British Army United Kingdom Defence Forces

British Army: 2300AD

United Kingdom Defence Forces

Introduction

The UKDF is mainly composed of TAVR forces but with some regular units included. It is split into manoeuvre and regional forces depending on the level of equipment, mobility and training priorities. With the escalation of the Kafer War a major re-working of these forces has taken place. The Manouvre Forces have been revitalised with more modern equipment cast off by the regular army and taken on an increased role in fulfilling Britain's on Earth commitments. Several battalions have been mobilised to take on garrison roles.

The Regional Forces have been heavily re-organised, new battalions raised and regular battalions (including several newly returned from the French Arm) have been formally integrated into the structure. The former 5 Infantry Divisions each of 3 brigades have been converted into 10 French style 'flat' divisions this has freed up many extra staff officers required for the front as well as additional training funding for the battalions.

The most noticeable change is the numbering change of the divisions and brigades to bring them into line with the regular Army and leaving only the Light Division and Airborne forces out of this sequence.

In times of war the UKDF would come directly under the command of the Joint British Isles Defence Command (JBID). JBID is a unified command system integrating the air, sea and land forces of Britain and Ireland.

Index

Manoeuvre Forces: 32 (Guards) Light Brigade; 1st Airborne Brigade; 4th Airborne Brigade; 17th(SE) Mechanised Brigade; 18th (CW) Mechanised Brigade; 26th (Recce) Mechanised Brigade; 19th Mechanised Division; 20th Mechanised Division
Regional Forces: 43rd (Wessex) Division; 48th (South Midlands) Division; 49th (Yorkshire) Division; 50th (Northumbrian) Division; 51st (Highland) Division; 52nd (Lowland) Division; 53rd (Welsh) Division; 55th (North West) Division; 56th (Home Counties) Division; 59th (South Midlands) Division

Manoeuvre Forces

Independent Brigades

The 6 independent brigades provide a resource either for UKDF or for deployment with I (British) Corps overseas.

32 (Guards) Light Brigade

32 Bde has primarily been a home for the Household Division on ceremonial duties in the capital, Windsor and Isle of Wight. These units were previously organised as GD battalions and would undertake light infantry training when not on ceremonial duties. However in the light of the Kafer War this unit has been re-equipping as a Light Brigade whilst small detachments continue their public role.

Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment (HCMR)

2nd Battalion, The Grenadier Guards (2 GREN GDS)

1st Battalion, The Welsh Guards (1 WG)

1st Battalion, The Wellon Guards (1 WELLON GDS)

55 (King's Troop) Light Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery (55 RHA)

1st Airborne Brigade

The cutting edge of the TA, 1 Abn Bde is designed to act as the second wave of any intervention force. However it has been most noticeable for providing BCR for the regular Parachute battalions in the French Arm. It has a very high level of readiness and may well be mobilised for action.

10th Battalion (V), The Parachute Regiment (10 PARA)

12th Battalion (V), The Parachute Regiment (12 PARA)

15th Battalion (V), The Parachute Regiment (15 PARA)

101 Parachute Regiment (V), Royal Artillery (101 RA)

109 Parachute Squadron (V), Royal Engineers

4th Airborne Brigade

4 Abn Bde, although drawn from line infantry regiments, is very similar to 1Abn Bde and has also sent many volunteers to RGJ units in the French Arm. The influx of recently returned soldiers mean this unit has perhaps the best experience of fighting Kafers in the British reserve forces.

10th Battalion (V), The Royal Green Jackets (10 RGJ)

11th Battalion (V), The Royal Green Jackets (11 RGJ)

4th Battalion (V), The Royal Irish Rangers (4 RIR)

102 Light Regiment (V), Royal Artillery (102 RA)

110 Independent Squadron (V), Royal Engineers

17th (SE) Mechanised Brigade

17 Mech Bde is the only UKDF heavy armoured brigade, equipped with Churchill, Cavalier and Picton AFV's. It packs a major punch and is designed to reinforce 1st or 2nd Armoured Divisions in time of war. Recently it has been training heavily with 1 Armd Div since the deployment of 1 (Guards) Armd Bde to the French Arm.

The Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars (QO OX H)

The 1st City of London Yeomanry (Sharpshooters) (1 CLY)

8th Battalion (V), The Queen's Regiment (8 QUEENS)

12th (Royal) Battalion (V), The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (The London Regiment) (12 RRF)

115 Medium Regiment (V), Royal Artillery (115 RA)

18th (Combat Walker) Mechanised Brigade

18 CW Mech Bde is composed of four combat walker equipped battalions, each is planned to be equipped with 200 Walkers. However with the exception of 12 RGJ these units have only just been re-roled from their previous tasks as Divisional Recce and are in the training process and have not received their full complement of CW. When operational 18 Mech Bde will provide CW support for any unit within UKDF that requires it. It will not fight en-masse but provide vital support in urban combat at company strength.

The Border Reivers Yeomanry (Mounted Rifles) (BRY)

The Northumbrian Yeomanry (Hussars) (NY)

The King’s Own Lincolnshire Yeomanry (KOLY)

12th Battalion (V), The Royal Green Jackets (12 RGJ)

26th (Recce) Mechanised Brigade

26 Recce Mech Bde is a new formation, created by grouping together divisional recce units from the old Infantry Divisions. The unit has both recce AFV and 'new', hand-me-down Cavalier HBT. This unit have begun training both as corps level recce, but mainly as an independent manoeuvre group. It is a poorly kept secret that in case of a Kafer Invasion of the UK this brigade will provide immediate reaction forces and attack the planethead regardless of casualties.

The 1st Royal Welsh Yeomanry (The Ancient British) (1 RWY)

The Royal Anglian Yeomanry (R ANGLIAN Y)

The Staffordshire Yeomanry (Black Country Lancers) (STAFFS Y)

19th Mechanised Division

The Mech Divs are to be the main mobile UK defence assets in conjunction with any regular Armoured forces that remain on the British Isles. Now equipped with fairly modern Cavalier/Riflemen the Divs have a similar organisation to Armoured Divisions. Increasingly the Divisions have been training in more warlike Battle Groups. The recently renamed 19 Mech Div is drawn from the south of England and Wales.

Divisional Manoeuvre Groups
19th (Welsh) Mechanised Brigade
The 2nd Royal Welsh Yeomanry (Border Rifles) (2 RWY)
5th Battalion (V), The Royal Welch Fusiliers (5 RWF)
7th Battalion (V), The Royal Regiment of Wales (7 RRW)
20th (SW) Mechanised Brigade
The Royal Wessex Yeomanry (R WX Y)
3rd Battalion (V), The Devon & Dorset Regiment (3 D&D)
6th (Berkshire & Wiltshire) Battalion (V), The Royal Wessex Regiment (6 R WESSEX)
21st (City of London) Mechanised Brigade
The 2nd City of London Yeomanry (Devil's Own) (2 CLY)
7th Battalions (V), The Queen's Regiment (7 QUEENS)
1st Battalion (V), The London Scottish (The London Regiment) (1 L SCOTS)
Divisional Recce Group
The Royal Mercian Yeomanry (RMY)
Divisional Artillery Group
107 Heavy Regiment (V), Royal Artillery (107 RA)
103 Medium Regiment (V), Royal Artillery (103 RA)
113 Air Defence Regiment (V), Royal Artillery (113 RA)
Divisional Command Group
19 Mechanised Command Regiment
19 Mechanised Regiment (V), Royal Engineers (19 MECH RE)

20th Mechanised Division

20 Mech Div is the Scotland and north England based equivalent of 19 Mech Div.

Divisional Manoeuvre Groups
22nd (Scottish) Mechanised Brigade
The Royal Scottish Yeomanry (R SCOTS Y)
5th Battalion (V), The Royal Scots (5 RS)
6th Battalion (V), The Black Watch (6 BW)
23rd (NE) Mechanised Brigade
The Yorkshire Light Horse (North Riding) (YLH)
10th (Durham) Battalion (V), The Light Infantry (10 LI)
11th (Tyneside) Battalion (V), The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (11 RRF)
24th (NW) Mechanised Brigade
The Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry (Dragoon Militia) (DLY)
7th Battalion (V), The Queen's Lancashire Regiment (7 QLR)
5th Battalion (V), The King's Own Royal Border Regiment (5 KORBR)
Divisional Recce Group
The Loyal Manchester Yeomanry (Red Devils) (LMY)
Divisional Artillery Group
119 Heavy Regiment (V), Royal Artillery (119 RA)
110 Medium Regiment (V), Royal Artillery (110 RA)
106 Air Defence Regiment (V), Royal Artillery (106 RA)
Divisional Command Group

20 Mechanised Command Regiment
20 Mechanised Regiment (V), Royal Engineers (20 MECH RE)

Regional Forces

Regional forces are composed of infantry, artillery and engineer units. Most are reservists but each division has at least one regular battalion. Many of these regular battalions are newly returned from the Kafer War and whilst recovering are also passing on their experience to the TAVR battalions. The regular battalions are now re-organising to Light Role, whilst one TA battalion is a Close Recce unit (most are newly raised battalions and still training) and the remainder GS battalions. Support is provided by artillery, engineer and command and support regiments.

Currently the divisions have been most useful in providing individual volunteers for service on the French Arm. However in case of invasion they would provide vital service holding static positions and undertaking warfare in forests and urban areas. The units are all lightly equipped and with soft-skinned transport. The new divisions have taken on ancient historic identities, however the geographical names are not always completely accurate.

43rd (Wessex) Division

4th Battalion, The Royal Green Jackets (4 RGJ) (regular); 1st Battalion, The Isle of Wight Rifles (Royal Wessex)(V) (1 IoW R) (close recce); 1st (Royal) Battalion, The Rifle Volunteers (Royal Wessex) (1 R Vols)
2nd Battalion, The Rifle Volunteers (Royal Wessex) (2 R Vols); 5th (Gloucestershire) Battalion (V), The Royal Wessex Regiment (5 R WESSEX); 4th Battalion (V), The Devon & Dorset Regiment (4 D&D); 13th (Somerset and Cornwall) Battalion (V), The Light Infantry (13 LI)
: 122 Field Regiment (V), Royal Artillery (122 RA); 43 General Regiment (V), Royal Engineers (43 RE); 43 Command and Support Regiment

48th (South Midlands) Division

3rd Battalion, The Queen's Lancashire Regiment (3 QLR) (regular); 14th (Shropshire and Herefordshire) Battalion (V), The Light Infantry* (14 LI) (close recce); 7th Battalion (V), The Royal Anglian Regiment (7 R ANGLIAN); 9th Battalion (V), The Royal Anglian Regiment (9 R ANGLIAN); 10th (Warwickshire) Battalion (V), The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (10 RRF); 13th Battalion (V), The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (13 RRF); 14th Battalion (V), The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (14 RRF)
: 117 Field Regiment (V), Royal Artillery (117 RA); 48 General Regiment (V), Royal Engineers (48 RE); 48 Command and Support Regiment

49th (Yorkshire) Division

1st Battalion, The York and Lancaster Regiment (1 YLR) (regular); 1st Battalion, The Leeds Rifles (V) (1 LEEDS R)* (close recce); 9th (West Yorkshire) Battalion (V), The Yorkshire Regiment (9 YORKS); 11th (Duke of Wellington's) Battalion (V), The Yorkshire Regiment (11 YORKS); 12th (King's Own Yorkshire) Battalion (V), The Light Infantry (12 LI); 3rd (Hallamshire) Battalion (V), The York and Lancaster Regiment (3 YLR); 4th Battalion (V), The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment (4 WFR)
: 129 Field Regiment (V), Royal Artillery (129 RA); 49 General Regiment (V), Royal Engineers (49 RE); 49 Command and Support Regiment

50th (Northumbrian) Division

1st Battalion, The Coldstream Guards (1 COLD GDS) (regular); 1st Battalion, The Royal Northumbrian Rangers (V) (1 RNR)* (close recce); 9th (Northumbrian) Battalion (V), The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (9 RRF); 15th (City of Newcastle) Battalion (V), The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (15 RRF)*; 10th (Green Howards) Battalion (V), The Yorkshire Regiment (10 YORKS); 12th (East Yorkshire) Battalion (V), The Yorkshire Regiment (12 YORKS); 11th (Durham) Battalion (V), The Light Infantry (11 LI)
: 104 Field Regiment (V), Royal Artillery (104 RA); 50 General Regiment (V), Royal Engineers (50 RE); 50 Command and Support Regiment

51st (Highland) Division

2nd (2/68th Durham) Battalion, The Light Infantry (2 LI) (regular)
1st Battalion, The Queen's Own (Seaforth) Highlanders (1 QOH) (regular)
1st Battalion, The Lovat Scouts (V) (1 LS)* (close recce)
5th Battalion (V), The Black Watch (5 BW)
3rd Battalion (V), The Queen's Own (Seaforth) Highlanders (3 QO HLDRS)
3rd Battalion (V), The Cameron Highlanders (3 C HLDRS)
3rd Battalion (V), The Gordon Highlanders (3 GORDONS)
4th Battalion (V), The Gordon Highlanders (4 GORDONS)
3rd Battalion (V), The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (3 A&SH)

: 127 Field Regiment (V), Royal Artillery (127 RA); 51 General Regiment (V), Royal Engineers (51 RE); 51 Command and Support Regiment

52nd (Lowland) Division

1st Battalion, The Cameronians (1 CAMS) (regular); 3rd Battalion (V), The Scottish Rifles (3 SR) (close recce); 6th Battalion (V), The Royal Scots (6 RS); 3rd Battalion (V), The Royal Scots Fusiliers (3 RSF); 3rd Battalion (V), The Highland Light Infantry (3 HLI); 3rd Battalion (V), The King's Own Scottish Borderers (3 KOSB); 3rd Battalion (V), The Cameronians (3 CAMS)
: 108 Field Regiment (V), Royal Artillery (108 RA); 52 General Regiment (V), Royal Engineers (52 RE); 52 Command and Support Regiment

53rd (Welsh) Division

The Welsh Division is the smallest division but includes two regular battalions. Headquartered at Brecon it provides much support to the School of Infantry there.

2nd (41st Welch) Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Wales (2 RRW) (regular); 3rd Battalion, The Royal Green Jackets (3 RGJ) (regular); 6th Battalion (V), The Royal Welch Fusiliers (6 RWF) (close recce); 8th Battalions (V), The Royal Regiment of Wales (8 RRW); 9th Battalions (V), The Royal Regiment of Wales (9 RRW); 1st Battalion, The North Wales Rifle Volunteers (1 NWRV)
: 125 Field Regiment (V), Royal Artillery (125 RA); 53 General Regiment (V), Royal Engineers (53 RE); 53 Command and Support Regiment

55th (North West) Division

1st Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (1 RRF) (regular); 10th Battalion (V), The Queen's Lancashire Regiment (10 QLR)* (close recce); 5th (Liverpool) Battalion (V), The King's Regiment (5 KINGS); 6th (Manchester) Battalion (V), The King's Regiment (6 KINGS); 6th Battalion (V), The King's Own Royal Border Regiment (6 KORBR); 8th Battalion (V), The Queen's Lancashire Regiment (8 QLR); 9th Battalion (V), The Queen's Lancashire Regiment (9 QLR)
: 109 Field Regiment (V), Royal Artillery (109 RA); 55 General Regiment (V), Royal Engineers (55 RE); 55 Command and Support Regiment

56th (Home Counties) Division

5th Battalion, The Royal Green Jackets (5 RGJ) (regular); 1st Battalion, The Artists Rifles (The London Regiment)(V) (1 ARTISTS)* (close recce); 9th Battalion (V), The Queen's Regiment (The London Regiment) (9 QUEENS); 1st Battalion (V), The London Irish Rifles (The London Regiment) (1 L IR); 1st Battalion (V), The London South Africans (The London Regiment) (1 L SA); 5th (Home Counties) Battalion (V), The Queen's Regiment (5 QUEENS); 6th (Kent & Cinque Ports) Battalion (V), The Queen's Regiment (6 QUEENS)
: 116 Field Regiment (V), Royal Artillery (116 RA); 56 General Regiment (V), Royal Engineers (56 RE); 56 Command and Support Regiment

59th (North Midlands) Division

1st (Liverpool) Battalion, The King's Regiment (1 KINGS) (regular); 3rd Battalion (V), The Cheshire Regiment (3 CHESHIRE) (close recce); 4th Battalion (V), The Cheshire Regiment (4 CHESHIRE); 3rd (North Staffs) Battalion (V), The Staffordshire Regiment (3 STAFFORD); 4th (South Staffs) Battalion (V), The Staffordshire Regiment (4 STAFFORD); 3rd Battalion (V), The Worcestershire & Sherwood Foresters Regiment (3 WFR); 8th Battalion (V), The Royal Anglian Regiment (8 R ANGLIAN)
: 130 Field Regiment (V), Royal Artillery (130 RA); 59 General Regiment (V), Royal Engineers (59 RE); 59 Command and Support Regiment