| Army Special Operations Brigade | |
|---|---|
 Brigade flash | |
| Active | 1 August 2021 – present |
| Country |
 United Kingdom |
| Branch |
 British Army |
| Type | Special operations-capable[1] |
| Role |
Special Operations Unconventional Warfare Security Force Assistance Foreign internal defence Counterinsurgency |
| Size | Brigade |
| Part of | 6th (United Kingdom) Division |
| Brigade HQ | Saint Omer Barracks, Aldershot Garrison |
| Predcessor | Specialised Infantry Group |
| Operations | |
The Army Special Operations Brigade (Army Spec Ops Bde)[2] is a formation of the British Army, initially created as a result of the Army 2020 Refine reorganisation, intended to train foreign forces.[3][4] Its name and role was adapted after the Defence in a Competitive Age reforms, to a unit that not only trains partner nations, but also fights alongside them in "complex high-threat environments".[5][6]
History[]
On 1 August 2021, the Specialised Infantry Group group was re-designated as the Army Special Operations Brigade,[7] with the four battalions of the newly created Ranger Regiment, plus two reinforcement companies from the Royal Gurkha Rifles, under its command, along with 255 Signal Squadron[8] of the Royal Corps of Signals providing communications, and 1 Squadron Honourable Artillery Company providing long-range surveillance patrols to support the Brigade.[9][10]
The mentoring and training role that was previously undertaken by the Specialised Infantry Group, will be taken on by a new brigade, formed through the conversion of 11th Infantry Brigade, into the 11th Security Force Assistance Brigade.[5][11][12]
The inaugural Brigade Commander is Brigadier Angus Fair who formerly commanded the Specialised Infantry Group.[13][14][15]
Structure[]
Future Structure (2030)[]
Graphic representing the structure of the new brigade.
The future structure of the brigade (by 2030) is:[16][6][17]
- Brigade Headquarters at Saint Omer Barracks, Aldershot Garrison[5][18][4]
- 255 Signal Squadron, Royal Corps of Signals, at Swinton Barracks, Perham Down (Aldershot from 2027)[8]
- 1st Battalion, Ranger Regiment (1 RANGER), at Palace Barracks, Belfast[19]
- 2nd Battalion, Ranger Regiment (2 RANGER), at Keogh Barracks, Mytchett[20][21][22][23]
- F (Falklands) Company, Royal Gurkha Rifles[24]
- 3rd Battalion, Ranger Regiment (3 RANGER), at Elizabeth Barracks, Pirbright Camp[25][21][22][26]
- 4th Battalion, Ranger Regiment (4 RANGER), at Normandy Barracks, Aldershot Garrison[21][27][28]
- G (Coriano) Company, Royal Gurkha Rifles[29]
- Joint Counter Terrorist Training and Advisory Team, at Risborough Barracks, Shorncliffe Army Camp[30]
See also[]
- United States Army Special Forces – United States Army equivalent
- 11th Security Force Assistance Brigade – British Army formation taking on the role of the former Spec Inf Gp.
References[]
- ↑ Defence in a Competitive Age. Ministry of Defence. March 2021. pp. 46,68. ISBN 9781528624626. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/974661/CP411_-Defence_Command_Plan.pdf. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ↑ "Army Special Operations Brigade" (in en-GB). https://www.army.mod.uk/future-army/unit-details/6-uk-division/army-special-operations-brigade/.
- ↑ "Defence review to see dozens of sites close". BBC News. 7 November 2016. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-37902141.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Specialised Infantry Group". British Army. https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/formations-divisions-brigades/6th-united-kingdom-division/specialised-infantry-group/.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "New British Army brigade: reshaping UK special operations for the better?" (in en). https://www.iiss.org/blogs/military-balance/2021/08/uk-special-operations-brigade.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Army Special Operations Brigade". https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/formations-divisions-brigades/6th-united-kingdom-division/army-special-operations-brigade/.
- ↑ "First glimpse of 'Future Soldier'". Soldier Magazine. 1 August 2021. p. 14. https://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&edid=0377652b-c123-4bff-8806-61b9af842025.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Unit Details" (in en-GB). https://www.army.mod.uk/future-army/unit-details/.
- ↑ Gregory, Lieutenant General Sir Andrew (25 November 2021). "The Integrated Review". Ministry of Defence. p. 1. https://www.arrse.co.uk/community/attachments/1638469686213-jpeg.619675/.
- ↑ Gregory, Lieutenant General Sir Andrew (25 November 2021). "The Integrated Review". Ministry of Defence. p. 2. https://www.arrse.co.uk/community/attachments/1638469701474-jpeg.619676/.
- ↑ "New Army Ranger Regiment: What We Know So Far" (in en). 24 March 2021. https://www.forces.net/news/new-army-ranger-regiment-what-we-know-so-far.
- ↑ "New Army Ranger Regiment: What We Know So Far" (in en). 6 April 2021. https://www.forces.net/news/new-army-ranger-regiment-what-we-know-so-far.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedTelegraphNov21 - ↑ Luscombe, Stephen. "Light Dragoons". https://www.britishempire.co.uk/forces/armyunits/britishcavalry/ltdragoons1992fair.htm. "Angus George Costeker Fair"
- ↑ "Aldershot Soldiers Receive Operational Medals". 14 November 2019. https://www.army.mod.uk/news-and-events/news/2019/11/4-rifles-shader-medals/.
- ↑ "Unit Details" (in en-GB). https://www.army.mod.uk/future-army/unit-details/.
- ↑ "New Army Ranger Regiment: What We Know So Far". 25 November 2021. https://www.forces.net/news/new-army-ranger-regiment-what-we-know-so-far.
- ↑ "6th (United Kingdom) Division" (in en-GB). https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/formations-divisions-brigades/6th-united-kingdom-division/.
- ↑ Weir, Fiona (2 October 2014). "Warm Welcome for 1 SCOTS in Holywood" (in en). https://www.forces.net/services/army/warm-welcome-1-scots-holywood.
- ↑ "Army 2020 Refine changes since 2017" (in en). https://www.dropbox.com/s/t2dixk6lq6502ni/20190718-FOI06365_Zacchi_Response_Letter-ArmySec%20%283%29.pdf?dl=0.
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 Fallon, Michael (15 December 2016). "Strategic Defence and Security Review – Army: Written statement – HCWS367". Hansard. http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2016-12-15/HCWS367/.
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 "Regiments to change bases, in major Army restructure". http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/regiments-to-change-bases-in-major-army-restructure-35298093.html.
- ↑ "Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment" (in en-GB). https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/infantry/princess-of-waless-royal-regiment/.
- ↑ Latter, Mick (2021-11-30). "F (Falklands) Company, Formation Parade 18th November 2021" (in en-GB). https://www.gurkhabde.com/f-falklands-company-formation-parade-18th-november-2021/.
- ↑ British Army Newsletter | Summer 2020 | Issue 5 | In Front.
- ↑ "Duke of Lancaster's Regiment" (in en-GB). https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/infantry/duke-of-lancasters-regiment/.
- ↑ Garrison, Aldershot (Winter 2020). "The Garrison: Aldershot Garrison, Home of the British Army, Issue #7: Winter 2020". https://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&pubid=7606b2b7-60ea-41a9-9272-f39eb9dccc2d.
- ↑ "4 RIFLES" (in en-GB). https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/infantry/rifles/4-rifles/.
- ↑ Rushworth, Will (2022-02-09). "4 RANGER’S GURKHAS DEPLOYED ACROSS AFRICA" (in en) (PDF). Crest Publications. p. 30. https://www.paperturn-view.com/uk/rifles/bugle-spring-2022-complete?pid=MjI225051&p=31. "… G (Coriano) Coy, the newest addition to 4 RANGER, …"
- ↑ Peach, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart (2012). "Defence and Intelligence". Joint Forces Command. p. 3. https://geospatialworldforum.org/2012/gwf_PDF/Air%20Chief%20Marshal%20Sir%20Stuart%20Peach.pdf.
External links[]
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The original article can be found at Army Special Operations Brigade and the edit history here.