List of British Forces Involved in the War
The Royal Air Force has sent 100 fixed-wing aircraft and 27 support helicopters
as part of its military contributions to the buildup of forces in the Persian Gulf.
There are already RAF units in the region supporting the joint U.S.-British
enforcement of the U.N.-mandated no-fly zones in Iraq, known as Operation
Northern Watch and Operation Southern Watch.
Royal Air Force
Personnel: 7,000
Home base: Multiple Royal Air Force bases in Great Britain.
Deployed to: Persian Gulf region
Aircraft: The deployment includes the following aircraft:
• Sentry AEW1 aircraft for airborne command and control
• Jaguar GR3 fighters and Tornado GR4 bombers in reconnaissance mode
• VC10 and Tristar air-to-air refueling aircraft
• Hercules transport aircraft
• Tornado F3 air defense aircraft with the newly integrated ASRAAM missile
• Tornado GR4 bombers
• Harrier GR7 jump jet fighters
• 27 Puma and Chinook helicopters
Operation Northern Watch
41st Squadron
Home base: Incirlik, Turkey
Aircraft: Four Jaguar GR3 fighters
10th Squadron
Home base: Incirlik, Turkey
Aircraft: VC10 refueling aircraft
Operation Southern Watch
43rd Squadron
Home base: Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia
Aircraft: 6 Tornado F3 fighters
12th Squadron
Home base: Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait
Aircraft: 8 Tornado GR4 fighters
201st Squadron
Home base: Thumrait, Oman
Aircraft: some Nimrod MR2s anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and maritime
patrol aircraft
206th Squadron
Home base: Thumrait, Oman
Aircraft: some Nimrod MR2s anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and maritime
patrol aircraft
The British Army has deployed some 26,000 soldiers to the Persian Gulf
region, including an armored division, a repeat of its contribution to the
Persian Gulf War in 1990-1991.
3rd (UK) Division Headquarters and Signal Regiment
Home garrison: Bulford Camp, England
Deployed to: Southern Iraq
Units: The division's headquarters deployed to Iraq with the following units:
• Headquarters and 3rd Division Signal Regiment (being replaced by 16 Signals
Regiment)
• Elements from the 14 Signal Regiment and 30 Signal Regiment (strategic
communications)
As the headquarters for Multi-National Division (South-East), 3(UK) Division also
has several national contingents under its command, including:
• Italy -- Mechanized brigade (responsible for Dhi Qar Province), Marine company
and Carabinieri detachment
• Netherlands -- Marine battalion group (at As Samawah, responsible for Al
Muthanna Province) and Chinook helicopter detachment at Tallil Air Base
• Denmark/Lithuania -- Infantry battalion group, incorporating Lithuanian
detachment (based at Al Qurnah)
• Romania -- Mechanised infantry battalion (attached to Italian mechanized Brigade)
and military police company
• Czech Republic -- Military police company (attached to HQ MND(SE) at Basra),
Field Hospital (attached to HQ MND(SE) at Basra) and Transport and Civil Affairs
personnel
• Norway -- Engineer company attached to 19 Mechanized Brigade
• Portugal -- Security company attached to Italian mechanized brigade
• New Zealand -- Engineer detachment
20 Armored Brigade
Home garrison: Paderborn Garrison, Germany
Deployed to: Southern Iraq
Units: The brigade deployed to Iraq with the following units:
• Headquarters and Signal Squadron
• Queen's Royal Hussars
• 1st Battalion, The Light Infantry
• 1st Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Wales
• 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment
• 1st Battalion, The Royal Scots
• 1st Battalion, The Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders (from January 2004)
• 26 Regiment Royal Artillery
• 35 Engineer Regiment
• Elements from the 9th/12th Royal Lancers and the Royal Monmouthshire
Royal Engineers (Militia)
1st UK Armored Division
Home garrison: Herford, Germany
Deployed to: Iraq. The division was relieved by the 3rd Division in July 2003.
Units: Mostly logistical and support units are attached with the division's headquarters,
including the following:
• Headquarters and Signal Regiment
• The Queen's Dragoon Guards (reconnaissance)
• 28 Engineer Regiment
• 1 General Support Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
• 2 Close Support Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
• 2nd Battalion, Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers
• 1 Close Support Medical Regiment
• 5 General Support Medical Regiment
• 1 Regiment, Royal Military Police
plus elements from various units including:
• 33 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment
• 30 Signal Regiment
• 32 Regiment Royal Artillery (Phoenix UAVs)
7th Armored Brigade
Home garrison: Hohne Garrison near Fallingbostel, Germany
Deployed to: Persian Gulf region
Units: Part of the 1st Armored Division, the brigade is nicknamed "The Desert
Rats" and includes the bulk of the armored units sent by the British Army,
including:
• Headquarters and Signal Squadron
• Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Challenger 2 tanks)
• 2nd Royal Tank Regiment (Challenger 2 tanks)
• 1st Battalion The Black Watch (Warrior infantry fighting vehicles)
• 1st Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (Warrior infantry fighting vehicles)
• 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery (AS90 self-propelled guns)
• 32 Armored Engineer Regiment
plus elements from various units including:
• Queen's Royal Lancers (Challenger 2 tanks)
• 1st Battalion Irish Guards (Warrior infantry fighting vehicles)
• 1st Battalion The Light Infantry (Warrior infantry fighting vehicles)
• 26 Regiment Royal Artillery
• 38 Engineer Regiment
16 Air Assault Brigade
Home garrison: Colchester Garrison
Deployed to: Persian Gulf region
Units: A combination of helicopter and parachute units, the brigade is designed
to open or secure points of entry for other land or air forces. The following units
have been sent to the Persian Gulf:
• Headquarters and Signal Squadron
• 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment
• 1st Battalion The Parachute Regiment
• 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment
• 7 (Para) Regiment Royal Horse Artillery (105mm Light Guns)
• 23 Engineer Regiment
• Household Cavalry Regiment (1 x armored reconnaissance squadron)
• 3rd Regiment Army Air Corps (Lynx & Gazelle helicopters)
• 7 Air Assault Battalion, Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers
• 13 Air Assault Support Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
• 16 Close Support Medical Regiment
102 Logistics Brigade
Home fort: Guntersloh Garrison, Germany
Deployed to: Persian Gulf region
Units: The brigade includes the units trained to provide support needs for Britain's
military contribution to its forces in the Persian Gulf, including:
• Headquarters
• 36 Engineer Regiment
• 33 and 34 Field Hospitals
• 4 General Support Medical Regiment
• 3rd Battalion, Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers
• 6 Supply Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
• 7 Transport Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
• 17 Port & Maritime Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
• 23 Pioneer Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
• 24 Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps
• 5 Regiment, Royal Military Police
• Specialist Royal Engineer teams
• Airfield engineer support units from 12 Engineer Brigade
• Elements from 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment
• Elements from additional Royal Logistic Corps Regiments
British Naval Task Group 2003 was scheduled to deploy to the Far East to
participate in Exercise Flying Fish but was sent to the Persian Gulf as part
of Operation Telic, the British name for the war in Iraq. The following ships
made up the Task Group, which also included some 4,000 Royal Marines
HMS Ark Royal
Type of vessel: Invincible-class aircraft carrier
Date deployed: January 11, 2003. The ship left the Persian Gulf in April 2003 and
returned to Portsmouth, England on May 17, accompanied by the destroyer HMS
York and RFA Fort Victoria.
Destination: Persian Gulf
Home port: Portsmouth, England
Total personnel: 1,052 -- 686 sailors plus 366 air group personnel
Aircraft: Depending on deployment, a mix of Sea Harriers FA2, Royal Air Force
Harrier GR7, and Sea King helicopters
Armament: three Phalanx 20 mm rapid-fire close-range weapons systems; two
20 mm guns
Performance/Propulsion: More than 30 knots (gas turbine)
Length: 686 feet
Commissioned: July 1 1985
Embarked forces: Royal Marines from 40th Commando, Chinook helicopters from
the Royal Air Force's 18th Squadron and Sea King helicopters from the 849th
Naval Air Squadron
HMS Ocean
Type of vessel: Amphibious helicopter carrier that also carries an embarked
military force
Date deployed: January 11, 2003
Destination: Persian Gulf
Home port: Portsmouth, England
Crew: 445 -- 265 sailors plus 180 air crew
Length: 667.3 feet (203.4 meters)
Performance/Propulsion: 19 knots (diesel)
Aircraft: 12 Sea King HC4 medium support helicopters and 6 Lynx AH7 or 6
Gazelle light helicopters
Armament: Three Phalanx 20 mm rapid-fire close-range weapons systems; four
30 mm close-range guns
Commissioned: September 30, 1998
Embarked forces: The 9th Assault Squadron of the Royal Marines, consisting of
two officers and 28 enlisted men, is permanently assigned to the HMS Ocean.
The squadron also mans the four landing craft vehicles for ship-to-shore movement
of an embarked Royal Marine commando unit.
HMS Liverpool
Type of vessel: Sheffield-class (Type 42) guided missile destroyer
Date deployed: January 11, 2003
Destination: Persian Gulf
Home port: Portsmouth, England
Crew: 253
Length: 412 feet (125 meters)
Performance/Propulsion: 28 knots (gas turbine)
Aircraft: Lynx MK-8 helicopters
Armament: twin Sea Dart missile launcher; 114 mm (55 caliber) gun; two 30
mm close-range guns; two Phalanx 20 mm rapid-fire close-range weapons
systems; six 20 mm close-range guns; two triple anti-submarine torpedo tubes
Commissioned: July 9, 1982
HMS Edinburgh
Type of vessel: Sheffield-class (Type 42) guided missile destroyer
Date deployed: January 11, 2003
Destination: Persian Gulf
Home port: Portsmouth, England
Crew: 301
Performance/Propulsion: 30 knots (gas turbine)
Length 462 feet (141 meters)
Aircraft: Lynx MK-8 helicopters
Armament: twin Sea Dart missile launcher; 114 mm (55 caliber) gun; two
30 mm close-range guns; two Phalanx 20 mm rapid-fire close-range weapons
systems; six 20 mm close-range guns; two triple anti-submarine torpedo tubes
Commissioned: December 18, 1995
HMS York
Type of vessel: Sheffield-class (Type 42) guided missile destroyer
Date deployed: January 11, 2003. Scheduled to return to Great Britian in
mid-May with the HMS Ark Royal and RFA Fort Victoria.
Destination: Persian Gulf
Home port: Portsmouth, England
Crew: 301
Length: 462 feet (141 meters)
Performance/Propulsion: 30 knots (gas turbine)
Aircraft: Lynx MK-8 helicopters
Armament: twin Sea Dart missile launcher; 114 mm (55 caliber) gun; two 30
mm close-range guns; two rapid-fire close-range weapons systems; six 20
mm close-range guns; two triple anti-submarine torpedo tubes
Commissioned: August 9, 1985
HMS Marlborough
Type of vessel: Duke-class (Type 23) frigate
Date deployed: January 17, 2003
Destination: Persian Gulf
Home port: Portsmouth, England
Crew: 185
Length: 485.9 feet (33 meters)
Performance/Propulsion: 28 knots (gas turbine)
Aircraft: MK 8 Lynx helicopters
Armament: two quad Harpoon missile launchers; Sea Wolf anti-missile
system; 114 mm (55 caliber) gun; two 20 mm close-range guns; two twin
anti-submarine torpedo tubes
Commissioned: June 14, 1991
HMS Grimsby
Type of vessel: Sandown-class mine hunter
Date deployed: January 20, 2003
Destination: Persian Gulf
Home port: Portsmouth, England
Crew: 34
Performance/Propulsion: 15 knots (diesel)
Length: 53 meters
Armament: one 30 mm close-range gun
In service: September 25, 1999
HMS Ledbury
Type of vessel: Hunt-class mine hunter/minesweeper
Date deployed: January 20, 2003
Destination: Persian Gulf
Home port: Portsmouth, England
Crew: 45
Performance/Propulsion: 17 knots (diesel)
Length: 60 meters
Armament: one 30 mm gun; one twin 20 mm guns; two 7.62 mm machine guns
In service: June 11, 1981
HMS Splendid
Type of ship: Swiftsure-class attack submarine
Propulsion: One nuclear reactor and two steam turbines
Complement: 116
Armament: Five torpedo tubes capable of firing Tomahawk cruise missiles,
Spearfish and Tigerfish torpedoes; and Harpoon missiles
In service: March 21, 1981
HMS Turbulent
Deployed to: Persian Gulf
Type of ship: Trafalgar-class attack submarines
Propulsion: One nuclear reactor
Crew: 130
Armament: Five torpedo tubes capable of firing Spearfish and Tigerfish
torpedoes; Harpoon missiles.
Commissioned: April 28, 1984
Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service
Also traveling with the Task Force 2003 are seven ships of the Royal Fleet
Auxiliary Service (RFA). The RFA is staffed by civilians and owned by the
Ministry of Defense. Its main task is to supply Royal Navy warships at sea
with fuel, food, stores and ammunition so they can remain operational while
away from port.
RFA Argus
Type of vessel: Aviation training and primary casualty reception ship
Crew: 80 civilians plus 137 in the Royal Navy air squadron.
Performance/Propulsion:> 22 knots (diesel generated electric)
Flight deck: Five spots for Chinook, Sea King or Lynx helicopters; Sea Harrier
jump jets may also be carried
Armament: two 30 mm guns, four 7.62 mm machine guns
RFA Sir Tristram
Type of vessel: Tank landing ship
Crew: 51
Performance/Propulsion: 18 knots (diesel)
Aft Flight deck: One spot for Sea King helicopter
Vehicle deck: One spot for Sea King or Lynx or Chinook helicopter
Armament: two 20 mm guns; two 12.7 mm machine guns
RFA Sir Galahad
Type of vessel: Tank landing ship
Crew: 49
Performance/Propulsion: 18 knots (diesel)
Aft Flight deck: One spot for Sea King helicopter
Vehicle deck: One spot for Sea King, Lynx or Chinook helicopter
Armament: two 20 mm guns; two 12.7 mm machine guns
RFA Sir Percivale
Type of vessel: Tank landing ship
Crew: 51
Performance/Propulsion: 18 knots (diesel)
Aft Flight deck: One spot for Sea King helicopter
Vehicle deck: One spot for Sea King or Lynx or Chinook helicopter
Armament: two 20 mm guns; two 12.7 mm machine guns
RFA Fort Victoria
Type of vessel: Combined fleet support tanker and supply ship
Crew: 95 civilians plus 154 Royal Navy
Performance/Propulsion: 20 knots (diesel)
Flight deck: Two spots for Sea King or Lynx helicopter
Armament: two 30 mm guns; two Phalanx 20 mm rapid-fire, close-range
weapons systems; two 30 mm guns
RFA Fort Rosalie
Type of vessel: Fleet supply ship
Crew: 114 plus 45 in the Royal Navy air squadron
Performance/Propulsion: 20 knots (diesel)
Main Flight deck: One spot for Sea King or Lynx helicopter
Flight deck: One spot for Sea King or Lynx helicopter
Armament: two 20 mm guns; four 7.62 mm machine guns
RFA Fort Austin
Type of vessel: Fleet supply ship
Crew: 114 plus 45 in the Royal Navy air squadron
Performance/Propulsion: 20 knots (diesel)
Main Flight deck: One spot for Sea King or Lynx helicopter
Auxiliary Flight deck: One spot for Sea King or Lynx helicopter
Armament: two 20 mm guns; four 7.62 mm machine guns
Included in Great Britain's naval forces in the Persian Gulf are 4,000 Royal
Marines from the 3rd Commando Brigade. The brigade is the Royal Navy's
amphibious infantry and is kept on permanent readiness for possible
deployments around the world.
Headquarters 3rd Commando Brigade
Home camp: Plymouth, England
Deployed to: Persian Gulf
Units: Elements from the brigade's headquarters will be in charge of the two
battalion-size commando units and other attached forces that have deployed
to the Persian Gulf region.
40 Commando
Marines: More than 600
Home camp: Camp Taunton in Somerset, England
Deployed to: Persian Gulf region
Units: Bravo Company and Command Company are on the assault ship
HMS Ocean and Delta Company is embarked on aircraft carrier HMS Ark
Royal. During the Gulf War, 40 Commando deployed to northern Iraq to
provide security for Kurdish refugees.
42 Commando
Marines: More than 600
Home camp: Bickleigh Barracks, a few miles outside Plymouth, England.
Deployed to: Kuwait
Units: 42 Commando has arrived in Kuwait and has been conducting training
in the desert.
29 Commando, Royal Artillery Regiment
Home garrison: Royal Citadel, Plymouth, England
Units: The regiment, officially part of the British army, has been attached to the
Royal Marines to provide offensive fire support. The regiment is equipped with
105-mm L118 light guns.
Other units
The Queen's Dragoon Guards Regiment, part of the British Army deployment,
also has been attached to the 3rd Commando Brigade. The Regiment is armed
with 130 Scimitar armored vehicles and will join with 3rd Commando Brigade units.
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