Structure of the British Army

The structure of the British Army is complex, due to the different origins of its various constituent parts. In terms of nature of its servicemen, it is divided into the Regular Army (full-time professional soldiers) and the Territorial Army (part-time paid soldiers). In terms of its military structure it is divided into corps (administrative groupings by common function), and divisions and brigades (large units somewhat fluid in nature).

The regiment is in some respects the most important unit of the British Army. It is the largest "permanent" tactical unit. Typically, it will consist of around 700 soldiers, and be commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel.

A typical regiment will follow a structure similar to the following:

• Company (or Squadron) of about 100 soldiers, commanded by a Captain
• Platoon (or Troop) of about 30 soldiers, commanded by a Lieutenant
• Section[?] of about 8 soldiers

Sections can be subdivided into two fire teams for tactical purposes.

Table of contents 1 Corps 2 Divisions and Brigades 2.1 Divisions 2.2 Brigades 3 Regiments and Battalions 4 See Also

Corps

The Army has a number of Corps; groupings by purpose, of varying size.

• Royal Armoured Corps
• Royal Regiment of Artillery
• Infantry
• Corps of Royal Engineers[?]
• Royal Logistics Corps[?]
• Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers[?]
• Army Physical Training Corps[?]
• Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps[?]
• Army Air Corps[?]
• Adjutant Generals Corps[?]
• Royal Corps of Signals[?]
• Intelligence Corps[?]
• Army Medical Services[?]
• Royal Army Chaplains' Department[?]
• Corps of Army Music[?]
• Small Arms School Corps[?]

Divisions and Brigades Divisions and Brigades are the next smallest groupings after a Corps. The British Army comprises two active divisions, seven active manoeuvre brigades. The three remaining divisional headquarters act as regional commands in the UK itself, and would only become field formations in the event of a general war. Beyond the manoeuvre brigades, there are also a number of active brigades which have air defence, logistics and engineering functions. Finally, there are also a number of reserve manoeuvre brigades which command smaller regions than the reserve divisions. The numbering of the various brigades is not sequential, reflecting the rise and fall of various brigades over the years. The reserve brigades have often been divisions in times past, such as 51 (Scottish) Brigade being the direct descendent of the famous 51st (Highland) Division[?] of WWII.

Divisions

• 1st (UK) Armoured Division[?]
• 2nd Division — The Army in the North[?]
• 3rd (UK) Mechanised Division[?]
• 4th Division[?]
• 5th Division[?]

Brigades

• 1 (Mechanised) Brigade[?]
• 4 (Armoured) Brigade[?]
• 7 (Armoured) Brigade[?]
• 12 (Mechanised) Brigade[?]
• 15 (North East) Brigade[?]
• 16 (Air Assault) Brigade[?]
• 19 (Mechanised) Brigade[?]
• 20 (Armoured) Brigade[?]
• 39 (Infantry) Brigade[?]
• 42 (North West) Brigade[?]
• 43 (Wessex) Brigade[?]
• 49 (East) Brigade[?]
• 51 (Scottish) Brigade[?]
• 52 (Lowland) Brigade[?]
• 101 Logistics Brigade[?]
• 102 Logistics Brigade[?]
• 160 Brigade[?]

Regiments and Battalions

• The Argyll and Southern Highlanders[?]
• The Black Watch
• The Cheshire Regiment[?]
• Coldstream Guards
• The Devonshire and Dorset Regiment[?]
• The Duke of Wellington's Regiment[?]
• The Green Howards[?]
• Grenadier Guards[?]
• The Highlanders[?]
• Irish Guards[?]
• The King's Own Royal Border Regiment[?]
• The King's Own Scottish Borderers[?]
• The King's Regiment[?]
• The Light Infantry[?]
• The Parachute Regiment[?]
• The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire[?]
• The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment[?]
• The Queen's Lancashire Regiment[?]
• The Royal Anglian Regiment[?]
• The Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment[?]
• The Royal Gurkha Rifles[?]
• The Royal Green Jackets[?]
• The Royal Highland Fusiliers[?]
• The Royal Irish Regiment[?]
• The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers[?]
• The Royal Regiment of Wales[?]
• The Royal Scots[?]
• The Royal Welch Fusiliers[?]
• Scots Guards[?]
• The Staffordshire Regiment[?]
• Welsh Guards[?]
• The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment[?]

See Also

• Military unit