British 7th Armoured Brigade
Encyclopedia
The 7th Armoured Brigade is a formation of the British Army
. The brigade
is also known as the 'Desert Rats', a nickname formerly held by the 7th Armoured Division.
.
When the Mobile Division became 7th Armoured Division, the Light Armoured Brigade became the 7th Armoured Brigade in February 1940. The 7th Armoured Division had a red jerboa
(a nocturnal rodent indigenous to North Africa
) as its emblem and became known as 'The Desert Rats'. The 7th Brigade, meanwhile, had a green jerboa as its emblem. The 7th Brigade became known as the 'Green Rats' or the 'Jungle Rats' after it moved to Burma in 1942.
. Italy launched an invasion of British-controlled Egypt
shortly after entering the war on Germany's side in June 1940.
The brigade fought in many of the major battles in North Africa, including Operation Crusader
in November, fighting at Sidi Rezegh to try to relieve the Commonwealth
forces in the port of Tobruk
, besieged by Axis forces
. The operation was the third attempt by the Allies to break the siege and was successful.
It moved to Burma in early 1942 just as the Japanese were pushing the Allies back. The brigade took part in the fighting retreat to India, successfully completed in May just before the monsoons would have cut them off.
The 7th Armoured returned to the Middle East
in 1943, based in Iraq
and later Egypt. With Axis
forces defeated in North Africa, the brigade's time was a quiet one until it moved to Italy
in 1944 where it remained for the duration of the war; fighting as part of the I Canadian Corps.
was re-designated as the 7th Armoured Brigade, based in Germany as part of the British Army of the Rhine
(BAOR). The brigade has been stationed in Germany since then though BAOR was replaced by British Forces Germany
in 1994. The brigade is presently based in Bad Fallingbostel
, Lower Saxony
.
After the 7th Armoured Division was disbanded in 1958 the 7th Armoured Brigade adopted its insignia and nickname, perpetuating the history of the famed division. It formed part of 1st (UK) Armoured Division when this was formed in 1976. After being briefly converted to "Task Force Alpha" in the late 1970s, the brigade was reinstated in 1981, and has remained part of 1st Armoured Division since that date.
in October 1990 as part of Operation Granby
, intended to protect Saudi Arabia from invasion by Saddam Hussain's Iraq
. The brigade, commanded by Brigadier Patrick Cordingley
, later took part in the Coalition of the Gulf War
ground campaign to liberate Iraqi-occupied Kuwait
on 24 February 1991 that began after a sustained air campaign. The Desert Rats, along with the rest of 1st Armoured Division, carried out a left-hook manoeuvre that swung round the Iraqi Republican Guard
. The brigade advanced deep into Iraqi territory, encountering some armour of the Republican Guard. The ground campaign formally ended on 28 February with the liberation of Kuwait achieved.
in 1994 as part of the NATO IFOR
peacekeeping organisation there. The brigade returned for another tour-of-duty in 1997, joining IFOR's NATO replacement known as SFOR
. After the Kosovo War
in 1999, the 7th Armoured Brigade returned to the Balkans
for a tour-of-duty in Kosovo
in 2000, based in the capital Pristina
. The brigade returned to Kosovo the following year.
began (Britain's contribution to the 2003 invasion of Iraq
), the brigade, commanded by Brigadier Graham Binns
, moved to Kuwait where it undertook extensive training and was 'desertised' for service in the Middle East. The brigade, consisting of 112 Challenger 2 tank
s, 140 Warriors
and 32 AS-90
155 mm self-propelled howitzers, entered Iraq on 21 March. The main objective of the Desert Rats was to advance towards Iraq's second largest city, Basra
, and help encircle and isolate it. The brigade, led by the 1st Fusiliers Battlegroup, made a rapid advance towards the city and soon reached its outskirts, securing Basra Airport and the critical bridges across the Shatt al-Arab. The advance by the brigade met sporadic though fierce resistance, including an engagement between 14 Challenger 2s of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
and 14 Iraqi tanks, all of the Iraqi tanks being destroyed; it was the largest tank engagement by the British Army since WWII. Initially the Brigade was faced by very spirited but un-coordinated attacks from Basra and in the town of Az Zubayr. These attacks were initially orchestrated by members of the Iraqi secret police, who used violence and threats against family members to coerce men to attack the Desert Rats and other elements of 1st Armoured Division. As their influence waned, so did the frequency and ferocity of the Iraqi attacks.
The 1st Armoured Division, including 7th Brigade, then undertook a number of raids into the city against specific targets, but in a plan that was very patient bided their time on the outskirts of Basra. On 6 April the Desert Rats, led by Challenger 2s of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
, Queen's Royal Lancers and 2nd Royal Tank Regiment
with Warriors of the 1st Fusiliers, Irish Guards
and Black Watch
pushed into the city on 6 April and stayed. They met sporadic resistance from Iraqi soldiers and irregulars known as Fedayeen
. Basra was, for the most part, now controlled by 1st Division though further engagements did take place. The war was officially declared over on 1 May. The Desert Rats remained in Iraq after the war, acting as peacekeepers and helping to rebuild the country while based in the British sector in the south of Iraq. The brigade began to leave in late June, being replaced by 19th Mechanised Brigade.
Since 2003 7 Armoured Brigade has returned twice to Iraq, in 2005 and 2008.
.
Attached units:
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
. The brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
is also known as the 'Desert Rats', a nickname formerly held by the 7th Armoured Division.
History
The brigade was raised from garrison troops stationed in North Africa in 1938. It was initially known as the Light Armoured Brigade which was part of the Mobile Division in EgyptEgypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
.
When the Mobile Division became 7th Armoured Division, the Light Armoured Brigade became the 7th Armoured Brigade in February 1940. The 7th Armoured Division had a red jerboa
Jerboa
The jerboa form the bulk of the membership of the family Dipodidae. Jerboas are hopping desert rodents found throughout Asia and Northern Africa. They tend to be found in hot deserts....
(a nocturnal rodent indigenous to North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
) as its emblem and became known as 'The Desert Rats'. The 7th Brigade, meanwhile, had a green jerboa as its emblem. The 7th Brigade became known as the 'Green Rats' or the 'Jungle Rats' after it moved to Burma in 1942.
Second World War
The Second World War broke out in September 1939, Britain and France declaring war on Germany after its invasion of PolandInvasion of Poland (1939)
The Invasion of Poland, also known as the September Campaign or 1939 Defensive War in Poland and the Poland Campaign in Germany, was an invasion of Poland by Germany, the Soviet Union, and a small Slovak contingent that marked the start of World War II in Europe...
. Italy launched an invasion of British-controlled Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
shortly after entering the war on Germany's side in June 1940.
The brigade fought in many of the major battles in North Africa, including Operation Crusader
Operation Crusader
Operation Crusader was a military operation by the British Eighth Army between 18 November–30 December 1941. The operation successfully relieved the 1941 Siege of Tobruk....
in November, fighting at Sidi Rezegh to try to relieve the Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
forces in the port of Tobruk
Tobruk
Tobruk or Tubruq is a city, seaport, and peninsula on Libya's eastern Mediterranean coast, near the border with Egypt. It is the capital of the Butnan District and has a population of 120,000 ....
, besieged by Axis forces
Siege of Tobruk
The siege of Tobruk was a confrontation that lasted 240 days between Axis and Allied forces in North Africa during the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War...
. The operation was the third attempt by the Allies to break the siege and was successful.
It moved to Burma in early 1942 just as the Japanese were pushing the Allies back. The brigade took part in the fighting retreat to India, successfully completed in May just before the monsoons would have cut them off.
The 7th Armoured returned to the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
in 1943, based in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
and later Egypt. With Axis
Axis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
forces defeated in North Africa, the brigade's time was a quiet one until it moved to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
in 1944 where it remained for the duration of the war; fighting as part of the I Canadian Corps.
Reformation
Shortly after the end of the Second World War, the 7th Armoured Brigade was disbanded and the 22nd Armoured BrigadeBritish 22nd Armoured Brigade
The 22nd Armoured Brigade, a British Army brigade, was formed as the 22nd Heavy Armoured Brigade on 3 September 1939 with three Yeomanry mechanised cavalry regiments The 22nd Armoured Brigade, a British Army brigade, was formed as the 22nd Heavy Armoured Brigade on 3 September 1939 with three...
was re-designated as the 7th Armoured Brigade, based in Germany as part of the British Army of the Rhine
British Army of the Rhine
There have been two formations named British Army of the Rhine . Both were originally occupation forces in Germany, one after the First World War, and the other after the Second World War.-1919–1929:...
(BAOR). The brigade has been stationed in Germany since then though BAOR was replaced by British Forces Germany
British Forces Germany
British Forces Germany , is the name for British Armed Forces service personnel and civilians based in Germany. It was first established following the Second World War as the British Army of the Rhine ....
in 1994. The brigade is presently based in Bad Fallingbostel
Bad Fallingbostel
Bad Fallingbostel is the district town of the Heidekreis district in the German state of Lower Saxony. Since 1976 the town has had a state-recognised Kneipp spa and has held the title of Bad since 5 August 2002. It has close ties to Walsrode, a few miles to the west...
, Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony is a German state situated in north-western Germany and is second in area and fourth in population among the sixteen states of Germany...
.
After the 7th Armoured Division was disbanded in 1958 the 7th Armoured Brigade adopted its insignia and nickname, perpetuating the history of the famed division. It formed part of 1st (UK) Armoured Division when this was formed in 1976. After being briefly converted to "Task Force Alpha" in the late 1970s, the brigade was reinstated in 1981, and has remained part of 1st Armoured Division since that date.
Kuwait and Iraq
The 7th Armoured Brigade returned to the desert when it arrived in Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
in October 1990 as part of Operation Granby
Operation Granby
Operation Granby was the name given to the British military operations during the Gulf War. 53,462 troops were deployed during the conflict. The total cost of operations was £2.434 billion of which at least £2.049 billion was paid for by other nations such as Kuwait and Saudi Arabia; £200...
, intended to protect Saudi Arabia from invasion by Saddam Hussain's Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. The brigade, commanded by Brigadier Patrick Cordingley
Patrick Cordingley
Major General Patrick Anthony John Cordingley DSO DSc FRGS is a retired British Army officer who commanded 2nd Division.-Military career:...
, later took part in the Coalition of the Gulf War
Coalition of the Gulf War
The Coalition of the Gulf War were the countries officially opposed to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait during the 1990 / 1991 Persian Gulf War.-Coalition by number of military personnel:-United States:*Norman Schwarzkopf*Colin Powell*Calvin Waller...
ground campaign to liberate Iraqi-occupied Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
on 24 February 1991 that began after a sustained air campaign. The Desert Rats, along with the rest of 1st Armoured Division, carried out a left-hook manoeuvre that swung round the Iraqi Republican Guard
Iraqi Republican Guard
The Iraqi Republican Guard was a branch of the Iraqi military during the presidency of Saddam Hussein. It later became the Republican Guard Corps, and then the Republican Guard Forces Command with its expansion into two corps....
. The brigade advanced deep into Iraqi territory, encountering some armour of the Republican Guard. The ground campaign formally ended on 28 February with the liberation of Kuwait achieved.
Balkans
The brigade deployed to BosniaBosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
in 1994 as part of the NATO IFOR
IFOR
The Implementation Force was a NATO-led multinational peacekeeping force in Bosnia and Herzegovina under a one-year mandate from 20 December 1995 to 20 December 1996 under the codename Operation Joint Endeavour. Its task was to implement the military Annexes of The General Framework Agreement for...
peacekeeping organisation there. The brigade returned for another tour-of-duty in 1997, joining IFOR's NATO replacement known as SFOR
SFOR
The Stabilisation Force was a NATO-led multinational peacekeeping force in Bosnia and Herzegovina which was tasked with upholding the Dayton Agreement. It replaced the previous force IFOR...
. After the Kosovo War
Kosovo War
The term Kosovo War or Kosovo conflict was two sequential, and at times parallel, armed conflicts in Kosovo province, then part of FR Yugoslav Republic of Serbia; from early 1998 to 1999, there was an armed conflict initiated by the ethnic Albanian "Kosovo Liberation Army" , who sought independence...
in 1999, the 7th Armoured Brigade returned to the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
for a tour-of-duty in Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
in 2000, based in the capital Pristina
Pristina
Pristina, also spelled Prishtina and Priština is the capital and largest city of Kosovo. It is the administrative centre of the homonymous municipality and district....
. The brigade returned to Kosovo the following year.
Iraq
Just before Operation TelicOperation Telic
Operation TELIC was the codename under which all British military operations in Iraq were conducted between the start of the Invasion of Iraq on 19 March 2003 and the withdrawal of the last remaining British forces on 22 May 2011...
began (Britain's contribution to the 2003 invasion of Iraq
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
), the brigade, commanded by Brigadier Graham Binns
Graham Binns
Major General Graham John Binns CBE DSO MC is a retired British Army officer. Binns served as General Officer Commanding 1st Armoured Division and then Commandant Joint Services Command and Staff College. He had previously commanded the 7th Armoured Brigade during Operation Telic 1 when they took...
, moved to Kuwait where it undertook extensive training and was 'desertised' for service in the Middle East. The brigade, consisting of 112 Challenger 2 tank
Challenger 2 tank
FV4034 Challenger 2 is a British main battle tank currently in service with the armies of the United Kingdom and Oman. It was designed and built by the British company Vickers Defence Systems . The manufacturer advertises it as the world's most reliable main battle tank...
s, 140 Warriors
Warrior Tracked Armoured Vehicle
The Warrior tracked vehicle family is a series of British armoured vehicles, originally developed to replace the older FV430 series of armoured vehicles. The Warrior started life as the MCV-80 project that was first broached in the 1970s, GKN Sankey/Defence winning the production contract in 1980....
and 32 AS-90
AS-90
The AS-90 is a lightly armoured self-propelled artillery piece used by the British Army. It was first delivered in 1993...
155 mm self-propelled howitzers, entered Iraq on 21 March. The main objective of the Desert Rats was to advance towards Iraq's second largest city, Basra
Basra
Basra is the capital of Basra Governorate, in southern Iraq near Kuwait and Iran. It had an estimated population of two million as of 2009...
, and help encircle and isolate it. The brigade, led by the 1st Fusiliers Battlegroup, made a rapid advance towards the city and soon reached its outskirts, securing Basra Airport and the critical bridges across the Shatt al-Arab. The advance by the brigade met sporadic though fierce resistance, including an engagement between 14 Challenger 2s of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards is a cavalry regiment of the British Army, and the senior Scottish regiment. It was formed on 2 July 1971 at Holyrood, Edinburgh, by the amalgamation of the 3rd Carabiniers The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers and Greys) (SCOTS DG) is a cavalry regiment of...
and 14 Iraqi tanks, all of the Iraqi tanks being destroyed; it was the largest tank engagement by the British Army since WWII. Initially the Brigade was faced by very spirited but un-coordinated attacks from Basra and in the town of Az Zubayr. These attacks were initially orchestrated by members of the Iraqi secret police, who used violence and threats against family members to coerce men to attack the Desert Rats and other elements of 1st Armoured Division. As their influence waned, so did the frequency and ferocity of the Iraqi attacks.
The 1st Armoured Division, including 7th Brigade, then undertook a number of raids into the city against specific targets, but in a plan that was very patient bided their time on the outskirts of Basra. On 6 April the Desert Rats, led by Challenger 2s of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards is a cavalry regiment of the British Army, and the senior Scottish regiment. It was formed on 2 July 1971 at Holyrood, Edinburgh, by the amalgamation of the 3rd Carabiniers The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers and Greys) (SCOTS DG) is a cavalry regiment of...
, Queen's Royal Lancers and 2nd Royal Tank Regiment
2nd Royal Tank Regiment
The 2nd Royal Tank Regiment is an armoured regiment of the British Army. It is part of the Royal Tank Regiment, itself part of the Royal Armoured Corps...
with Warriors of the 1st Fusiliers, Irish Guards
Irish Guards
The Irish Guards , part of the Guards Division, is a Foot Guards regiment of the British Army.Along with the Royal Irish Regiment, it is one of the two Irish regiments remaining in the British Army. The Irish Guards recruit in Northern Ireland and the Irish neighbourhoods of major British cities...
and Black Watch
Black Watch
The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The unit's traditional colours were retired in 2011 in a ceremony led by Queen Elizabeth II....
pushed into the city on 6 April and stayed. They met sporadic resistance from Iraqi soldiers and irregulars known as Fedayeen
Fedayeen Saddam
Fedayeen Saddam was a paramilitary organization loyal to the former Ba'athist government of Saddam Hussein. The name was chosen to mean "Saddam's Men of Sacrifice". At its height, the group had 30,000-40,000 members.-Irregular forces:...
. Basra was, for the most part, now controlled by 1st Division though further engagements did take place. The war was officially declared over on 1 May. The Desert Rats remained in Iraq after the war, acting as peacekeepers and helping to rebuild the country while based in the British sector in the south of Iraq. The brigade began to leave in late June, being replaced by 19th Mechanised Brigade.
Since 2003 7 Armoured Brigade has returned twice to Iraq, in 2005 and 2008.
Afghanistan
In 2011, units of 7 Armoured Brigade deployed to Afghanistan under command of 3 Commando Brigade3 Commando Brigade
3 Commando Brigade is a commando formation of the British Armed Forces and the main manoeuvre formation of the Royal Marines. Its personnel are predominantly Royal Marines, supported by units of Royal Engineers, Royal Artillery, The Rifles, and the Fleet Air Arm, together with other Commando...
.
Iraq War, 2003
- 7th Armoured Brigade Headquarters and Signal Squadron (207)
- 32 (Armoured) Regiment Royal EngineersRoyal EngineersThe Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
- 3rd Regiment Royal Horse ArtilleryRoyal Horse ArtilleryThe regiments of the Royal Horse Artillery , dating from 1793, are part of the Royal Regiment of Artillery of the British Army...
- (AS-90AS-90The AS-90 is a lightly armoured self-propelled artillery piece used by the British Army. It was first delivered in 1993...
155 mm howitzers) - Royal Scots Dragoon Guards BattlegroupBattlegroup (army)A battlegroup , or task force in modern military theory, is the basic building block of an army's fighting force. A battlegroup is formed around an infantry battalion or armoured regiment, which is usually commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel...
, including elements of 1st Battalion Irish GuardsIrish GuardsThe Irish Guards , part of the Guards Division, is a Foot Guards regiment of the British Army.Along with the Royal Irish Regiment, it is one of the two Irish regiments remaining in the British Army. The Irish Guards recruit in Northern Ireland and the Irish neighbourhoods of major British cities...
(Challenger 2 and Warrior) - 2nd Royal Tank Regiment Battlegroup, including elements of 1st Battalion The Light InfantryThe Light InfantryThe Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Light Division. It was formed on 10 July 1968 as a "large regiment" by the amalgamation of the four remaining light infantry regiments of the Light Infantry Brigade:...
- (Challenger 2's and Warriors) - The Black WatchBlack WatchThe Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The unit's traditional colours were retired in 2011 in a ceremony led by Queen Elizabeth II....
Battlegroup, including elements of Queen's Royal Lancers (Challenger 2's and Warriors) - 1st Battalion, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Battlegroup, including elements of Queen's Royal Lancers (Challenger 2 and Warriors)
- 7 Close Support Regiment - (2BN Royal Electrical and Mechanical EngineersRoyal Electrical and Mechanical EngineersThe Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers is a corps of the British Army that has responsibility for the maintenance, servicing and inspection of almost every electrical and mechanical piece of equipment within the British Army from Challenger II main battle tanks and WAH64 Apache...
) - A(29) Medical Squadron, from 1 Close Support Medical Regiment of the Royal Army Medical CorpsRoyal Army Medical CorpsThe Royal Army Medical Corps is a specialist corps in the British Army which provides medical services to all British Army personnel and their families in war and in peace...
- 1st Regiment Royal Military Police
Brigade units
- 7th Armoured Brigade units in 2011
- 207 Signal Squadron (the brigade headquarters and signal squadron), based at HohneHohneHohne is a municipality in the state of Lower Saxony in Germany, east of the county town of Celle. It includes the three former parishes of Hohne, Helmerkamp and Spechtshorn...
- 9th/12th Royal Lancers9th/12th Royal LancersThe 9th/12th Royal Lancers is a cavalry regiment of the British Army, formed in 1960 by the amalgamation of the 9th Queen's Royal Lancers and the 12th Royal Lancers. It is currently a formation reconnaissance regiment, equipped with the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance family of vehicles and...
(Formation ReconnaissanceFormation reconnaissance regimentThe Formation Reconnaissance Regiment is one of two organisations currently provided by cavalry regiments of the British Army. Until recently, it was known as the Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment....
), based at Hohne - The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers and Greys)Royal Scots Dragoon GuardsThe Royal Scots Dragoon Guards is a cavalry regiment of the British Army, and the senior Scottish regiment. It was formed on 2 July 1971 at Holyrood, Edinburgh, by the amalgamation of the 3rd Carabiniers The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers and Greys) (SCOTS DG) is a cavalry regiment of...
(Armoured), based at Bad FallingbostelBad FallingbostelBad Fallingbostel is the district town of the Heidekreis district in the German state of Lower Saxony. Since 1976 the town has had a state-recognised Kneipp spa and has held the title of Bad since 5 August 2002. It has close ties to Walsrode, a few miles to the west... - The HighlandersThe Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons)The Highlanders, 4th Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.Prior to 28 March 2006, the Highlanders was an infantry regiment in its own right; The Highlanders , part of the Scottish Division...
, 4th Battalion The Royal Regiment of ScotlandThe Royal Regiment of ScotlandThe Royal Regiment of Scotland is the senior and only Scottish line infantry regiment of the British Army Infantry. It consists of five regular and two territorial battalions, each formerly an individual regiment...
(armoured infantry), based at Bad Fallingbostel - 3rd Battalion, The Mercian Regiment (Staffords)Mercian RegimentThe Mercian Regiment is an infantry regiment of the British Army, formed by the amalgamation of three existing regiments on 1 September 2007.The regiment has three regular army battalion's and one Territorial Army or reserve battalion...
(armoured infantry), based at Bad Fallingbostel - 2nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of FusiliersThe Royal Regiment of FusiliersThe Royal Regiment of Fusiliers is an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Queen's Division.The regiment was formed on April 23, 1968, as part of the reforms of the army that saw the creation of the first 'large infantry regiments', by the amalgamation of the four English fusilier...
(light role infantry), based at CelleCelleCelle is a town and capital of the district of Celle, in Lower Saxony, Germany. The town is situated on the banks of the River Aller, a tributary of the Weser and has a population of about 71,000...
until summer 2012. - 2nd Medical Regiment2nd Medical Regiment2 Medical Regiment, is the task medical regiment of 7th Armoured Brigade, and officially formed on the 4th of July 2008, following the amalgamation of 29 Squadron and 28 Squadron of 1 Close Support Medical Regiment. The Regiment is based at the Bergen-Hohne garrison situated in north west Germany...
, based at Hohne
- 207 Signal Squadron (the brigade headquarters and signal squadron), based at Hohne
Attached units:
- 3 Regiment Royal Horse Artillery3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery is a regiment of the Royal Horse Artillery in the British Army. They are currently based in Caen Barracks, Hohne, Germany.-Current role:...
(self propelled artillery), based at Hohne - 32 Regiment, Royal EngineersRoyal EngineersThe Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
, based at Hohne - 2 Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical EngineersRoyal Electrical and Mechanical EngineersThe Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers is a corps of the British Army that has responsibility for the maintenance, servicing and inspection of almost every electrical and mechanical piece of equipment within the British Army from Challenger II main battle tanks and WAH64 Apache...
, based at Bad Fallingbostel
Commanding officers
- 1941-1942 Brigadier John AnsticeJohn Henry AnsticeBrigadier John Henry Anstice DSO & bar was an officer in the British Army during World War II.-Military career:John Anstice was commissioned into the Royal Armoured Corps on 7 April 1916 and from August that year he saw service in France and Belgium until the end of World War I. In October 1922,...
- 1943-1945 Brigadier Otho Prior-PalmerOtho Prior-PalmerBrigadier Sir Otho Leslie Prior-Palmer, DSO was an Anglo-Irish British Army officer and Conservative Party politician. He served for nearly twenty years as a Member of Parliament for Worthing...
- 1945-1946 Brigadier Kenneth CooperKenneth Cooper (British Army officer)Major-General Kenneth Christie Cooper CB DSO OBE was a British Army officer who commanded 7th Armoured Division.-Military career:...
- 1964-1965 Brigadier Ian Gill
- 1965-1967 Brigadier Richard WorsleyRichard WorsleyGeneral Sir Richard Edward Worsley GCB OBE is a British Army General who achieved high office in the 1980s.-Military career:Educated at Radley College, Worsley was commissioned into the Rifle Brigade in 1942....
- 1968-1970 Brigadier Robert FordRobert Ford (British Army officer)General Sir Robert Cyril Ford GCB CBE is a former Adjutant-General to the Forces.-Military career:Born in Devon to John and Gladys Ford, Robert Ford was educated at Musgrave's College and was later commissioned into the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards in 1943. He served in North West Europe during...
- 1972-1973 Brigadier Ian BakerIan Baker (British Army officer)Major-General Ian Helstrip Baker CBE was a British Army officer who became Assistant Chief of the General Staff.-Military career:...
- 1973-1975 Brigadier Martin FarndaleMartin FarndaleGeneral Sir Martin Baker Farndale KCB was a British Army General who reached high office in the 1980s.-Military career:...
- 1976-1977 Brigadier Norman ArthurNorman ArthurLieutenant General Sir John Norman Stewart Arthur KCB CVO was General Officer Commanding in Scotland.-Military career:Educated at Eton College and the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, Arthur was commissioned into the Royal Scots Greys in 1951...
- 1977-1980 Brigadier Patrick Palmer
- 1980-1982 Brigadier Anthony MullensAnthony MullensLieutenant General Sir Anthony Richard Guy Mullens KCB OBE was a British Army officer who commanded 1st Armoured Division.-Military career:...
- 1983-1985 Brigadier Richard SwinburnRichard SwinburnLieutenant General Sir Richard Hull Swinburn KCB was Commander of the UK Field Army.-Military career:Educated at Wellington College and the Royal Military College Sandhurst, Swinburn was commissioned into the 17th/21st Lancers in 1957....
- 1986-1988 Brigadier Christopher Wallace
- 1990-1991 Brigadier Patrick CordingleyPatrick CordingleyMajor General Patrick Anthony John Cordingley DSO DSc FRGS is a retired British Army officer who commanded 2nd Division.-Military career:...
- 1991-1993 Brigadier Timothy SulivanTimothy SulivanMajor-General Timothy John Sulivan CB CBE is a former British Army officer who commanded 4th Division.-Military career:Sulivan was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1966 and transferred into the Blues and Royals in 1980. He served as the only non-US member of General Norman Schwarzkopf's...
- 1993 Brigadier John KiszelyJohn KiszelyLieutenant General Sir John Panton Kiszely KCB, MC was Director of the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom. In December 2008 he was appointed as the National President of The Royal British Legion.-Military career:...
- 1993-1994 Brigadier Andrew RidgwayAndrew RidgwayLieutenant-General Sir Andrew Peter Ridgway KBE CB is a former Lieutenant Governor of Jersey. He was appointed to the role for a 5 year term on 14 June 2006 after a long military career.-Military career:...
- 1998-2000 Brigadier Richard ShirreffRichard ShirreffGeneral Sir Alexander Richard David Shirreff KCB CBE is the Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe.-Early and personal life:Educated at Oundle School and Exeter College, Oxford, Richard Shirreff was commissioned into the 14th/20th King's Hussars in 1976.He is married to Sarah-Jane and has two...
- 2001-2003 Brigadier Graham BinnsGraham BinnsMajor General Graham John Binns CBE DSO MC is a retired British Army officer. Binns served as General Officer Commanding 1st Armoured Division and then Commandant Joint Services Command and Staff College. He had previously commanded the 7th Armoured Brigade during Operation Telic 1 when they took...
- 2003-2005 Brigadier Adrian BradshawAdrian BradshawMajor General Adrian John Bradshaw CB OBE was, until April 2011, General Officer Commanding 1st Armoured Division.-Career:Educated at Bloxham School and Reading University, Adrian Bradshaw was commissioned into the 14th/20th King's Hussars in 1980...
- 2005-2007 Brigadier Patrick MarriottPatrick MarriottMajor-General Patrick Claude Marriott CBE is a British soldier and, since 2009, Commandant of the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst....
- 2007-2009 Brigadier Sandy Storrie
- 2009-2011 Brigadier Nick Welch
- 2011- Brigadier Paul Nanson
See also
- British Armoured formations of the Second World WarBritish Armoured formations of the Second World WarThe British Armoured formations of the Second World War refers to the Armoured Divisions and Independent Armoured and Tank Brigades deployed by the British Army during the Second World War. They had two types of armoured vehicle. The Infantry tank which was heavily armoured and slow, designed to...
- 1st Armoured Division
- 7th Armoured Division
- 4th Armoured BrigadeBritish 4th Armoured BrigadeThe 4th Mechanized Brigade is a British Army brigade.The 4th Armoured Brigade was formed during the Second World War, as an armoured brigade of the 7th Armoured Division....