I Corps (United Kingdom)
I Corps |
|
---|---|
active | 1901 to 1994 |
Country | United Kingdom |
Armed forces | British Army |
Type | corps |
Insinuation | NORTHAG |
former seat of the staff | Ripon Baracks, Bielefeld |
commander | |
last commanding general | Lieutenant General Sir Jeremy Mackenzie |
The I Corps ( German I. Corps) was a large unit of the British Army , which was used in the First and Second World War . The I. BR Corps was a large unit of the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR), which was subordinate to the multinational Army Group NORTHAG of NATO from 1951 to 1994 . The staff was in Bielefeld . The I. Corps used the main battle tank as a main weapon, which held three tank divisions in Germany and rotated them. It had 880 Chieftain and 325 Challenger tanks.
history
The memorandum of the war minister (Secretary of State for War) Edward Stanhope laid down in 1891 that Britain should be in a position, in addition to the garrisons in India also active for the home defense two and entertain too mobilizing Corps with 3 divisions. When the Second Boer War broke out in September 1899 , this Field Force (also known as 1st Corps) was mobilized and relocated to Cape Town . It was placed under the command of General Sir Redvers Buller as part of the home Aldershot Command . In South Africa, however, the corps never fought as a closed unit; his three divisions were spread over the whole theater of war. The reinforcement of the standing army, approved by parliament in 1901 , allowed six army corps, which were divided into six regional districts (Aldershot, Southern, Irish, Eastern, Northern and Scottish). These arrangements were only based on theory. In 1907 the briefly renamed "Aldershot Corps" command was again referred to as "Aldershot Command". The army reform begun by Haldane in 1907 created additional troop units for use overseas, but only the I. Corps (Aldershot Command) and II. Corps (Southern Command in Salisbury ) were made up entirely of regular troops.
First World War
The corps under General Douglas Haig , which landed in Le Havre on August 11, 1914, was part of the British Expeditionary Corps (BEF) under General John French . During the battle of Mons on August 23, 1914, the large association between Jemappes and the Canal du Center formed the right wing of the British and only had to break through with the II. Corps , against the German IX. Army Corps decline. The retreat east of Paris took the Corps back to the Seine on September 3 on the Gretz-Armainvilliers and Tournan-en-Brie line . After the counterattack in the Battle of the Marne (September 9th), the corps pursued the Germans via Fère-en-Tardenois to the Aisne and in mid-September was engaged in a major battle for the Chemin des Dames . The British crossed the Aisne, the I. Corps landed on the north bank at Bourg-et-Comin and formed a bridgehead on the right side. After heavy fighting over the plateau at Courtacon and Verneuil, Haig's troops gained space in a northerly direction on Monthenault and pushed the Germans back to the Ailette . With the race to the sea of the United Federation was on the railway line from Cassel to mid-October 1914 Ypres Salient moved and went to the new position at La Bassée and Givenchy in the trench warfare over.
During the battles of Aubers and Festubert (May 9, 1915) the I. Corps was still subordinate to the 1st and 2nd divisions, but was already subordinated to the 47th (1 / 2nd London) Division of the Territorial Force and the 1st Canadian Division strengthened. After the start of the Battle of Loos was on 25 September 1915 by the British side for the first time poison gas used, the I. Corps (2nd, 7th, 9th Division) tried the front of the German Army Corps IV. In the direction of La Bassée and Hulluch to break through. The 7th Division set up against Hulluch had 5,200 casualties on the first day of the attack, Major General Capper was fatally wounded. General Thesiger , the commander of the Scottish 9th Division, was killed by German artillery fire the following day. In the late summer of 1916, the 1st and 2nd Divisions were briefly deployed at the Battle of the Somme an der Ancre .
During the Battle of Arras in April 1917, the I. Corps (6th, 24th and 31st Divisions) under General Holland between Lens and Givenchy only had to make a distracting attack. In July 1917 with the 1st Army , the Corps in the Loos area was subordinate to the 6th and 46th Divisions, which successfully fought for height 70 with the Canadian Corps in the second half of August. In November 1918, the I. Corps advancing in the Lens area formed the right wing of the 5th Army (General Birdwood ) and advanced with the 15th and 58th Divisions on Nevergnies, the 16th Division behind them formed the reserve.
Second World War
After Great Britain declared war on the German Reich on September 3, 1939 , another expedition corps was formed under Lieutenant General Lord Gort and relocated to France and Belgium . General John Dill was given command of the 1st Corps, to which the 1st, 2nd and 48th Divisions were subordinate and which was advanced on the Dyle in the area east of Brussels . During the German attack at the beginning of the Battle of France on May 10, 1940, the I. Corps was led by General Barker and, after the breakthrough of the German XXXIX. Army Corps withdraw to the Scheldt . After the Kleist tank group broke through in the Abbeville area to the English Channel on May 20, Lort Gort had to order a retreat to Dunkirk . During the Battle of Dunkirk , the 1st Corps covered the withdrawal of the expeditionary corps to the coast with the 1st Division (General Alexander ), which was largely evacuated via the English Channel in Operation Dynamo by June 5th.
The I. Corps took part in the invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944 under Lieutenant General John Crocker as part of the 2nd Army . The Canadian and British 3rd Infantry Divisions , as well as the Canadian 3rd and British 27th Panzer Brigades were subordinated . The Canadians landed to the left of the XXX. Corps (General Bucknall ) on the eastern sector of Juno Beach between Courseulles-sur-Mer and St. Aubin, while the British went ashore at Sword Beach on either side of the Ouistreham . During the Battle of Caen , the Corps broke in Operation Goodwood (July 18-20 ) with the newly drawn VIII Corps east of the city via Demouville through the German defenses ( 21st Panzer Division and 12th SS Panzer Division ) to the railway line at Cagny . In September 1944 the corps occupied the port of Le Havre (September 12) as part of the 1st Canadian Army St. Valery with the 49th and 51st Divisions in Operation Astonia and advanced to the Scheldt section.
With the Rhine Army
In August 1945, the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) was formed from the 21st Army Group in the British Occupation Zone . The assigned combat strip of the subordinate I. BR Corps represented the North German Plain and was bordered by Hanover in the north, by Kassel in the south, in the east by the inner German border and in the west by the Weserbergland . The left neighbor was the I. DE Corps and the right the I. BE Corps . The likely focus was between Braunschweig , Helmstedt , Hanover, Hildesheim and Hameln . In the event of a defense, the first line of defense would have been formed by the cover forces of the 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards , the 16th / 5th Queen's Royal Lancers and the 664th AAC (Army Air Corps) Squadron. The latter would have become an ad hoc brigade under the command of BAOR's Brigadier Royal Armored Corps (Royal Armored Corps). Behind the cover troops, according to GDP (General Defense Plan), the 1st and 4th Armored Divisions would have deployed to the FEBA (Forward Edge of Battle Area), which faced the 3rd Shock Army of the Soviet Army and engaged in tank battles. The 3rd Armored Division would have played the role of the operational corps reserve. The 2nd Infantry Division was tasked with securing the rear corps area and holding the last line of defense on the west bank of the Weser .
The first two divisions were reinforced in 1950 by the 11th Armored Division (11th Panzer Division) and in 1952 by the 6th Armored Division (6th Panzer Division). Together they formed the I. BR Corps, the British contribution to the NATO defense of West Germany . After the end of the Cold War and the fall of the Iron Curtain, the four divisions were reduced, restructured, modernized and equipped with new weapons technology and new equipment. The BAOR's area of responsibility consisted of three zones:
- Mass of the I. BR Corps with headquarters in Bielefeld
- rear area (British Rear Combat Zone) with headquarters in Düsseldorf , responsible for supplying and setting up the combat units
- British Communications Zone with headquarters in Emblem in Belgium . Here reinforcements of British units from Great Britain were to be added and their relocation to the combat area of the I. BR Corps controlled.
In addition, the 3,000-man Berlin Infantry Brigade was stationed in West Berlin , but was not subordinate to NORTHAG. The troop strength of the I. BR Corps varied in the course of its history between 60,000 and 25,000 men. The BAOR was commanded by a four-star general from the headquarters in Rheindahlen . The 2nd Allied Tactical Air Force (2 ATAF) was responsible for air support . In 1978 the I. BR Corps consisted of four armored divisions, one artillery division and the 5th Brigade-strength Field Force.
During peacetime, the four divisions were stationed in West Germany , in the former British occupation zone . Each armored division consisted of two armored and one armored reconnaissance regiment (Armored Reconnaissance Rgt), three armored infantry battalions (mechanized infantry), and artillery. In addition, engineer, army aviation, communication and supply units. Each division was able to lead up to five combat groups in the battle. These combat groups, which could be led flexibly, were divided into so-called “Task Forces” and fought according to the principles of combined arms combat . Each of these combat groups was led from a battalion or regimental command post by a tank or infantry officer, while supplies were carried out from the division command post. This form replaced the classic brigade command. Towards the end of the 1980s, the new concept proved inadequate and the previous brigade command was reintroduced.
British concept of forward defense
The British concept of Forward Defense 83 in the NORTHAG section essentially comprised the following points:
- Fight in the most suitable terrain. Defense of defined key areas
- Delay battle close to the border designed for a limited time only
- Mass of forces not in front of the FEBA / VRV, but in the depth of the defense section from positions favorable for the defense
- Infantry / Mech Infantry defends in depth from well-developed, strong stretches of terrain in the protection of extensive barriers, primarily with anti-tank weapons (tank destroyers, TOW, HOT etc.)
- Cavalry regiments (Royal Dragoon Guards, Queen's Royal Hussars, Royal Lancers etc.) clear up the front with fast wheeled armored vehicles (FV701 Ferret, FV601 Saladin) and are ready to counterattack with heavy battle tanks
- Time saved through defense in depth and space for counter attacks
- Intercept the attack of the 1st season of the Warsaw Pact by counter-attacks from strong reserves, if possible in the flanks and back of the enemy
- Smashing the 2nd season of the Warsaw Pact with new artillery systems and air force operations with new ammunition
Subordinate associations
The I. BR Corps consisted of corps troops and four divisions. The 2nd Infantry Division stationed in Catterick was one of those divisions that could be quickly relocated to Germany with the help of the 24th Airmobile Brigade. It was a fully air-packable division that could be transported with all its equipment to its place of use by helicopter. The main task of their three infantry battalions, equipped with MILAN- PALR, consisted of fighting tanks. The other two brigades were made up of the British Army Territorial Army (TA) volunteer reserve. These were well trained and highly motivated volunteers who could be mobilized quickly in the event of war. The other three divisions were spread over 20 locations in Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia . The military training areas Sennelager , Bergen-Hohne and Munster were firmly connected to the history of the I. BR Corps due to numerous combat exercises. The British armored divisions consisted of three brigades, which differed in equipment, strength and efficiency. Each division could call for air support through the Army Air Corps Regiment (Gazelle and Lynx observation helicopters).
In October 1951 the following divisions were subordinate to the I. BR Corps:
The following reorganization took place in the late 1970s:
Between 1980 and 1981 there was a further reclassification, of which only the 1st and 4th Armored Divisions remained. Both faced the 3rd Army of the Soviet Army and the 3rd Armored Division as an operational corps reserve. The 2nd Infantry Division, which remained stationed in Great Britain, also had security duties for the rear area.
-
1st Armored Division , Verden (Aller) , in the northern section
- 7th Armored Brigade
- 12th Armored Brigade
- 22nd Armored Brigade
- 3rd Armored Division, St. Sebastian Barracks, Soest , Corps Reserve. The 3rd Armored Division was divided into the ECHO and FOXTROTT Task Group.
- 4th Armored Brigade
- 6th Armored Brigade
- 33rd Armored Brigade
-
4th Armored Division , Hammersmith Barracks , Herford , in the hilly and wooded southern section. She was used there together with the 19th Light Infantry Brigade (UK). The 4th Armored Division was divided into GOLF and HOTEL Task Group.
- 11th Armored Brigade
- 20th Armored Brigade
- 19th Infantry Brigade (remains in UK)
- 2nd Infantry Division (remains in York , UK)
- Within 72 hours of mobilization, the 2nd Infantry Division could be deployed on the German theater of war. Your mission was to defend the rear corps area and build a line of defense along the Weser Uplands. Therefore, the 29th Engineer Brigade was subordinate to her.
- 15th Infantry Brigade (TA)
- 24th Airmobile Brigade
- 49th Infantry Brigade (TA)
- Artillery Division (HQ Ripon Barracks in Bielefeld )
The I. BR Corps had the following battle structure under NORTHAG in 1989:
unit | Garrison / place of deployment | Armament and remark |
1st (BR) Corps HQ Defense Company, Royal Pioneer Corps (PiKorps) | Bielefeld | |
5th (Volunteer) Btn, Royal Green Jackets, 1st British Corps HQ Security Unit (security unit) | Oxford , UK | |
SAS (Special Air Service) Group. Stay Behind Observation Posts and Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol Unit 63 (SAS) Signal Squadron, Royal Signals (V) | Thorney Island , UK | |
21st Special Air Service Regiment (Engineering) (V) | Chelsea , UK | |
23rd Special Air Service Regiment (V) | Birmingham , UK | |
Commander Royal Artillery I. BR Corps (Artillery) | Bielefeld | |
1st Artillery Brigade | Dortmund | |
Detachment, 55th Signal Squadron, Royal Signals (V) (telecommunications) | Liverpool , UK | |
5th Heavy Regiment, Royal Artillery (heavy artillery) | Dortmund | 12 × M107 heavy artillery, supports the 4th Armored Division |
32nd Heavy Regiment, Royal Artillery | Dortmund | 12 × M107 heavy artillery, supports the 1st Armored Division |
39th Heavy Regiment, Royal Artillery | Sennelager | 12 × M110 howitzers on self-propelled guns, converted to 24 × M270 MLRS rocket launchers in December 1989 |
50th Missile Regiment, Royal Artillery (rocket artillery) | Minden | 12 × LANCE short- range missile |
94th Locating Regiment, Royal Artillery (target reconnaissance) | Larkhill, UK | 5th (Gibraltar 1779–83) field battery with 6 × L118 field howitzers for AMF (L) |
Honorable Artillery Company (target reconnaissance) | Finsbury , UK | |
50th Missile Regiment, Royal Artillery | Clapham, UK | |
266th (Gloucestershire Volunteer Artillery / Freiwilligenbatterie) Observation Post Battery, Royal Artillery (V) | Clifton, UK | 3 × L118 field howitzers |
269th (West Riding) Observation Post Battery, Royal Artillery (V) (observing artillery) | Leeds , UK | 3 × L118 field howitzers |
307th (South Nottinghamshire Hussars Yeomanry, Royal Horse Artillery) Observation Post Battery, Royal Artillery (V) | Bulwell | 3 × L118 field howitzers |
Air Defense Group (Army Air Defense) | Dortmund | |
12th Air Defense Regiment, Royal Artillery | Dortmund | 24 × self- propelled Rapier missile systems 24 × |
16th Air Defense Regiment, Royal Artillery | Kirton in Lindsey , UK | 48 × rifled rapier missile systems, 1 × support battery UKMF (UK Mobile Force) / 1st Infantry Brigade, 1 × support battery 3rd Command Brigade, Royal Marines |
22nd Air Defense Regiment, Royal Artillery | Dortmund | 24 × self-propelled Rapier missile systems 24 × |
102nd (Ulster) Air Defense Regiment, Royal Artillery (V) | Belfast , UK | 32 × javelin |
104th Air Defense Regiment, Royal Artillery (V) | Newport , UK | 64 × javelin |
105th (Scottish) Air Defense Regiment, Royal Artillery (V) | Edinburgh , UK | 64 × javelin |
8th Transport Regiment, Royal Corps of Transport | Muenster | supports heavy and rocket artillery |
153rd (Highland) Transport Regiment, Royal Corps of Transport (V) | Edinburgh, UK | supports the Air Defense regiments |
Commander Royal Engineers 1 (BR) Corps | Bielefeld | |
29th Engineer Brigade (V) (PiBrig) | Newcastle-on-Tyne , UK | this brigade could be mobilized and deployed in Germany within 72 hours |
HQ 29th Engineer Brigade & Signal Troop, Royal Signals (pioneer and intelligence force) | Newcastle-on-Tyne | |
71st (Scottish) Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers (V) | Glasgow | |
72nd (Tyne Electrical Engineers) Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers (V) | Gateshead | |
73rd Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers (V) | Nottingham | |
105th (Tyne Electrical Engineers) Plant Squadron, Royal Engineers (V) | South Shields | |
117th (Highland) Field Support Squadron, Royal Engineers (V) | Dundee | |
873rd Movement Light Squadron, Royal Engineers (V) | Acton | Lighting during night operations |
29th Engineer Brigade Workshop, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (V) | Newcastle-on-Tyne | |
23rd Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers | Osnabrück | |
25th Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers | Osnabrück | |
28th Amphibious Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers | Hamelin | 60 × M2D pioneer ferries |
32nd Armored Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers (PzPiRgt) | Muenster | 30 × FV432 (MTW, FüFuPz, GefStdPz), 12 × Spartan (TPz), 12 × FV180 (PiPz), 27 × AVLB (bridge layingPz ), 27 × Centurion AVRE (Armored Vehicle Royal Engineers) |
43rd Plant Squadron, Royal Engineers | Osnabrück | |
65th Corps Support Squadron, Royal Engineers | Hamelin | 20 × M2 amphibious vehicles |
Corps Lighting Troop, Royal Engineers | Herford | |
211th Mobile Civilian Artisan Group, Royal Engineers | Sennelager | |
256th Mobile Civilian Plant Group, Royal Engineers | Hanover | |
1st Postal & Courier Regiment, Royal Engineers (PostRgt) | Hanover | |
Commander Aviation BAOR and 1 (BR) Corps | Bielefeld | |
1 Wing AAC | Hobart Barracks in Detmold | Season disbanded in 1989 |
1 regiment AAC | Tofrek Barracks in Hildesheim | supports the 1st Armored Division |
651 Squadron AAC | Anti- tank fighting, 4 × Gazelle AH.1 , 12 × Lynx AH.7 ( TOW ) | |
652 Squadron AAC | Anti-tank fighting, 4 × Gazelle AH.1, 12 × Lynx AH.7 (TOW) | |
661 Squadron AAC | Air reconnaissance, 12 × Gazelle AH.1 | |
3rd regiment AAC | Salamanca Barracks in Soest | supports the 3rd Armored Division |
653 Squadron AAC | Anti-tank fighting, 4 × Gazelle AH.1, 12 × Lynx AH.7 (TOW) | |
662 Squadron AAC | Air reconnaissance, 12 × Gazelle AH.1 | |
663 Squadron AAC | Air reconnaissance, 12 × Gazelle AH.1 | |
4th regiment AAC | Hobart Barracks in Detmold | supports the 4th Armored Division |
654 Squadron AAC | Anti-tank fighting, 4 × Gazelle AH.1, 12 × Lynx AH.7 (TOW) | |
659 Squadron AAC | Anti-tank fighting, 4 × Gazelle AH.1, 12 × Lynx AH.7 (TOW) | |
669 Squadron AAC | Air reconnaissance, 12 × Gazelle AH.1 | |
664 Squadron AAC | St George's Barracks in Minden | Air reconnaissance, 12 × Gazelle AH.1 |
Commander Communications 1 (BR) Corps | Bielefeld | |
7th Signal Regiment, Royal Signals | Herford | |
14th Signal Regiment (Electronic Warfare), Royal Signals | Celle | |
22nd Signal Regiment, Royal Signals | Lippstadt | |
4th (Volunteer) Btn, Worcestershire & Sherwood Foresters | Redditch, UK | |
Commander Transport 1 (BR) Corps | Bielefeld | |
7th Tank Transporter Regiment, Royal Corps of Transport | Sennelager | |
10th Corps Transport Regiment, Royal Corps of Transport | Bielefeld | |
24th Transport & Movement Regiment, Royal Corps of Transport | Hanover | |
25th Transport & Movement Regiment, Royal Corps of Transport | Bielefeld | |
150th (Northumbrian) Transport Regiment, Royal Corps of Transport (V) | Hull, UK | |
151st (Greater London) Transport Regiment, Royal Corps of Transport (V) | Croydon, UK | |
152nd (Ulster) Ambulance Regiment, Royal Corps of Transport (V) | Belfast, UK | |
154th (Lowland) Transport Regiment, Royal Corps of Transport (V) | Glasgow, UK | |
157th (Wales & Midlands) Transport Regiment, Royal Corps of Transport (V) | Cardiff, UK | |
162nd Movement Control Regiment, Royal Corps of Transport (V) | Grantham, UK | |
14th Corps Support Squadron, Royal Corps of Transport | Bielefeld | |
Commander Medical 1 (BR) Corps | Bielefeld | |
21st Field Hospital, Royal Army Medical Corps | Rinteln | |
32nd Field Hospital, Royal Army Medical Corps | Hanover | |
33rd Field Hospital, Royal Army Medical Corps | Aldershot, UK | |
202nd (Midlands) General Hospital, Royal Army Medical Corps (V) | Birmingham, UK | |
203rd (Welsh) General Hospital, Royal Army Medical Corps (V) | Cardiff, UK | |
204th (North Irish) General Hospital, Royal Army Medical Corps (V) | Belfast, UK | |
211th (Wessex) Field Hospital, Royal Army Medical Corps (V) | Barnstaple, UK | |
212th (Yorkshire) Field Hospital, Royal Army Medical Corps (V) | Sheffield, UK | |
217th General Hospital, Royal Army Medical Corps (V) | Walworth, UK | |
219th (Wessex) Field Hospital, Royal Army Medical Corps (V) | Keynsham, UK | |
83rd Field Medical Equipment Depot, Royal Army Medical Corps | Hanover | |
Commander Supply 1 (BR) Corps | Bielefeld | |
5th Ordnance Battalion, Royal Army Ordnance Corps | Paderborn | |
6th Ordnance Battalion, Royal Army Ordnance Corps | Bielefeld | |
2nd Aircraft Support Unit, Royal Army Ordnance Corps | Detmold | |
Commander Maintenance 1 (BR) Corps | Bielefeld | |
1st (BR) Corps Troops Workshop, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers | Bielefeld | |
20th Electronics Workshop, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers | Minden | |
71st Aircraft Workshop, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers | Detmold | |
124th (Tyne Electrical Engineers) Recovery Company, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (V) | Newton Aycliffe, UK | |
126th Reclamation Workshop, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (V) | Bordon, UK | |
133th (Kent) Corps Troops Workshop, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (V) | Maidstone, UK | |
Provost Marshal 1 (BR) Corps | Bielefeld | |
110th Provost Company, Royal Military Police | Sennelager | |
115th Provost Company, Royal Military Police | Osnabrück | |
116th Provost Company, Royal Military Police (V) | Cannock, UK |
unit | Garrison / place of deployment | Armament and remark |
1st Armored Division | Verden | |
HQ 1st Armored Division & Signal Regiment, Royal Signals | Verden | |
7th Armored Brigade (7th PzBrig) | Soltau | |
HQ 7th Armored Brigade & 207th Signal Squadron, Royal Signals | Soltau | |
Royal Scots Dragoon Guards | Fallingbostel | 57 × Challenger 1 , 8 × FV101 Scorpion SpähPz |
2nd Royal Tank Regiment | Fallingbostel | 57 × Challenger 1, 8 × FV101 Scorpion |
1st Btn, Staffordshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's) | Fallingbostel | 45 × SPz Warrior , 38 × FV432 , 8 × FV107 Scimitar, 4 × FV103 Spartan TPz, 8 × 81mm mortar |
12th Armored Brigade | Osnabrück | |
HQ 12th Armored Brigade & 212th Signal Squadron, Royal Signals | Osnabrück | |
4th Royal Tank Regiment | Osnabrück | 57 × Chieftain, 8 × FV101 Scorpion |
1st Btn, Royal Irish Rangers | Osnabrück | 79 × FV432, 8 × FV107 Scimitar, 4 × FV103 Spartan, 8 × 81mm mortar |
1st Btn, Royal Green Jackets | Osnabrück | 79 × FV432, 8 × FV107 Scimitar, 4 × FV103 Spartan, 8 × 81mm mortar |
4th (Volunteer) Btn (Volunteers) | ||
Royal Green Jackets | London, UK | |
22nd Armored Brigade | Bergen scorn | |
HQ 22nd Armored Brigade & 201st Signal Squadron, Royal Signals | Bergen scorn | |
Queen's Own Hussars | Bergen scorn | 57 × Challenger 1, 8 × FV101 Scorpion |
1st Royal Tank Regiment | Hildesheim | 57 × Chieftain, 8 × FV101 Scorpion |
1st Btn, Scots Guards | Bergen scorn | 79 × FV432, 8 × FV107 Scimitar, 4 × FV103 Spartan, 8 × 81mm mortar |
2nd Btn, Royal Anglian Regiment | Celle | 79 × FV432, 8 × FV107 Scimitar, 4 × FV103 Spartan, 8 × 81mm mortar |
Parachute Regiment Groupnote 2 (FschJgRgt) | Aldershot, UK | |
Group HQ & Signals Troop, Royal Signals | Aldershot, UK | |
4th (Volunteer) Btn, Parachute Regiment (Volunteers) | Pudsey, UK | |
10th (Volunteer) Btn, Parachute Regiment | Chelsea, UK | |
15th (Scottish Volunteer) Btn, Parachute Regiment | Glasgow, UK | |
Commander Royal Artillery 1st Armored Division | Bergen scorn | |
1st Field Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery | Bergen scorn | 24 × Abbot howitzers |
4th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery | Osnabrück | 24 × M109A2 |
40th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery | Bergen scorn | 24 × M109A2 |
10th (Assaye) Air Defense Battery | 36 × javelin | |
1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards | Wolfenbüttel | 48 × FV107 Scimitar, 16 × FV102 Striker, 20 × FV103 Spartan, the most advanced British unit on the inner-German border |
21st Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers | Nienburg | 30 × FV432, 12 × Spartan, 12 × FV180, and 12 × AVLB |
1st Armored Division Transport Regiment, Royal Corps of Transport | Frets | |
1st Ordnance Battalion, Royal Army Ordnance Corps | Verden | |
7th Armored Workshop, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers | Fallingbostel | |
12th Armored Workshop, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers | Osnabrück | |
1st Armored Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps | Bergen scorn | |
2nd Armored Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps | Osnabrück | |
220th (1st Home Counties) Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps (V) | Maidstone, UK | |
111th Provost Company, Royal Military Police | Bergen scorn |
unit | Garrison / place of deployment | Armament and remark |
HQ 2nd Infantry Division & Signal Regiment, Royal Signals | York | |
15th (North East) Infantry Brigade | Alanbrooke Barracks, Topcliffe | |
HQ 15th Infantry Brigade & Signal Troop (V), Royal Signals | Topcliffe | |
Queen's Own Yeomanry | Newcastle upon Tyne | 80 × FV721 Fox, 20 × Spartan |
1st (Cleveland) Btn, Yorkshire Volunteers (V) | York | |
2nd (Yorkshire & Humberside) Btn, Yorkshire Volunteers (V) | York | |
6th (Volunteer) Btn, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (V) | Newcastle upon Tyne | |
7th (Durham) Btn, The Light Infantry (V) | Durham | |
8th (Yorkshire) Btn, The Light Infantry (V) | Wakefield | |
24th Airmobile Brigade | Catterick | |
HQ 24th Airmobile Brigade & 210th Signal Squadron, Royal Signals | Catterick | |
1st Btn, Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment) | Catterick | |
1st Btn, Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire | Catterick | |
3rd Btn, The Light Infantry | Blackpool | 43 × Saxon, 8 × FV721 Fox, 8 × 81mm mortar |
9th regiment AAC | RAF Topcliffe | |
672 Squadron AAC, (Lynx Light Battlefield Helicopter Squadron) | 12 × Lynx AH.9, activated in January 1990 | |
3 Flight AAC | 4 × Gazelle AH.1 | |
51st Field Squadron (Air Mobile), Royal Engineers, Ripon, 38th Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers | ||
24th (Airmobile) Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps | Catterick | |
29th Engineer Brigade (V) | Newcastle-on-Tyne | |
HQ 29th Engineer Brigade & Signal Troop, Royal Signals | Newcastle-on-Tyne | |
71st (Scottish) Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers (V) | Glasgow | |
72nd (Tyne Electrical Engineers) Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers (V) | Gateshead | |
73rd Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers (V) | Nottingham | |
105th (Tyne Electrical Engineers) Plant Squadron, Royal Engineers (V) | South Shields | |
117th (Highland) Field Support Squadron, Royal Engineers (V) | Dundee | |
873rd Movement Light Squadron, Royal Engineers (V) | Acton | Lighting for night operations |
29th Engineer Brigade Workshop, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (V) | Newcastle-on-Tyne | |
49th (Eastern) Infantry Brigade | Chilwell | |
HQ 49th Infantry Brigade & Signal Troop (V), Royal Signals | Chilwell | |
Royal Yeomanry | Chelsea | 80 × FV721 Fox, 20 × Spartan |
3rd (Volunteer) Btn, Staffordshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's) (V) | Wolverhampton | |
5th (Volunteer) Btn, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (V) | Coventry | |
5th (Shropshire and Herefordshire) Btn, The Light Infantry (V) | Shrewsbury | |
5th (Volunteer) Btn, Royal Anglian Regiment (V) | Peterborough | |
7th (Volunteer) Btn, Royal Anglian Regiment (V) | Leicester | |
Commander Royal Artillery 2nd Infantry Division | York | |
27th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery | Topcliffe | 18 × FH-70, supports the 24th Airmobile Brigade |
100th (Yeomanry) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery (V) | London | 24 × L118, supports the 49th Infantry Brigade |
101st (Northumbrian) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery (V) | Newcastle upon Tyne | 24 × L118, supports the 15th Infantry Brigade |
103rd (Lancashire Artillery Volunteers) Air Defense Regiment, Royal Artillery (V) | Liverpool | 64 × javelin |
2nd Transport Regiment, Royal Corps of Transport | Catterick | |
2nd Ordnance Battalion, Royal Army Ordnance Corps | Catterick | |
15th Field Workshop, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers | Catterick | |
15th Field Support Squadron, Royal Engineers, 38th Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers | Ripon | |
250th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps (V) | Grimsby | |
251st (Sunderland) Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps (V) | Sunderland | |
254th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps (V) | Cambridge | |
655 Squadron AAC, Northern Ireland Regiment AAC, AAC Ballykelly | Anti-tank fighting, 4 × Gazelle AH.1, 12 × Lynx AH.7 | |
150th Provost Company, Royal Military Police | Catterick |
unit | Garrison / place of deployment | Armament and remark |
HQ 3rd Armored Division & Signal Regiment, Royal Signals | Soest | |
4th Armored Brigade | Muenster | |
HQ 4th Armored Brigade & 204th Signal Squadron, Royal Signals | Muenster | |
14th / 20th King's Hussars | Muenster | 57 × Challenger 1, 8 × FV101 Scorpion, of which 1 Zg is subordinate to the Berlin Infantry Brigade |
17th / 21st Lancers | Muenster | 57 × Challenger 1, 8 × FV101 Scorpion, of which 1 Zg is subordinated to the British Forces Cyprus |
1st Btn, Grenadier Guards | Muenster | 45 × Warrior, 38 × FV432, 8 × FV107 Scimitar, 4 × FV103 Spartan, 8 × 81mm mortar |
6th Armored Brigade | Soest | |
HQ 6th Armored Brigade & 206th Signal Squadron, Royal Signals | Soest | |
3rd Royal Tank Regiment | Hemer | 56 × Challenger 1, 8 × FV101 Scorpion |
1st Btn, Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) | Werl | 45 × Warrior, 38 × FV432, 8 × FV107 Scimitar, 4 × FV103 Spartan, 8 × 81mm mortar |
3rd Btn, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers | Hemer | 45 × Warrior, 38 × FV432, 8 × FV107 Scimitar, 4 × FV103 Spartan, 8 × 81mm mortar |
33rd Armored Brigade | Paderborn | |
HQ 33rd Armored Brigade & 202nd Signal Squadron, Royal Signals | Paderborn | |
Blues and Royals | Sennelager | 57 × Challenger 1, 8 × FV101 Scorpion |
1st Btn, Queen's Own Highlanders | Muenster | 79 × FV432, 8 × FV107 Scimitar, 4 × FV103 Spartan, 8 × 81mm mortar |
1st Btn, Queen's Lancashire Regiment | Paderborn | 79 × FV432, 8 × FV107 Scimitar, 4 × FV103 Spartan, 8 × 81mm mortar |
Commander Royal Artillery 3rd Armored Division | Muenster | |
2nd Field Regiment, Royal Artillery | Muenster | 24 × M109A2 |
46th (Talavera) Air Defense Battery | 36 × javelin | |
3rd Field Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery | Paderborn | 24 × Abbot howitzers |
49th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery | Lippstadt | 24 × M109A2 |
9th / 12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales's) | Wimbish, UK | 24 × FV101 Scorpion, 24 × FV107 Scimitar, 16 × FV102 Striker, 19 × FV103 Spartan |
26th Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers | Iserlohn | 30 × FV432, 12 × Spartan, 12 × FV180, and 12 × AVLB |
3rd Armored Division Transport Regiment, Royal Corps of Transport | Duisburg | |
3rd Ordnance Battalion, Royal Army Ordnance Corps | Soest | |
5th Armored Workshop, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers | Soest | |
6th Armored Workshop, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers | Muenster | |
11th Armored Workshop, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers | Soest | |
3rd Armored Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps | Sennelager | |
5th Armored Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps | Muenster | |
221st Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps (V) | Kingston-upon-Thames, UK | |
113th Provost Company, Royal Military Police | Werl |
unit | Garrison / place of deployment | Armament and remark |
4th Armored Division | Herford | FRG |
HQ 4th Armored Division & Signal Regiment, Royal Signals | Herford | |
11th Armored Brigade | Minden | FRG |
HQ 11th Armored Brigade & 211th Signal Squadron, Royal Signals | Minden | |
5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards | Paderborn | 57 × Chieftain, 8 × FV101 Scorpion |
1st Btn, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders | Minden | 79 × FV432, 8 × FV107 Scimitar, 4 × FV103 Spartan, 8 × 81mm mortar |
2nd Btn, Queen's Regiment | Minden | 79 × FV432, 8 × FV107 Scimitar, 4 × FV103 Spartan, 8 × 81mm mortar |
1st Btn, 51st Highland Volunteers (V) | Perth | UKnote 2 |
19th Infantry Brigade | Colchester, UK | this brigade was able to support the 4th Armored Division 48 hours after marching orders |
HQ 19th Infantry Brigade & 209th Signal Squadron, Royal Signals | Colchester | |
Royal Hussars (Prince of Wales Own) | Tidworth | 57 × Chieftain, 8 × FV101 Scorpion, a Zg is handed over to the UKMF / 1st Infantry Brigade |
1st Btn, King's Own Royal Border Regiment | Colchester | 43 × Saxon, 8 × FV721 Fox, 8 × 81mm mortar |
1st Btn, Royal Anglian Regiment | Colchester | 43 × Saxon, 8 × FV721 Fox, 8 × 81mm mortar |
3rd Btn, Royal Anglian Regiment | Colchester | 43 × Saxon, 8 × FV721 Fox, 8 × 81mm mortar |
34th Field Squadron, Royal Engineers | Water beach | from the 39th Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers |
657 Squadron AAC | Colchester | Anti-tank fighting, 4 × Gazelle AH.1, 12 × Lynx AH.7 |
20th Armored Brigade | Detmold | FRG |
HQ 20th Armored Brigade & 200th Signal Squadron, Royal Signals | Detmold | |
4th / 7th Royal Dragoon Guards | Detmold | 57 × Chieftain, 8 × FV101 Scorpion |
15th / 19th King's Royal Hussars | Detmold | 57 × Chieftain, 8 × FV101 Scorpion |
2nd Btn, Royal Irish Rangers | Lemgo | 79 × FV432, 8 × FV107 Scimitar, 4 × FV103 Spartan, 8 × 81mm mortar |
5th (Volunteer) Btn, Queen's Regiment (V) | Canterbury , UK | |
Commander Royal Artillery 4th Armored Division | Paderborn | |
19th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery | Dortmund | 24 × Abbot howitzers |
26th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery | Gutersloh | 24 × Abbot howitzers |
43rd (Lloyd's Company) Air Defense Battery | 36 × javelin | |
45th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery | Colchester, UK | 18 × FH-70 guns, supports the 19th Infantry Brigade |
16th / 5th Queen's Royal Lancers | Herford | 48 × FV107 Scimitar, 16 × FV102 Striker, 20 × FV103 Spartan |
35th Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers | Hamelin | 30 × FV432, 12 × Spartan, 12 × FV180, and 12 × AVLB |
4th Armored Division Transport Regiment, Royal Corps of Transport | Minden | |
4th Ordnance Battalion, Royal Army Ordnance Corps | Herford | |
4th Armored Workshop, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers | Detmold | |
8th Field Workshop, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers | Colchester, UK | |
4th Armored Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps | Minden | |
19th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps | Colchester, UK | |
222nd (East Midlands) Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps (V) | Leicester , UK | |
223rd (Durham) Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps (V) | Newton Aycliffe, UK | |
114th Provost Company, Royal Military Police | Detmold |
Commanding generals
- Lieutenant General Sir Redvers Buller (January 10, 1901– October 25, 1901)
- Lieutenant General Sir Henry Hildyard (October 25, 1901– September 15, 1902)
- Lieutenant General Sir John French (September 15, 1902 - August 1914)
- Lieutenant General Sir Douglas Haig (August – October 1914)
- Lieutenant General Sir Charles Monro (December 27, 1914– July 13, 1915)
- Lieutenant General Sir Hubert Gough (July 13, 1915 - May 1916)
- Lieutenant General Sir Arthur Holland (May 1916–1918)
- Lieutenant General Sir John Dill (September 1939 – April 1940)
- Lieutenant General Michael Barker (April – May 1940)
- Lieutenant General Harold Alexander (June – December 1940)
- Lieutenant General Laurence Carr (December 1940 – May 1941)
- Lieutenant General Henry BD Willcox (May 1941 – May 1942)
- Lieutenant General Frederick Morgan (May 1942 – April 1943)
- Lieutenant General Gerard Bucknall (April – July 1943)
- Lieutenant General John Crocker (August 1943 – May 1945)
- Lieutenant General Sidney Kirkman (May – September 1945)
- Lieutenant General Gwilym Ivor Thomas (September 1945 – June 1947)
- Lieutenant General Sir Dudley Ward (November 1951 – January 1953)
- Lieutenant General Sir James Cassels (January 1953 – April 1954)
- Lieutenant General Sir Hugh Stockwell (April 1954 – December 1956)
- Lieutenant General Sir Harold Pyman (December 1956 – March 1958)
- Lieutenant General Sir Michael Alston-Roberts-West (March 1958 – March 1960)
- Lieutenant General Sir Charles Phibbs Jones (March 1960 – March 1962)
- Lieutenant General Sir Kenneth Darling (March 1962 – December 1963)
- Lieutenant General Sir Richard Goodwin (December 1963 – January 1966)
- Lieutenant General Sir John Mogg (January 1966 – January 1968)
- Lieutenant General Sir Mervyn Butler (January 1968-January 1970)
- Lieutenant General Sir John Sharp (January 1970 – January 1972)
- Lieutenant General Sir Roland Gibbs (January 1972 - January 1974)
- Lieutenant General Sir Jack Harman (January 1974-April 1976)
- Lieutenant General Sir Richard Worsley (April 1976-July 1978)
- Lieutenant General Sir Peter Leng (July 1978 – October 1980)
- Lieutenant General Sir Nigel Bagnall (October 1980 - May 1983)
- Lieutenant General Sir Martin Farndale (May 1983-May 1985)
- Lieutenant General Sir Brian Kenny (May 1985 – August 1987)
- Lieutenant General Sir Peter Inge (August 1987 - September 1989)
- Lieutenant General Sir Charles Guthrie (September 1989 - December 1991)
- Lieutenant General Sir Jeremy Mackenzie (December 1991 – August 1992)
maneuver
- Exercise Spearpoint 80 (1980)
- Lionheart 84 (1984)
- Plain Sailing (1989)
This included regular readiness exercises such as Quick Train, Rocking Horse and Active Edge.
See also
literature
- MP Robinson and Rob Griffin: The Royal Armored Corps in the Cold War 1946-1990. Pen & Sword Books. 2016. ISBN 978-1-4738-4375-2 .
Notes and individual references
- ↑ " It is a tank heavy force, generally having three armored divisions on the Continent at any one time. Units are rotated periodically, so the listing below is typical of the formations present in the mid 1980s. The British tank inventory consists of 880 Chieftains and 325 Challengers . " Steven Zaloga and Steven Zaloga: Tank War - Central Front NATO vs. Warsaw Pact: NATO Versus Warsaw Pact (Elite, Volume 26), p. 23. Osprey Publishing. 1989. ISBN 9-78-085-045904-3.
- ↑ David Stone: Cold War Warriors: Story of the Duke of Edinburgh's Royal Regiment (Berkshire and Wiltshire). Pen & Sword Books Ltd. 1998. p. 238. ISBN 978-0-85052-618-9 .
- ↑ Army Aviation Association
- ↑ David Stone: Cold War Warriors: Story of the Duke of Edinburgh's Royal Regiment (Berkshire and Wiltshire). Pen & Sword Books Ltd. 1998. p. 224. ISBN 978-0-85052-618-9 .
- ^ The Counterstroke Future Battlefield Study. DOAE Note 663/202 (DOAE, August 31, 1983), DEFE 48/1077, TNA. in K. White, K. Mearsheimer's folly: NATO's Cold War capability and credibility. Infinity Journal, 5 (4). S. 2231. 2017. ISSN 23125888
- ↑ Forward Defense 83. Reclassification and rethinking of the I. BR Corps, in Troop Practice 1/1985. Magazine for tactics, technology and Education. Bonn, Herford, Darmstadt, Frankfurt. 1985
- ↑ Front Edge Battle Area / Front Edge of Defense
- ↑ Anti-tank guided missile
- ↑ David Isby and Charles Kamps Jr: Armies of NATO's Central Front, Jane's Publishing Company, pp. 256-258, 1985, ISBN 978-071060341-8 .
- ^ Territorial Army