Brigade Units
Brigade Headquarters and Signal Squadron
Air assault operations are generally complex and require effective command and control and robust communications. The HQ has a number of configurations ranging from a manpack tactical HQ to a fully equipped main HQ. 16 Air Assault Brigade has a joint (Army/RAF) HQ based in Colchester, providing the necessary direction and co-ordination required for air assault operations.
The parachute-deployable 216 Signal Squadron, of The Royal Signals , is responsible for establishing and maintaining communications networks and systems to the fighting units and rearwards to its Forward Mounting Base (FMB). It also provides the infrastructure for all levels of Brigade headquarters in the field.
Pathfinder Platoon
The platoon is now based in Colchester with the Brigade Headquarters, is 16 Air Assault Brigade's advance force and its organic reconnaissance force. Its role includes covert reconnaissance, location and marking of drop zones, tactical and helicopter landing zones for subsequent air landing operations. Once the main force has landed, the platoon provides tactical intelligence vital to the operational decision-making within the brigade headquarters.
Air Assault Aviation
3 and 4 Regiments Army Air Corps , based at Wattisham Airfield, and 9 Regiment AAC at Dishforth, North Yorkshire, are the brigade's aviation regiments. Each regiment has two anti-tank squadrons, a light battlefield helicopter (LBH) squadron and an aviation workshop. Anti-tank squadrons provide the combat power with the Lynx mark 7 equipped with the potent TOW missile system. These work alongside Gazelle helicopters which provide the reconnaissance capability.
The LBH squadrons are equipped with the Lynx mark 9. Its role is to move small groups of soldiers around the brigade area. LBH squadrons often work with infantry companies, Javelin air defence teams and engineers. The aviation workshop, manned by the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, provides first-line helicopter maintenance support for its regiment.
By December 2005, 67 Apache Longbow Attack helicopters should be in service with the British Army. Under present plans the Brigade will have 48, with each aviation regiment having two squadrons of eight Apache plus a support squadron of Lynx.
Air Assault Infantry
The main ground-fighting elements of the Brigade are found from its four air assault infantry battalions. Four are provided from The Parachute Regiment and one from the 1st Battalion The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.
Each infantry battalion has five companies - three rifle companies, a support company and a headquarters company. A battalion's firepower includes mortars, heavy machine guns and anti-tank missile systems.
Artillery
The Aldershot-based 7th Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery (7 Para RHA) supports the Brigade with three regular parachute batteries of 105mm Light Gun. Each battery has six guns, each with a range of 17km and the ability to fire a shell every ten seconds.
Air defence capability is provided by 21 Air Defence Battery Royal Artillery, based in Thorney Island, Hampshire. The battery is equipped with Javelin missile system.
Engineers
The Brigade's engineering support comes from 9 Parachute Squadron Royal Engineers and 51 Field Squadron RE. Their main tasks are mobility - ensuring that friendly forces can move freely on the battlefield - and counter-mobility, denying the enemy's freedom of movement.
Armoured Reconnaissance
A squadron from the Windsor-based Household Cavalry Regiment is the eyes and ears of the Brigade, seeking to identify the enemy's strengths and weaknesses in order to exploit the operational initiative. The squadron has 12 Scimitar reconnaissance vehicles.
Logistic Support
Logistic support is provided by 13 Air Assault Support Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps , based in Colchester. Its primary task is ensuring the resupply of ammunition, water, fuel and rations to forces on the ground.
Medical Support
16 Close Support Medical Regiment, based in Colchester, provides both first and second line casualty management with dedicated second line casualty evacuation to the Brigade.This consists of Air Assault Surgical Groups, a Dressing Station and Medical Teams.
Equipment Support
7 Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers at Wattisham provides second line equipment support to the aviation regiments. 71 and 72 Aircraft Companies are Close Support companies and 73 Aircraft Company is a General Support company.
Provost Support
156 Provost Company provides military policing support to the Brigade.It carries out reconnaissance and marking of routes, and controls road moves during deployments and exercises. It also has peacetime police duties at its base in Colchester.
RAF Support Helicopter Force
The Brigade depends on support helicopters for its mobility. RAF Puma and Chinook are the main helicopters used. On exercises and deployment they will be controlled by Support Helicopter Force HQ, usually located within Brigade HQ.
RAF Air Transport and Air Despatch
The Brigade is supported by the largest air transport fleet in western Europe, comprising 55 Hercules C-130 aircraft. They are used for Parachuting and Tactical Air Landing Operations (TALO) and both Rapid Air Landing (RAL) and Fast Air Landing (FAL) deployments.
16 Brigade is the largest operational recipient of air despatch support. Combat supplies including light armour and guns are delivered to 47 Air Despatch Squadron, which arranges them into manageable loads for packing into containers or platforms. Parachutes are then fitted and loads installed into the aircraft, before being despatched to the units on the ground.
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18/05/05
