British Overseas Garrisons & Regiments.

[Bernard Woolley]

British Overseas Garrisons & Regiments.


Ascension Island

Royal Air Force
- Nimrod Detachment (Nimrod MRA.4) [NOTE 1]
- RAF Regiment Resident Squadron [NOTE 2]
-- B Flight, No. 2625 (County of Cornwall) Squadron (+) (Field)
--- Ascension Island Det, Saint Helena Regiment
-- A Flight No. 2834 Squadron, RAuxAF Regiment (Skyguard/Oerlikon 35mm AAA)


Belize

British Forces Belize
Price Barracks, Ladyville.

British Army
Price Barracks.
- B Company, 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment (+)
-- Composite support platoon
--- Mortar Section: 81mm mortars
--- HMG Section: Browning HMG
--- ATGW Section: Javelin ATGW
- 6 Troop, B Squadron, The Shropshire Yeomanry: FV107 Scimitar - Holdfast Camp
- Belize Squadron, Royal Engineers: Holdfast Camp with detachments at Badly Beacons and Rideau Camp
- Belize Logistics Unit, Royal Logistics Corps: Salamanca Camp
- 633 (Caribbean) Signals Troop, Royal Signals: Price Barracks
- 25 Flight, Army Air Corps: Bell 212 HP AH Mk1 - Price Barracks
- British Army Training Support Unit Belize (BATSUB)

Royal Air Force
Belize IAP
- 1417 Flight (-): 4x Harrier GR.9 [NOTE 3]
- 1563 Flight: 4x Puma HC.1
- Resident Rapier Detachment: Rapier FSC

Royal Navy
The escort assigned to the Atlantic Patrol Tasking North (APT(N)), will make regular visits to the surrounding waters of Belize, as part of her wider duties in the Caribbean. During Hurricane Season, the escort is supplemented by an RFA Bay Class LSD(A).


Bermuda

Royal Navy
HMS Malabar
- Logistics Section
- Force Protection Detachment

British Army
- Royal Bermuda Regiment [NOTE 4]
-- Regimental H.Q
-- A Company (rifle and Operational Support Units, Boat troop, EOD etc.)
-- B Company (rifle and ceremonial)
-- C Company (rifle)
-- Support Company
-- Gun Troop: 25-pdr/Assault Pioneers
-- Signals
-- Boat Troop
-- Medics
-- Regimental Police
-- EOD Section
-- Operational Support Divers
- Logistics Company
- Training Wing
- Coast Guard
- 59 (Royal Anglian Regiment) Composite General Reserve Company (rifle)

Royal Air Force
- Nimrod Detachment: 3x Nimrod MRA.4 [NOTE 1]


Bosnia-Herzegovina
(Withdrawn by end of April 2005)

British Army
H.Q 48th (Gurkha) Infantry Brigade (Multinational Brigade (West)) [NOTE 5]
- Amiens Squadron, RTR: Challenger 2 [NOTE 6]
- 2nd Battalion, The Light Infantry: Warrior
- 1st Battalion, 6th Queen Elizabeth’s Own Gurkha Rifles: AT105 Saxon
- 5 (Gibraltar 1779-1783) Battery, 19 Regiment Royal Artillery: AS90
- 214 (Highland) Battery, 108 (Queen’s Own Royal Glasgow Yeomanry) Regiment, RHA (V): L777
- The Queen’s Gurkha Engineers (+)
-- 108 (Welsh) Squadron, The Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers (Militia)
- The Queen’s Gurkha Signals
- The Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment
- Arnhem Flight, AAC: Lynx AH.9 [NOTE 7]

Royal Air Force
- 1419 (Tactical Support) Flight: Merlin HC.3


Brunei

H.Q British Forces Brunei
Seria

British Army
- 1st Battalion, 7th Duke of Edinburgh's Own Gurkha Rifles
- Brunei Flight, AAC: Bell 212 HP AH Mk1
- Brunei Signals Troop
- Brunei Police Unit
- British Army Jungle Warfare Training School (JWTS)


Canada

H.Q British Army Training Unit Suffield
- Resident Opposing Force (OPFOR): The Royal Horse Guards/Dragoons (Blues and Royals) (-) [NOTE 8]
- 29 (BATUS) Flight, AAC: Gazelle AH.1
- 105 Logistics Squadron, RLC
- BATUS REME workshop
- BATUS Signal Troop, Royal Signals
- BATUS Police Unit
Rotational Battle Group
- 1st Battalion, The Welsh Guards (+): Warrior
-- C Squadron, 17th/21st Lancers: Challenger 2
-- 16 Battery (Sandham's Company), 26th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery: AS90
-- Field Troop, Royal Engineers

Royal Air Force
- RAF Goose Bay; lodger unit supporting exercises.


Channel Islands

Alderney
- The Royal Alderney Militia
-- Home Defence Platoon
Guernsey
- The Royal Gurnsey Militia
-- Guernsey Troop, RE – to Jersey Field Squadron on mobilisation
-- The Royal Guernsey Light Infantry Company
--- Royal Engineers Troop: Fuchs
-- General Support Unit
Jersey
- Royal Militia of the Island of Jersey
-- Jersey Field Squadron, RE – to 111 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers (V)
-- Home Defence Infantry Company
--- Royal Engineers Troop: Fuchs
-- General Support Unit


Cyprus

British Forces Cyprus
Episkopi

Joint Units
- Joint Service Signal Unit (Cyprus)
- Cyprus Communications Unit
- Cyprus Operations Support Unit
- Cyprus Military Working Dog Troop
- Cyprus Joint Police Unit

Royal Navy Cyprus Squadron
HMS Dasher (P273)
HMS Pursuer (P280)

British Army
- 1st Battalion, The Light Infantry: Dhekelia Cantonment
- 1st Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment (-): Episkopi Cantonment
- 62 Cyprus Support Squadron Royal Engineers
- 16 Flight Army Air Corps: Gazelle AH.1
- Cyprus Military Working Dog Troop, Episkopi
- Cyprus Joint Police Unit (CJPU)
(Episkopi)
-- 1 Platoon CJPU — Dhekelia
-- 2 Platoon CJPU — Episkopi

Royal Air Force
RAF Akrotiri
- No. 84 Squadron: Griffon HAR.2
- Det. No. 6 Squadron: Typhoon T.1A, FGR.2 [NOTE 9]
RAF Troodos
- Det. No.1 Air Control Centre


Diego Garcia

British Forces British Indian Ocean Territories (BFBIOT)

Royal Navy
- Naval Party 1001 [NOTE 10]
MV Pacific Marlin (BIOT fisheries protection & patrol vessel)


Falkland Islands

British Forces South Atlantic Islands
Mount Pleasant Complex
- Joint Communications Unit Falkland Islands (JCUFI)
- Joint Service EOD unit

Royal Navy/Royal Fleet Auxiliary
Mare Harbour
HMS Grafton (F80)
HMS Leeds Castle (P258)
HMS Endurance (A171)
HMS Splendid (S106) (not directly under BFSAI)
RFA Black Rover (A273)
RFA Diligence (A132)
Naval Party 2010 [NOTE 11]

British Army
- A Company 1st Battalion, The Gordon Highlanders (+)
-- Composite support platoon
--- Mortar Section: 81mm mortars
--- HMG Section: Browning HMG
--- GPMG (SF) Section
--- ATGW Section: Javelin ATGW
- B Company, 5th (V) Battalion Royal Green Jackets
- 34 Field Squadron, Royal Engineers
- Logistics Group
- Falklands Islands Defence Force [NOTE 12]

Royal Air Force
RAF Mount Pleasant
- No. 78 Squadron: Chinook HC.2, Sea King HAR.3
- No. 1312 Flight: VC10 K.4, Hercules C.4
- 1435 Flight: Tornado F.3
- Resident Rapier Squadron: Rapier FSC
- Nimrod Det: Nimrod MRA.4 [NOTE 1]


Gibraltar

British Forces Gibraltar
HMS Rooke

Royal Navy
HMS Calpe (RNR H.Q)
- RMR Gibraltar
Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron
HMS Peacock (P239)
HMS Plover (P240)
HMS Starling (P241)
HMS Scimitar (P292)
HMS Sabre (P293)

British Army
- 78 (Missile) Battery, RA: Naval Strike Missile
- 4th (V) Battalion The Royal Regiment of Wales (24/41st Foot)
- The Royal Gibraltar Regiment
-- H.Q Company (regular)
-- Thomson’s Battery (regular/reserve)
--- Howitzer Troop: 6x L118, 25pdr
--- Air Defence Troop: HVM
--- Missile Troop NSM
-- B Company (Reserves)
-- G Company (Regular)
-- I Company (Regular)
- Fortress Specialist Team, Royal Engineers
- Fortress H.Q Staff
- Postal Courier and Communications Unit

Royal Air Force
RAF Gibraltar (formerly RAF North Front)
- RAF Regiment Resident Squadron
-- A Flight, No. 2625 (County of Cornwall) Squadron (Field)
-- B Flight No. 2834 Squadron, RAuxAF Regiment (Skyguard/Oerlikon)
- Admin staff, RAF Police Flight, etc.


Isle of Man

British Army
- Isle of Man Reserve Force
-- Manx Troop, 208 (3rd West Lancashire) Battery, 103 Regiment, Royal Artillery
-- Manx Troop, 202 Field Squadron, 75 Regiment, Royal Engineers
-- Isle of Man Platoon, B Company, 4 Queen’s Lancashire Regiment
-- Manx Platoon, A Company, 4 Parachute Regiment
-- Manx Troop, 236 (Manchester) Supply Squadron, 156 Regiment, RLC
Note: All the above units deploy abroad.
-- Composite General Reserve Company
-- General Support Unit


Kenya

British Army
Nyati Barracks
- British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK)


Kuwait and Gulf Region

Royal Navy Armilla Patrol
HMS Despatch (D43)
HMS Hamilton (F243)
HMS Echo (H87)
HMS Quorn (M41)
HMS Bridport (M105)
HMS Bangor (M109)
RFA Wave Baron (A400)
RFA Sir Geraint (L3027)

British Army
- 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment: Warrior
-- B Squadron 17th/21st Lancers: Challenger 2
-- 17 (Corunna) Battery 26th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery: AS90
-- Supporting arms (REME, RLC, RSigs, RMP, RAMC etc.)

Royal Air Force
Ahmad Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait
- No. 1453 Flight: Tornado GR.4, GR.4A
- RAF Force Protection Detachment (RAF Regiment, RAFP)
Al Dhafra, UAE
- Det. No.101 Squadron: VC10 K.3
- RAF FP Det (RAF Regiment, RAFP)


Montserrat

Royal Montserrat Defence Force [NOTE 13]
- Infantry platoon


Saint Helena

Saint Helena Regiment (St Helena Rifles) [NOTE 14]
- Rifle Platoon
- Ascension Island Detachment


Singapore

Royal Navy
- Naval Party 1022 [NOTE 15]


South Georgia

British Army
- Rotational Troop, 34 Field Squadron, RE.


***

Notes

1) Drawn from personnel and aircraft based at RAFs Lossiemouth and St. Mawgan.

2) Shortly after the outbreak of war, the AAA flight shot down four Soviet SLCM fired at Wideawake Airfield.

3) Two Harriers were withdrawn to the UK during the Transition to War; serious consideration was given to withdraw the whole flight but vetoed due to regional instability.

4) The last regiment in British service recruited via conscription. With no role other than Internal Security, readiness of the regiment had suffered, with around half of the regiment’s vehicles unserviceable. In more recent years the regiment had managed to improve readiness and vehicle serviceability. Soldiers have always shown high morale and excellent marksmanship skills. While the Ruger Mini-14, procured in the 1980s to replace the L1A1 SLR (allegedly because Ruger said they would put the Bermuda crest on the stock), is still the main rifle, A Company was by 2005 equipped with the L85A2 and L86A2. Further deliveries of the SA80 were ongoing. In recent years the regiment forged links with the Royal Gibraltar Regiment, its soldiers joining the Gibraltarians on exercises; the regiment continued to have close links to the US Marine Corps, the Royal Anglian Regiment and the Canadian Lincoln and Welland Regiment.

5) Only includes British units under the Brigade’s command. Other non-NATO formations, including an Irish infantry battalion and Swedish armoured squadron were under the brigade’s command.

6) When the British commitment to Bosnia began, armoured support was initially provided by a full regiment. However, as the commitment was reduced it shrank to a single squadron on detachment, though after a year the army decided to form an independent squadron specially for Bosnia drawn from UK based RAC units. The squadron name, taken from Royal Tank Regiment battle honours, changed when the deployment was rotated – the first deployment being named Cambrai Squadron, the second Amiens.

7) A rotational flight formed from personnel drawn from UK and West Germany based squadrons of the Army Air Corps.

8) Minus two squadrons assigned to 3 Commando and 5 Airborne Brigade respectively.

9) Deployed during the Transition to War.

10) Was approximately 50 strong. It was primarily made up of RN and RM personnel, the party also included RAF and RMP personnel attached to the BIOT Police. The naval party was also responsible for customs and immigration on the island.

11) Was responsible for the day-to-day operation of the East Cove Military Port at Mare Harbour.

12) An approximately company sized light infantry unit. It was made up of around 100 Primary Reserve Personnel backed up by 100, or so Secondary Reserve Personnel. In 2005 had the distinction of being the only military unit of a BOT to have seen combat, albeit briefly. Was also responsible for manning Observation Posts and patrolling, as well as manning 20mm cannon on Falklands Islands Government Fisheries Protection vessels when necessary. Was a well-trained and highly motivated unit; on more than one occasion it infiltrated MPC during exercises. Like the Bermuda Regiment, the FIDF used a non-standard service rifle, in this case the Austrian Steyr AUG. Like the Bermudan Mini-14s these rifles were starting to get long in the tooth and the Falkland Islands Government announced the intention to procure L85 and L86A2s to replace the AUG and AUG HBAR.

13) A small twenty person mainly ceremonial and disaster relief unit. During the Transition to War it expanded to thirty personnel, and was turned into a combat unit. Its service rifle was the L1A1 SLR, with some soldiers having to use Lee-Enfield No.4s until additional SLRs were delivered. Famously engaged a Soviet submarine attempting to land a raiding party on the island.

14) Formed in response to the Soviet raid on the island. Was affiliated to The Royal Regiment of Wales. Name reflects previous regiments and local militia units that garrisoned the island.

15) Was the permanent Royal Navy posting at the British Defence Singapore Support Unit in Singapore. NP1022 was responsible for managing the British owned and funded naval repair and logistics support facility in support of the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA).