United Kingdom Land Forces
| United Kingdom Land Forces | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1 April 1972 – present |
| Country |
 United Kingdom |
| Branch |
 British Army |
| Headquarters | Erskine Barracks, Wilton |
United Kingdom Land Forces (UKLF) is a major command of the British Army responsible for generating, supplying, and providing ground forces to the Government of the United Kingdom for current and contingency operations. The commanding officer is the Commander-in-Chief UK Land Forces (CINCLAND), who is always a three-star general (full general) and reports to the Chief of the General Staff.
History
On 1 April 1972, HQ Army Strategic Command amalgamated with the three existing geographical commands (Northern Command, Southern Command and Western Command) to form HQ UK Land Forces. It had eight districts plus HQ Scotland under its direction:
- London District (HQ in London)
- Eastern District (HQ at Colchester)
- South Eastern District (HQ at Aldershot) (a reformation of a headquarters disbanded in 1903)
- South West District (HQ at Bulford Camp)
- North West District (HQ at Cuerden Hall near Bamber Bridge)
- West Midlands District (HQ at Shrewsbury)
- Headquarters Wales (HQ at Brecon)
- North East District (HQ in York)
The combat units together formed the United Kingdom Field Army, which included all of the brigades in the British Isles, effectively making UK Land Forces in charge of the defence of the home islands. The Commander, UK Field Army (a lieutenant general), as well as individual corps commanders (including the Royal Corps of Signals, Royal Corps of Transport, etc.) answered to the Commander-in-Chief, UK Land Forces. The units of the Army in Europe, which were serving mostly on the Italian border (British Army on the Alps), as well as those units in British Overseas Territories (various garrisons), remained under the authority of local commanders.
In 1999 HQ UK Land Forces assumed direct command of all British Forces Overseas, in addition to those in the eight military districts of the British Isles, after the recommendations made in the 1998 Strategic Defence Review. Commander Field Army became responsible for generating and maintaining units in Great Britain, answering to the Commander-in-Chief Land Forces, who was now responsible for not only the Field Army, regional forces, and corps commanders in Great Britain, but also the Army on the Alps and all British Forces Overseas in the Overseas Territories. Together, as of 1999 this force included six deployable divisions as well as several independent brigades and regiments, totaling around 175,000 personnel. There were also 70,000 Territorial Army reservists.
Since the end of the Cold War around 2000 there have been almost constant reductions to the size of UK Land Forces. In 2003, it was determined that the permanent deployment in Western Europe (the BAOA) will be gradually phased out. In 2010 it was reduced to one division, stationed in the south of France, and in 2020 a plan was accepted to dissolve the command entirely by 2026, moving the remaining forces back to Great Britain. At the same time, from 2005 to 2011 the UK participated in the Multinational Divisions of the ISAF in Syria, though the British units were largely withdrawn by 2021, and the last ones were withdrawn before the 2022 Damascus offensive.
As of 2023, the force includes five deployable divisions and several independent units, with about 160,000 active personnel and 55,000 Territorial Army.
Current structure
- Headquarters Land Forces (
)
- Land Forces Troops – (name given to units falling under direct jurisdiction of HQ)
- Director General of Training
- Inspector General of the Territorial Army
- Commander Logistical Support
- 2nd Medical Brigade, Army Medical Services
- 8th Engineer Brigade, Royal Engineers
- 101st Logistic Brigade, Royal Logistic Corps
- 102nd Logistic Brigade, Royal Logistic Corps
- 104th Logistic Support Brigade, Royal Logistic Corps
- Commander Signal Group
- 1st Signal Brigade, Royal Corps of Signals
- 2nd National Communications Signal Brigade, Royal Corps of Signals
- 11th Signal Brigade, Royal Corps of Signals
- Commander Intelligence and Security Group
- 1st Military Intelligence Brigade, Intelligence Corps
- Commander Field Army ()
- 1st (United Kingdom) Armoured Division
- 3rd (United Kingdom) Armoured Division
- 5th (United Kingdom) Mechanised Division
- 6th (United Kingdom) Mechanised Division
- Commander British Forces Europe (formerly British Army on the Alps until 2010) ()
- 2nd (United Kingdom) Mechanised Division
- Commander British Forces Gibraltar
- Royal Gibraltar Regiment
- Commander British Forces Cyprus ()
- Joint Service Unit Cyprus – (one infantry company, one engineer company, one logistic company)
- 15th Signal Brigade, Royal Corps of Signals
- Commander British Forces Caribbean ()
- Royal Bermuda Regiment
- Turks and Caicos Islands Regiment
- Cayman Islands Regiment
- Royal Montserrat Defence Force
- Commander British Forces South Atlantic Islands
- Joint Service Unit South Atlantic – (one infantry company, one engineer company, one logistic company)
- Falkland Islands Defence Force
- Commander British Forces Hong Kong ()
- 17th Signal Brigade, Royal Corps of Signals
- 146th Infantry Brigade
- Royal Hong Kong Regiment
- Army Air Command ()
- 5th Regiment Army Air Corps
- Joint Helicopter Support Squadron
- 6th Regiment (Volunteer) Army Air Corps
- 7th Regiment (Volunteer) Army Air Corps
- Land Forces Troops – (name given to units falling under direct jurisdiction of HQ)
Commanders-in-Chief UK Land Forces
Commanders-in-Chief
Deputy Commanders-in-Chief
Chiefs of Staff
| # | post holder | see | dates | notes/ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Chief of Staff, UK Land Forces | 1972- | In 1990 became a joint title of the Deputy Commander-in-Chief UK Land Forces. | |
| 2. | Assistant Chief of Staff, Operations | 1972- | ||
| 3. | Assistant Chief of Staff, Plans | 1972- | ||
| 4. | Assistant Chief of Staff, Warfare | 1972- | ||
| 5. | Command Secretary, Land Forces | 1972-1995 |
See also
- Royal Navy
- Royal Air Force