoon Guards always come first, with the other three types lumped together; it is therefore possible to have in the order of precendence 1st Hussars, followed by 2nd Lancers, followed by 3rd Dragoons, and so on.
Note: Although the Royal Green Jackets is descended from three numbered regiments, it is last in the order of precedence because the unnumbered regiment The Rifle Brigade has served longest as a rifle regiment. The Royal Gurkha Rifles comes before the Royal Green Jackets because one of its predecessors (the 2nd Gurkhas) entered service before the Rifle Brigade ceased using its old number (95th). As both the Royal Gurkha Rifles and the Royal Green Jackets are rifle regiments they come last in the order of precedence, with only the SAS after them (the SAS does not fall into any of the other categories). This is why the Parachute Regiment, which is classed as a line infantry regiment, comes above both.
Note: The Royal Marines, as the descendent of the old Army marine regiments of the 17th and 18th centuries, is included in the Order of Precedence when not on parade with the Royal Navy.
Units of the Regular Army
Armour
In the modern British Army, the regiments classed as cavalry operate armoured vehicles. The majority of these units are grouped together in the Royal Armoured Corps, which are the old regiments of line cavalry; in addition there is the Household Cavalry Regiment. As well as the old cavalry regiments, there are also the 1st and 2nd Royal Tank Regiments, which were formed during the First World War. In their current roles, they either operate as armoured regiments with main battle tanks, or formation reconnaissance regiments.
1st Royal Tank Regiment operates in a dual role; two squadrons serve in the NBC role as part of the Joint NBC Regiment, while the other is a main battle tank training squadron as part of the Combined Arms Training Centre .
Infantry
For administrative purposes, the Infantry is divided into six divisions. These are not the same as the divisions that are sent into combat, which are a mixture of infantry, armoured and support units. Today, infantry battalions operate in one of four main roles:
The Royal Irish Regiment shares the status of the largest infantry regiment in the British Army with the Parachute Regiment. The Royal Irish has a total of four battalions. The 1st Battalion, as has been stated, is a general service battalion that is part of the main body of infantry. However, the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Battalions are home service battalions, purely for service in Northern Ireland.
The Royal Gurkha Rifles is the largest part of the Brigade of Gurkhas, which also has its own support arms. These units are affiliated to the equivalent British units, but have their own unique cap badges.
28 Transport Squadron, 10 Transport Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
94 Stores Squadron, 9 Supply Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps.
Infantry Training Centre
As of 2001, infantry training is undertaken as a single 24 week course at the Infantry Training Centre at Catterick, as opposed to being divided into Phase 1 and Phase 2 training. The ITC is divided into four separate battalions; these are divided into companies, each of which are responsible for one of the infantry's administrative divisions:
1st Battalion, Infantry Training Centre
Queen's Division Company
King's Division Company
Light Division Company
2nd Battalion, Infantry Training Centre
Scottish Division Company
Prince of Wales's Division Company
Somme Company
3rd Battalion, Infantry Training Centre
Guards Division Company
Parachute Regiment Company
Gurkha Company
Gurkha Language Wing
4th Battalion, Infantry Training Centre
HQ Company
Williams Company
Hook Company
Army School of Ceremonial
Army School of Bagpipe Music & Highland Drums
Gym EL Wing
Combat Support Arms
There are six corps in the army that are classed as providing combat support and are known (along with the cavalry and infantry) as the 'Arms':
Royal Regiment of Artillery
The Royal Artillery, despite its name, is a corps sub-divided into 16 regiments. Of these, four retain the name, cap badge and traditions of the Royal Horse Artillery. The sixteen regiments are divided into eight specialities:
Home Defence
Air Defence
General Support (MLRS)
Close Support (AS90)
Close Support (L118 Light Gun)
Surveillance and Target Acquisition
Training
King's Troop, RHA
12 Regiment, RA
39 Regiment, RA
1 Regiment, RHA
7 (Para) Regiment, RHA
5 Regiment, RA
14 Regiment, RA
16 Regiment, RA
3 Regiment, RHA
29 (Cdo) Regiment, RA
32 Regiment, RA
47 Regiment, RA
4 Regiment, RA
40 Regiment, RA
19 Regiment, RA
26 Regiment, RA
Corps of Royal Engineers
Engineering support for the army is provided by the Royal Engineers, of which there are a total of 15 regiments in the regular army. Of these, 25 Engineer Regiment is a field regiment dedicated to service in Northern Ireland, 33 Engineer Regiment is an Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit, 39 Engineer Regiment provides engineering support to the RAF, and 42 Engineer Regiment is a dedicated Geographic unit. The Royal School of Military Engineering (RSME), also has two regiments, which are the parent units for recruits to the RSME:
1 RSME Regiment - Construction Engineer School
3 RSME Regiment - Combat Engineer School
The remainder are field regiments attached to various deployable formations:
21 Engineer Regiment - 4th Armoured Brigade
22 Engineer Regiment - 1st Mechanised Brigade
23 Engineer Regiment - 16th Air Assault Brigade
26 Engineer Regiment - 12th Mechanised Brigade
28 Engineer Regiment - 1 (UK) Division
32 Engineer Regiment - 7th Armoured Brigade
35 Engineer Regiment - 20th Armoured Brigade
36 Engineer Regiment - 3 (UK) Division
38 Engineer Regiment - 19th Light Brigade
In addition, there are three independent squadrons in the Royal Engineers:
9 Parachute Squadron - 9 Para provides engineering support to the parachute operations of 16 Air Assault Brigade, and is attached to 23 Engineer Regiment.
59 Independent Commando Squadron - 59 Squadron is the engineers unit assigned to 3 Commando Brigade.
62 Cyprus Squadron - 62 Squadron provides the engineering support for British Forces in Cyprus.
Within the structure of the Royal Engineers are two squadrons that are cap-badged as the Queen's Gurkha Engineers, manned predominantly by Gurkhas.
As well as the operational regiments and squadrons, there also exists within the structure of the Royal Engineers an organisation called the Military Works Force. This has responsibility for both permanent and temporary infrastructure development in several areas, including water, fuel, communications and utilities. Within the MWF are four works groups, which are the equivilant of regiments:
HQ Works Group, RE
62 Works Group, RE - Water Infrastructure
63 Works Group, RE - Utilities Infrastructure
64 Works Group, RE - Fuel Infrastructure
Royal Corps of Signals
In the British Army, communications below brigade level are maintained by individual units. For formations of Brigade level and above, communications and ICT are provided by the Royal Signals, which has a total of ten regiments, and 13 separate squadrons:
280 (UK) Signal Squadron - Allied Forces North (AFNORTH)
Cyprus Communications Unit
Within the structure of the Royal Signals are two squadrons that are cap-badged as the Queen's Gurkha Signals, manned predominantly by Gurkhas.
Army Air Corps
The Army Air Corps provides the battlefield support element of the army's aviation needs (the heavy transport element comes from the helicopters of the RAF, while the amphibious element is provided by the FAA). The AAC has six regiments, and a number of independent squadrons and flights:
25 Flight - Aviation support to British Forces in Belize
Intelligence Corps
The Intelligence Corps is the army's main tool for the gathering and collating of intelligence, and for the organisation of the army's counter-intelligence apparatus.
1 Military Intelligence Battalion
2 Military Intelligence Battalion
4 Military Intelligence Battalion
15 (United Kingdom) Psychological Operations Group
The remaining corps of the British Army are classed as the 'Services'. While they are all trained soldiers and can fight as infantry if necessary, they provide the essential services that keep the army running.
Royal Logistic Corps
The Royal Logistic Corps is the largest single corps in the British Army, and is responsible for the supply and movement of material to all units. Within the corps there are 21 separate regiments:
1 General Support Regiment
12 Supply Regiment
2 Close Support Regiment
13 Air Assault Support Regiment
3 Close Support Regiment
14 Supply Regiment
4 General Support Regiment
17 Port and Maritime Regiment
6 Support Regiment
21 Logistic Support Regiment
7 Transport Regiment
23 Pioneer Regiment
8 Artillery Support Regiment
24 Regiment
9 Supply Regiment
27 Transport Regiment
10 Transport Regiment
29 Regiment
11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment
89 Postal and Courier Regiment
5 Training Regiment
Within the structure of the Royal Logistic Corps are two squadrons that are cap-badged as the Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment, manned predominantly by Gurkhas.
Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
The Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers have responsibility for the maintenance of all of the British Army's equipment. The corps provides detachments to each formation of brigade level and higher from its total of seven battalions:
There are two phases in the training for recruits into the army:
Phase 1
The initial phase features the basic training for all new recruits. There are two main strands, one for officers and one for other ranks.
Officers: Prospective officers first attend the Regular Commissions Board to determine whether they are suited to become officers. Once they pass the RCB, they attend the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, where they undergo basic training, not just in the elements of soldiering, but also leadership. The Commissioning Course, which is the standard course for new officers, lasts 44 weeks. However, there are also short course for those with professional qualifications joining one of the services (Medicine, Law etc) that provides basic military training.
Soldiers: Prospective ordinary soldiers (other than the infantry) attend one of five Army Training Regiments spread around the country:
ATR Bassingbourn
ATR Glencorse
ATR Lichfield
ATR Pirbright
ATR Winchester
Here they undergo basic training, learning how to become soldiers. The basic course is the Army Development Course, which lasts for 20 weeks.
Once new recruits have passed their initial courses, either at RMAS or an ATR, then they move to Phase 2 Training.
Phase 2
Phase 2 involves the new officer or soldier choosing which branch of the service they wish to specialise in, and then undergoing the specific training. This is with one of the specialist schools located around the country:
Infantry Training Centre - the ITC is responsible for both Phase 1 and Phase 2 infantry training for soldiers. Officers undergo their Phase 1 training at Sandhurst.
Armour Centre
Royal School of Artillery
School of Army Aviation
Royal School of Military Engineering
Royal School of Signals
Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Training Group
Defence Logistic Support Training Group
AGC Training Group
Royal Military School of Music
Units of the Territorial Army
Armour (TA)
The four armoured regiments of the Territorial Army operate in two roles - provision of crew replacements for armoured and NBC regiments, and formation reconnaissance:
The 1999 reorganisation of the Territorial Army saw a number of new, multi-cap badge battalions take the place of the old territorial battalions of regular regiments:
A further infantry unit, not officially on the British Army list but still technically a British unit, is The Bermuda Regiment. This is a territorial infantry battalion which is responsible for the internal security of Bermuda.
Royal Artillery (TA)
Air Defence
General Support (MLRS)
Close Support (Light Gun)
Surveillance and Target Acquisition
104 Regiment, RA(V)
101 Regiment, RA(V)
100 Regiment, RA(V)
Honourable Artillery Company
105 Regiment, RA(V)
103 Regiment, RA(V)
106 Regiment, RA(V)
Note: The Honourable Artillery Company does not come under the Royal Artillery's order of battle, but is instead a separate regiment.
Royal Engineers (TA)
71 Engineer Regiment (Volunteers) - Air Support Regiment
73 Engineer Regiment (Volunteers) - Air Support Regiment
75 Engineer Regiment (Volunteers) - Field Regiment
Although the majority of the British Army performs both operational and ceremonial roles, there are some units that are purely ceremonial. These are manned by fully trained soldiers who are periodically transferred from operational units.
The following are not part of the army, but perform the ceremonial role of Sovereign's Bodyguard. They tend to be made up of retired officers and NCOs:
One of the significant duties that all of the above units (with the exception of the King's Troop and the Honourable Artillery Company) perform is to guard the catafalque upon which the coffin of a state funeral rests in Westminster Hall.
Others
Yeomen Warders: This corps provides the ceremonial guard at the Tower of London, with responsibility for guarding any prisoners housed in the fortress, and ensuring the security of the crown jewels. The most notable ceremony that the Yeoman Warders participate in is the Ceremony of the Keys. However, they also form a guard of honour in the annexe of Westminster Abbey at the coronation service.
In-Pensioners of the Royal Hospital: While not strictly speaking a corps, the In-Pensioners of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea form a significant part of the army's heritage and history, and often take part in major occasions, especially those of remembrance.
Atholl Highlanders: A further ceremonial unit is the Atholl Highlanders. This is unique in that it is the only legal private army in Europe; instead of being in the service of the Crown, it is in the service of the Duke of Atholl.
Restructuring
In July 2004, the Government announced its proposals for restructuring of the armed forces. The main points concerning the army included:
Cutting four infantry battalions (three English and one Scottish) with the remaining single battalion regiments of the Scottish Division, King's Division and Prince of Wales's Division amalgamating. These will see either one regiment of four or more battalions, or two regiments of between two and three battalions in each division.
One armoured regiment being re-roled as force reconnaissance, with seven Challenger 2 squadrons being cut.
One heavy artillery regiment being re-roled as light artillery, with six AS-90 batteries being cut.
A reduction in the number of Ground Based Air Defence units, with the disbandment of the RAF Regiment squadrons, and a reduction in the size of the Royal Artillery batteries.
On 16 December 2004, Geoff Hoon announced restructuring plans. The new operational structure of the army will feature:
Two Armoured Brigades - these will be 7 Armoured Brigade and 20 Armoured Brigade.
Three Mechanised Brigades - these will be 1 Mechanised Brigade and 12 Mechanised Brigade, to be joined by the current 4 Armoured Brigade, which will convert to mechanised by 2006.
One Light Role Brigade - this will see 19 Mechanised Brigade convert to the light role, beginning at the start of 2005.
One Air Assault Brigade - 16 Air Assault Brigade.
Rumours were also confirmed, with the restructuring of the infantry along the large regiment lines. This will involve the Royal Scots and the King's Own Scottish Borderers amalgamating into a single battalion, and this then amalgamating with the other four regiments into a large Royal Regiment of Scotland, with battalions retaining their former titles. The regiments of the King's Division and the Prince of Wales's Division will also merge, with one battalion lost from the King's Division, and two from the Prince of Wales's. Thus, each will have one regiment of three battalions and one regiment of two battalions.
In 2005, 40 Regiment, Royal Artillery will begin conversion to the 105mm Light Gun from the AS-90.
Engineers
Engineering support for 3 Commando Brigade to be expanded to a full regiment with the establishment of 24 Commando Engineer Regiment. This brings it into line with the other brigade sized formations.
Signals
Establishment of a new signals regiment, 22 Signal Regiment.
Infantry
Guards Division
Although there will remain five single battalion Guards regiments, operationally these will conform to the new structure, with each battalion being given a specific role. Operationally therefore, the Guards will be a single large regiment.
The London Regiment will become the Guards Battalion of the TA, and may be titled 6th Bn, the Foot Guards.
Scottish Division
Royal Scots and King's Own Scottish Borderers to amalgamate into a single battalion. The combined Royal Scots/KOSB to merge with the Royal Highland Fusiliers, Black Watch, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and The Highlanders into the Royal Regiment of Scotland.
The Royal Scots and King's Own Scottish Borderers (1st Bn, Royal Regiment of Scotland)
The Royal Highland Fusiliers (2nd Bn, Royal Regiment of Scotland)
The Black Watch (3rd Bn, Royal Regiment of Scotland)
The Highlanders (4th Bn, Royal Regiment of Scotland)
The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (5th Bn, Royal Regiment of Scotland)
The 52nd Lowland Regiment with form the 6th Bn, and the 51st Highland the 7th.
3rd Bn, King's Lancashire and Border Regiment will be formed from the Kings Regiment elements of the TA Kings and Cheshire Regiment and Lancastrian and Cumbrian Volunteers Regiment.
The Duke of Wellington's Regiment, Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire and the Green Howards to merge into the Yorkshire Regiment.
1st Bn, Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own)
2nd Bn, Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards)
3rd Bn, Yorkshire Regiment (Duke of Wellington's)
4th Bn, Yorkshire Regiment will be formed from the TA East and West Riding Regiment and the Green Howards elements of the Tyne Tees Regiment.
Queen's Division
The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires), Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and the Royal Anglian Regiment are unaffected.
The RRF and R ANGLIAN gain a Territorial Army Battalion (in both cases 3rd Bn).
The Royal Green Jackets will be unaffected by the new structure
The Light Infantry, Royal Green Jackets, Devonshire and Doreset, and RGBW companies in the London Regiment, Rifle Volunteers and Royal Rifle Volunteers will amalgamate into TA battalions of the Light Infantry and Royal Green Jackets
A further proposal (which has not yet been confirmed) is to amalgamate the Light Infantry and Royal Green Jackets into a single large regiment with five regular and two TA battalions.
The Parachute Regiment
1st Battalion, the Parachute Regiment will be stay in the infantry order of battle. It will be roled as the new tri-service Ranger battalion, to serve as support to the SAS.
2nd and 3rd Battalions, the Parachute Regiment remain unaffected.
4th Battalion will conform it the new TA infantry structure but is otherwise unaffected.
Royal Irish Regiment
In order to retain an 'infantry footprint' in Northern Ireland, the Royal Irish Regiment will retain its single general service battalion and three home service battalions.
The Royal Irish Rangers will become the 5th Bn, Royal Irish Regiment.
Royal Gurkha Rifles
The Royal Gurkha Rifles remain unaffected by the changes to the infantry structure.
Special Forces
As support to the SAS and SBS, 1 PARA will change role to Special Forces Support Battalion. There may also be elements representing the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. While no specifics have been revealed, the disbandment of the RAF Regiment'sRapier squadrons will leave personnel available, while the Fleet Protection Group, Royal Marines seems the most likely choice to form the navy element. The Ranger force will not be a new regiment in its own right, but will remain titled as 1 PARA.
Territorial Army
With the exception of the Royal Gurkha Rifles, every infantry regiment will receive at least one Territorial Army battalion, with the exception of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, which will receive two. The Guards Division will gain an affiliated TA battalion.
Bands
The British Army has 29 military bands of varying strength. The seven bands of the Household Division each have 49 musicians, whereas the other bands each have 35 musicians. All bands can play in many different formats, but primarily as a marching band or a concert band.
Brief comment
While the Government maintains that regimental traditions will remain through the addition of subtitles to battalions, it should be noted that in the reforms of the 1960s, which brought the likes of the Queen's Regiment, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, Royal Green Jackets and Light Infantry, the individual regiments that made them up also retained their individual titles for a brief period, before these were removed to promote the harmonisation of the new regiments.
