British Army Reorganisation

[AROUETLJ]

Just watched Geoff Hoon's parliament speech. They'll never admit it, but they're moving closer to the French Army model.

[Gringo]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4098917.stm

Battalions go in troops shake-up

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40633000/jpg/_40633465_hoon_bw_afp203.jpg
The Black Watch is to become part of a 'super-regiment'

Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon has outlined details of wide-ranging structural changes to the British Army.

He told the Commons reductions in heavy armour, heavy artillery and the infantry will be accompanied by an increase in specialists.

The number of infantry battalions will fall from 40 to 36, including a new "super-regiment" for Scotland, which will include the Black Watch.

Critics say the changes could leave the Army overstretched.


Britain's senior Army officer, General Sir Mike Jackson, said earlier that the Army would now be in the "right shape for the future".

Mr Hoon's statement comes after Army chiefs met last Monday to discuss the restructure.

Changes

The following changes were among those announced by the defence secretary:

-The Royal Scots and the King's Own Scottish Borderers will merge, and with the four other battalions, including the Black Watch, will form the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

-The 19th Mechanised Brigade, based in Catterick, will start conversion to a light brigade in January.

-The 4th Armoured Brigade based in Germany will be converted to a Mechanised Brigade in 2006.

-The King's Own Royal Border Regiment, the King's Regiment and the Queen's Lancashire Regiment will merge to form two new battalions within the new King's Lancashire and Border Regiment.

-One battalion will also be taken from the Prince of Wales's Divison in the south of England.

Sir Mike Jackson, the Army's Chief of General Staff, was among those responsible for overseeing the restructuring.

"It has been hard work, but I believe the results are going to be well worth it," he said.

Sir Mike told BBC Radio 4's Today programme changes were needed to make the Army more efficient and had previously been considered in the 1960s and early 1990s.

He said "the time is right" for the restructuring and added: "We will do everything we can to guard heritage, history and traditions, but we need to get the structure right for the next generation."

The Black Watch regiment has merged with other to form a so-called "super regiment" in Scotland.

However, existing regiments will be able to retain their names and symbols after amalgamation.

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Scottish veterans have been campaigning against the changes

The military has said the reorganisation will place a greater emphasis on medium and light forces, making troops more flexible and rapidly deployable.

Critics say the mergers will make it harder to recruit from the traditional bases that served the existing structure.

General Sir Patrick Cordingley, commander of the 7th Armoured Brigade - known as the Desert Rats - during the 1991 Gulf War, said it was likely to be "an emotional day for the infantry".

Speaking on Today, he said the amalgamation of regiments could lead to the end of long-standing regimental traditions.

The final decision on the restructure was made by Mr Hoon and the prime minister after a recommendation by senior defence figures.

[AROUETLJ]

What baffles me if that the Army wants a new "tri-service ranger regiment to support special forces", so they will have to use an existing parachute battalion (1 Para) as the core of this new unit, when there are still two Territorial SAS regiments. How on earth can you have part-time special forces?

[cbreedon]

Just watched Geoff Hoon's parliament speech. They'll never admit it, but they're moving closer to the French Army model.

What is the French model?