Screening Force 1st Reconnaissance Brigade | |
---|---|
Active | 1997–2005/6; 8 years, 9 months |
Country | United Kingdom |
Branch | British Army |
Type | Reconnaissance Formation |
Role | Commanding the Formation Reconnaissance regiments attached to divisions |
Size | Brigade |
Part of | Headquarters Theatre Troops [1] |
Brigade HQ | Netheravon [2] |
The 1st Reconnaissance Brigade was a short-lived specialist formation of the British Army which administered the formation reconnaissance regiments not attached to a division or brigade, and was disbanded sometime between 2005 and 2006. [3]
Sometime after the publishing of the 1981 Defence White Paper "The Way Forward", the Screening Force (Corps Border Surveillance Force) was formed as an ad hoc brigade within I (British) Corps. Brigadier Royal Armoured Corps, British Army of the Rhine would become 'Commander Screening Force' on mobilisation. [4] [5]
The force's objective, if mobilised, was to hold off a soviet frontal invasion for as long as possible until the 1st and 4th Armoured Divisions could be moved into position. [5] If mobilised, the brigade would control al the units of the division in the reconnaissance role and providing a reconnaissance/screening force. [6] On mobilisation, the force would have consisted: [6] [5]
In 1992 following the disbandment of the British Army of the Rhine, the force HQ was disbanded.
The 1st Reconnaissance Brigade was established on 1 April 1997. [10]
The brigade might have been assigned to HQ Allied Rapid Reaction Corps. [11] Following the 2003 reorganisation of the Army under 'LANDmark', HQ Theatre Troops was formed to oversee the specialist brigades of the army. [12] The brigade soon joined HQ Theatre Troops, which it would remain under until disbanding in 2005-06, following the Future Army Structure programme. [13] [14]