Foreign missions and bases of the British Army
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Afghanistan
A total of 9,500 British soldiers are stationed in Afghanistan as part of the major Operation Enduring Freedom and ISAF (no year).
Belize
After the withdrawal of the British troops from the former crown colony of Belize in 1994, a pioneer unit and a helicopter squadron remained there. Major maneuvers by the British Army continue to take place there six times a year (no year given). In addition, the Special Air Service trains regularly in the jungle of Belize (no year given).
Bosnia
1,000 soldiers are stationed in Bosnia as part of the EUFOR peacekeeping force (January 2009). From the start of the mission in 1996 until 2000, Great Britain led the multinational force alone.
Brunei
Brunei is Great Britain's last major military base in South-East Asia (as of 2009). There is the jungle training center of the army (Training Team Brunei). In addition, there is one of the Gurkha - battalions , a special unit of Nepalese mercenaries, and the Brunei Police Unit, a unit of the Royal Military Police stationed. Both units are supported by a helicopter squadron. The soldiers support the law enforcement officers of the former British colony as it does not have its own armed forces. The training center plays a large role in the training of the British special forces and is used for regular maneuvers. The troop strength totals around 900 men.
Germany
Germany is the largest base of the British Army outside Great Britain, the units stationed here are grouped together as British Forces Germany (BFG) . Despite a significant reduction since the end of the Cold War , around 19,100 British soldiers are still stationed in Germany. This number is to be reduced to around 18,500 soldiers by 2014 and all units are to leave Germany by 2020. They concentrate on the Herford ( headquarters ), Bergen-Hohne , Fallingbostel , Gütersloh , Mönchengladbach- Rheindahlen , Münster , Celle, Hameln and Paderborn locations . In total, the units stationed in Germany have around 700 heavy tanks and artillery pieces. The units include the 1st (UK) Armored Division , the most powerful unit of the British Army, which was deployed in the Iraq war , among other things . Their headquarters are in Herford.
At the airport Gütersloh is after deduction of the Royal Air Force in Germany with the 1st Regiment Army Air Corps stationed permanently the only larger flying unit on the European continent.
In addition, the British Army much of the Allied Rapid Reaction Force of NATO . This had its headquarters on the British base Rheindahlen , it has been located in Innsworth in the county of Gloucestershire in England since 2010.
The German headquarters of the British soldier broadcaster BFBS is also based in Herford .
Osnabrück used to be the largest base of the British Army abroad. At times 10,000 soldiers were stationed there. In 2009 the British withdrew from Osnabrück.
Falkland Islands
After the Falklands War in 1982, Great Britain increased its troops in its overseas territory . The soldiers helped with the reconstruction and clearing of ammunition and mines left by the war. Since the restoration of diplomatic relations with Argentina , the troop strength has been reduced to around 500 soldiers. Nevertheless, in addition to continue fighter jets of the Royal Air Force and warships of the Royal Navy stationed on the islands.
Iraq
After the Second Gulf War in 1991, Great Britain and the United States stationed soldiers in Iraq's neighboring countries to monitor the situation. After the failure of all negotiations and the disagreement of the UN Security Council , Great Britain attacked Iraq on the side of the USA in March 2003 (see Iraq War). During the war, up to 45,000 British Army soldiers were deployed at times. After the victory, Iraq was divided into three zones of occupation, the southern one around Basra being administered by the British. In 2004, the Black Watch Infantry Regiment had been sent to Northern Iraq with 850 soldiers to replace the missing American capacities. Due to the relatively calm situation in this area of the country, Great Britain reduced its occupation forces over time.
On April 30, 2009, in the course of the withdrawal of the British Army, the tasks in southern Iraq were handed over to the American allies and the six-year combat mission was officially declared over. According to official figures, 179 British soldiers have died in Iraq since the conflict began in spring 2003 (as of April 30, 2009). However, around 400 British soldiers are still stationed in Iraq to train the Iraqi security forces.
Canada
BATUS (British Army Training Unit Suffield ) is one of the largest training areas for the British Army in the province of Alberta . Every month from May to October a battlegroup of around 1,500 soldiers trains, primarily with armored vehicles. In addition, a regiment (around 350 soldiers) is stationed there for 6 months to represent the enemy (OPFOR Opposing Forces). The number of soldiers permanently deployed in BATUS varies between 150 and 350 soldiers depending on the season. They either monitor the exercises or repair the equipment used, including around 30 Challenger 2 tanks. During the winter months, survival training also takes place in the nearby ski areas of the Rocky Mountains.
Sierra Leone
Following the outbreak of civil war in Sierra Leone , British forces began evacuating foreigners in 2000. Even during the mission, Great Britain received the mandate from the UN Security Council to intervene directly in the fighting and to create peace. After the successful intervention and the end of the fighting, which flared up again for a short time in 2002, units of the British Army remained in the country to secure the peace. In the course of time these will be replaced by African soldiers, mainly from Nigeria .
Cyprus
Great Britain has two Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus, Akrotiri and Dekelia . These military bases are British territory and cover almost 100 km². Supply units as well as infantry and helicopter units are stationed here. The bases serve on the one hand as supply bases for the British soldiers in Asia and Africa, but also as the headquarters of the UN peacekeeping force ( UNFICYP ), which has been on the ground as a regulatory authority since the occupation of Northern Cyprus by Turkey in 1974. The British Army provides the majority of the blue helmet soldiers. A total of around 7,000 British soldiers are currently stationed in Cyprus. Furthermore, part of the officer training takes place here every year.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Royal Military Police Units (Eng.) , British Army. Archived from the original on February 4, 2009.
- ^ The British Army In Germany , British Army. 03/01/2013.
- ^ BFBS Radio , SSVC. Archived from the original on July 9, 2008.
- ↑ Delivery in Basra. British withdraw , n-tv.de, April 30, 2009. Retrieved April 30, 2009.
- ^ Homepage of the British Army ( Memento of November 19, 2010 in the Internet Archive ), December 1, 2010. Retrieved on December 1, 2010.
- ↑ BATUS (Eng.) , BATUS HIVE. Archived from the original on February 12, 2008.