British Battlegroup

The British Battlegroup[4] or UK Battlegroup[1] is an EU Battlegroup, consisting entirely of British armed forces. It was on standby from 1 January, until 30 June 2005,[1] and from 1 July, until 31 December 2008.[2][3]

British Battlegroup
UK Battlegroup
Active1 January 2005 – 30 June 2005[1]
1 July 2008 – 31 December 2008[2][3]
Country United Kingdom
Allegiance European Union
BranchEU Battlegroup
TypeRapid reaction force
Size1,500
Part ofEuropean Union Military Staff
Garrison/HQLondon, United Kingdom
Commanders
Current
commander		General lieutenant Nick Houghton

Background

The United Kingdom, as part of the European Union, contributes part of its armed forces to the EU Battlegroup scheme. This scheme puts a battlegroup composed of elements from one or more EU member states at the disposal of the European Council to be deployed as required. As one of the larger EU members, the United Kingdom contributes to two individual battlegroups. The British Battlegroup is made up entirely of British forces, while the other, the UK–Dutch Battlegroup, has the UK as the "framework" (i.e. lead) nation in the formation, in conjunction with forces from the Netherlands. The Netherlands also contributes to Battlegroup 107, alongside Germany and Finland.

Composition and equipment

The two UK-led battlegroups are formed from units declared to the UK's Joint Rapid Reaction Force, a rapid deployment element formed either from 3 Commando Brigade or 16 Air Assault Brigade, which are the elite commando and paratroop formations.[5]

References
  1. John Reid (27 January 2006). "Lessons Identified from Battlegroups Initial Operational Capability". Hansard. House of Commons of the United Kingdom. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  2. Volpi, Valerio (2011). Why Europe Will Not Run the 21st Century: Reflections on the Need for a New European Federation. Cambridge: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. p. 155. ISBN 978-1443830522. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  3. Landstrom, Gustav (February 2007). "Enter the EU Battlegroups" (PDF). Chaillot Paper. EUISS (97): 88. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  4. Bonaiuti, Chiara; Lodovisi, Achille (2010). Sicurezza, controllo e finanza. Le nuove dimensioni del mercato degli armamenti (in Italian). Milan: Editoriale Jaca Book. p. 273. ISBN 978-8816409279. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  5. Joint Rapid Reaction Force (JRRF): armedforces.co.uk
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