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Old 12-08-2009, 10:27 AM
RN7 RN7 is offline
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There were 4 British Brigade HQ in Northern Ireland in the 1990s. 3rd, 8th and 39th Infantry Brigades were regional brigades covering various parts of Northern Ireland, containing a mix of regular troops and UDR. 107th (Ulster) Brigade is a TA Brigade which contained 4th and 5th Royal Irish Rangers, the North Irish Horse and signals, engineer and artillery elements.

All brigades were earmarked for transfer out of Ireland as the war in Europe heated up. 3rd Infantry Brigade was transferred out of Ireland to 3rd Mechanised Division with BAOR, but with trouble brewing in Ireland the others are likely to have stayed.

8th Infantry Brigade (Battalions rotate out)
1st Bn, The Light Infantry: 8x 81mm mortars, 6x Milan, 4x .50 cal mg
3rd Bn, The Light Infantry: 8x 81mm mortars, 6x Milan, 4x .50 cal mg

39th Infantry Brigade (Dedicated to the defence of Northern Ireland) (The Battalions rotate out).
1st Bn, The Devon and Dorset Regiment: 71x FV432, 4x Sultan, 7x Ferret, 8x Scimitar, 8x 81mm Mortar, 24x Milan
1st Bn, The Cheshire Regiment (Light Infantry): 8x 81mm mortars, 6x Milan, 4x .50 cal mg

107 (Ulster) Brigade (NI)
North Irish Horse (TA): 29x Sultan, 40x Scimitar, 32xScorpion, 20x Striker, 20x Spartan, 17x Ferret
1st Bn, The Royal Irish Rangers: 71x FV432, 4x Sultan, 7x Ferret, 8x Scimitar, 8x 81mm Mortar, 24x Milan
2nd Bn, The Royal Irish Rangers: 71x FV432, 4x Sultan, 7x Ferret, 8x Scimitar, 8x 81mm Mortar, 24x Milan
4th Bn, The Royal Irish Rangers (TA): 74x Land Rovers
5th Bn, The Royal Irish Rangers (TA): 74x Land Rovers

Ulster Defense Regiment (TA)
11 Infantry Battalions (Light Infantry): 8x 81mm mortars, 6x Milan, 4x .50 cal mg (each) * It is likely that only 5 battalions or even 3 (large) battalion were active.


One British Army Armoured Regiment had 70x Challenger, 4x Sultan, 8x Scorpion, 10x FV432, 8x Ferret. In the 90’s three armoured regiments were based in the UK, and two of them were not assigned to reinforce the BAOR in Germany. One British Army Territorial Yeomanry Regiment had 80x Fox, 20x Spartan, 11x Sultan, 11x Ferret and 5x Samaritan. One British Army Light Field Artillery Regiment had 24-18x 105mm guns. Any one of them could easily be transported to Ireland by ferry in a few hours.
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