BRIGADE UNITS

 Brigade Headquarters and Signal Squadron

Brigade Headquarters and 216 Signal Squadron provide command and communications support for 16 Air Assault Brigade.  Half of the 158 men and women within 216 Signal Squadron are Parachute trained.  The Squadron has three radio troops which can field a variety of different types of Headquarters and communication systems.  All elements are deployable by parachute, helicopter or air landing.  The three radio troops are supported by a large support troop of technicians and quartermasters personnel, along with a mechanical transport troop that provides transport, line and power support.  The high standard of communications necessary to maintain this tempo means that the Squadron is heavily committed throughout the year in a variety of roles including training.

Pathfinder Platoon

The Pathfinder Platoon works with the Brigades advance force and its organic reconnaissance force.  Advance Force operations are conducted prior to any air assault operation and involve covert reconnaissance, location and marking of drop zones, tactical landing zones and helicopter landing sites.  This is to facilitate the subsequent insertion of the Brigade combat units.  The intelligence provided by the Pathfinder platoon patrols is vital to the operational decision making process within the Brigade Headquarters.  All members of the platoon train for both air and vehicle insertion and can be inserted and re-supplied by all in-service parachute techniques.

Army Air Corps (AAC)

The Brigades Aviation Regiments are provided by 3, 4 and 9 Regiments AAC.  3 and 4 Regiments are based at Wattisham Airfield and 9 Regiment at Dishforth.  The roles of the AAC are changing with the introduction of the Apache helicopter.  The Apache is currently in service with 9 Regiment with 3 Regiment undergoing conversion to role.  With the introduction of the Apache aviation has become a combat arm in its own right.  9 Regiment's conversion to role on Ex EAGLES STRIKE 2005 gave the Brigade its first dedicated AH Regiment.

The Parachute Regiment

The main ground fighting element of the Brigade is the three Air Assault Infantry Battalions.  These are comprised of 1, 2 and 3 Parachute Battalions.  These are always supportted by a line Infantry Battalion, the current  support Battalion being the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders who specialise in tactical air landing operations, rapid air land operations and providing infantry support to the lead aviation task force.  For the Parachute Battalions, this allows a three year cycle consisting of training, high readiness and other tasks, thus mirroring the current cycle of the three Aviation Regiments. The Parachute Battalions are are established at 687 men organised into six Companies, 3 Rifle Companies, a Mortar Company, a Recce Company and a Headquarter Company.

7 Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery (7 PARA RHA)

The role of providing indirect fire support belongs to 7 PARA RHA.  It is equipped with the 105mm light gun and is organised into three Batteries of six guns each.  The light gun is a versatile and dependable piece of equipment that fires high explosive, marker smoke and illuminating shells to a maximum range of 17.2km.  It is usually towed by a Pinzgauer vehicle but can be transported by Hercules C130 aircraft, Chinook HC2, Merlin HC3 or Puma HC1helicopters.  Headquarter Battery is the seat of command and control for the Regiments firepower.  Through the fire coordination cell and the fire direction cell, the Regiment is able to focus its firepower in the most effective manner, coordinating all indirect and direct assets on the battlefield.

23 Regiment Royal Engineers (23 Regt RE)

All of the Brigade's mobility, counter-mobility and survivability requirements are met by 23 Engineer Regiment (Air Assault) which was officially formed in July 2003 as a result of the Strategic Defence Review.  The Regiment has already deployed on operations in Iraq and was one of the first UK Land Force Components to cross the Iraqi border.  Four Squadrons, each with their own capability, give the Brigade an impressive and flexible engineering capability.  All of the mambers of the Regiment are expert in one or more trades over and above that of the Combat Engineer including, diving, plumbing, carpentry and electrical work.

Household Cavalry Regiment (HCR)

The Household Cavalry Regiment provides one Squadron of reconnaissance support to the Brigade.  This gives a durable all weather vehicle borne and dismounted reconnaissance capability.  Able to operate in all aspects of war, the Squadron provides high definition intelligence on terrain, enemy dispositions and intentions and is able to pass this intelligence back to Brigade Headquarters via secure communications.  HCR have provided reconnaissance support to the Brigade for over 15 years, a large number of the Squadron personnel are Parachute trained.  The Squadron has a wide experience of the specific requirements of Airmobile operations and is well skilled in the roles of TALO and FAL, thus ensuring that it is able to provide armoured support to the Brigade that is at once rapidly deployable and sustainable.

13 Air Assault Support Regiment RLC

Logistic support to the Brigade is provided by 13 Regt RLC.  It supplies and delivers all stores and spares required for the Brigade to operate, from rations and clothing to vehicle parts and artillery ammunition.  The Regiment currently comprises four task Squadrons: 15 Attack Support Squadron, 47 Air Despatch Squadron, 63 Air Assault Brigade Support Squadron and 82 General Support Squadron and employs both PARA and non PARA trained soldiers of numerous trades.

7 Air Assault Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (7 Bn REME)

A high standard of equipment maintenance under all conditions is essential for the Brigade to remain operationally capable.  7 Bn REME is the holder of this task.  Their primary role is to provide all second line equipment support and aviation spares to the Brigade as well as supplying spares to the aviation units wherever they may be deployed, they have a spares regeneration capability with tri-service potential.

16 Close Support Medical Regiment (16 CS Med Regt)

Formed in 1999 from an amalgamation of 19 Airmobile Field Ambulance and 23 Parachute Field Ambulance, 16 CS Med Regt is already a critical part of the Brigade.  Between them they have been involved in every major operation since World War II.  The new regiment having seen operational service in Sierra Leone, Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan and more recently Iraq.  The Regiment supplies dedicated medical support to the Brigade and is called on to support the complete spectrum of Air Assault operations, including airmobile and parachute deployments.

156 Provost Company Royal Military Police (156 Pro Coy RMP)

 When the Brigade deploys on operations it will take with it a Company headquarters and two Platoons from 156 Pro Coy RMP.  The major roles for the Provost Coy are to regulate, protect and inform.  They are equipped and trained to deal with investigations to, and  above, the standards laid down by the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.  The Brigade detachment provides a 24hr emergency response service and is the focal point for Military Police action for soldiers serving in their area of responsibility.  They are ideally located to serve the Brigade in terms of Garrison Policing and security patrols.

Brigade Parachute Squadron (BPS)

The Brigade Parachute Squadron is responsible for providing the military parachute capability for the 5000 parachute trained troops within 16 Air Assault Brigade, 3 Commando Brigade, The Submarine Advisory Group (SPAG), II Sqn RAF Regiment, all external regimentally employed personnel and TA parachute units across the country.  Commanded by an RAF Squadron Leader, the BPS comes under the operational command of the Joint Helicopter Command (JHC) and everyday operational control of 16 Air Assault Brigade.