British Forces Germany
Encyclopedia
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
(BAOR).
Although much smaller than the BAOR, it is still the largest concentration of British armed forces permanently stationed outside the United Kingdom. With the end of the Cold War
and the Options for Change
defence review in the early 1990s, BFG has been considerably reduced. Since the 1990s, the British presence has centred around the 1st Armoured Division, and supporting elements. BFG is concentrated in North Rhine-Westphalia
and Lower Saxony
.
Following the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review
, the permanent deployment will end by 2020 although some training will still be undertaken with regards NATO capability.
Disbandment of the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR)
and Royal Air Force Germany (RAFG)
following the end of the Cold War reduced the personnel strength of the British Armed Forces in Germany by almost 30,000.
A garrison at Osnabrück
was closed in 2009, and until August 2010, was HQ Allied Rapid Reaction Corps.
and Lower Saxony
. The divisional HQ is located at Herford
, near Bielefeld
, with garrisons at Gütersloh
, Hohne
, and Paderborn
. Additionally, the Rhine Garrison area contains Rheindahlen Military Complex
. The BFG presence is estimated to contribute 1.5 billion Euro
s annually to the German economy.
Administrative support for British service personnel in Germany and across Continental Europe is delegated to United Kingdom Support Command. The four Army garrisons in Germany are under the direct administrative control of UKSC. The General Officer Commanding UKSC also functions as head of the British Forces Liaison Organisation (Germany), which is responsible for liaising and maintaining relations with German civil authorities.
Approximately 60,000 people are associated with British Forces Germany, with only about 40,000 in the army itself, and about 20,000 civilians posted in Germany. The 1st Armoured Division is currently equipped with Challenger 2 MBTs
, Warrior IFVs, AS-90 Braveheart howitzers
, Multiple Launch Rocket Systems, armoured personnel carrier
s, Gazelle and Lynx
helicopters.
" in Northern Ireland
, the IRA
targeted personnel in Germany between 1988 and 1990. The attacks resulted in the deaths of 9 people, including three civilians, and many wounded.
The British Army Germany rugby union team
regularly plays games against emerging rugby nations like Belgium
, Denmark
, Netherlands
, Germany
and Luxembourg
.
, the British Army in Germany will be reduced by half by 2015, and permanent deployment will end by 2020, although some training will still be undertaken with regards NATO capability.
British Armed Forces
The British Armed Forces are the armed forces of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.Also known as Her Majesty's Armed Forces and sometimes legally the Armed Forces of the Crown, the British Armed Forces encompasses three professional uniformed services, the Royal Navy, the...
service personnel and civilians based in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. It was first established following the Second World War as 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).
Although much smaller than the BAOR, it is still the largest concentration of British armed forces permanently stationed outside the United Kingdom. With the end of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
and the Options for Change
Options for Change
Options for Change was a restructuring of the British Armed Forces in 1990, aimed at cutting defence spending following the end of the Cold War....
defence review in the early 1990s, BFG has been considerably reduced. Since the 1990s, the British presence has centred around the 1st Armoured Division, and supporting elements. BFG is concentrated in North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia is the most populous state of Germany, with four of the country's ten largest cities. The state was formed in 1946 as a merger of the northern Rhineland and Westphalia, both formerly part of Prussia. Its capital is Düsseldorf. The state is currently run by a coalition of the...
and 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...
.
Following the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review
Strategic Defence and Security Review
The Strategic Defence and Security Review was announced by the newly formed Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government of the United Kingdom in May 2010, and published on 19 October 2010...
, the permanent deployment will end by 2020 although some training will still be undertaken with regards NATO capability.
History
First established following the Second World War, the forces grew during the Cold War, ultimately consisting of I (BR) Corps and three divisions.Disbandment of the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR)
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:...
and Royal Air Force Germany (RAFG)
Royal Air Force Germany
The former Royal Air Force Germany was a command of the Royal Air Force and part of British Forces Germany, consisting of those units located in Germany initially as part of the occupation following World War II, and later as part of the RAF's commitment to the defence of Europe during the Cold...
following the end of the Cold War reduced the personnel strength of the British Armed Forces in Germany by almost 30,000.
A garrison at Osnabrück
Osnabrück
Osnabrück is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany, some 80 km NNE of Dortmund, 45 km NE of Münster, and some 100 km due west of Hanover. It lies in a valley penned between the Wiehen Hills and the northern tip of the Teutoburg Forest...
was closed in 2009, and until August 2010, was HQ Allied Rapid Reaction Corps.
Present
The BFG is concentrated in North Rhine-WestphaliaNorth Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia is the most populous state of Germany, with four of the country's ten largest cities. The state was formed in 1946 as a merger of the northern Rhineland and Westphalia, both formerly part of Prussia. Its capital is Düsseldorf. The state is currently run by a coalition of the...
and 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...
. The divisional HQ is located at Herford
Herford
Herford is a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, located in the lowlands between the hill chains of the Wiehen Hills and the Teutoburg Forest. It is the capital of the district of Herford.- Geographic location :...
, near Bielefeld
Bielefeld
Bielefeld is an independent city in the Ostwestfalen-Lippe Region in the north-east of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. With a population of 323,000, it is also the most populous city in the Regierungsbezirk Detmold...
, with garrisons at Gütersloh
Gütersloh
Gütersloh is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, in the area of Westphalia and the administrative region of Detmold. Gütersloh is the administrative centre for a district of the same name and has a population of 96,320 people.- Geography :...
, Hohne
Hohne
Hohne 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...
, and Paderborn
Paderborn
Paderborn is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, capital of the Paderborn district. The name of the city derives from the river Pader, which originates in more than 200 springs near Paderborn Cathedral, where St. Liborius is buried.-History:...
. Additionally, the Rhine Garrison area contains Rheindahlen Military Complex
Rheindahlen Military Complex
JHQ Rheindahlen, latterly also called the Rheindahlen Military Complex, is a British forces base in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. JHQ stands for Joint Headquarters and the base has functioned as the main headquarters for British forces in Germany since being built in the 1950s...
. The BFG presence is estimated to contribute 1.5 billion Euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
s annually to the German economy.
Administrative support for British service personnel in Germany and across Continental Europe is delegated to United Kingdom Support Command. The four Army garrisons in Germany are under the direct administrative control of UKSC. The General Officer Commanding UKSC also functions as head of the British Forces Liaison Organisation (Germany), which is responsible for liaising and maintaining relations with German civil authorities.
Approximately 60,000 people are associated with British Forces Germany, with only about 40,000 in the army itself, and about 20,000 civilians posted in Germany. The 1st Armoured Division is currently equipped with Challenger 2 MBTs
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...
, Warrior IFVs, AS-90 Braveheart howitzers
AS-90
The AS-90 is a lightly armoured self-propelled artillery piece used by the British Army. It was first delivered in 1993...
, Multiple Launch Rocket Systems, armoured personnel carrier
Armoured personnel carrier
An armoured personnel carrier is an armoured fighting vehicle designed to transport infantry to the battlefield.APCs are usually armed with only a machine gun although variants carry recoilless rifles, anti-tank guided missiles , or mortars...
s, Gazelle and Lynx
Westland Lynx
The Westland Lynx is a British multi-purpose military helicopter designed and built by Westland Helicopters at its factory in Yeovil. Originally intended as a utility craft for both civil and naval usage, military interest led to the development of both battlefield and naval variants...
helicopters.
Off duty life
During the height of "the TroublesThe Troubles
The Troubles was a period of ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland which spilled over at various times into England, the Republic of Ireland, and mainland Europe. The duration of the Troubles is conventionally dated from the late 1960s and considered by many to have ended with the Belfast...
" in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, the IRA
Provisional Irish Republican Army
The Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by force of arms and political persuasion...
targeted personnel in Germany between 1988 and 1990. The attacks resulted in the deaths of 9 people, including three civilians, and many wounded.
The British Army Germany rugby union team
British Army Germany rugby union team
The British Army Germany rugby union team is the rugby union team of the British Army in Germany - BA . It is part of the Army Rugby Union.The team regularly plays games against emerging nations like Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, Germany and Luxembourg....
regularly plays games against emerging rugby nations like Belgium
Belgium national rugby union team
The Belgium national rugby union team represents the third tier rugby playing nation of Belgium. They first played in 1930 and have yet to qualify for the Rugby World Cup. Rugby union in Belgium is administered by the Belgian Rugby Federation...
, Denmark
Denmark national rugby union team
The Denmark National Rugby Union Team represents Denmark in the sport of rugby union. They are governed by Dansk Rugby Union and have been playing international rugby since 1949.DRU now has nearly 2,500 members in more than 30 clubs.-History:...
, Netherlands
Netherlands national rugby union team
The Netherlands national rugby union team are a national sporting side of the Netherlands, representing them at rugby union. The side first played in 1930.-History:...
, Germany
Germany national rugby union team
Germany is a third-tier Rugby Union playing nation. Germany currently plays at the second level of European rugby but has never managed to qualify for the Rugby World Cup...
and Luxembourg
Luxembourg national rugby union team
The Luxembourg national rugby union team represents Luxembourg at rugby union. Luxembourg is a minor team, and is ranked as a third tier nation. The team participates in the annual FIRA-AER European Cup division 3B....
.
Future
Under the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security ReviewStrategic Defence and Security Review
The Strategic Defence and Security Review was announced by the newly formed Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government of the United Kingdom in May 2010, and published on 19 October 2010...
, the British Army in Germany will be reduced by half by 2015, and permanent deployment will end by 2020, although some training will still be undertaken with regards NATO capability.
7th Armoured Brigade (The Desert Rats)
- 7 Armoured Brigade Headquarters
- 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) - 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) - 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 Scotland (Armoured Infantry) - 2nd Battalion, Royal Regiment of FusiliersRoyal 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) - 9th/12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales's)9th/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 Reconnaissance) - 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery (Self Propelled Artillery)
- 32nd Engineer 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....
- 207th Signal Squadron, Royal Corps of SignalsRoyal Corps of SignalsThe Royal Corps of Signals is one of the combat support arms of the British Army...
- 2nd 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...
- 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...
, Royal Army Medical Corps - 2 Logistic Support Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
- 111th Company, Royal Military PoliceRoyal Military PoliceThe Royal Military Police is the corps of the British Army responsible for the policing of service personnel, and for providing a military police presence both in the UK, and whilst service personnel are deployed overseas on operations and exercises.Members of the RMP are generally known as...
20th Armoured Brigade (The Iron Fist)
- 20th Armoured Brigade Headquarters
- The Queen's Royal Hussars (The Queen's Own and Royal Irish) (Armoured)
- 1st Battalion, The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires)Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment"PWRR" redirects here. For the railroad with these reporting marks, see Portland and Western Railroad.The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment is the senior English line infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Queen's Division...
(Armoured Infantry) - 5th Battalion, The RiflesThe RiflesThe Rifles is the largest regiment of the British Army. Formed in 2007, it consists of five regular and two territorial battalions, plus a number of companies in other TA battalions, Each battalion of the Rifles was formerly an individual battalion of one of the two large regiments of the Light...
(Armoured Infantry) - 1st Battalion, The Yorkshire RegimentYorkshire RegimentThe Yorkshire Regiment is one of the largest infantry regiments of the British Army. The regiment is currently the only line infantry or rifles unit to represent a single geographical county in the new infantry structure, serving as the county regiment of Yorkshire covering the historical areas...
(Prince of Wales Own) (Light Role) - 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards is a cavalry regiment of the British Army. Nicknamed The Welsh Cavalry, the regiment recruits from Wales, Herefordshire, and Shropshire, and is the senior cavalry regiment, and therefore senior regiment, of the line of the British Army...
(Formation Reconnaissance) - 26th Regiment, Royal ArtilleryRoyal ArtilleryThe Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
(Self Propelled Artillery) - 35th Engineer 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....
- 200th Signal Squadron, Royal Corps of SignalsRoyal Corps of SignalsThe Royal Corps of Signals is one of the combat support arms of the British Army...
- 3rd 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...
- 1st Medical Regiment (based in Münster)
- 110th Company, Royal Military PoliceRoyal Military PoliceThe Royal Military Police is the corps of the British Army responsible for the policing of service personnel, and for providing a military police presence both in the UK, and whilst service personnel are deployed overseas on operations and exercises.Members of the RMP are generally known as...
1st (UK) Armoured Division - Divisional Units
- 1st Regiment, Army Air Corps (Lynx)
- 12th Regiment, Royal ArtilleryRoyal ArtilleryThe Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
(Air Defence) - 1st Logistic Support Regiment, Royal Logistic CorpsRoyal Logistic CorpsThe Royal Logistic Corps provides logistic support functions to the British Army. It is the largest Corps in the Army, comprising around 17% of its strength...
- 1st Regiment, Royal Military PoliceRoyal Military PoliceThe Royal Military Police is the corps of the British Army responsible for the policing of service personnel, and for providing a military police presence both in the UK, and whilst service personnel are deployed overseas on operations and exercises.Members of the RMP are generally known as...
- 1st (United Kingdom) Armoured Division Signal Regiment
102nd Logistics Brigade
- 662 Signal Troop, Royal Corps of SignalsRoyal Corps of SignalsThe Royal Corps of Signals is one of the combat support arms of the British Army...
- 6th Supply Regiment, Royal Logistic CorpsRoyal Logistic CorpsThe Royal Logistic Corps provides logistic support functions to the British Army. It is the largest Corps in the Army, comprising around 17% of its strength...
- 7th Regiment, Royal Logistic CorpsRoyal Logistic CorpsThe Royal Logistic Corps provides logistic support functions to the British Army. It is the largest Corps in the Army, comprising around 17% of its strength...
- 8th Regiment, Royal Logistic CorpsRoyal Logistic CorpsThe Royal Logistic Corps provides logistic support functions to the British Army. It is the largest Corps in the Army, comprising around 17% of its strength...
- 5th General Support Medical Regiment, 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...
, located in Preston, UK. - 5th Regiment, Royal Military PoliceRoyal Military PoliceThe Royal Military Police is the corps of the British Army responsible for the policing of service personnel, and for providing a military police presence both in the UK, and whilst service personnel are deployed overseas on operations and exercises.Members of the RMP are generally known as...
- 102nd Military Working Dog Support Unit, Royal Army Veterinary CorpsRoyal Army Veterinary CorpsThe Royal Army Veterinary Corps is an administrative and operational branch of the British Army responsible for the provision, training and care of animals. It is a small but technically competent corps forming part of the Army Medical Services...