Military Wiki
Military Wiki
Leuchars Station
Flag of the British Army
Near Leuchars, Fife in Scotland
Leuchars airbase - geograph.org.uk - 370764
Aerial view looking east over Leuchars.
Leuchars Station is located in Fife<div style="position: absolute; top: Expression error: Missing operand for *.%; left: 292.3%; height: 0; width: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;">
Red pog
Leuchars Station
Location in Fife
Coordinates 56°22′23″N 002°52′07″W / 56.37306°N 2.86861°W / 56.37306; -2.86861Coordinates: 56°22′23″N 002°52′07″W / 56.37306°N 2.86861°W / 56.37306; -2.86861
Type Army barracks and airfield
Site information
Owner Ministry of Defence
Operator British Army
Site history
Built 1916 (1916)
In use 1916–2015 (Royal Air Force)
2015 – present (British Army)
Garrison information
Current
commander
Lieutenant Colonel Graeme Craig
Airfield information
Identifiers IATA: ADX, ICAO: EGQL
Elevation 12 metres (39 ft) AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
04/22 747 metres (2,451 ft) Asphalt
09/27 2,589 metres (8,494 ft) Asphalt

Leuchars Station (IATA: ADX, ICAO: EGQL) is a British Army installation located in Leuchars, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland, near to the historic town of St Andrews.

Formerly RAF Leuchars, it was the second most northerly air defence station in the United Kingdom (the most northerly being RAF Lossiemouth). The station ceased to be an RAF station in April 2015 when control of the site was transferred to the Army.

History[]

RAF Leuchars[]

The Royal Air Force station at Leuchars opened on 16 March 1920, although its association with the military can be traced back to 1911 when military balloons were operated at the site. During its history the site was used as a RNAS fleet fighter station and later as a RAF Coastal Command airfield. Throughout the Cold War and beyond, the station was home to fighter aircraft which policed northern UK airspace. The station also hosted an annual International Airshow.

Transfer to the Army[]

On 18 July 2011, Defence Secretary Liam Fox announced that RAF Leuchars would close as part of the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2010, with the station being transferred to British Army control in 2015 and the Typhoon aircraft based at Leuchars moving to RAF Lossiemouth in Moray.[1]

In preparation for the closure, RAF Leuchars Mountain Rescue Team disbanded in November 2013 whilst No. 58 Squadron of the RAF Regiment and No. 6 Force Protection Wing disbanded on 10 May 2014.[2] No. 6 Squadron was the first Typhoon unit to depart Leuchars, heading for its new home at Lossiemouth in June 2014.[3][4] No. 1 Squadron followed on 8 September 2014, at which point responsibility for Quick Reaction Alert (North) was transferred from Leuchars to Lossiemouth.[5]

Control of Leuchars was transferred to the British Army on 31 March 2015, when it was renamed Leuchars Station.[6] The term 'station' was used as the size of the installation is smaller than a garrison but larger than a barracks and to reflect the range of army and RAF occupants.[7] The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards gradually relocated from Germany in the spring and summer of 2015 along with 2 Close Support Battalion of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and 110 Provost Company, Royal Military Police.[8] The transition from RAF to Army control was considered to have gone smoothly by Fife Council in terms of its impact on the local community.[9]

In February 2018, local Councillors suggested that the name of the installation be changed as it could be confused with Leuchars Railway Station.[9]

RAF Typhoon FGR4 aircraft and the Quick Reaction Alert (Interceptor) North capability operated from Leuchars between 10 August and the week commencing 16 October 2020 whilst the intersection of RAF Losisemouth's two runways was resurfaced.[10][11]

Role and operations[]

In December 2018, there were approximately 750 members of the UK regular armed forces, 30 members of the full time reserve service personnel and 100 civil servants based at Leuchars.[12]

British Army[]

Jackal 2a

A Jackal 2 armoured wheeled vehicle as used by the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards based at Leuchars

The primary Army unit based at Leuchars is the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards. It is a cavalry regiment which specialises in the reconnaissance role. It is equipped with the Jackal 2 armoured fighting vehicle and the Coyote tactical support vehicle.[13]

Other army units included 2 Close Support Battalion of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) and 110 Provost Company of the Royal Military Police.[14]

Royal Air Force[]

The station continues to be home to several RAF units, including No. 612 (County of Aberdeen) Squadron RAuxAF, the East of Scotland Universities Air Squadron incorporating No. 12 Air Experience Flight, and the headquarters of Scotland and Northern Ireland Region and South East Scotland Wing of the Air Training Corps. The airfield is maintained by the RAF as a diversion airfield for military aircraft.[15]

Based units[]

The following notable units are based at Leuchars Station.[14]

British Army[]

  • 2 (Leuchars) Troop, 124 (Lowland) Field Squadron, Royal Engineers (Army Reserve) (71 Engineer Regiment)[16][17][18]

Royal Air Force[]

Future[]

In late October 2020, it was confirmed by the Ministry of Defence that they were looking into increasing both civilian and military usage of the airfield at Leuchars with the re-installation of 8 facilities, however there would be no aircraft based permanently.[32]

See also[]

References[]

  1. "RAF to pull out of Leuchars as RAF Lossiemouth stays". BBC News. 18 July 2011. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-14182729. Retrieved 18 July 2011. 
  2. "Disbandment Parade of 6 RAF Force Protection Wing and 58 Sqn RAF Regiment". rafregt.org.uk. 10 May 2014. http://www.rafregt.org.uk/event/disbandment-parade-6-raf-fp-wg-58-sqn-raf-regt/. Retrieved 9 September 2014. 
  3. "First Typhoons land at Lossiemouth". Press and Journal. 12 June 2014. https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/moray/253526/first-typhoons-land-at-lossiemouth/. Retrieved 9 September 2014. 
  4. Air Forces Monthly. Stamford, Lincolnshire, England: Key Publishing Ltd. April 2013. p. 8. 
  5. "Typhoon aircraft relocate to RAF Lossiemouth". Government of the United Kingdom. 20 June 2014. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/typhoon-aircraft-relocate-to-raf-lossiemouth. Retrieved 16 September 2015. 
  6. "Army now in charge at Leuchars". 31 March 2015. http://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/local-headlines/army-now-in-charge-at-leuchars-1-3734050. Retrieved 4 November 2020. 
  7. Robertson, Aileen (17 February 2018). "Call for 'confusing' Leuchars Station army base to be given new name - The Courier" (in en-GB). The Courier. https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/fife/601639/call-for-confusing-leuchars-station-army-base-to-be-given-new-name/. 
  8. "Leuchars residents welcome rebasing news". British Forces News (British Forces Broadcasting Service). http://www.bfbs.com/news/scotland/leuchars-residents-welcome-rebasing-news-62977.html. Retrieved 6 March 2013. 
  9. 9.0 9.1 "58. Presentation by the Army on Leuchars Station". 14 February 2018. http://publications.fifedirect.org.uk/c64_MinNEFAC1402181.pdf. 
  10. "RAF Lossiemouth crews in temporary move back to Fife". 29 July 2020. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-53579711. Retrieved 29 October 2020. 
  11. "Milestone For Runway Works At RAF Lossiemouth As Aircraft Return". Royal Air Force. 12 October 2020. https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles/milestone-for-runway-works-at-raf-lossiemouth-as-aircraft-return/. Retrieved 29 October 2020. 
  12. Ellwood MP, Tobias (3 December 2018). "Leuchars Station – Question for Ministry of Defence (UIN 195118)" (in en). https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2018-11-23/195118. 
  13. "Royal Scots Dragoon Guards" (in en-GB). https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/royal-armoured-corps/royal-scots-dragoon-guards/. 
  14. 14.0 14.1 "Units at Leuchars". https://www.leucharsopenday.co.uk/units-at-leuchars. 
  15. "Leuchars Station - HL4058". Hansard. 13 December 2016. http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Lords/2016-12-13/HL4058/. Retrieved 22 December 2016. 
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 16.6 Peebles, Cheryl. "Redevelopment plans at Leuchars revealed by MOD" (in en-GB). https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/fife/1254865/redevelopment-plans-at-leuchars-revealed-by-mod/. 
  17. "Army Reserve units in Scotland - British Army". https://apply.army.mod.uk/what-we-offer/reserve-soldier/army-reserve-units/scottish-units. 
  18. "71 Engineer Regiment". http://www.army.mod.uk/royalengineers/units/28726.aspx. 
  19. "Army battalion to leave Leuchars base" (in en-US). Evening Telegraph. 22 December 2016. https://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/fp/army-battalion-leave-leuchars-base/. 
  20. "2 Close Support Battalion". http://www.army.mod.uk/reme/41430.aspx. 
  21. 21.0 21.1 [0=AZV3dxJB1aulmNiY8KDnlro5Wc3h9-kShGYjpojrpnYlM8twjSLIhXusDAEhHRhQ_GpWfXI4i2o21MZ3xgdX5sLoga1bm9SZmeDOHVXx1tucT3ndoalsDjtcJFEArne-N8lZtRMX7__ofzBlTzONkdyZOY76dPhBIwGY4Ly3wx4zYA&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R "We are at Waterloo Lines in Leuchars, Fife, watching the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards receive their new Standard from Her Majesty The Queen."]. 5 July 2018. https://www.facebook.com/scotscav/posts/799679973564751?__cft__[0]=AZV3dxJB1aulmNiY8KDnlro5Wc3h9-kShGYjpojrpnYlM8twjSLIhXusDAEhHRhQ_GpWfXI4i2o21MZ3xgdX5sLoga1bm9SZmeDOHVXx1tucT3ndoalsDjtcJFEArne-N8lZtRMX7__ofzBlTzONkdyZOY76dPhBIwGY4Ly3wx4zYA&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R. 
  22. [0=AZXpi8zlQaZbMJtdvm-pVGNmMAWkw7mbbDX-Z9jUacVSOtNJ7OX5caBdbe_zfVBLxFTvY8abih7a0gwWkLqYbiuoLRGfbRS82ClkNo0aul6ygGP8PyYspcODY47yw_3rGOErmDJ9paNYrFCPqaPA93iK&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R "The wait is over! The first elements of SCOTS DG Battlegroup have left Waterloo Lines for Kirkcudbright."]. 3 June 2016. https://www.facebook.com/scotscav/posts/471013773098041?__cft__[0]=AZXpi8zlQaZbMJtdvm-pVGNmMAWkw7mbbDX-Z9jUacVSOtNJ7OX5caBdbe_zfVBLxFTvY8abih7a0gwWkLqYbiuoLRGfbRS82ClkNo0aul6ygGP8PyYspcODY47yw_3rGOErmDJ9paNYrFCPqaPA93iK&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R. 
  23. "The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards". http://www.army.mod.uk/armoured/regiments/26871.aspx. 
  24. at 8:24pm, 5th July 2018. "Queen Presents New Standard To Royal Scots Dragoon Guards" (in en). https://www.forces.net/news/queen-presents-new-standard-royal-scots-dragoon-guards. 
  25. at 7:52pm, Ashleigh Cowie 19th May 2017. "Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Compete To Be Top Of Their Regiment" (in en). https://www.forces.net/news/royal-scots-dragoon-guards-compete-be-top-their-regiment. 
  26. at 7:31pm, Ashleigh Cowie 5th June 2017. "Leuchars Station Opens Its Doors To The Community" (in en). https://www.forces.net/news/leuchars-station-opens-its-doors-community. 
  27. 27.0 27.1 "Royal Scots Dragoon Guards" (in en-GB). https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/royal-armoured-corps/royal-scots-dragoon-guards/. 
  28. "51st Infantry Brigade and HQ Scotland" (in en-GB). https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/formations-divisions-brigades/1st-united-kingdom-division/51st-infantry-brigade-and-headquarters-scotland/. 
  29. at 10:56am, Ali Gibson 29th March 2016. "A Royal Day To Remember For Dragoons" (in en). https://www.forces.net/services/army/royal-day-remember-dragoons. 
  30. "Plans for major refurbishment at Leuchars Station" (in en). https://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/people/plans-major-refurbishment-leuchars-station-2540147. 
  31. 31.0 31.1 "Royal Air Force" (in en-gb). https://www.raf.mod.uk/. 
  32. Alexander, Michael (29 October 2020). "‘Appetite’ to increase use of Leuchars airfield – but no permanent return of RAF jets, confirms Ministry of Defence". https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/fife/1685236/appetite-to-increase-use-of-leuchars-airfield-but-no-permanent-return-of-raf-jets-confirms-ministry-of-defence/. Retrieved 29 October 2020. 

External links[]

All or a portion of this article consists of text from Wikipedia, and is therefore Creative Commons Licensed under GFDL.
The original article can be found at Leuchars Station and the edit history here.