4 Military Intelligence Battalion (United Kingdom)
4th Military Intelligence Battalion | |
---|---|
4 MI Bn | |
Active | post 2000–Present |
Country | United Kingdom |
Branch | British Army |
Size | Battalion |
Part of | 1st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade |
Battalion HQ | Ward Barracks, Bulford Camp |
Engagements | Operation Telic Operation Herrick |
Insignia | |
Battalion badge |
The 4th Military Intelligence Battalion (4 MI Bn) is a military intelligence unit of the British Army's Intelligence Corps, which provides close intelligence support to the headquarters for the only warfighting division in the army.
History[]
The 1999 Staff Officer's Handbook mentions 1st and 2nd Military Intelligence Battalions based in Germany and United Kingdom respectively. The 3rd (V) MI Battalion also appears here, however a 4th MI Bn is not mentioned. Therefore, it can be reasonably assumed the battalion was formed between 2000 and 2008 (when 5 Bn was formed).[1] By 2007, the battalion appears as part of 1st Military Intelligence Brigade.[2]
Under the Army 2020 programme announced in 2013, the battalion left the disbanding 1 MI Bde to join the new 1st Intelligence and Surveillance Brigade along with the other 4 battalions of the Intelligence Corps (1–3 and 5). In addition, the battalion moved to its current location at Ward Barracks, Bulford Camp[3].[4][5]
As part of the programme, the corps' reserve component was expanded. Therefore, in 2015 7 Military Intelligence Battalion was formed with its headquarters in Bristol, based on 54 Military Intelligence Coy, 5 MI Bn.[6] This new battalion was placed under 1 IS Bde and paired with 4 MI Bn shortly thereafter.[4]
Role[]
The 4th Military Intelligence Battalion (4 MI Bn) is the largest concentration of Intelligence Corps (Int Corps) personnel in the Army, focused on supporting the 3rd (United Kingdom) Division. 4 MI Bn is a regular army unit, which sits under the 1st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade.[7][8] It is tasked with supporting 3 UK Div including its new armoured infantry and strike brigades. The current battalion is split between Bulford Camp and Aldershot Garrison.[9]
Though supporting 3 (UK) Division is the battalion's primary role, it also provides MI support to London District, Southern England, and British Army Germany.[10]
The battalion also oversees small intelligence sections at Bovington Camp, and until 2017, C Company was based Antwerp Barracks, Paderborn Garrison.[11][12]
Structure[]
Following the Army 2020 Refine, the battalion was reorganised into three multi-functional companies, a headquarters, a logistic support section, and a new 'Operations Support MI Company'.[9][13][10]
- Battalion Headquarters
- Headquarters Company
- 41 Military Intelligence Company — supporting 1 Armoured Infantry Brigade (below organisation is standard throughout the companies)[10]
- Company Headquarters
- Close Support (CS) Intelligence Section
- General Support (GS) Intelligence Section
- Battle Group Intelligence Support Section (BGISS)
- Counter Intelligence and Security (CI&Sy) Section
- 42 Military Intelligence Company — supporting 12 Armoured Infantry Brigade
- 43 Military Intelligence Company — supporting 20 Armoured Infantry Brigade
- Operations Support Military Intelligence Company[10]
- Logistic Support Section, at Aldershot Garrison — supporting 101st Logistic Brigade
Footnotes[]
- ^ Staff Officer's Handbook, pp. 142–143.
- ^ "1 MI Bde Organisation". 2008-02-29. Archived from the original on 2008-02-29. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
- ^ "Army, Question for Ministry of Defence — current Order of Battle by manpower and basing locations for the corps". United Kingdom Parliament — Written questions, answers, and statements. 22 November 2018. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
- ^ a b Ministry, of Defence (July 2013). "Transforming the British Army an Update" (PDF). United Kingdom Parliamentary Publishings. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
- ^ "Regular Army basing matrix by Formation and Unit" (PDF). Army Families Federation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 August 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
- ^ "Summary of Army 2020 Reserve Structure and Basing Changes" (PDF). British Army Documents. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
- ^ British Army, Force Troops Command Handbook.
- ^ "1st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
- ^ a b "Intelligence Corps Battalions". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
- ^ a b c d "4 Military Intelligence". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 2021-03-28.
- ^ "Future of British Army Bases in Germany Revealed" (PDF). British Forces in Germany. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 March 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
- ^ "British Army units from 1945 on - 200 Squadron". british-army-units1945on.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
- ^ "Information regarding Companies and sub-units of the Royal Military Police and Intelligence Corps under Army 2020" (PDF). Publishing Service, United Kingdom Government. 12 June 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
References[]
- Tanner, James (2014). The British Army since 2000. Oxford, United Kingdom: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1782005933. OCLC 944154544.
- Military units and formations in Wiltshire
- Battalions of the Intelligence Corps (United Kingdom)