Outline of the British Army at the end of the Cold War explained

The following is a hierarchical outline for the structure of the British Army in 1989.[1] [2] The most authoritative source for this type of information available is Ministry of Defence (Army Department), Master Order of Battle, (ASD 6500-25 Ministry of Defence, 1991)[3] [4] [5] and United Kingdom Land Forces, HQ UKLF, UKLF ORBAT Review Action Plan, HQ UKLF, 1990.

At the top of the Army organisation is the Army Board of the Defence Council. The executive committee of the Army Board was responsible for the 'detailed management of the Army.' It included the four military members of the Army Board, including the Chief of the General Staff, General Sir John Chapple in 1989, the Second Permanent Under Secretary, and the Assistant Chief of the General Staff, a major general.[6] The Army Department consisted of four components: the General Staff, the Adjutant General's department, which dealt with recruiting, and also had the Provost Marshal (Army), a brigadier, reporting to him, though the RMP headquarters was at Roussillon Barracks, Chichester;[7] the Military Secretary's department, and the Quartermaster General's department.

United Kingdom Land Forces

Commander-in-Chief, UK Land Forces, General Sir Charles Huxtable

HQ: Wilton

HQ United Kingdom Land Forces commanded nine military districts until the spring of 1991.[8] These districts controlled the regular army brigades in the UK (inc 1st and 5th Brigades) and the predominantly TA regional brigades. In 1984–85, the nine districts were Eastern (19th and 54th Brigades), London, North-East (2nd Infantry Division, 15, 24, and 49 Brigades), North-West District (42 Brigade), Scotland (51 and 52 Brigades), South-Eastern District (2 and 5 Brigades), South-West District (UK Contingent, ACE Mobile Force, 1, and 43 Brigades) Headquarters Wales (160 Brigade), and Western District (143 Brigade).[9]

In December 1989, Headquarters UK Land Forces at Wilton directed field forces through a three-star's command, Commander UK Field Army, Lieutenant General Sir David Ramsbotham.[10] Many of the units stationed in the United Kingdom were to move immediately to Germany to reinforce British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) in case of war between NATO and the Warsaw Pact. For administrative purposes these units were under command of brigade HQ based in the UK during peacetime. Such reinforcement units are indicated in the list below in italics followed by the higher command they were to reinforce in Germany in brackets.

Scotland

North-East District

2nd Infantry Division

Eastern District

Eastern District, Colchester, covering the counties of Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Leicestershire, Norfolk, Rutland, Northamptonshire, and LincolnshireHQ Eastern District & 239 Signal Squadron, Royal Signals, Colchester

London District

London District, Horse Guards, covering Greater London

South-East District

South-West District

Wales District

Western District

North-West District

Army Air Corps

British Army Training Unit Suffield

British Army Schools

Headquarters Northern Ireland

The General Officer commanding Headquarters Northern Ireland reported directly, operationally, to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. During 1988 the disposition of brigades in Northern Ireland changed: On 1 July 1988 3rd Infantry Brigade reformed at Armagh and became responsible for the UK-Ireland border zone from Armagh to South Londonderry.[91] The brigade had been disbanded in September 1981 with its units and area initially having been taken over by 8th Infantry Brigade.[92] On 2 November 1988 107th (Ulster) Brigade (V) was raised and took command of all Territorial Army units in Northern Ireland, thus freeing 8th Infantry Brigade and 39th Infantry Brigade to focus on counterinsurgency operations. This structure was in force until the 1992 amalgamation of Royal Irish Rangers and Ulster Defence Regiment, after which 3rd Infantry Brigade returned to control its traditional area of County Armagh and County Down.

British Army of the Rhine

See also: NORTHAG wartime structure in 1989.

The British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) was the United Kingdom's main contribution to NATO. Headquartered at JHQ Rheindahlen in West Germany and commanded by a General it consisted in peacetime of British I Corps and support troops. In the event of war with the Warsaw Pact the Commander-in-Chief of BAOR would have assumed command of NATO's Northern Army Group (NORTHAG), which was tasked with defending Northern Germany up to the river Elbe. BAOR was armed with tactical nuclear weapons and supported by Royal Air Force Germany.

During transition to war, the support units of BAOR would have formed the British Rear Combat Zone headquartered in Düsseldorf, which would have supplied the fighting forces and guarded the lines of communication within West Germany. Further West in Belgium was the British Communications Zone, which was headquartered in Emblem, outside Antwerp and tasked with receiving reinforcements and supplies from Great Britain and to co-ordinate their onward movement to 1 (BR) Corps.

On 27 November 1989 Peter Inge became the commander of NATO's Northern Army Group and Commander-in-Chief, British Army of the Rhine in Germany with the local rank of general; he succeeded General Brian Kenny.

I British Corps

The area 1 BR Corps had to defend lay between Hanover to the North and Kassel to the South and extended from the Inner German Border to the Upper Weser Valley. In case of a war the Corps first line of defense would have been a screening force of 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards, 16th/5th Queen's Royal Lancers and 664 Squadron AAC, which would have become an ad-hoc brigade formation under command of BAOR's Brigadier Royal Armoured Corps. Behind the screening force 1st Armoured and 4th Armoured Division would form up. 3rd Armoured Division was to the rear of the two forward deployed division as reserve. 2nd Infantry Division was to defend the Corps Rear Area and prepare a last line of defense along the Western bank of the Weser river.

1st Armoured Division

1st Armoured Division was the corps' Northern forward deployed division.

3rd Armoured Division

3rd Armoured Division was the corps' reserve formation.

4th Armoured Division

4th Armoured Division was the corps' Southern forward deployed division. As the division's area of operation was hilly and woody 19th Infantry Brigade based in Colchester was added to it.

British Sector Berlin

Overseas Forces

The Defence Operations Executive, led by the Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff (Commitments) and including the Assistant Chiefs of the Naval, General, and Air Staffs, supervised the Joint Operations Centre which in turn passed orders to the forces in Cyprus, Belize, the Falklands, and Hong Kong. These commands consisted of units of all three services and were commanded by one or 2-star rank flag officers. CBF Cyprus was a rotational post between the Army and RAF, at two-star level; CBF Belize was an Army brigadier; CBF Falklands was a rotational post between all three services at two-star level; and CBF Hong Kong was an Army major general.(Copied from the Structure of the British Armed Forces in 1989).

Miscellaneous support corps

Women's Royal Army Corps

Small Arms School Corps

Royal Army Chaplains' Department

Army Legal Services Branch

Royal Army Veterinary Corps

Royal Army Educational Corps

Royal Army Physical Training Corps

Royal Army Medical Corps

Royal Army Dental Corps

Military Provost Staff Corps

Royal Army Ordnance Corps

Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps

Inventories of equipment

Army Air Corps Inventory 1989

The inventory of the Army Air Corps in 1989 consisted of the following aircraft:

References

  1. Web site: British Army: NATO Order of Battle – 1989 .
  2. Book: Armies of NATO's Central Front . Janes Defense . David C. Isby . Charles Kamps Jr. .
  3. Web site: 19911216 MORBAT Redacted PP 01 85 BAOR U . 29 April 2016 . December 14, 2020 . www.whatdotheyknow.com.
  4. Web site: 19911216 MORBAT Redacted PP 86 105 Non UK Units U . 29 April 2016 . December 14, 2020 . www.whatdotheyknow.com.
  5. Web site: 19911216 MORBAT REDACTED PP 106 229 UK Based Units U . 29 April 2016 . December 14, 2020.
  6. Antony Beevor, Inside the British Army, 192.
  7. Beevor 419
  8. Book: Antony Beevor . Antony Beevor . Inside The British Army . Corgi Books . 1991 . 232 .
  9. Isby and Kamp, Armies of NATO's Central Front, 1985, 251-255.
  10. Web site: Senior Army Appointments:Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Land Forces . Colin Mackie . July 2022 . 2018-10-30.
  11. See details in Beevor, 1989 and 1991
  12. British Army, 1991 Master Order of Battle, Ministry of Defence, London. London, United Kingdom. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  13. Web site: Vieux-Bill. Louis. May 2021. British Army of the Rhine Order of Battle, July 1989. 8 June 2021. 1985 Orders of Battle.
  14. Web site: Fritz. Alter. October 2018. British Army of the Rhine & Royal Air Force Germany 1989: Organisation and stationing of the British Armed Forces in Germany in 1989. 5 April 2021. Relics in Upper Saxony & Bremen.
  15. Chappell, pp. 14
  16. Lord & Watson, pp. 23–39 (Regular Signal Regiments 1st to 30th)
  17. Web site: British Army units from 1945 on – 2 Regiment. 2021-06-04. british-army-units1945on.co.uk.
  18. Beevor, pp. 230–242
  19. Alterfritz, pp. 60–62
  20. Web site: Vieux-Bill. Louis. May 2021. British Army of the Rhine Order of Battle, July 1989. 8 June 2021. 1985 Orders of Battle.
  21. Web site: British Army units from 1945 on – 2 Regiment. 2021-06-04. british-army-units1945on.co.uk.
  22. Alterfritz, pp. 60–62
  23. Web site: 2020-10-21. British Army units from 1945 on – Regiments 1 to 10. 2021-10-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20201021100934/http://british-army-units1945on.co.uk/royal-corps-of-transport/regiments-1-to-10.html. 21 October 2020.
  24. Alterfritz, p. 36
  25. Sutton, pp. 527–570
  26. Kneen & Sutton, pp. 297–306
  27. Kneen & Sutton, pp. 261–262
  28. Web site: Fritz. Alter. October 2018. British Army of the Rhine & Royal Air Force Germany 1989: Organisation and stationing of the British Armed Forces in Germany in 1989. 5 April 2021. Relics in Upper Saxony & Bremen.
  29. Web site: Vieux-Bill. Louis. May 2021. British Army of the Rhine Order of Battle, July 1989. 8 June 2021. 1985 Orders of Battle.
  30. Chappell, pp. 14
  31. Beevor, pp. 230–242
  32. Web site: British Army units from 1945 on – 210 Squadron. 2021-06-04. british-army-units1945on.co.uk.
  33. Lord & Watson, pp. 79–107 (Regular Signal Squadrons, 200–299)
  34. Web site: British Army units from 1945 on – Green Howards. 2021-04-05. British Army units from 1945 on.
  35. Lord & Watson, p. 118
  36. Web site: Military Bands – Monday 14 May 1990 – Hansard – UK Parliament. 2021-10-03. hansard.parliament.uk. en.
  37. Web site: British Army units from 1945 on – Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire. 2021-04-05. British Army units from 1945 on.
  38. Web site: British Army units from 1945 on – Light Infantry. 2021-04-07. British Army units from 1945 on.
  39. Lord & Watson, p. 115.
  40. Web site: British Army units from 1945 on – 27th Regiment RA. 2021-06-09. british-army-units1945on.co.uk.
  41. During peacetime these regiments were under command of their brigade. On mobilisation the regiments would join their divisional artillery. Then, on the move to West Germany would join the 1st Artillery Brigade.
  42. Watson & Rinaldi, pp. 232–233.
  43. British Army, 1991 Master Order of Battle, Ministry of Defence. London, United Kingdom. Retrieved 11 October 2021
  44. Web site: Vieux-Bill. Louis. May 2021. British Army of the Rhine Order of Battle, July 1989. 8 June 2021. 1985 Orders of Battle.
  45. Web site: Fritz. Alter. October 2018. British Army of the Rhine & Royal Air Force Germany 1989: Organisation and stationing of the British Armed Forces in Germany in 1989. 5 April 2021. Relics in Upper Saxony & Bremen.
  46. Beevor, pp. 230–242
  47. Web site: British Army units from 1945 on – 209 Squadron. 2021-06-04. british-army-units1945on.co.uk.
  48. Web site: British Army units from 1945 on – 209 Squadron. 2021-06-04. british-army-units1945on.co.uk.
  49. Web site: British Army units from 1945 on – Royal Hussars. 2021-06-09. british-army-units1945on.co.uk.
  50. Web site: Military Bands – Monday 14 May 1990 – Hansard – UK Parliament. 2021-10-03. hansard.parliament.uk. en.
  51. Web site: British Army units from 1945 on – 45th Regiment RA. 2021-06-09. british-army-units1945on.co.uk.
  52. Web site: Vieux-Bill. Louis. May 2021. British Army of the Rhine Order of Battle, July 1989. 8 June 2021. 1985 Orders of Battle.
  53. Web site: British Army units from 1945 on – Squadrons 1 to 10. 2021-10-11. british-army-units1945on.co.uk.
  54. Web site: British Army units from 1945 on – Ordnance Companies 20 to 70. 2021-10-11. british-army-units1945on.co.uk.
  55. Web site: British Army units from 1945 on – Field, Infantry & Armoured Workshops 6 to 10. 2021-10-11. british-army-units1945on.co.uk.
  56. Staff Officers' Handbook, p. 67
  57. Web site: British Army units from 1945 on – Field Ambulances 11 to 20. 2021-10-11. british-army-units1945on.co.uk.
  58. Web site: British Army units from 1945 on – Provost Companies 101 to 169. 2021-10-05. british-army-units1945on.co.uk.
  59. Web site: Fritz. Alter. October 2018. British Army of the Rhine & Royal Air Force Germany 1989: Organisation and stationing of the British Armed Forces in Germany in 1989. 5 April 2021. Relics in Upper Saxony & Bremen.
  60. Web site: Vieux-Bill. Louis. May 2021. British Army of the Rhine Order of Battle, July 1989. 8 June 2021. 1985 Orders of Battle.
  61. Chappell, pp. 14
  62. Web site: British Army units from 1945 on – 216 Squadron. 2021-06-04. british-army-units1945on.co.uk.
  63. British Army, Master Order of Battle 1991 – Forces within the United Kingdom. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  64. Lord & Watson, p. 125
  65. Web site: British Army units from 1945 on – Life Guards. 2021-06-09. british-army-units1945on.co.uk.
  66. Web site: Military Bands – Monday 14 May 1990 – Hansard – UK Parliament. 2021-10-03. hansard.parliament.uk. en.
  67. Web site: British Army units from 1945 on – 1st Bn Parachute Regiment. 2021-10-10. british-army-units1945on.co.uk.
  68. Web site: Military Bands – Monday 14 May 1990 – Hansard – UK Parliament. 2021-10-03. hansard.parliament.uk. en.
  69. Web site: British Army units from 1945 on – 2nd Bn Parachute Regiment. 2021-10-10. british-army-units1945on.co.uk.
  70. At Clive Barracks in Ternhill under 143rd (West Midlands) Brigade until April 1989 as Northern Ireland reaction battalion.
  71. Web site: British Army units from 1945 on – 7th Regiment RHA. 2021-06-09. british-army-units1945on.co.uk.
  72. Web site: British Army units from 1945 on – Field, Infantry & Armoured Workshops 6 to 10. 2021-10-11. british-army-units1945on.co.uk.
  73. Beevor 1991, 212, Isby & Kamps 1985, 234
  74. Drenth, pp. 10–14
  75. Chappell, pp. 14
  76. Detachments to 1st Armoured, 2nd Infantry, 3rd Armoured, 4th Armoured Divisions, 1st Artillery Brigade, and 1st Infantry Brigade.
  77. Lord & Watson, p. 167–168
  78. Web site: Vieux-Bill. Louis. May 2021. British Army of the Rhine Order of Battle, July 1989. 8 June 2021. 1985 Orders of Battle.
  79. Web site: British Army units from 1945 on – District Workshops. 2021-10-18. british-army-units1945on.co.uk.
  80. Kneen & Sutton, pp. 273–281
  81. Kneen & Sutton, p. 259
  82. Drenth, p. 113
  83. Web site: Vieux-Bill. Louis. May 2021. British Army of the Rhine Order of Battle, July 1989. 8 June 2021. 1985 Orders of Battle.
  84. Alterfritz, p. 37
  85. Staff Officer's Handbook, p. 36
  86. Web site: Vieux-Bill. Louis. May 2021. British Army of the Rhine Order of Battle, July 1989. 8 June 2021. 1985 Orders of Battle.
  87. During peacetime these regiments were under command of their brigade. On mobilisation the regiments would join their divisional artillery. Then, on the move to West Germany would join the 1st Artillery Brigade.
  88. Sutton, pp. 527–570
  89. Alterfritz, p. 36
  90. Sup Regt RSA listed with SW Dist by Isby & Kamps 1985
  91. Book: Potter. John. Testimony to Courage: The History of the Ulster Defence Regiment 1969–1992. 2001. Pen & Sword Military. Barnsley. 0-85052-819-4. 9 July 2017.
  92. Book: van der Bijl. Nick. Operation Banner: The British Army in Northern Ireland 1969–2007. 2009. Pen & Sword Military. Barnsley. 978-1-84415-956-7. 162. 9 July 2017.
  93. Web site: Vieux-Bill. Louis. May 2021. British Army of the Rhine Order of Battle, July 1989. 8 June 2021. 1985 Orders of Battle.
  94. Sutton, pp. 693–711
  95. Sutton, pp. 613–648
  96. Sutton, pp. 527–570
  97. Web site: Vieux-Bill. Louis. May 2021. British Army of the Rhine Order of Battle, July 1989. 8 June 2021. 1985 Orders of Battle.
  98. Alterfritz, p. 36
  99. Web site: Vieux-Bill. Louis. May 2021. British Army of the Rhine Order of Battle, July 1989. 8 June 2021. 1985 Orders of Battle.
  100. Web site: The Army (Hansard, 26 January 1988). 2021-05-26. api.parliament.uk.
  101. Web site: The Army (Hansard, 8 June 1989). 2021-05-26. api.parliament.uk.
  102. Web site: British Army units from 1945 on – 203 Squadron. 2021-04-09. British Army units from 1945 on.
  103. Web site: British Army units from 1945 on – Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment. 2021-04-07. British Army units from 1945 on.
  104. Web site: Military Bands – Monday 14 May 1990 – Hansard – UK Parliament. 2021-10-03. hansard.parliament.uk. en.
  105. Web site: 2008-01-12. The Ulster Defence Regiment [UK]]. 2021-05-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20080112143233/http://www.regiments.org/regiments/uk/inf/970udr.htm. 12 January 2008.
  106. Web site: 4 January 2021. FOI(A) relating to the Ulster Defence Regiment battalion locations and company locations in 1989. 11 May 2021. What do they know?.
  107. Web site: Vieux-Bill. Louis. May 2021. British Army of the Rhine Order of Battle, July 1989. 8 June 2021. 1985 Orders of Battle.
  108. Chappell, pp. 14
  109. Web site: British Army units from 1945 on – 218 Squadron. 2021-04-09. British Army units from 1945 on.
  110. Web site: British Army units from 1945 on – Hampshire Regiment. 2021-04-07. British Army units from 1945 on.
  111. Lord & Watson, p. 115.
  112. Web site: Military Bands – Monday 14 May 1990 – Hansard – UK Parliament. 2021-10-03. hansard.parliament.uk. en.
  113. Web site: British Army units from 1945 on – Gloucestershire Regiment. 2021-04-07. British Army units from 1945 on.
  114. Web site: The Army (Hansard, 5 June 1990). 2021-05-26. api.parliament.uk.
  115. Web site: 4 January 2021. FOI(A) relating to the Ulster Defence Regiment battalion locations and company locations in 1989. 11 May 2021. What do they know?.
  116. Web site: British Army units from 1945 on – Provost Companies 170 to 260. 2021-10-05. british-army-units1945on.co.uk.
  117. Web site: Vieux-Bill. Louis. May 2021. British Army of the Rhine Order of Battle, July 1989. 8 June 2021. 1985 Orders of Battle.
  118. Web site: British Army units from 1945 on – 213 Squadron. 2021-04-09. British Army units from 1945 on.
  119. Web site: Queen's Regiment. 2021-04-07. British Army units from 1945 on.
  120. Lord & Watson, p. 115.
  121. Web site: British Army units from 1945 on – Black Watch. 2021-04-07. British Army units from 1945 on.
  122. Web site: Military Bands – Monday 14 May 1990 – Hansard – UK Parliament. 2021-10-03. hansard.parliament.uk. en.
  123. On roulement deployment from February 1989 to February 1991.
  124. Drenth, p. 121
  125. Drenth, p. 122
  126. Web site: 4 January 2021. FOI(A) relating to the Ulster Defence Regiment battalion locations and company locations in 1989. 11 May 2021. What do they know?.
  127. Web site: British Army units from 1945 on – 33 Squadron. 2021-06-03. british-army-units1945on.co.uk.
  128. Based on the shore of Lough Neagh operating the high-speed Rigid raider patrol boats used to intercept suspect craft. (Beevor, p. 378.)
  129. Web site: British Army units from 1945 on – Provost Companies 170 to 260. 2021-10-05. british-army-units1945on.co.uk.
  130. Web site: Vieux-Bill. Louis. May 2021. British Army of the Rhine Order of Battle, July 1989. 8 June 2021. 1985 Orders of Battle.
  131. Drenth, pp. 10–14
  132. Web site: The British Military Garrison in Ireland – British Army. 2021-04-02. www.sinnfein.org.
  133. Davies, p. 6.
  134. Vieuxbill. Louis. BAOR Order of Battle July 1989. 2013. 130. 27 June 2017.
  135. Staff Officers' Handbook 1989, pp, 10
  136. 29 November 1989. World's Air Forces 1989. Flight International. 61–62. 19 November 2017.
  137. Antony Beevor, Inside the British Army, 1991, 429.
  138. World's Air Forces 1989. Flight International. 29 November 1989. 61–62. 19 November 2017.

Bibliography