The Army Special Operations Brigade, previously called the Specialised Infantry Group, is a formation of the British Army, initially created as a result of the Army 2020 Refine reorganisation, intended to train foreign forces.[2][3] 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".[4][5]
| Army Special Operations Brigade | |
|---|---|
 Brigade flash | |
| Active | 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 | Field Army Troops |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Brigadier Rob Hedderwick |
History
editSpecialised Infantry Group
editThe group was formed to work alongside partner forces,[3] a role which has similarities to that of the US Army Security Force Assistance Brigades.[6][7] Initially formed in October 2017 with the 4th Battalion, The Rifles (4 Rifles) and Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland (1 Scots).[8][9][10][2][3] in July 2018, the 2nd Battalion, Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment was added to the Group.[8][9][10][3] and in January 2019, a fourth battalion, the 2nd Battalion, Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, was added and this was followed by the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles in 2020.[9][11][10][12][3][13]
In February 2018, 4 Rifles deployed for the first time to Kuwait to work with the Kuwait Army and Kuwait National Guard.[14] R Company, It also trained the Afghan Army and forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.[15] In July 2018, C Company from the 2 PWRR was dispatched to Nigeria, where 1 Scots also trained the Nigerian Army for their fight against Boko Haram.[16]
Army Special Operations Brigade
editIn August 2021 the group was re-designated as the Army Special Operations Brigade,[17] with the four battalions of the newly created Ranger Regiment and two reinforcement companies of the Royal Gurkha Rifles along with 255 Signal Squadron under command,[18] and 1 Squadron Honourable Artillery Company attached to provide long-range surveillance patrols.[19][20]
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.[4][21][22]
The inaugural Brigade Commander was Brigadier Angus Fair DSO* OBE who formerly commanded the Specialised Infantry Group.[23][24][25]
By 2024, the brigade had been transferred from the disbanded 6 (UK) Division to Field Army Troops.[26]
Structure
editFormer Structure (2021)
editThe structure of the Specialised Infantry Group in March 2021 was as follows:
- Group Headquarters at Saint Omer Barracks, Aldershot Garrison[27]
- Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland (1 SCOTS), at Palace Barracks, Belfast[28]
- 2nd Battalion, Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (2 PWRR), at Keogh Barracks, Mytchett[29][30][31][32]
- 2nd Battalion, Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (2 LANCS), at Elizabeth Barracks, Pirbright Camp[33][30][31][34]
- 4th Battalion, The Rifles (4 RIFLES), at Normandy Barracks, Aldershot Garrison[30][35][36]
- 3rd Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles (3 RGR), at Aldershot Garrison[37]
Future Structure (2030)
edit
The future structure of the brigade (by 2030) will be:[38][5][39]
- Brigade Headquarters at Saint Omer Barracks, Aldershot Garrison[4][40][3]
- 255 Signal Squadron, Royal Corps of Signals, at Swinton Barracks, Perham Down (Aldershot from 2027)[18]
- 1st Battalion, Ranger Regiment (1 RANGER), at Palace Barracks, Belfast[41]
- 2nd Battalion, Ranger Regiment (2 RANGER), at Keogh Barracks, Mytchett[42][43][31][32]
- F (Falklands) Company, The Royal Gurkha Rifles[44]
- 3rd Battalion, Ranger Regiment (3 RANGER), at Elizabeth Barracks, Pirbright Camp[33][43][31][34]
- 4th Battalion, Ranger Regiment (4 RANGER), at Normandy Barracks, Aldershot Garrison[43][45][36]
- G (Coriano) Company, The Royal Gurkha Rifles[46]
- Joint Counter Terrorist Training and Advisory Team, at Risborough Barracks, Shorncliffe Army Camp[47]
- 1 Squadron, Honourable Artillery Company will provide Special Patrols to the Brigade.[48]
See also
edit- 11th Security Force Assistance Brigade – British Army formation taking on the role of the former Spec Inf Gp.
- Security Force Assistance Brigade – American equivalent to 11th Security Force Assistance Brigade and Special Operations Brigade.
References
edit- ^ Defence in a Competitive Age (PDF). Ministry of Defence. March 2021. pp. 46, 68. ISBN 9781528624626. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ^ a b "Defence review to see dozens of sites close". BBC News. 7 November 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f "Specialised Infantry Group". army.mod.uk. British Army. Archived from the original on 1 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ a b c "New British Army brigade: reshaping UK special operations for the better?". IISS. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
- ^ a b "Army Special Operations Brigade". Retrieved 8 September 2021.
- ^ Matisek, Jahara; Williamson, Joshua (June 2020). "Limited Wars in the Periphery: The Dilemma of American Military Assistance". Expeditions with MCU Press. doi:10.36304/ExpwMCUP.2020.03.
- ^ Matisek, Jahara; Reno, William (2019). "Getting American Security Force Assistance Right: Political Context Matters" (PDF). Joint Force Quarterly. 92 (1st quarter): 65–73.
- ^ a b "Leadership in The Specialised Infantry: An Interview with Brigadier James Roddis". thearmyleader.co.uk. The Army Leader. 8 December 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ a b c "Army 2020 Refine Structure" (PDF). britisharmedforcesreview. HM Armed Forces Review. 15 October 2019. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
- ^ a b c "Written Statement: Strategic Defence and Security Review – Army:Written statement – HCWS367". parliament.uk. Hansard. 15 December 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
Specialised Infantry Battalions
- ^ "New Gurkha battalion to be established as brigade grows". gov.uk. London. 11 March 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ "New 3rd Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles Will Begin Recruiting 2019". warfare.today. 12 March 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ Latter, Mick (3 February 2020). "The Third Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles reformation parade".
- ^ Grzeszczyk, Sian (21 February 2018). "EXCLUSIVE: Specialist British Soldiers' First Operational Deployment In Kuwait". Forces News. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ Wiltshire, Amy (2 May 2019). "Duchess Of Cornwall Presents 4 RIFLES With Medals". Forces News. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ Cotterill, Tom (23 July 2018). "Portsmouth soldiers teach Nigerian Army how to defeat brutal terror group Boko Haram". Portsmouth News. Portsmouth. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ "First glimpse of 'Future Soldier'". Soldier Magazine. 1 August 2021. p. 14.
- ^ a b "Unit Details". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
- ^ Gregory, Lieutenant General Sir Andrew (25 November 2021). "The Integrated Review". Ministry of Defence. p. 1. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
- ^ Gregory, Lieutenant General Sir Andrew (25 November 2021). "The Integrated Review". Ministry of Defence. p. 2. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
- ^ "New Army Ranger Regiment: What We Know So Far". Forces Network. 24 March 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
- ^ "New Army Ranger Regiment: What We Know So Far". Forces Network. 6 April 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
- ^ Nicholls, Dominic (25 November 2021). "'Emotional intelligence' key for Army's new Rangers units". The Telegraph. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
- ^ Luscombe, Stephen. "Light Dragoons". The British Empire. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
Angus George Costeker Fair
- ^ "Aldershot Soldiers Receive Operational Medals". British Army (Press release). 14 November 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
- ^ "Formations, Divisions & Brigades | The British Army". 10 November 2024.
- ^ "Specialised Infantry Group". army.mod.uk. British Army. Archived from the original on 1 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
- ^ Weir, Fiona (2 October 2014). "Warm Welcome for 1 SCOTS in Holywood". Forces Network. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
- ^ "Army 2020 Refine changes since 2017" (PDF). Dropbox. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
- ^ a b c Fallon, Michael (15 December 2016). "Strategic Defence and Security Review – Army: Written statement – HCWS367". Hansard. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
- ^ a b c d "Regiments to change bases, in major Army restructure". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
- ^ a b "Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
- ^ a b British Army Newsletter | Summer 2020 | Issue 5 | In Front.
- ^ a b "Duke of Lancaster's Regiment". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
- ^ Garrison, Aldershot (Winter 2020). "The Garrison: Aldershot Garrison, Home of the British Army, Issue #7: Winter 2020". Aldershot Garrison. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ a b "4 RIFLES". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
- ^ "New specialist Gurkha battalion established". Ministry of Defence. 14 March 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
- ^ "Unit Details". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
- ^ "New Army Ranger Regiment: What We Know So Far". Forces Network. 25 November 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- ^ "6th (United Kingdom) Division". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
- ^ Weir, Fiona (2 October 2014). "Warm Welcome for 1 SCOTS in Holywood". Forces Network. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
- ^ "Army 2020 Refine changes since 2017" (PDF). Dropbox. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
- ^ a b c Fallon, Michael (15 December 2016). "Strategic Defence and Security Review – Army: Written statement – HCWS367". Hansard. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
- ^ Latter, Mick (30 November 2021). "F (Falklands) Company, Formation Parade 18th November 2021". Welcome to the Gurkha Brigade Association. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
- ^ Garrison, Aldershot (Winter 2020). "The Garrison: Aldershot Garrison, Home of the British Army, Issue #7: Winter 2020". Aldershot Garrison. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ Rushworth, Will (9 February 2022). "4 RANGER'S GURKHAS DEPLOYED ACROSS AFRICA" (PDF). 4 RIFLES. Bugle. No. 19 Spring 2022. Kettering: Crest Publications. p. 30.
… G (Coriano) Coy, the newest addition to 4 RANGER, …
- ^ Peach, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart (2012). "Defence and Intelligence" (PDF). Geospatial World Forum. Joint Forces Command. p. 3. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
- ^ The Integrated Review, Lt Gen Andrew Gregory CBE, Master Gunner St James's Park, 25 November 2021