Main Page | See live article | Alphabetical index This is the Operation Telic order of battle, which lists the British forces that took part in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. British Forces Middle East HQ - Air Marshal Brian Burridge Table of contents 1 Maritime Forces 2 Air Forces 3 Ground Forces 4 Joint Assets 5 1st Roulement 6 2nd Roulement Maritime Forces British Maritime Component Commander - Rear Admiral David Snelson (succeeded by Major General Tony Milton 16 April 2003) Commander Amphibious Task Group - Commodore Jamie Miller HMS Ark Royal 4 Sea King AsaC7's of Flight A No. 849 NAS 5 Chinook HC2's of No. 18 Squadron HMS Ocean 10 Sea King HC4's of No. 845 NAS 6 Gazelle AH1 of No. 847 NAS 6 Lynx AH7 of No. 847 NAS HMS Edinburgh 1 Lynx of No. 815 NAS HMS Liverpool 1 Lynx HAS3 of No. 815 NAS HMS York 1 Lynx of No. 815 NAS HMS Chatham 1 Lynx of No. 815 NAS HMS Richmond 1 Lynx HMA8 of No. 815 NAS HMS Marlborough 1 Lynx of No. 815 NAS HMS Bangor HMS Blyth HMS Brocklesby HMS Grimsby HMS Ledbury HMS Sandown HMS Roebuck HMS Scott HMS Splendid HMS Turbulent RFA Sir Bedivere RFA Sir Galahad RFA Sir Percivale RFA Sir Tristram RFA Argus 5 Sea King HAS6's of No. 820 NAS RFA Bayleaf RFA Brambleleaf RFA Orangeleaf RFA Grey Rover RFA Fort Austin RFA Fort Rosalie RFA Fort Victoria 5 Merlin HM1's of No. 814 NAS RFA Diligence 2 Lynxes of No. 814 NAS ashore in Bahrain Air Forces British Air Forces Component Commander - Air Vice Marshal Glenn Torpy Tornado GR4 Wing 1 - 18 Tornado GR4's and GR4A's at Ali al Salem, Kuwait Part of No. II Squadron Part of No. IX Squadron Part of No. XIII Squadron Part of No. 31 Squadron Part of No. 617 Squadron Tornado GR4 Wing 2 - 12 Tornado GR4's at Al Udeid, Qatar Part of No. 12 Squadron Part of No. 617 Squadron Harrier Wing 1 - 10 Harrier GR7's Part of No. I Squadron Part of No. 3 Squadron Harrier Wing 2 - 8 Harrier GR7's Part of No. IV Squadron at Al Jaber, Kuwait Tornado F3 Wing - 14 Tornado F3's at Prince Sultan in Saudi Arabia Part of No. XI Squadron Part of No. XXV Squadron Part of No. 43 Squadron Part of No. 111 Squadron Nimrod MR2 Wing - 6 Nimrod MR2's Part of No. 120 Squadron Part of No. 201 Squadron Part of No. 206 Squadron Tristar Detatchment - 4 Tristarss of No. 216 Squadron VC10 Wing - 7 VC10's at Prince Sultan in Saudi Arabia Part of No. 10 Squadron Part of No. 101 Squadron VC10 Medevac - 1 VC10 C1K at RAF Akrotiri from No. 10 Squadron Sentry Wing - 4 Sentry AEW1's Part of No. VIII Squadron Part of No. 23 Squadron BAe 125 Detatchment - 3 BAe 125's of No. XXXII Squadron Hercules Wing - 6 Hercules Canberra Detatchment - 2 Canberra PR9's of No. 39(PRU) Squadron Nimrod R1 Detatchment - 1 Nimrod R1 of No. 51 Squadron 27 helicopters were also sent to the area, a mixture of Pumas and Chinooks, although the breakdown of types within that number is yet to be determined. Beyond the Hercules aircraft that were based in theatre, virtually the whole of the rest of the Hercules fleet, the C-17 fleet, and those Tristars and VC10's that had remained based in the UK were involved in transport operations to and from the Persian Gulf. Please help to fill in any gaps in the information as new material comes to light. Ground Forces GOC 1st (UK) Armoured Division - Major General Robin Brims (succeeded by Major General Peter Wall) 1st Armoured Division Headquarters and Signal Regiment Queen's Dragoon Guards 1st Battalion, Duke of Wellington's Regiment 28 Regiment Royal Engineers 1 General Support Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps 2 Close Support Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps 2nd Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers 1 Close Support Medical Regiment 5 General Support Medical Regiment 1 Regiment Royal Military Police Elements of 5 (STA) Regiment Royal Artillery Elements of 33 (EOD) Regiment Royal Engineers Elements of 32 Regiment Royal Artillery - Phoenix UAV's Elements of 30 Signal Regiment Elements of 14 Signal Regiment 3 Commando Brigade - Brigadier Jim Dutton Headquarters 3 Commando Brigade 59 Independent (Commando) Squadron Royal Engineers 131 Independent (Commando) Squadron Royal Engineers (Volunteer) 9 (Commando) Assault Squadron 531 (Commando) Assault Squadron 29 (Commando) Regiment Royal Artillery - 18 105mm howitzers 40 Commando 42 Commando 7 Armoured Brigade - Brigadier Graham Binns 7 Armoured Brigade Headquarters and Signal Squadron 32 (Armoured) Regiment Royal Engineers 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery - 32 AS-90 155mm howitzers Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Battlegroup, incuding elements of 1st Battalion Irish Guards - 42 Challenger 2's, 28 Warriors 2nd Royal Tank Regiment Battlegroup, including elements of 1st Battalion The Light Infantry - 42 Challenger 2's, 28 Warriors Black Watch Battlegroup, including elements of Queen's Royal Lancers - 14 Challenger 2's, 42 Warriors 1st Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Battlegroup, including elements of Queen's Royal Lancers - 14 Challenger 2's, 42 Warriors 16 Air Assault Brigade - Brigadier 'Jacko' Page 16 Air Assault Brigade Headquarters and Signals Squadron 7 (Parachute) Regiment Royal Horse Artillery - 18 105mm howitzers 23 Engineer Regiment D Squadron Household Cavalry Regiment 7 Air Assault Battlion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers 13 Air Assault Support Regiment Royal Logistics Corps 16 Close Support Medical Regiment 156 Provost Company Royal Military Police 1st Battalion Royal Irish Regiment 1st Battalion Parachute Regiment 3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment Joint Assets National Support Element 102 Logistics Brigade - Brigadier Shaun Cowlam Headquarters 102 Logistics Brigade 2 Signal Regiment 36 Engineer Regiment 33 Field Hospital 34 Field Hospital 202 Field Hospital (Volunteer) 4 General Support Medical Regiment 3 Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers 6 Supply Regiment Royal Logistics Corps 7 Transport Regiment Royal Logistics Corps 17 Port and Maritime Regiment Royal Logistics Corps 23 Pioneer Regiment Royal Logistics Corps 24 Regiment Royal Logistics Corps 5 Regiment Royal Military Police Elements of 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment Joint Helicopter Force Headquarters 3 Regiment Army Air Corps Elements of No. 662 Squadron - Lynx AH7's and Gazelle AH1's Elements of No. 663 Squadron - Lynx AH7's and Gazelle AH1's HMS Ark Royal 4 Sea King AsaC7's of Flight A No. 849 NAS 5 Chinook HC2's of No. 18 Squadron HMS Ocean 10 Sea King HC4's of No. 845 NAS 6 Gazelle AH1 of No. 847 NAS 6 Lynx AH7 of No. 847 NAS Chinook Wing No. 7 Squadron No. 18 Squadron No. 27 Squadron Puma Detachment No. 33 Squadron It should be noted that when a battalion is referred to as a battlegroup, it is not purely made up of units from the parent unit, but is an integrated team, combining armoured units with tanks, and mechanised infantry with infantry fighting vehicles. Also, whilst 16 Air Assault Brigade is apparently the only fighting brigade listed with its own organic helicopter support in this order of battle, 3 Commando Brigade had the helicopters on board Ocean and Ark Royal to call upon, and 7th Armoured Brigade wasn't really air mobile as a formation. There were also the RAF Pumas and Chinooks mentioned above for transport purposes. Finally, 3 Commando Brigade had a United States Marine Corps unit, 15th MEU under its command in the intial stages of the war. This went back to American command around 25 March. 1st Armoured Division remained in theatre, controlling UK ground forces until June 2003, when 3rd Mechanised Division's HQ arrived in theatre to take command of British forces. 3 Commando Brigade was the first of the warfighting units to return to the UK, followed by 16 Air Assault Brigade. 7 Armoured Brigade remained in theatre until they handed over to 19 Mechanised Brigade in June. In November and December 2003, a second rotation of British forces occurred, with 3rd Division's HQ being replaced by a composite divisional HQ. 19 Mechanised Brigade was replaced with 20 Armoured Brigade. 1st Roulement GOC 3rd (UK) Mechanised Division - Major General Graeme Lamb 3rd Mechanised Division Headquarters and Signal Regiment 3 Regiment, Royal Military Police 3 Close Support Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps 3 Close Support Medical Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps 5 Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Elements of 5 Regiment Royal Artillery Elements of 7 Signal Regiment Elements of 14 Signal Regiment Elements of 30 Signal Regiment Elements of 4 General Support Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps Elements of 4 General Support Medical Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps Elements of East of England Regiment (Volunteers) Elements of Tyne-Tees Regiment (Volunteers) 19 Mechanised Brigade 19 Mechanised Brigade Headquarters and Signal Squadron 40 Regiment, Royal Artillery 38 Engineer Regiment 1st Battalion, The Queen's Lancashire Regiment 1st Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers 1st Battalion, The King's Regiment 2nd Battalion, The Light Infantry 1st Battalion, The Royal Greenjackets Elements of The Light Dragoons Elements of 2nd Royal Tank Regiment Elements of Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers (Militia) National Support Element 101 Logistics Brigade 101 Logistics Brigade Headquarters and Signal Squadron 27 Transport Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps 9 Supply Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps 168 Pioneer Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps 4 Regiment, Royal Military Police 33 Field Hospital Elements from 17 Port and Maritime Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps Elements from 29 Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps Elements from 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps Elements from 1 Postal & Courier Service Group 2nd Roulement GOC - Major General Andrew Stewart 16 Signals Regiment Elements from 14 Signals Regiment Elements from 30 Signals Regiment 20 Armoured Brigade - (succeeded by Brigadier Nick Carter) 20 Armoured Brigade Headquarters and Signal Squadron 26 Regiment Royal Artillery 35 Engineer Regiment 1st Battalion, The Light Infantry 1st Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Wales 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment 1st Battalion, The Royal Scots 1st Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Elements of The 9th/12 Lancers Elements of Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers (Militia) National Support Element 4 General Support Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps 22 Field Hospital Elements of 33 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) Elements of 1 Regiment, Royal Military Police Elements of 10 Transport Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps Elements of 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps Elements of 17 Port & Maritime Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps Elements of 23 Pioneer Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps Elements of 24 Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps Elements of 5 General Support Medical Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps This article is from Wikipedia. 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