British Army: 2300AD Off World Forces Introduction Currently almost half of the British Army's regular brigades are deployed off-world with most serving on the French Arm against the Kafers under the aegis of the Commonwealth Expeditionary Forces. In effect the entire British Army is focused on this struggle which has received priority over all other considerations. However some are beginning to question the long term viability of this heavy commitment. The pressures of the Kafer War have meant that there are now no large scale permanent UK ground forces in the Chinese or American Arms.
II Corps has held the responsibility for major British expeditionary deployments since its formation, and it was the body responsible for the full liberation and mopping up of Beta Canum-4 with Commonwealth, French and German forces under command. It has now re-organised with 2 armoured divisions (7th British and 11th Commonwealth) and three independent brigades (British, Canadian and New African). It has taken the 'Commonwealth' tag because of its multi-national nature. Corps Recce Group The II Corps CRG is a small body which deployed only with its regular formations, leaving behind its volunteers with I Corps CRG.
Corps Artillery Group
1st (Guards) Armoured Brigade Group
3 Armd Div is currently a part of IV (Alician) Corps defending the colony world of Beowulf. Its normal role is as the main on-Earth deployment armoured division with II Corps and as such it always received the first issues of modern equipment. Consequently although it didn't see action in the Invasion or Liberation it is one of the most capable divisions available to the CEF. It has recently detached one of its brigades to 7 Armd Div and received the re-building 79 Armd Bde in return. Divisional Manoeuvre Groups 8th Armoured Brigade
10th Armoured Brigade
79th Armoured Brigade
Divisional Recce Group
Divisional Artillery Group
Divisional Command Group
4 Armd Div comprises the remnant of the 'British Army of Alpha Centauri' and is a component of III (Wellon) Corps on Tirane. Its presence is part of the long term commitment of Britain to Wellon's defence. It is also excellently placed to make use of huge training areas available on Tirane. Consequently it is home to much of Britain's manoeuvre warfare expertise and advanced planning on doctrine. The division has spent much time recently simulating combat against Kafer forces. Historically the division traces its history back to Wellington's Army in the Napoleonic Wars and has served in all three World Wars and the Saudi War. The division is the last in the British Army to be equipped with Cavalier and Rifleman, but is slated to convert in the next year to the Montgomery/Templer. Divisional Manoeuvre Groups 11th Armoured Brigade
12th Armoured Brigade
13th Armoured Brigade
Divisional Recce Group
Divisional Artillery Group
Divisional Command Group
Located on Beta Canum-4 7th Armd Div is the newest armoured division in the British Army and was initially composed of the crack independent Armoured Brigades. However since its formation the battered 79 Armd Bde was sent back to Beowulf to refit and rebuild, and was replaced by 9 Armd Bde from 3rd Division. The Division and its sub-units have seen much fighting on Beta Canum, but are in good shape with excellent levels of combat experience. However the division's ad-hoc nature is still noticeable as it lacks properly integrated divisional artillery, recce and logistics groups. This has yet to hamper its combat effectiveness but might prove serious against a more organised Kafer threat. Divisional Manoeuvre Groups 7th Armoured Brigade Group (The Desert Rats)
9th (Guards) Armoured Brigade Group
1st RGL Brigade Group
Divisional Recce Group
Divisional Command Group
1st (Commonwealth) Light Division The Light Div is serving on Beta Canum-4 under V (New African) Corps and is assigned to patrol duties in the jungles of the so-called K-Zone. Originally the Light Div was designed to co-ordinate the British Light Bdes operating in the colonies, it also contained heavy combat assets that could be used to bolster the Light Bdes in an emergency. The Light Div served impressively during the Invasion of Beta Canum but took major casualties in the process. As a result on 2 Light Bde remains from its original complement and it has been reinforced with Gurkha and Wellon brigades. 2nd Light Brigade Group
1st Gurkha Brigade Group
1 (Wellon) Airmobile Brigade Division Recce Group
Divisional Support Group
6 Asst Bde before the Invasion was simply a crack Light Brigade manned by paratroopers. However when 6 Cdo Bde was caught up in raiding operations the brigade re-roled to spearhead planetary assaults, and reinforced with specialist formations. It saw service on Kimanjano, Beta Canum and Crater during the Liberation and was heavily engaged. After re-grouping on Beowulf the Bde is again the elite spearhead unit of the British forces, operating from the assault ships Normandy and Arnhem. There is great rivalry between this brigade and 6 Cdo Bde which has built upon the historic and bitter divisions between British paratroopers and marines. The Brigade is stationed on Beowulf.
4 Cdo Bde of the Royal Marines is a conventionally organised Commando Brigade normally deployed on Earth as part of the 1st Commando Division. Reinforced with a Dutch marine battalion it was deployed up to Beowulf shortly after the fall of Kimanjano and was deployed as part of the defence forces in the Ramadenthine Archipelago alongside the Royal Alician Marines. After the Battle of Beowulf the unit remained in this role until the French Relief of Nous Voila where British participation was requested. The unit deployed successfully in the second wave and as the landings were unopposed saw no action. Instead the brigade has been engaged in humanitarian operations in the aftermath of the genocide, although is sometimes called upon to suppress human marauder bands.
6 Cdo Bde is composed of the lightly equipped 'Red Commandos' who act as the Royal Space Navy's elite ground forces. The brigade's original role as orbital assault specialists was overtaken by events during the Invasion and instead they have specialised in raiding ops from RSN warships in company groups or sometimes even smaller units. As a result the brigade has a very high profile and reputation. 69 Cdo is rebuilding after fierce combat during a series of boarding operations in the Henry's Star system.
3 Light Bde was stationed on Earth during the Invasion, however it has been deployed to New Cornwall on Joi to provide the keystone of that colony's defences. The brigade has been augmented by a recently raised New Cornwall battalion and has been heavily involved in getting it up to active status.
The CDF is currently engaged in a long running low intensity conflict with the Kafer remnants on the colony world of Crater in the Henry's Star system. Only one regular British battalion is on-world, however seconded British personnel are prominent throughout the CDF and its units.
Copyright 2009, D Hebditch |