The 2003 Defence
White Paper, titled Delivering Security in a Changing World, set out the future structure of the
British military, and was preceded by the 1998
Strategic Defence Review (SDR) and the 2002 SDR New Chapter, which responded to the immediate challenges to security in the aftermath of the
September 11 attacks in 2001. Published under the then
Secretary of State for Defence,
Geoff Hoon, the report effectively introduced a series of cutbacks to core equipment and manpower and the scaling back of a series of future capital procurement projects. This was justified due to the implementation of a policy termed
Network Enabled Capability. The review also outlined a major restructuring and consolidation of
British Army Infantry regiments.
Key points
The White Paper, scaling back to an extent from the previous Strategic Defence Review, outlined the following posture for the UK armed forces:
The ability to support three simultaneous small (e.g.
Operation Palliser in
Sierra Leone) to medium scale (e.g.
Operation Veritas in
Afghanistan) operations, where at least one is an enduring peace-keeping mission (e.g. Kosovo). These forces must be capable of acting as lead nation in any coalition operations.
The ability, at longer notice, to deploy forces in a large scale operation (e.g.
Operation Telic in
Iraq or
Operation Herrick in
Afghanistan) while running a concurrent small scale operation.
Most of the reforms listed below were announced as part of the Delivering Security in a Changing World: Future Capabilities review, published on 21 July 2004.
Withdrawal of 7 Challenger 2
squadrons and 6
AS-90self-propelled gun batteries (approx. 84
tanks and 48 AS90s). -> 4 of these from the Queen's Royal Lancers,[5] three others from
Royal Wessex Yeomanry (4 tank replacement squadrons dissolved to just 1 replacement squadron; A (Dorset Yeomanry) Armour Replacement Squadron[6])
Infantry battalions to be incorporated into new, large, multi-battalion regiments.
Creation of 3 light armoured squadrons that will support development of the next generation of armoured vehicles, the
Future Rapid Effect System (FRES).
Reduction in
Rapier missile launchers from 48 to 24, coupled with the transfer of the launchers to the
Royal Artillery, and the disbandment of four
RAF Regiment squadrons that operated Rapier.
HMS Brecon, Northern Ireland patrol vessel, former Hunt-class minehunter.
HMS Cottesmore, Northern Ireland patrol vessel, former Hunt-class minehunter.
HMS Dulverton, Northern Ireland patrol vessel, former Hunt-class minehunter.
The review also mentioned "significant" classified enhancements of
British special forces, including strength increases and investment in new equipment.
Financially, in a
Treasury spending review announced the week before, the
budget would rise by £3.7bn from £29.7bn in 2004/2005 to £33.4bn in 2007/2008. The review also mentions £3bn to be invested into procuring new helicopters over the next ten years.
Future army structure
The future regimental structure, after changes were outlined in the review was announced in December 2004. Significant changes included:
Creation of new 'Combat Service Support Formations', including:
Conversion of an armoured regiment to the formation reconnaissance role ->
Queen's Royal Lancers was selected,[5] and subsequently joined
19th Light Brigade (see below) and retired its Challengers[7]
All single-battalion infantry regiments to be merged into existing or new regiments. This measure met with some opposition, especially in Scotland, amongst former soldiers and nationalist groups.[8]
Reorganisation of the Territorial Army infantry into 14 battalions that are attached to regular infantry regiments of the British Army (below is the main mergers, however company sized changes did occur)
52nd Lowland Volunteers -> 52nd Lowland Volunteers, 6th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland
51st Highland Volunteers -> 51st Highland Volunteers, 7th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland