Alternate British Armed Forces stuff...

[natehale1971]

This is some of what I'm working on... An expansion of the British Armed Forces for a world that the Cold War never ended, and progressed into our world of day (kind of like a more serious version of Archer, that will be the backdrop for the Twilight War game I want to run).

I've been working on alot of things for the British Army.

Right now, this is what i have about the Home Guard that was organized after the Territorial Army was mobilized when the Twilight War had gotten started. I'm guessing at what weapons, vehicles and equipment that the Home Guard would be equipped with... basicly having them wearing old-style pre-DPM battle dress uniforms (going with them wearing them for service dress and combat dress). I saw them using old weapons, apcs and tanks that were still in strategic stockpiles.


British Home Guard

The British Government began organizing a modern Home Guard as Territorial Army units were being activated for their immediate mobilization for deployment overseas, along with the reestablishment of many of the disestablished & disbanded units of the past decades for expanding the Regular Army. The Home Guard

The British Home Guard units were equipped with weapons, vehicles and equipment that were issued from the strategic stockpiles. Home Guard units wore khaki battle dress uniforms that had been retired after the adoption of the modern DPM battle dress.

The British Home Guard would use the same ranks as the British Army, with the highest rank being that of either General or Lieutenant General (or even Major General)... I don't know yet. The Home Guard is suppose to be their to help protect the home front with part-time soldiers under the direction of both the British Army and the Police Force.

I was thinking of the name used for the rank of Private being Warder, but i don't know yet.

L1A1 SLR 7.62mm assault rifle
FV214 Conqueror main battle tank
FV4007 Centurion main battle tank


I'm also coming up with fictional vehicles that are based on some actual concepts as well.. like unmanned aerial vehicles, and a fifth generation fighter... an updated harrier jumpjet for the British aircraft carriers.

The British Defense Industry was increased to provide export sales to commonwealth states... with the collapse of the EU proposals, and growth of various competing military alliances (Med Alliances, Congo Pact, Beijing Pact, Havana Pact, ect) they had alot of people who'd be buying from them.

BAE Systems Corax unmanned aerial vehicle
BAE Systems Phoenix reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle
BAE Systems <> high endurance reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle
BAE Systems Fury high endurance unmanned combat aerial vehicle
Zephyr
BAE Systems <> unmanned combat aerial vehicle


Royal Ordnance
Royal Ordnance Factory
Royal Small Arms Factory (Enfield)
Birmingham Small Arms Company

Vickers Defense Systems
Westland Helicopters

British Aerospace Systems / BAE Systems

BAE Systems Land and Armaments
BAE Systems Surface Fleet Solutions
BAE Systems Global Combat Systems Munitions


Hawker Siddeley Group
Hawker Siddeley Aviation (HSA): Aircraft division
Hawker Siddeley Dynamics (HSD): Guided missiles & Space Technology.



Royal Navy ranks:
O-12: Admiral of the Fleet (Adm of the Fleet)
O-11: Fleet Admiral (FAdm)
O-10: Admiral (Adm)
O-9: Vice Admiral (VAdm)
O-8: Rear Admiral (RAdm)
O-7: Commodore (Cdre)
O-6: Captain (Capt)
O-5: Commander (Cdr)
O-4: Lieutenant Commander (Lt Cdr)
O-3: Lieutenant (Lt)
O-2: Sub-Lieutenant (SLt)
O-1: Midshipman (Mid) / Acting Sub-Lieutenant (ASL)
OR-9: Warrant Officer One (WO1)
OR-8: Warrant Officer Two (WO2)
OR-7: Chief Petty Officer (CPO)
OR-6: Petty Officer (PO)
OR-4: Leading Rating or Leading Seaman (LH)
OR-2: Able Rating or Able Seaman (AB)
OR-1: Ordinary Rating Ordinary Seaman (ORD)

Royal Marine ranks:
O-10: General (Gen)
O-9: Lieutenant General (Lt-Gen)
O-8: Major General (Maj-Gen)
O-7: Brigadier (Brig)
O-6: Colonel (Col)
O-5: Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col)
O-4: Major (Maj)
O-3: Captain (Capt)
O-2: Lieutenant (Lt)
O-1: Second Lieutenant (2Lt)
OR-9: Warrant Officer One
OR-8: Warrant Officer Two
OR-7: Color Sergeant (CSgt)
OR-6: Sergeant
OR-4: Corporal
OR-3: Lance Corporal
OR-1: Marine (Mne)


British Army ranks:
O-12: Marshal of the British Army
O-11: Field Marshal (FM)
O-10: General (Gen)
O-9: Lieutenant General (Lt-Gen)
O-8: Major General (Maj-Gen)
O-7: Brigaider (Brig)
O-6: Colonel (Col)
O-5: Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col)
O-4: Major (Maj)
O-3: Captain (Capt)
O-2: Lieutenant (Lt)
O-1: Second Lieutenant (2Lt)
OR-9: Warrant Officer One
OR-8: Warrant Officer Two
OR-7: Staff Sergeant (SSgt) / Color Sergeant (CSgt)
OR-6: Sergeant (Sgt)
OR-4: Corporal (Cpl) / Bombardier
OR-3: Lance Corporal (LCpl) / Lance Bombardier
OR-1: Private (Pte)


Royal Air Force ranks: I debated on the rank of Senior Air Chief Marshal for the O-11 rank... but it didn't really seem to fit. Any suggestion would be apprecated.
O-12: Marshal of the Royal Air Force (MRAF)
O-11:
O-10: Air Chief Marshal (Air Chf Mshl)
O-9: Air Marshal (Air Mshl)
O-8: Air Vice Marshal (AVM)
O-7: Air Commodore (Air Cdre)
O-6: Group Captain (Gp Capt)
O-5: Wing Commander (Wg Cdr)
O-4: Squadron Leader (Sqn Ldr)
O-3: Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt)
O-2: Flying Officer (Fg Off)
O-1: Pilot Officer (Plt Off) / Acting Pilot Officer (APO)
OR-9: Warrant Officer (WO) / Master Aircrew (MAcr)
OR-7: Chief Technician (Chf Tech) / Flight Sergeant (Flt Sgt)
OR-5: Technician (Tech) / Sergeant (Sgt)
OR-4: Corporal (Cpl)
OR-3: Senior Aircraftman or Senior Aircraftwoman (SAC) / Lance Corporal (LCpl)
OR-2: Leading Aircraftman or Leading Aircraftwoman (LAC)
OR-1: Aircraftman or Aircraftwoman (AC)


Regimental Corporal Major (Regimental Sergeant major)

Staff Corporal (Staff Sergeant)
Corporal of Horse (Sergeant)
Lance Corporal of Horse (Lance Sergeant /Corporal)
Lance Corporal

Airtrooper (Atpr)
Bugler (Bgr)
Craftsman (Cfn)
Drummer (Dmr)
Fusilier (Fus)
Gunner (Gnr)
Guardsman (Gdsm)
Highlander (Hldr)
Kingsman (Kgn)
Marine (Mne) Bandsman ()
Musician (Mus)
Piper (Ppr)
Ranger (Rgr)
Rifleman (Rfn)
Sapper (Spr)
Signaller (Sig)
Trooper (Tpr)
Trumpeter (Tptr)

[95th Rifleman]

Home guard would make sense in time of war.

The TA would be the first called up and slotted into regular battalions, after that concsription would kick in so it's entirely possible for a WW2-style homeguard to be formed from old men and young lads.

I was thinking of women, would they be subject to conscription? It's an interesting point in the modern world where so many branches and services are open to women. It would make sense to conscript women aswell and use them in as many non-combat roles as possible, thus freeing men for front-line combat duty.

[natehale1971]

Originally Posted by 95th Rifleman

Home guard would make sense in time of war.

The TA would be the first called up and slotted into regular battalions, after that concsription would kick in so it's entirely possible for a WW2-style homeguard to be formed from old men and young lads.

I was thinking of women, would they be subject to conscription? It's an interesting point in the modern world where so many branches and services are open to women. It would make sense to conscript women aswell and use them in as many non-combat roles as possible, thus freeing men for front-line combat duty.

Yes... Conscription would inculde women. in a way I was thinking that by volunteering for service in the Home Guard, it could allow for women to not get drafted for the Regular or Territorial Army. Especially those who are single mothers.

[95th Rifleman]

In a major war the territorial army would cease to exist.

The terrirtorials would be folded into the regular army. The terrirtorials are a purely peacetime construct. Very different from the US national guards.

[natehale1971]

Even after having been folded into the Regular Army, would they still have the title as having original been Territorial Army units? Ie... the (TA) after their name? Or is that removed?

In the US we have the Regular Army, the Army National Guard and Conscripts that are brought together to create the Army of the United States (AUS).

On our dogtags the service number would be followed up with RA for regular army, ARNG for National Guard and AUS for drafted personnel. is there anything like that for the British dogtags?

[95th Rifleman]

Nope, goes back to the Regimental system.

Most TA units are a battalion of a regular Regiment, I'll give you an example.

The Rifles

The Rifles have 5 regular battalions, 1st Btn is a commando unit, 2nd and 3rd are light infantry, 4th is mechanised and 5th is Armoured.

In the british army a mechanised Btn uses older APCs while Armoured infantry use the Warrior IFV.

The Rifles have two TA Btns 6th and 7th.

When the brown stuff hits the rotary air cooling device, the 6th and 7th will be folded into the regular Btns and will just become regular infantry.

TA are essentilay part-time regulars who share the regimental identity of their parent unit. It's a very different system to the US natonal guards.

[Rainbow Six]

The Home Service Force (HSF) would fill the role of the Home Guard. In the event of a major War it would probably be expanded and recruitement criteria probably relaxed to include those who didn't have prior military service.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_Service_Force

[James Langham]

Originally Posted by Rainbow Six

The Home Service Force (HSF) would fill the role of the Home Guard. In the event of a major War it would probably be expanded and recruitement criteria probably relaxed to include those who didn't have prior military service.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_Service_Force

Here is the list of HSF Companies (and the odd platoon) I have been able to find complete with locations where I have found these. Note that the plan was for every TA Battalion or equivalent to form a HSF Coy.

HSF
E (HSF) (Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry) Squadron The Royal Wessex Yeomanry – Old Sarum
D (HSF) The Queen's Own Mercian Yeomanry - Telford
1 Company, Honourable Artillery Company – London
2 Company, Honourable Artillery Company – London
A (HSF) Battery, 103 Air Defence Regiment, Royal Artillery (V) – Liverpool, St Helens, Widnes)
F Company, 1 52nd Lowland Volunteers – Ayr – to RAS
G Company, 1 52nd Lowland Volunteers – Dumfries – to RAS
5 Company, 2 52nd Lowland Volunteers – Edinburgh – to RAS
Z Company, 1 51st Highland Volunteers – Perth/Kirkaldy/Dundee – to RAS
Y Company, 2nd 51st Highland Volunteers – Elgin/Inverness/Stornowray/Wick/Kirkwall – to RAS
X Company, 2nd 51st Highland Volunteers – Aberdeen/Lerwick/Peterhead/Laurencekirk – to RAS
W Company, 3rd 51st Highland Volunteers – Stirling/Dumbarton/Grangemouth – to RAS
St Lucia Company, 6th Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (Newcastle upon Tyne)
E (HSF) Company, 4th (V) Battalion King's Own Royal Border Regiment
E (HSF) Company, 5th/8th Battalion The Kings Regiment
H (York and Lancaster) (HSF) Company 4th Battalion the Yorkshire Volunteers – Doncaster/Rotherham/Barnsley
G (HSF) Company 4th (V) Battalion The Devonshire and Dorset Regiment (1st Rifle Volunteers)- Plymouth
E (HSF) Company, 2nd The Wessex Regiment (Rifle Volunteers) – Reading/Maidenhead/Winchester/Portsmouth
E (HSF) Company, 3 (V) Battalion the Royal Regiment of Wales– Cardiff/Brecon - to Welsh government
F (Nottinghamshire HSF) Company, 3rd (V) Battalion, The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment –
Worksop/Mansfield/Beeston
G (Derbyshire HSF) Company, 3rd (V) Battalion, The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment – Derby/Chesterfield
E (HSF) Company, 6th (Somerset and Cornwall) Battalion, The Light Infantry (V) – Bath
F (HSF) Company, 6th (Somerset and Cornwall) Battalion, The Light Infantry (V) – Truro
E (HSF) Company, 7th (Durham) Battalion, The Light Infantry (V) – Bishop/Auckland/Hordon/Washington
348 Signal Squadron (HSF) Inns of Court and City Yeomanry (The Devils' Own)
18 Platoon, (HSF) 6 Coy, 5th (V) Battalion, Royal Anglian Regiment
218 (HSF) Squadron, Royal Corps of Transport (Hull)
300 (HSF) Squadron, Royal Corps of Transport (East Yorkshire)
A (HSF) Bty 103 AD Regiment, Royal Artillery (V)
5 Coy (HSF) 10th (V) Battalion, The Parachute Regiment
13 Platoon, (HSF) H Coy, 3rd Battalion Yorkshire Volunteers
(HFS) 4th (V) Battalion, Royal Green Jackets
(HFS) 5th (V) Battalion, Royal Green Jackets
(HFS) 6th (V) Battalion, Royal Green Jackets
(HFS) 7th (V) Battalion, Royal Green Jackets

Edit - Ignore any references to RAS above, that's from my campaign.

[natehale1971]

The British Unified Combatant Commands...

I've been hunting to find out if the British Armed Forces has anything like the United States Unified Combantant Commands, and haven't found anything yet.. So I came up with something along these lines...


British Forces Europe
British Forces Americas (North, Central & South America)
British Forces Africa
British Forces Far East (Asia & Pacific Rim)
British Forces Near East (Middle East)
British Forces Gibraltar
British Forces Hong Kong
British Forces Brunei
British Forces Cyprus
British Forces Falkland Islands
British Forces Caribbean (or would it be British Forces Jamica?)


British Army
-Regular Army
-Territorial Army
-Home Guard

Royal Navy
-Royal Navy Reserve
-Royal Marines

Royal Air Force