Army Special Operations Brigade
Army Special Operations Brigade Specialised Infantry Group | |
---|---|
Active | 2017 – present |
Country | United Kingdom |
Branch | British Army |
Type | Special Operations Forces[1] |
Role | Special Operations Unconventional Warfare Security Force Assistance Foreign internal defence Counterinsurgency |
Size | Brigade |
Part of | 6th (United Kingdom) Division |
Garrison/HQ | Saint Omer Barracks, Aldershot Garrison[2][3] |
The Army Special Operations Brigade (Army Spec Ops Bde)[4] (previously called the Specialised Infantry Group) is a formation of the British Army, initially created as a result of the Army 2020 Refine reorganisation, intended to train foreign forces.[5][3] Its name and role was adapted after the Defence in a Competitive Age reforms, to a unit that not only trains partner nations, but also fights alongside them in "complex high-threat environments".[6][7]
History[]
Specialised Infantry Group[]
The group was formed to work alongside partner forces,[3] a role which has similarities to that of the US Army Security Force Assistance Brigades.[8][9] Initially formed in October 2017 with the 4th Battalion, The Rifles (4 Rifles) and Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland (1 Scots).[10][11][12][5][3] in July 2018, the 2nd Battalion, Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment was added to the Group.[10][11][12][3] and in January 2019, a fourth battalion, the 2nd Battalion, Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, was added and this was followed by the 3rd Battalion, Royal Gurkha Rifles in 2020.[11][13][12][14][3][15]
In February 2018, 4 Rifles deployed for the first time to Kuwait to work with the Kuwait Army and Kuwait National Guard.[16] R Company, It also trained the Afghan Army and forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.[17] In July 2018, C Company from the 2 PWRR was dispatched to Nigeria, where 1 Scots also trained the Nigerian Army for their fight against Boko Haram.[18]
Army Special Operations Brigade[]
In August 2021 the group was re-designated as the Army Special Operations Brigade,[19] with the four battalions of the newly created Ranger Regiment under its command, along with 255 Signal Squadron[20] of the Royal Corps of Signals providing communications, and 1 Squadron (Honourable Artillery Company) providing two Troops of Reconnaissance STA Patrols to support the Brigade.[21][22]
The mentoring and training role that was previously undertaken by the Specialised Infantry Group, will be taken on by a new brigade, formed through the conversion of 11th Infantry Brigade, into the 11th Security Force Assistance Brigade.[6][23][24][25]
Structure[]
Former Structure (2021)[]
The structure of the Specialised Infantry Group in March 2021 was as follows:
- Group Headquarters at Saint Omer Barracks, Aldershot Garrison[26]
- Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland (1 SCOTS), at Palace Barracks, Belfast[27]
- 2nd Battalion, Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (2 PWRR), at Keogh Barracks, Mytchett[28][29][30][31]
- 2nd Battalion, Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (2 LANCS), at Elizabeth Barracks, Pirbright Camp[32][29][30][33]
- 4th Battalion, The Rifles (4 RIFLES), at Normandy Barracks, Aldershot Garrison[29][34][35]
- 3rd Battalion, Royal Gurkha Rifles (3 RGR), at Aldershot Garrison[36]
Future Structure (2030)[]
The future structure of the brigade (by 2030) is:[37][7][38]
- Brigade Headquarters at Saint Omer Barracks, Aldershot Garrison[6][2][3]
- 255 Signal Squadron, Royal Corps of Signals, at Swinton Barracks, Perham Down (Aldershot from 2027)[20]
- 1st Battalion, Ranger Regiment (1 RANGERS), at Palace Barracks, Belfast[39]
- 2nd Battalion, Ranger Regiment (2 RANGERS), at Keogh Barracks, Mytchett[40][41][42][43]
- F (Falklands) Company, Royal Gurkha Rifles – formed 18 November 2021 from personnel of old 3rd Battalion, Royal Gurkha Rifles[44]
- 3rd Battalion, Ranger Regiment (3 RANGERS), at Elizabeth Barracks, Pirbright Camp[45][41][42][46]
- 4th Battalion, Ranger Regiment (4 RANGERS), at Normandy Barracks, Aldershot Garrison[41][47][48]
- A (Coriano) Company, Royal Gurkha Rifles – formed from personnel of old 3rd Battalion, Royal Gurkha Rifles[44]
- Joint Counter Terrorist Training and Advisory Team, at Risborough Barracks, Shorncliffe Army Camp[49]
See also[]
- United States Army Special Forces – United States Army equivelent
- 11th Security Force Assistance Brigade – British Army formation taking on the role of the former Spec Inf Gp.
References[]
- ^ "New British Army brigade: reshaping UK special operations for the better?". IISS. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
- ^ a b "6th (United Kingdom) Division". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Specialised Infantry Group". army.mod.uk. British Army. Retrieved 15 August 2019.[dead link]
- ^ "Army Special Operations Brigade". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
- ^ a b "Defence review to see dozens of sites close". BBC News. 7 November 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ a b c "New British Army brigade: reshaping UK special operations for the better?". IISS. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
- ^ a b "Army Special Operations Brigade". Retrieved 8 September 2021.
- ^ Matisek, Jahara; Williamson, Joshua (June 2020). "Limited Wars in the Periphery: The Dilemma of American Military Assistance". Expeditions with MCU Press. doi:10.36304/ExpwMCUP.2020.03.
- ^ Matisek, Jahara; Reno, William (2019). "Getting American Security Force Assistance Right: Political Context Matters" (PDF). Joint Force Quarterly. 92 (1st quarter): 65–73.
- ^ a b "Leadership in The Specialised Infantry: An Interview with Brigadier James Roddis". thearmyleader.co.uk. The Army Leader. 8 December 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ a b c "Army 2020 Refine Structure" (PDF). britisharmedforcesreview. HM Armed Forces Review. 15 October 2019. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
- ^ a b c "Written Statement: Strategic Defence and Security Review – Army:Written statement – HCWS367". parliament.uk. Hansard. 15 December 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
Specialised Infantry Battalions
- ^ "New Gurkha battalion to be established as brigade grows". gov.uk. London. 11 March 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ "New 3rd Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles Will Begin Recruiting 2019". warfare.tody. 12 March 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ Latter, Mick (3 February 2020). "The Third Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles reformation parade".
- ^ Grzeszczyk, Sian (21 February 2018). "EXCLUSIVE: Specialist British Soldiers' First Operational Deployment In Kuwait". Forces News. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ Wiltshire, Amy (2 May 2019). "Duchess Of Cornwall Presents 4 RIFLES With Medals". Forces News. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ Cotterill, Tom (23 July 2018). "Portsmouth soldiers teach Nigerian Army how to defeat brutal terror group Boko Haram". Portsmouth News. Portsmouth. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ "First glimpse of 'Future Soldier'". Soldier Magazine. 1 August 2021. p. 14.
- ^ a b "Unit Details". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
- ^ Gregory, Lieutenant General Sir Andrew (25 November 2021). "The Integrated Review". Ministry of Defence. p. 1. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
- ^ Gregory, Lieutenant General Sir Andrew (25 November 2021). "The Integrated Review". Ministry of Defence. p. 2. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
- ^ "New Army Ranger Regiment: What We Know So Far". Forces Network. 24 March 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
- ^ "Defence In a Competitive Age, CP 411" (PDF). assets.publishing.service.gov.uk. UK Ministry of Defence. 22 March 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
A new Ranger Regiment will be the vanguard of this expeditionary posture as part of an Army Special Operations Brigade. This Regiment’s four all-arms units will be aligned with the new Divisions of Infantry and initially seeded from the current Specialised Infantry Battalions: 1 SCOTS, 2 PWRR, 2 LANCS and 4 RIFLES. In addition, a new Security Force Assistance Brigade will be established. They will draw on personnel and expertise from across the Army
- ^ at 8:19am, 6th April 2021. "New Army Ranger Regiment: What We Know So Far". Forces Network. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
- ^ "Specialised Infantry Group". army.mod.uk. British Army. Retrieved 15 August 2019.[dead link]
- ^ Weir, Fiona (2 October 2014). "Warm Welcome for 1 SCOTS in Holywood". Forces Network. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
- ^ "Army 2020 Refine changes since 2017" (PDF). Dropbox. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
- ^ a b c Fallon, Michael (15 December 2016). "Strategic Defence and Security Review – Army: Written statement – HCWS367". Hansard. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
- ^ a b "Regiments to change bases, in major Army restructure". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
- ^ "Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
- ^ British Army Newsletter | Summer 2020 | Issue 5 | In Front.
- ^ "Duke of Lancaster's Regiment". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
- ^ Garrison, Aldershot (Winter 2020). "The Garrison: Aldershot Garrison, Home of the British Army, Issue #7: Winter 2020". Aldershot Garrison. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ "4 RIFLES". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
- ^ "New specialist Gurkha battalion established". Ministry of Defence. 14 March 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
- ^ "Unit Details". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
- ^ "New Army Ranger Regiment: What We Know So Far". Forces Network. 25 November 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- ^ Weir, Fiona (2 October 2014). "Warm Welcome for 1 SCOTS in Holywood". Forces Network. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
- ^ "Army 2020 Refine changes since 2017" (PDF). Dropbox. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
- ^ a b c Fallon, Michael (15 December 2016). "Strategic Defence and Security Review – Army: Written statement – HCWS367". Hansard. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
- ^ a b "Regiments to change bases, in major Army restructure". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
- ^ "Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
- ^ a b Latter, Mick (30 November 2021). "F (Falklands) Company, Formation Parade 18th November 2021". Welcome to the Gurkha Brigade Association. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
- ^ British Army Newsletter | Summer 2020 | Issue 5 | In Front.
- ^ "Duke of Lancaster's Regiment". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
- ^ Garrison, Aldershot (Winter 2020). "The Garrison: Aldershot Garrison, Home of the British Army, Issue #7: Winter 2020". Aldershot Garrison. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ "4 RIFLES". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
- ^ Peach, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart (2012). "Defence and Intelligence" (PDF). Geospatial World Forum. Joint Forces Command. p. 3. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
External links[]
- Military units and formations of the British Army
- Military units and formations established in 2017
- Infantry units and formations of the British Army
- Future Soldier