4 Military Intelligence Battalion (United Kingdom) Explained

Unit Name:4th Military Intelligence Battalion
Native Name:4 MI Bn
Dates:post 2000–Present
Country: United Kingdom
Size:Battalion
Command Structure:1st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade
Garrison:Ward Barracks, Bulford Camp
Garrison Label:Battalion HQ
Battles:Operation Telic
Operation Herrick
Identification Symbol Label: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.

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'.[13]

Footnotes

  1. Staff Officer's Handbook, pp. 142–143.
  2. Web site: 2008-02-29. 1 MI Bde Organisation. live. 2021-03-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20080229050751/http://www.army.mod.uk/unitsandorgs/divisions_brigades/1_MI_BDE/organisation.htm. 2008-02-29.
  3. Web site: 22 November 2018. Army, Question for Ministry of Defence — current Order of Battle by manpower and basing locations for the corps.. live. 20 February 2021. United Kingdom Parliament — Written questions, answers, and statements. https://web.archive.org/web/20200915161827/https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2018-11-22/194616 . 2020-09-15 .
  4. Web site: Ministry. of Defence. July 2013. Transforming the British Army an Update. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20140325181706/http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2014-0042/20140110-PQ01968B-SOames-A2020-Update-Glossy-U.pdf . 2014-03-25 . 28 March 2021. United Kingdom Parliamentary Publishings.
  5. Web site: Regular Army basing matrix by Formation and Unit. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160814181412/http://www.aff.org.uk/linkedfiles/aff/latest_news_information/cregulararmybasingannouncementgridunclas.pdf. 14 August 2016. 28 March 2021. Army Families Federation.
  6. Web site: Summary of Army 2020 Reserve Structure and Basing Changes. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131203193356/http://www.army.mod.uk/documents/general/20130703-SUMMARY_OF_ARMY_2020_RESERVE_STRUCTURE_AND_BASING.pdf. 3 December 2013. 28 March 2021. British Army Documents.
  7. British Army, Force Troops Command Handbook.
  8. Web site: 1st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade. 2021-03-09. www.army.mod.uk. en-GB.
  9. Web site: Intelligence Corps Battalions. 2021-03-09. www.army.mod.uk. en-GB.
  10. Web site: 4 Military Intelligence. 2021-03-28. www.army.mod.uk. en-GB.
  11. Web site: Future of British Army Bases in Germany Revealed. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304130131/http://sce.web8.devwebsite.co.uk/_files/users/12/356B18DEC47C4BE44AD3C73605E578E6.pdf. 4 March 2016. 9 March 2021. British Forces in Germany.
  12. Web site: British Army units from 1945 on - 200 Squadron. 2021-03-09. british-army-units1945on.co.uk.
  13. Web site: 12 June 2015. Information regarding Companies and sub-units of the Royal Military Police and Intelligence Corps under Army 2020.. live. 9 March 2021. Publishing Service, United Kingdom Government. https://web.archive.org/web/20190725233055/https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/516387/20150612-75117_FOI04667_A2020_Structures_Redacted_amended.pdf . 2019-07-25 .

References

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