Army 2020

Army 2020, was the name given to the restructuring of the British Army, in light of the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review.

Background

The British Government gave an indication of its proposals for the future structure of the Army in early 2008, in a press report stating that it was considering restructuring the Army into a force of three deployable divisional headquarters and eight 'homogenous or identical' brigades, each with a spread of heavy, medium and light capabilities. This report indicated that the existing 16 Air Assault Brigade would be retained as a high-readiness rapid reaction force.[1]

Subsequently, it was reported that the former Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Richard Dannatt, wanted to see the Army structured so as to extend the interval between operational tours from two to two-and-a-half years.[2]

In 2010, the Strategic Defence and Security Review was published. As part of the plans, the British Army will be reduced by 23 regular units, and by 2020 will number 117,000 soldiers, of whom 82,000 would be regulars and 30,000 will be reservists.[3] The Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 increased the planned number of reservists from 30,000 to 35,000.

Structure prior to Army 2020

The structure of the army prior to the reforms, was as follows:

Originally envisaged structure

The originally envisaged future structure was announced on 19 July 2011 in a briefing paper entitled Defence Basing Review: Headline Decisions.[4] This structure had five identical multi-role brigades, each of around 6,500 personnel.[5] However, in June 2012 a significantly different structure known as "Army 2020" was announced.[6]

The divisional headquarters of 2nd, 4th and 5th Divisions were disbanded in 2012 and replaced by a single formation known as Support Command, based at Aldershot.[4]

The five multi-role brigades envisaged in 2011 would have comprised:[7]

One armoured regiment of Challenger 2 tanks
One armoured reconnaissance regiment
One armoured infantry battalion in Warrior armoured fighting vehicles
One mechanised infantry battalion in FV432 "Bulldog" armoured vehicles
Two light role infantry battalions

Combat Support and Logistics would have been retained at divisional level. It was envisaged that 19th Light Brigade then part of 3rd Mechanised Division, would be disbanded.[8]

Structure

The Reaction Force

Close cooperation with US and French forces is envisaged

The 16 Air Assault Brigade, comprising two battalions of the Parachute Regiment and two Army Air Corps regiments of attack helicopters. This will deliver a very high readiness Lead Air Assault Task Force, with the rest of the brigade ready to move at longer notice.

The 3rd (UK) Mechanised Division, renamed the 3rd (United Kingdom) Division, comprising three armoured infantry brigades: 1st Armoured Infantry Brigade, 12th Armoured Infantry Brigade and 20th Armoured Infantry Brigade.[9] These three brigades will rotate, with one being the lead brigade, a second undergoing training and the third involved in other tasks. The lead brigade will deliver a Lead Battlegroup at very high readiness, with the rest of the brigade at longer notice. Each armoured infantry brigade will be made up of:

1 Type 56 armoured regiment comprising:
- 3 sabre squadrons, each of 18 Challenger 2 main battle tanks;
- 1 command and reconnaissance squadron.
1 armoured cavalry regiment comprising:
- 3 sabre squadrons, each of 16 CVR(T) vehicles (to be replaced by the Ajax);
- 1 command and support squadron.
2 armoured infantry battalions, each comprising:
- 3 rifle companies each with 14 upgraded Warrior infantry fighting vehicles;
- 1 support company.
1 heavy protected mobility infantry battalion comprising:
- 3 rifle companies, each with 14 Mastiff infantry mobility vehicles (to be replaced by the Utility Vehicle);
- 1 support company;
101st Logistic Support Brigade.
Royal Wessex Yeomanry providing replacement crews to the three Challenger 2 regiments.

The complete air assault brigade and a full mechanised brigade will be available for deployment within three months. All three brigade's HQs are to be based in the Salisbury Plain Training Area.[10]

Reaction Force – Originally Envisaged Structure[11]

3rd (United Kingdom) Division, at Bulford Camp
- Royal Wessex Yeomanry, at Bovington Camp
- 1st Armoured Infantry Brigade, at Tidworth Camp
  - Household Cavalry Regiment, at Victoria Barracks, Windsor
  - Royal Tank Regiment, at Tidworth Camp
  - 1st Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, at Tidworth Camp
  - 1st Battalion, Mercian Regiment, at Bulford Camp
  - 4th Battalion, The Rifles, at Aldershot Garrison
- 12th Armoured Infantry Brigade, at Bulford Camp
  - Royal Lancers, at Catterick Garrison
  - King's Royal Hussars, at Tidworth Camp
  - 1st Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment, at Battlesbury Barracks, Warminster
  - 1st Battalion, Royal Welsh, at Tidworth Camp
  - 1st Battalion, Scots Guards, at Aldershot Garrison
- 20th Armoured Infantry Brigade, at Bulford Camp
  - Royal Dragoon Guards, at Catterick Garrison
  - Queen's Royal Hussars, at Tidworth Camp
  - 5th Battalion, The Rifles, at Bulford Camp
  - 1st Battalion, Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, at Bulford Camp
  - The Highlanders, 4th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland, at Catterick Garrison
- 101 Logistic Brigade, at Aldershot Garrison
  - 1 Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, at St David's Barracks, Bicester
  - 3 Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, at Aldershot Garrison
  - 4 Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, at Dalton Barracks, Abingdon-on-Thames
  - 9 Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, at Buckley Barracks, Hullavington
  - 10 Queen's Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, at Aldershot Garrison
  - 27 Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, at Dalton Barracks, Abingdon-on-Thames
  - 151 Transport Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, at [{Croydon]]
  - 154 (Scottish) Transport Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, at Dunfermline
  - 156 Supply Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, at Liverpool
  - 157 (Welsh) Transport Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, at Cardiff
  - 1 Armoured Medical Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps, at Tidworth Camp
  - 4 Armoured Medical Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps, at Aldershot Garrison
  - 5 Armoured Medical Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps, at Tidworth Camp
  - 3 Armoured Close Support Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, at Tidworth Camp
  - 4 Armoured Close Support Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, at Tidworth Camp
  - 5 Force Support Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, at Kendrew Barracks, Cottesmore
  - 6 Armoured Close Support Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, at Tidworth Camp

16 Air Assault Brigade, at Colchester Garrison
- 2nd Battlion, Parachute Regiment, at Colchester Garrison
- 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment, at Colchester Garrison
- 4th Battalion, Parachute Regiment, at Pudsey
- 3 Regiment, Army Air Corps, at Wattisham Airfield
- 4 Regiment, Army Air Corps, at Wattisham Airfield
- 6 Regiment, Army Air Corps, at Bury St Edmunds
- 7th Parachute Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery, at Colchester Garrison
- 23 Engineer Regiment (Air Assault), Royal Engineers, at Rock Barracks, Suffolk
- 13 (Air Assault) Support Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, at Colchester Garrison
- 16 Medical Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps, at Colchester Garrison
- 7 (Air Assault) Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, at Wattisham Airfield
- 216 (Parachute) Signal Squadron, Royal Signals, at Colchester Garrison

The Adaptable Force

The 1st Armoured Division, renamed as the 1st (United Kingdom) Division, along with Support Command. Comprises seven infantry brigades (4th, 7th, 11th, 38th, 42nd, 51st and 160th) of various sizes, each made up of paired regular and Territorial Army forces, drawn from an Adaptable Force pool of units.[10] These infantry brigades will be suited to domestic operations or overseas commitments (such as the Falkland Islands, Brunei and Cyprus) or, with sufficient notice, as a brigade level contribution to enduring stabilisation operations. This force pool will comprise:

Three light cavalry, paired with three yeomanry regiments, each comprising:
- 3 sabre squadrons, each with 16 Jackal vehicles;
Six light protected mobility infantry battalions equipped with Foxhound vehicles, each comprising:
- 3 rifle companies
- 1 support company.
Several light role infantry battalions, each comprising:
- 3 rifle companies
- 1 support company.
102 Logistic Support Brigade.

Adaptable Force – Originally Envisaged Structure[12]

1st (United Kingdom) Division, at Imphal Barracks, York
- 4th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters North East, at Catterick Garrison
  - Light Dragoons, at Catterick Garrison
  - Queen's Own Yeomanry, at Fenham Barracks, York
  - 2nd Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment, at Catterick Garrison
  - 4th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment, at Worsley Barracks, York
- 7th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters East, at Chetwynd Barracks, Chilwell
  - 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards, at Robertson Barracks, Swanton Morley
  - Royal Yeomanry, at Fulham House, Fulham
  - 1st Battalion, Royal Anglian Regiment, at Royal Artillery Barracks, Woolwich
  - 2nd Battalion, Royal Anglian Regiment, at Kendrew Barracks, Cottesmore
  - 3rd Battalion, Royal Anglian Regiment, at Bury St Edmunds
  - 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment, at Clive Barracks, Tern Hill
  - 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment, at Thiepval Barracks, Lisburn
  - 3rd Battalion, Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, at Canterbury
- 11th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters South East, at Aldershot Garrison
  - 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards, at Elizabeth Barracks, Pirbright
  - 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards, at Aldershot Garrison
  - 1st Battalion, Royal Gurkha Rifles, at Shorncliffe Army Camp, Kent
  - 3rd Battalion, Royal Welsh, at Maindy Barracks, Cardiff
  - The London Regiment, at St John's Hill drill hall, Battersea
- 38th (Irish) Brigade, at Thiepval Barracks, Lisburn
  - Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland, at Palace Barracks, Holywood
  - 2nd Battalion, The Rifles, at Abercorn Barracks, Ballykinler
  - 7th Battalion, The Rifles, at Reading
- 42nd Infantry Brigade and Headquarters North West, at Fulwood Barracks, Preston
  - 2nd Battalion, Mercian Regiment, at Dale Barracks, Upton-by-Chester
  - 4th Battalion, Mercian Regiment, at Wolverhampton
  - 2nd Battalion, Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, at Weeton Barracks, Weeton-with-Preese
  - 4th Battalion, Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, at Kimberley Barracks, Preston
- 51st Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Scotland, at Redford Barracks, Edinburgh
  - Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, at Leuchars Station, Leuchars
  - Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry (to change to a new title, with sub-units in Scotland and Northern Ireland), at Redford Barracks, Edinburgh
  - 3rd Battalion, The Rifles, at Dreghorn Barracks, Edinburgh
  - Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland, at Edinburgh
  - Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland, at Fort George, Ardersier
  - 52nd Lowland, 6th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland, at Walcheren Barracks, Glasgow
  - 51st Highland, 7th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland, at Queen's Barracks, Perth
  - 5th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, at Newcastle
- 160th Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Wales, at The Barracks, Brecon
  - 1st Battalion, The Rifles, at Beachley Barracks, Chepstow
  - 6th Battalion, The Rifles, at Wyvern Barracks, Exeter
- 102 Logistic Brigade, at Prince William of Gloucester Barracks, Grantham
  - 6 Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, at Dishforth Airfield, North Yorkshire
  - 7 Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, at Kendrew Barracks, Cottesmore
  - 150 Transport Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, at Kingston upon Hull
  - 158 Transport Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, at Peterborough
  - 159 Supply Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, at Coventry
  - 2 Medical Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps, at St George's Barracks, North Luffenham
  - 3 Medical Regiment, at Fulwood Barracks, Preston
  - 225 (Scottish) Medical Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps, at Dundee
  - 253 (North Irish) Medical Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps, at Belfast
  - 254 (East of England) Medical Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps, at Cambridge
  - 1 Close Support Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, at Catterick Garrison
  - 2 Close Support Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, at Leuchars Station, Leuchars
  - 101 Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, at Wrexham
  - 102 Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, at Newton Aycliffe
  - 104 Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, at Northampton
  - 106 Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, at Glasgow

British Forces Cyprus
- 1st Battalion, Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (rotates between 1 LANCS, 2 LANCS, and 2 YORKS, on a two year duty)
- 2nd Battalion, Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (rotates between 2 PWRR, 1 R ANGLIAN, and 2 R ANGLIAN, on a two year duty)
British Forces Brunei
- 2nd Battalion, Royal Gurkha Rifles (rotates between 1 RGR and 2 RGR)
State Ceremonial and Public duties
- Balaklava Company, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland, at Redford Barracks, Edinburgh
- Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, at Hyde Park Barracks, Knightsbridge
- King's Troop, Royal Horse Artillery, at Royal Artillery Barracks, Woolwich
- 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards, at Victoria Barracks, Windsor
- 1st Battalion, Irish Guards, at Cavalry Barracks, Hounslow
- Nijmegen Company, Grenadier Guards, at Wellington Barracks, Westminster
- No. 7 Company, Coldstream Guards, at Wellington Barracks, Westminster
- F Company, Scots Guards, at Wellington Barracks, Westminster

Force Troops Command

Force Troops Command – Originally Envisaged Structure[13]

1st Artillery Brigade and Headquarters South West, at Tidworth Camp
- 1st Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery, at Larkhill Garrison
- 3rd Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery, at Albemarle Barracks, Northumberland
- 4th Regiment, Royal Artillery, at Alanbrooke Barracks, Topcliffe
- 19th Regiment, Royal Artillery, at Larkhill Garrison
- 26th Regiment, Royal Artillery, at Larkhill Garrison
- 101st (Northumbrian) Regiment, Royal Artillery, at Gateshead
- 103rd (Lancashire Artillery Volunteers) Regiment, Royal Artillery, at St Helens
- 105th (Scottish and Ulster) Regiment, Royal Artillery, at Redford Barracks, Edinburgh
8th Engineer Brigade, at Gibraltar Barracks, Minley
- 12 (Force Support) Engineer Group, at RAF Wittering, Peterborough
  - 20 Works Group Royal Engineers (Air Support), at RAF Wittering, Peterborough
  - 36 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, at Invicta Park Barracks, Maidstone
  - 39 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, at Kinloss Barracks, Kinloss
  - 71 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, at Leuchars Station, Leuchars
  - 75 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, at Peninsula Barracks, Warrington
- 25 (Close Support) Engineer Group, at Gibraltar Barracks, Minley
  - 21 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, at Catterick Garrison
  - 22 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, at Swinton Barracks, Perham Down
  - 26 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, at Swinton Barracks, Perham Down
  - 32 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, at Catterick Garrison
  - 35 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, at Swinton Barracks, Perham Down
- 29 (Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search) Group, at Aldershot Garrison
  - 1st Military Working Dog Regiment, Royal Army Veterinary Corps, at St George's Barracks, North Luffenham
  - 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, at Vauxhall Barracks, Didcot
  - 33 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), Royal Engineers, at Carver Barracks, Wimbish
  - 101 (City of London) Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), Royal Engineers, at Carver Barracks, Wimbish
- 170 (Infrastructure Support) Engineer Group, at Chetwynd Barracks, Chilwell
  - 62 Works Group Royal Engineers, at Chetwynd Barracks, Chilwell
  - 63 Works Group Royal Engineers, at Chetwynd Barracks, Chilwell
  - 64 Works Group Royal Engineers, at Chetwynd Barracks, Chilwell
  - 65 Works Group Royal Engineers, at Chetwynd Barracks, Chilwell
  - 66 Works Group Royal Engineers, at Chetwynd Barracks, Chilwell
  - Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers (Militia), at Monmouth Castle, Monmouth
1st Signal Brigade, at Imjin Barracks, Innsworth
- 299 Signal Squadron (Special Communications), Royal Signals, at Bletchley
- 22nd Signal Regiment, Royal Signals, at Beacon Barracks, Stafford
- 30th Signal Regiment, Royal Signals, at Gamecock Barracks, Bramcote
- ARRC Support Battalion, at Imjin Barracks, Innsworth
11th Signal Brigade and Headquarters West Midlands, at Venning Barracks, Donnington
- 2nd Signal Group, at Venning Barracks, Donnington
  - 10th Signal Regiment, Royal Signals, at MoD Corsham, Corsham
  - 15th Signal Regiment (Information Support), Royal Signals, at Blandford Camp
  - 32nd (Scottish) Signal Regiment, Royal Signals, at Glasgow
  - 37th (Wales and Western) Signal Regiment, Royal Signals, at Redditch
  - 39th (Skinners) Signal Regiment, Royal Signals, at Bristol
  - 71st (City of London) Yeomanry Signal Regiment, Royal Signals, at Bexleyheath
- 7th Signal Group, at Beacon Barracks, Stafford
  - 1st Signal Regiment, Royal Signals, at Beacon Barracks, Stafford
  - 2nd Signal Regiment, Royal Signals, at Imphal Barracks, York
  - 3rd Signal Regiment, Royal Signals, at Bulford Camp
  - 16th Signal Regiment, Royal Signals, at Beacon Barracks, Stafford
  - 21st Signal Regiment, Royal Signals, at Azimghur Barracks, Colerne

- 104th Logistic Support Brigade, at Duke of Gloucester Barracks, South Cerney
  - 2 Operational Support Group, Royal Logistic Corps, at Prince William of Gloucester Barracks, Grantham
  - 17 Port and Maritime Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, at McMullen Barracks, Marchwood Military Port
  - 29 Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, at Duke of Gloucester Barracks, South Cerney
  - 152 Fuel Support Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, at Belfast
  - 162 Postal Courier and Movement Control Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, at Nottingham
  - 165 (Wessex) Port and Enabling Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, at Plymouth
  - 167 Catering Support Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, at Prince William of Gloucester Barracks, Grantham
- 2nd Medical Brigade, at Queen Elizabeth Barracks, Strensall
  - 22 Field Hospital, at Aldershot Garrison
  - 33 Field Hospital, at Fort Blockhouse, Gosport
  - 34 Field Hospital, at Queen Elizabeth Barracks, Strensall
  - 201 (Northern) Field Hospital, at Fenham Barracks, Newcastle upon Tyne
  - 202 (Midlands) Field Hospital, at Birmingham
  - 203 (Welsh) Field Hospital, at Cardiff
  - 204 (North Irish) Field Hospital, at Belfast
  - 205 (Scottish) Field Hospital, at Gordon Barracks, Aberdeen
  - 207 (Manchester) Field Hospital, at Manchester
  - 208 (Liverpool) Field Hospital, at Liverpool
  - 212 (Yorkshire) Field Hospital, at Endcliffe Hall, Sheffield
  - 243 (The Wessex) Field Hospital, at Bristol
  - 256 (City of London) Field Hospital, at Braganza Street drill hall, Walworth
  - 306 Hospital Support Regiment, at Queen Elizabeth Barracks, Strensall
  - 335 Medical Evacuation Regiment, at Queen Elizabeth Barracks, Strensall
  - Operational HQ Support Group, at Queen Elizabeth Barracks, Strensall
- 1st Intelligence and Surveillance Brigade, at Trenchard Lines, Upavon
  - 5th Regiment, Royal Artillery, at Catterick Garrison
  - 32nd Regiment, Royal Artillery, at Larkhill Garrison
  - 47th Regiment, Royal Artillery, at Larkhill Garrison
  - 104th Regiment, Royal Artillery, at Raglan Barracks, Newport
  - Honourable Artillery Company, at Finsbury Barracks, London
  - 14th Signal Regiment (Electronic Warafre), Royal Signals, at MOD St Athan, [[St Athan]
  - 1 Military Intelligence Battalion, at Catterick Garrison
  - 2 Military Intelligence Battalion, at Trenchard Lines, Upavon
  - 3 Military Intelligence Battalion, at Hackney
  - 4 Military Intelligence Battalion, at Bulford Camp
  - 5 Military Intelligence Battalion, at Edinburgh
  - 6 Military Intelligence Battalion, at Manchester
  - 7 Military Intelligence Battalion, at Bristol
  - Land Intelligence Fusion Centre, at Denison Barracks, Hermitage
  - Defence Cultural Specialist Unit, at Denison Barracks, Hermitage
  - Specialist Group Military Intelligence, at Denison Barracks, Hermitage
- Security Assistance Group, at Denison Barracks, Hermitage
  - Military Stabilisation Support Group, at Denison Barracks, Hermitage
  - 15 Psychological Operations Group, at Denison Barracks, Hermitage
  - Media Operations Group, at London
- 1st Military Police Brigade, at Marlborough Lines, Andover
  - 1 Regiment, Royal Military Police, at Catterick Garrison
  - 3 Regiment, Royal Military Police, at Bulford Camp
  - 4 Regiment, Royal Military Police, at Aldershot Garrison
  - Special Investigation Branch Regiment, Royal Military Police, at Bulford Camp
  - Special Operations Unit, Royal Military Police, at Longmoor Military Camp
  - Military Corrective Training Centre, at Colchester Garrison

The boxes above provides the general structure of the British Army once Army 2020 is completed. It excludes units under Regional Command, Recruiting and Training Command, or units under other commands such as the air defence regiments.

Changes to units

Royal Armoured Corps

Four of the Royal Armoured Corps' Regiments will merged into two regiments:[14]

9th/12th Royal Lancers and Queen's Royal Lancers will merge to become The Royal Lancers
1st Royal Tank Regiment and 2nd Royal Tank Regiment will merge to form the Royal Tank Regiment.

Royal Artillery

39 Regiment Royal Artillery disbanded, with its Multiple Launch Rocket Systems being transferred to the rest of the Royal Artillery and Territorial Army.

In accordance with the Strategic Defence and Security Review, the number of AS-90 self-propelled guns was reduced by 35%.[15] The number of active Challenger 2 tanks was cut by around forty per cent, and by 2014 had been reduced to 227.[16]

12th and 16th Royal Artillery would continue to be placed under a joint Army-RAF unit: Joint Ground-Based Air Defence Command.[17][18][19]

Infantry

Four of the British Army's 36 regular infantry battalions were disbanded or merged with sister units in their regiments:

2nd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (light role)
3rd Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards) (light role)
2nd Battalion, Royal Welsh (Royal Regiment of Wales) (armoured infantry)
3rd Battalion, Mercian Regiment (Staffords) (armoured infantry)

A fifth battalion, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland, was reduced to a single company to carry out public duties in Scotland.

However, through the 2020 reforms, 3 new battalions of infantry (1 regular, 2 reserve) were created including:[20][21]

3rd Battalion, Royal Gurkha Rifles (specialist infantry)
4th Battalion, Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Army Reserve)
8th Battalion, The Rifles (Army Reserve)

Joint Helicopter Command/Army Air Corps

The Joint Helicopter Command remained an integral part of the land force. The Army Air Corps was reduced by one regular regiment. 1 and 9 Regt AAC merged, operating the new Wildcat helicopter.[22] One Regiment will be at high readiness annually, with one Apache Squadron committed towards the Lead Armoured Battlegroup. 653 AAC to be an Operational Training Squadron from 2015, leaving the Apache Regiments with four active squadrons altogether. The government pledged to upgrade 50 AgustaWestland Apache to AH-64E standard, however, an 11 May 2017 US government contract list states that only 38 will be re-manufactured.[23][24][25][26]

Army Reserve

The Territorial Army was renamed the Army Reserve, and expanded from 19,000 to 30,000 personnel.[27] Its military equipment was to be upgraded to meet the standards of the regular army[3] and its units will realigned.[28] The 2015 review increased the intended strength of the Reserves to 35,000.[29]

Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

The regular component of the REME structure was reduced by one battalion to seven regular battalions.

Royal Military Police

As part of the drawdown from Germany, the Royal Military Police lost one regiment: 4 Regiment RMP, with all provost companies re-subordinating. The three remaining regiments were re-organised.[22]

Other

British Forces Royal Logistic Corps in Germany will be withdrawn back to the UK by 2015:

8 Regiment RLC disbanded (formerly at BFG Munster and late York Barracks) on 31 March 2012.
24 Regiment RLC (part of 104th Logistic Support Brigade) will disband in Bielefeld, Germany in August 2013.
23 Pioneer Regiment RLC (part of 104th Logistic Support Brigade) at Bicester disbands in 2013/14.

Basing

An initial basing plan located infantry brigades throughout the United Kingdom, with the three reaction force brigades situated in the Salisbury Plain Training Area.[30] On 5 March 2013, a future basing plan of units in the UK was released.[10] As noted above, all Germany-based units will be relocated to the UK, with the Salisbury Plain area holding the largest concentration of troops.

References

"British Army proposes to revamp brigade structure". Jane's Defence Weekly: 4. 9 July 2008.
Harding, Thomas (20 January 2009). "General Sir Richard Dannatt announces major Army changes". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
"News & Events". www.army.mod.uk. Archived from the original on May 22, 2013.
Taylor, Claire (15 November 2011). "Briefing Paper SN06038 Defence Basing Review: Headline Decisions" (PDF). House of Commons Library.
Harding, Thomas (19 October 2010). "Defence review: Army to face less pain than RAF and Navy". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
General Sir Peter Wall on Future Army 2020 on YouTube
"Britain lowers its military sights". International Institute for Strategic Studies. 19 October 2010.
Liam Fox, Secretary of State for Defence (18 July 2011). "Defence Transformation". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). House of Commons. col. 643–645.
Kirkup, James (5 March 2013). "Famed Desert Rats to lose their tanks under Army cuts". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
"Regular army basing plan" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. 5 March 2013. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
"TRANSFORMING THE BRITISH ARMY An Update" (PDF). p. 9.
"TRANSFORMING THE BRITISH ARMY An Update" (PDF). p. 13.
"TRANSFORMING THE BRITISH ARMY An Update" (PDF). p. 15–16.
Beale, Jonathan (5 July 2012). "Army to lose 17 units amid job cuts". BBC News. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
Heyman, Charles (2011). The Armed Forces of the European Union, 2012-2013. Casemate Publishers. p. 134. ISBN 978-1-84415-519-4.
Akinyemi, Aaron (29 March 2014). "British Army has just 227 tanks left after spending cuts". International Business Times. Retrieved 5 May 2015.
"Regular Army Basing Matrix By Formation And Unit" (PDF). Army Families Federation. 2015. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 August 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
http://www.1846southall.com/The%20Royal%20Air%20Force.pdf
"Annual Report and Accounts 2005-06: House of Commons Defence Committee Written Questions". publications.parliament.uk. 2006. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
"British Armed Forces Review". britisharmedforcesreview.wordpress.com. Retrieved 2018-12-22.
"Royal Gurkha Rifles". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 2018-12-22.
"Transforming the British Army Annex D" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on June 16, 2013.
"654 Squadron's Last Parade Before Disbandment". Forces TV. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
"3 Regiment Army Air Corps" (PDF). The Eagle. Wattisham Flying Station (Autumn 2014): 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 August 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
"MOD orders new fleet of cutting-edge Apache helicopters for Army". Retrieved 15 May 2017.
"CONTRACTS-ARMY". Retrieved 15 May 2017.
Watt, Nicholas (30 June 2013). "Reservists to fill frontline army gaps". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
"Summary of Army 2020 Reserve Structure and Basing Changes" (PDF). South East Reserve Forces' and Cadets' Association. 3 July 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 August 2013. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
HM Government (November 2015). "National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015" (PDF). p. 33. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
"Army 2020 brochure Figure 6" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on April 18, 2013.

External links

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[1] "British Army proposes to revamp brigade structure". Jane's Defence Weekly: 4. 9 July 2008.

[2] Harding, Thomas (20 January 2009). "General Sir Richard Dannatt announces major Army changes". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 5 May 2015.

[bbc-3] "News & Events". www.army.mod.uk. Archived from the original on May 22, 2013.

[sn-4] Taylor, Claire (15 November 2011). "Briefing Paper SN06038 Defence Basing Review: Headline Decisions" (PDF). House of Commons Library.

[5] Harding, Thomas (19 October 2010). "Defence review: Army to face less pain than RAF and Navy". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 5 May 2015.

[6] General Sir Peter Wall on Future Army 2020 on YouTube

[7] "Britain lowers its military sights". International Institute for Strategic Studies. 19 October 2010.

[8] Liam Fox, Secretary of State for Defence (18 July 2011). "Defence Transformation". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). House of Commons. col. 643–645.

[9] Kirkup, James (5 March 2013). "Famed Desert Rats to lose their tanks under Army cuts". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 23 March 2013.

[autogenerated1-10] "Regular army basing plan" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. 5 March 2013. Retrieved 23 March 2013.

[11] "TRANSFORMING THE BRITISH ARMY An Update" (PDF). p. 9.

[12] "TRANSFORMING THE BRITISH ARMY An Update" (PDF). p. 13.

[13] "TRANSFORMING THE BRITISH ARMY An Update" (PDF). p. 15–16.

[14] Beale, Jonathan (5 July 2012). "Army to lose 17 units amid job cuts". BBC News. Retrieved 23 March 2013.

[15] Heyman, Charles (2011). The Armed Forces of the European Union, 2012-2013. Casemate Publishers. p. 134. ISBN 978-1-84415-519-4.

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