Читать книгу The Double Dangerous Book for Boys - Conn Iggulden - Страница 25
ОглавлениеIt seems to us that there is a certain quiet pleasure in knowing things. Whether it is that the United Kingdom has 102 counties: from Cornwall to Antrim in Northern Ireland; or that the UK has 48 police forces, including the British Transport Police and the Civil Nuclear Constabulary. The accumulation of knowledge is one of life’s subtle joys. Here, for that reason, is a list of British Army regiments, correct at the time of writing. These things do change, of course. Most of these regiments were formed from one or more older ones, either to reduce costs or to answer modern requirements of warfare, reconnaissance, defence and peacekeeping roles. For reasons of space, we have been able to include only a few of the cap badges and mottos. For those who would like more information, we recommend Charles Heyman’s excellent British Army Guide, which is produced each year.
The total for Army, Navy and Royal Air Force is approximately 150,000 serving men and women. Of these, 84,000 are in the British Army.
CAVALRY
THE HOUSEHOLD CAVALRY
Life Guards, and Blues and Royals. Formed in 17th century by King Charles II. Current Commander-in-Chief: Queen Elizabeth II. (On operations, they become the Household Cavalry Regiment and the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment – armoured fighting vehicles.)
1ST THE QUEEN’S DRAGOON GUARDS
Light armoured cavalry vehicles. Amalgamated from two 1685 regiments in 1959. Dragoons were originally mounted infantry who would dismount to fight, but became light cavalry units. The origin of the name could be from draconarius, a Roman standard-bearer. Alternatively, they were named after the short muskets, or ‘dragons’, carried by horse soldiers.
THE ROYAL SCOTS DRAGOON GUARDS
Formed in 1971 by amalgamation of ancient regiments. Through one of them, the Royal Scots Greys, this is the oldest cavalry line regiment in the British Army. Victorious at Waterloo against Napoleon.
THE ROYAL DRAGOON GUARDS
Formed in 1992 from the 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards, the 5th Dragoon Guards, the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons and the 7th Dragoon Guards, regiments dating back to 1685–1689. Served in Iraq and deployed to Afghanistan in 2010. Motto: QUIS SEPARABIT – ‘Who shall separate us?’
THE QUEEN’S ROYAL HUSSARS
Formed in 1993 from the Queen’s Own and the Royal Irish. Challenger 2 tanks. Winston Churchill joined the Hussars as a young man.
THE ROYAL LANCERS
(Queen Elizabeth’s Own). Raised in 1715, they are the last regiment to retain the word ‘Lancers’ – referring to the ancient weapon of armoured knights. Today, they are a modern armoured cavalry reconnaissance regiment, using tracked fighting vehicles. Motto: DEATH OR GLORY.
THE KING’S ROYAL HUSSARS
First raised in 1715. Modern armoured regiment, using Challenger 2 tanks and Scimitar reconnaissance vehicles to seek out and destroy the enemy.
THE LIGHT DRAGOONS
Uses Jackal 2 armoured vehicles. Originally formed in 1759 as a fast, light cavalry unit. Took part in the Charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimean War.
1ST ROYAL TANK REGIMENT
Formed when tanks were invented by the British in WWI, this is the oldest tank regiment in the world. Uses Challenger 2 tanks as well as Scimitar reconnaissance vehicles.
INFANTRY
The five Foot Guard regiments all have a dual role – active service in war, and protection and guard duty in royal palaces in London and Windsor. They wear red uniforms and the famous bearskin hat – taken from Napoleon’s Guards at the Battle of Waterloo.
THE GRENADIER GUARDS
Active from 1656. Motto: HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE – ‘Evil be to him who evil thinks’.
THE COLDSTREAM GUARDS
Formed 1650. The oldest continuously serving unit in the British Army. Captured New York in 1776. Motto: NULLI SECUNDUS – ‘Second to none’.
THE SCOTS GUARDS
Mechanised infantry. Uses Mastiff and Jackal vehicles. Motto: NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSIT – ‘No one attacks me with impunity’.
THE IRISH GUARDS
Formed in 1900 by Queen Victoria. Light and fast infantry as well as the guarding role. Motto: QUIS SEPARABIT – ‘Who shall separate us?’
THE WELSH GUARDS
Formed in 1915 by King George V. Motto: WALES FOREVER. They wear a metal leek as a cap badge. Sniper rifles, machine guns and Foxhound vehicles.
THE LONDON REGIMENT
A Reserve regiment formed in 1908 that provides reinforcements to the five Foot Guard regiments. Sniper, heavy machine gun, mortar, assault rifle.
THE ROYAL REGIMENT OF SCOTLAND
Formed in 2006 from ancient Scottish regiments stretching back to 1633.
1ST BATTALION:
The Royal Scots Borderers
2ND BATTALION:
The Royal Highland Fusiliers
3RD BATTALION:
The Black Watch
4TH BATTALION:
The Highlanders – mechanised infantry
5TH BATTALION:
The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
6TH BATTALION RESERVE:
52nd Lowland
7TH BATTALION RESERVE:
51st Highland
THE PRINCESS OF WALES’S ROYAL REGIMENT
– ‘The Tigers’. Formed in 1992 as an amalgamation of regiments going back to 1572. Warrior and Bulldog vehicles. Mortars and machine guns.
THE ROYAL REGIMENT OF FUSILIERS
Modern regiment created in 1968. Originally raised in 1674, named after the ‘fusil’ musket.
THE ROYAL ANGLIAN REGIMENT
Light infantry. Formed in 1964 from regiments that went back to 1685. Based in Woolwich, London, and Cyprus.
THE DUKE OF LANCASTER’S REGIMENT
– ‘Kingsmen’. Raised in 1680 by Charles II. Modern regiment formed in 2006. Uses Jackal 2 vehicles, as well as mortars, grenade machine gun and heavy machine gun. Note red rose of Lancaster.
Motto: NEC ASPERA TERRENT – ‘Nor do hardships terrify’, or alternatively ‘Difficulties be damned’.
THE YORKSHIRE REGIMENT
Originally raised in 1685. Close combat and urban operations. Uses Warrior, Foxhound and Bulldog armoured vehicles. Main weapon SA80 A2 assault rifle. Motto: FORTUNE FAVOURS THE BRAVE. Note white rose of York.
THE MERCIAN REGIMENT
Formed in 2007. Recruits from the English counties of the ancient kingdom of Mercia. Warrior vehicles, sniper rifles, mortars, machine guns. Motto: STAND FIRM AND STRIKE HARD.
THE ROYAL WELSH
Recruits primarily in Wales. Original regiments raised in 1689. Modern regiment formed in 2006. Warrior vehicles. Sniper rifles, mortars, machine guns. Motto: GWELL ANGAU NA CHYWILYDD – ‘Death before dishonour’. Also: ICH DIEN – ‘I serve’.
THE ROYAL IRISH REGIMENT
Recruits primarily in Ireland. Raised in 1689. Modern regiment formed in 1992. Motto: FAUGH A BALLAGH – ‘Clear the Way’. Uses vehicle-mounted grenade machine guns as well as SA80 assault rifles. Land Rover and Foxhound vehicles.
L118 field gun of the 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery
Andrew Chittock/Alamy Stock Photo
ROYAL ARTILLERY – ‘THE GUNNERS’
1ST REGIMENT ROYAL HORSE ARTILLERY
Uses AS90 self-propelled artillery and armoured multiple rocket launchers.
3RD REGIMENT ROYAL HORSE ARTILLERY
– ‘The Liverpool and Manchester Gunners’. Uses L118 field gun.
4TH REGIMENT ROYAL ARTILLERY
– ‘The North-East Gunners’. Uses L118 field gun.
5TH REGIMENT ROYAL ARTILLERY
– ‘The Yorkshire Gunners’. Current role includes Surveillance and target acquisition.
7TH (PARACHUTE) REGIMENT ROYAL HORSE ARTILLERY
–‘The Airborne Gunners’. Uses L118 field gun. Serves in Air Assault Brigade.
12TH REGIMENT ROYAL ARTILLERY
– ‘The Lancashire and Cumbrian Gunners’. Uses STARstreak high velocity missiles.
14TH REGIMENT ROYAL ARTILLERY
Provides training and support.
16TH REGIMENT ROYAL ARTILLERY
– ‘The London and Kent Gunners’. Equipped with Rapier surface-to-air missiles.
19TH REGIMENT ROYAL ARTILLERY
– ‘The Highland Gunners’. AS90 self-propelled and multiple-armoured rocket launchers.
A Thales Watchkeeper Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)
Andrew Chittock/Alamy Stock Photo
26TH REGIMENT ROYAL ARTILLERY
– ‘The West Midland Gunners’. AS90 and rocket launchers.
29TH COMMANDO REGIMENT ROYAL ARTILLERY
– ‘The Commando Gunners’. Provides artillery support to 3 Commando Brigade.
32ND REGIMENT ROYAL ARTILLERY
– ‘The Wessex Gunners’. Unmanned aerial vehicles: war drones.
47TH REGIMENT ROYAL ARTILLERY
– ‘The Hampshire and Sussex Gunners’. They operate the Thales Watchkeeper unmanned surveillance and target acquisition system.
THE KING’S TROOP ROYAL HORSE ARTILLERY
Ceremonial regiment, based at Woolwich, London. Provides royal gun salutes on celebratory occasions. Uses 13lb WWI-era field guns.
OTHER UNITS
THE RIFLES
Formed in 2007 from much older regiments dating back to 1685. First to wear camouflaged uniforms. 117 Victoria Crosses won. Five battalions, and three more in reserve.
THE ROYAL GURKHA RIFLES
Recruits only in Nepal. Modern regiment formed in 1994, amalgamating four that served the Crown for two hundred years. Based in Brunei and UK. Motto: KAATAR HUNNU BANDA MARNU RAMRO – ‘Better to die than be a coward’.
Andrew Chittock/Alamy Stock Photo
THE PARACHUTE REGIMENT
– ‘The Red Devils’. Formed in 1942. Airborne assault infantry. Motto: UTRINQUE PARATUS – ‘Ready for anything’.
THE SPECIAL AIR SERVICE (SAS)
Special Forces. Founded in 1941. Small team and covert actions. Snipers, stealth and combat. Motto: ‘Who dares wins’.
THE SPECIAL RECONNAISSANCE REGIMENT (SRR)
Special Forces. Formed 2005. Surveillance and reconnaissance. Counter-terrorism.
THE CORPS OF ROYAL ENGINEERS
Combat engineers or ‘Sappers’ provide support to the rest of the Army in war and peacetime. Duties include bomb disposal, bridge building, diving, communications and maintenance of armoured vehicles. The regiments are: 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th Commando, 26th, 32nd, 33rd, 35th, 36th, 39th and 42nd.
THE ROYAL CORPS OF SIGNALS
Formed in 1920, signals regiments deploy wherever the main army or special forces go. They are responsible for communications, digital security and electronic warfare. The signals regiments are: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 10th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 18th, 21st, 22nd, 30th.
THE ROYAL LOGISTIC CORPS
The logistic corps provides ammunition, parts, rations, food, water and whatever else the rest of the army needs to function. The regiments are: 1st, 3rd and 4th Close Support Regiments; 6th and 7th Force Logistic Regiments; 9th Theatre Logistic Regiment; 10th Queen’s Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment; 11th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment; 13th Air Assault Regiment; 17th Port and Maritime Regiment; 27th, 29th Regiments. They use heavy transport vehicles like the Mastiff.
ARMY AIR CORPS
Combat air support is provided by helicopters and fixed-wing planes. The regiments are 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th, and they use Apache helicopters as well as the Lynx.
THE CORPS OF ROYAL ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERS
Six battalions. They maintain all equipment, including tanks and helicopters. Motto: ARTE ET MARTE – ‘By skill and fighting’.
ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS
Six regiments. Formed in 1898. Non-combatant, though they may use their weapons in self-defence. Provides vital surgery for the wounded. Maintains the health of the rest of the army. Regiments are: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 16th. There are also three field hospitals: 22nd, 33rd and 34th.
There are a number of other corps and services in the Army, as might be expected to administer so many, often far from home and under extreme conditions. These are: Queen Alexandra’s Royal Nursing Corps (nursing), Adjutant General’s Corps (administration), Intelligence Corps (intelligence), Royal Army Veterinary Corps (animals, mostly dogs), Small Arms School Corps (small arms training), Royal Army Dental Corps, Royal Military Police, Military Bands and the Royal Army Physical Training Corps – Motto: MENS SANA IN CORPORE SANO – ‘A healthy mind in a healthy body’.
Finally, there is a Royal Gibraltar Regiment, defending the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. In Bermuda, the Royal Bermuda Regiment defends the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda. This is not part of the British Army but can request training and operational support if needed. The Commander-in-Chief is the Bermudan Governor General.
Around another 30,000 soldiers can be counted in various reserves, such as the Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry, or the Royal Wessex Yeomanry, always available to be called up.
‘There is no beating these troops, in spite of their generals. I always thought them bad soldiers, now I am sure of it. I turned their right, pierced their centre, broke them everywhere; the day was mine, and yet they did not know it and would not run.’
French Marshal Soult, commenting on the British infantry as he retreated in 1811
RANKS IN THE BRITISH ARMY
‘OTHER’ OR NON-COMMISSIONED RANKS
PRIVATE – Trooper, Gunner, Sapper, Kingsman etc., depending on regiment.
LANCE CORPORAL – in charge of four soldiers.
CORPORAL – in charge of more soldiers and equipment.
SERGEANT – senior role, often second in command of thirty soldiers.
STAFF OR COLOUR SERGEANT – senior role, managing 120 soldiers.
WARRANT OFFICER CLASS 2 (Company Sergeant Major) – senior adviser to the Major in command of the unit.
WARRANT OFFICER CLASS 1 (Regimental Sergeant Major) – senior adviser to the Commanding Officer, responsible for up to 650 men.
OFFICER OR COMMISSIONED RANKS
OFFICER CADET – rank held while training at Sandhurst.
SECOND LIEUTENANT – first rank on being commissioned.
LIEUTENANT – in command of around thirty soldiers.
CAPTAIN – second in command of 120, equivalent to Roman optio.
MAJOR – in command of 120, equivalent to Roman centurion.
LIEUTENANT COLONEL – in command of 650.
COLONEL – staff rather than field rank.
BRIGADIER – commands a brigade.
MAJOR GENERAL – commands a division, and Sandhurst Military Academy.
LIEUTENANT GENERAL – very senior role, commands a corps.
GENERAL – highest rank available to serving officers.
FIELD MARSHAL – highest honorary rank.
