Force Troops Command

Summary

Force Troops Command was a combat support and combat service support command of the British Army. Its headquarters was at Upavon, Wiltshire. It was formed in 2013 as a re-designation of the previous Headquarters Theatre Troops. Force Troops Command was renamed as 6th (United Kingdom) Division in August 2019.

Force Troops Command
Active1 April 2014 – 1 August 2019
Branch British Army
RoleCombat Service Support
Size8 brigades and 1 group
Part ofField Army
Garrison/HQTrenchard Lines, Upavon
Commanders
Current
commander
Major General James Bowder[1]

History edit

Previously, General Officer Commanding, Theatre Troops was a senior British Army officer responsible for the provision of Combat Support and Combat Service Support operations worldwide in support of the UK's Defence Strategy.[2] On formation in 2003 it included 1st Artillery Brigade; 7th Air Defence Brigade; Commander Royal Engineers (CRE) HQ RE Theatre Troops with 12th and 29th Engineer Brigades; 1st, 2nd, and 11th Signal Brigades; and two logistic brigades 102 Logistic Brigade in Germany and 101 Logistic Brigade in the United Kingdom which contained logistic units to support the two deployable divisions (1st Armoured Division in Germany and 3rd Mechanised Division in the United Kingdom). 104th Logistic Support Brigade with the specialist units needed to deploy a force overseas such as pioneers, movements and port units[3] was also part of Theatre Troops. The final two components were 2 Medical Brigade and Commander, Equipment Support.[4]

Theatre Troops became Force Troops Command under Army 2020 in 2013[5] and reached Full Operating Capability (FOC) on 1 April 2014. 101 or 102 Logistic Brigades subsequently left Force Troops Command.[6]

The Joint Ground-Based Air Defence Command, which was jointly controlled by RAF Air Command, was replaced by 7 Air Defence Group on 1 April 2019.[7]

Force Troops Command was renamed as 6th (United Kingdom) Division on 1 August 2019, with sub-units consisting of 1st Signal Brigade, 11th Signal Brigade, 1st Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade, 77th Brigade and the Specialised Infantry Group.[8] It will sit alongside restructured 1st UK Division and 3rd UK Division.[9][10]

Structure edit

Formation edit

Largest edit

Force Troops Command comprised nine ‘functional’ brigades. The various units included: The Intelligence and Surveillance Brigade which provided integrated intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, drawing specifically on lessons from Afghanistan. 1st Artillery Brigade delivered both close support artillery and precision fires, as well as leading Air-Land Integration. 8 Engineer Brigade commanded the close support engineer units, as well as Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Search, Force Support and Infrastructure Groups. The 77th Brigade was involved in conflict prevention and stabilisation through the projection of soft power.[89]

 
Structure of the Force Troops Command 2018 (click image to enlarge)

Commanders edit

Commanders have included:[90]
General Officer Commanding, Theatre Troops

General Officer Commanding, Force Troops Command

Footnotes edit

  1. ^ "No. 62720". The London Gazette. 23 July 2019. p. 13064.
  2. ^ "UK Government (Reference Data)". 4 February 2015. Archived from the original on 4 February 2015.
  3. ^ "104 Logistic Support Brigade". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  4. ^ Lt Col Richard Quinlan, R Signals, HQ Theatre Troops, in News From Formations, The Wire, April 2003, p.127
  5. ^ Tanner, James (2014). The British Army since 2000. Osprey Publishing. p. 15. ISBN 978-1782005933.
  6. ^ Force Troops Command
  7. ^ "Force Troops Command Handbook". British Army. p. 7. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  8. ^ "Army sixth division focuses on cyber, electronic warfare, intelligence, information operations". The Cyber Security Source. Twickenham. 31 July 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  9. ^ Burgess, Sally (1 August 2019). "British Army to train cyber spies to combat hackers and digital propaganda". Sky News. London. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  10. ^ Nicholls, Dominic (1 August 2019). "British Army to engage in social media warfare as new cyber division unveiled". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  11. ^ "HQ TH TPS Organisation". 11 June 2007. Archived from the original on 11 June 2007. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  12. ^ a b Tanner, pp. 36, 91.
  13. ^ "Organisation". 13 March 2008. Archived from the original on 13 March 2008. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  14. ^ "Int Corps - 3 (V) MI Bn". 3 January 2006. Archived from the original on 3 January 2006. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
  15. ^ "1 Signal Brigade - British Army Website". 22 September 2010. Archived from the original on 22 September 2010. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  16. ^ a b "1 Signal Brigade - Headquarters". 27 December 2007. Archived from the original on 27 December 2007. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  17. ^ "1 Signal Brigade - Units". 27 December 2007. Archived from the original on 27 December 2007. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  18. ^ "Organisation". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 8 January 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  19. ^ "1 (Royal Buckinghamshire Yeomanry) Signal Squadron (Special Communications)". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 8 January 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  20. ^ "2nd (City of Dundee) Signal Squadron (Volunteers)". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 8 January 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  21. ^ "10 Signal Regiment - Regimental Headquarters". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 9 January 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  22. ^ "History | 31st (City of London) Signal Regiment (Volunteers)". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 9 January 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  23. ^ "RHQ and Headquarters Squadron of 32 (Scottish) Signal Regiment". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 9 January 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  24. ^ "Squadrons". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 9 January 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  25. ^ "Contact Details". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 9 January 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  26. ^ "38th Signal Regiment (Volunteers)". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 8 January 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  27. ^ "39th (Skinners) Signal Regiment". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 8 January 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  28. ^ "40 Signal Regiment - History". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 9 January 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  29. ^ "Who Are 71st (Yeomanry) Signal Regiment". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 9 January 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  30. ^ "Central Volunteer Headquarters Royal Signals". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 8 January 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  31. ^ "11 Signal Brigade - British Army Website". 23 September 2010. Archived from the original on 23 September 2010. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  32. ^ The British Army, land-mediacomms-webcontent@land mod uk (30 April 2009). "The British Army - 2 Signal Regiment". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 30 April 2009. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  33. ^ "Location". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 8 January 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  34. ^ "30th Signal Regiment". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 8 January 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  35. ^ "Royal Signals Units in the United Kingdom". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 8 January 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  36. ^ "55 (Merseyside) HQ Signal Squadron". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 8 January 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  37. ^ "Squadron Locations". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 9 January 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  38. ^ "35 Signal Regiment - How to find us". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 9 January 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  39. ^ Tanner, pp. 47–52.
  40. ^ Staff Officer's Handbook 1999, Serial 68.
  41. ^ "British Army units from 1945 on - 5th Regiment RA". british-army-units1945on.co.uk. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  42. ^ "British Army units from 1945 on - 32nd Regiment RA". british-army-units1945on.co.uk. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  43. ^ "39th Regiment Royal Artillery". 3 December 2001. Archived from the original on 3 December 2001. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  44. ^ The British Army, land-mediacomms-webcontent@land mod uk (30 April 2009). "The British Army - 101 Regt RA(V)". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 30 April 2009. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  45. ^ a b Mackinlay, p. 106.
  46. ^ "British Army units from 1945 on - 16th Regiment RA". british-army-units1945on.co.uk. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  47. ^ "HQ 8 Engr Bde CIS Tp". Twitter. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  48. ^ a b c d e f "Army, Question for Ministry of Defence — current Order of Battle by manpower and basing locations for the corps". United Kingdom Parliament — Written questions, answers, and statements. 22 November 2018. Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  49. ^ a b c d e "Written Question for the Ministry of Defence regarding Army basing and personnel". Parliamentary Replies. 22 November 2018. Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  50. ^ cgsmediacomma-amc-dig-shared@mod.uk, The British Army. "The British Army - 20 Works Group RE (Air Support)". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
  51. ^ "Royal Engineers Work Groups location 2018". army.mod.uk. British Army. 1 January 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  52. ^ "Information regarding locations of Army Reserve units" (PDF). What do they know?. 6 July 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  53. ^ Watson & Rinaldi, pp. 335–338. (RE Order of Battle Army 2020)
  54. ^ "British Army units from 1945 on - 25 Regiment - 2 Div Regt". british-army-units1945on.co.uk. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  55. ^ "British Army units from 1945 on - 39 Regiment". british-army-units1945on.co.uk. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  56. ^ "Corps of Royal Engineers". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  57. ^ Army Secretariat, FOI(A) Request in relation to current British Army Garrisons/Installations with Garrison Sergeant Major s (20 March 2018). assets.publishging.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
  58. ^ "Written evidence - Ministry of Defence". data.parliament.uk. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  59. ^ "Royal Engineers - 170 (Infra Sp) Engr Gp (TA)". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 8 January 2008. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  60. ^ Garrison, Aldershot (Winter 2020). "The Garrison: Aldershot Garrison, Home of the British Army, Issue #7: Winter 2020". Aldershot Garrison. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  61. ^ Hannah Gurney (2 December 2014). "101 Logistic Brigade Trebles in Size". Forces Network. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  62. ^ "British Army units from 1945 on - 260 to 262 Squadrons". british-army-units1945on.co.uk. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  63. ^ Watson & Rinaldi, p. 120.
  64. ^ a b "British Army units from 1945 on - Regiments 1 to 10". british-army-units1945on.co.uk. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  65. ^ "British Army units from 1945 on - Regiments 11 to 20". british-army-units1945on.co.uk. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  66. ^ The British Army, land-mediacomms-webcontent@land mod uk (9 December 2009). "The British Army - 51 (Scottish) Brigade Territorial (Volunteer) Units". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 9 December 2009. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  67. ^ "British Army units from 1945 on - Major Units". british-army-units1945on.co.uk. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  68. ^ "British Army units from 1945 on - Major Units". british-army-units1945on.co.uk. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  69. ^ "Military Working Dogs Unit". Rydon. Archived from the original on 15 May 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  70. ^ "British Army units from 1945 on - 260 to 262 Squadrons". british-army-units1945on.co.uk. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  71. ^ a b c "British Army units from 1945 on - Regiments 1 to 10". british-army-units1945on.co.uk. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  72. ^ "Brigade Units". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 8 January 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  73. ^ The British Army, land-mediacomms-webcontent@land mod uk (9 December 2009). "The British Army - 254 Medical Regiment (Volunteers)". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 9 December 2009. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  74. ^ "British Army units from 1945 on - Major Units". british-army-units1945on.co.uk. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  75. ^ a b c d "British Army units from 1945 on - Regiments 11 to 20". british-army-units1945on.co.uk. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  76. ^ "88 Postal and Courier Regiment - British Army Website". 14 June 2013. Archived from the original on 14 June 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  77. ^ "88th Postal and Courier Regiment, RLC (V) [UK]". 10 October 2007. Archived from the original on 10 October 2007. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  78. ^ a b "British Army units from 1945 on - Major Units". british-army-units1945on.co.uk. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  79. ^ "202 Field Hospital". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 8 January 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  80. ^ "HQ Squadron 203 (Welsh) Field Hospital (Volunteers)". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 8 January 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  81. ^ "204 (North Irish) Field Hospital". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 8 January 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  82. ^ "205 Field Hospital". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 7 January 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  83. ^ "207 Field Hospital - Contact Us". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 8 January 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  84. ^ "208 Field Hospital". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 8 January 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  85. ^ "212 Field Hospital". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 7 January 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  86. ^ "243 Field Hospital". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 8 January 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  87. ^ "256 Field Hospital". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 7 January 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  88. ^ "CVHQ - Home". webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 8 January 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  89. ^ Major-General Tim Radford, 'Troops at the ready,' The British Army 2014, p.118-119
  90. ^ Army Commands Archived July 5, 2015, at the Wayback Machine

References edit

  • Heyman, Charles (2011). The British Army: A Pocket Guide for 2012–2013. Barnsley, South Yorkshire, United Kingdom: Pen & Sword Books. ISBN 978-1783032808. OCLC 854974646.
  • Tanner, Jim (2014). The British Army since 2000. Oxford, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1782005933. OCLC 944154544.

External links edit

  • 6th (United Kingdom) Division