- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 210
IAN BRUCE, Defence Correspondent August 31 2005
Copyright © 2005 Newsquest (Herald & Times) Limited. All Rights Reserved
SCOTLAND'S only tank regiment is to be sent to Iraq to fight as light infantry because the army is running out of foot soldiers.
The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (RSDG), which helped spearhead the armoured assault on Basra in 2003, is to swop most of its 68-tonne Challenger 2 tanks for rifles when it deploys back to Iraq's second city in October, as part of 7th Armoured Brigade, the Desert Rats.
Only 13 of the current 40 battalions - and just one of the six Scottish infantry units - has achieved the Ministry of Defence's goal of a 24-month gap between operational deployments in the last five years. Recruitment is also down across the entire army, with all but two of the infantry battalions failing to meet their targets for new enlistments and a forecast shortfall of 3600 this year.
Although a squadron's worth, about 14 tanks, are to go with the RSDG, the vast majority of the regiment's 57 Challengers are to be left at their permanent base in Fallingbostel, Germany.
A spokesman for the UK 1st Armoured Division, which includes the RSDG, confirmed the use of the tank troopers as emergency infantry, but said they would be "employed as necessary, depending on circumstance". The 420 officers and men of the unit have also been told that they can expect to be sent to Iraq or Afghanistan for six-month tours once every two years for the next decade to help underpin Britain's military commitment to both countries.
Britain has 8500 troops in Iraq and is preparing to deploy a 5000-strong brigade group to Afghanistan next spring.
An RSDG source told The Herald: "We asked why we were being sent in a role for which we are not primarily trained and were told that regular infantry was 'overstretched, exhausted, and unavailable' for the deployment.
"As an armoured unit, we also have 100 fewer men than a line infantry battalion. The shortfall is usually made up by odds and sods borrowed from anywhere that has spare soldiers. The more likely alternative is that we will be the rent-a-mob reinforcements broken down into penny-packets to help out hard-pressed and understrength infantry units."
The RSDG, which normally engages targets up to 2000 yards away with 120mm cannon, is conducting a crash programme of refresher training for troopers more likely to face insurgents at ranges of under 100 yards with rifles which fire 5.56mm rounds.
The 1st Armoured Division spokesman added: "The Scots Dragoon Guards will be taking sufficient armour for any task required in the shape of a few Challenger 2s, although sub-units will be operating as light infantry.
"It has not been uncommon in the past for both armoured and artillery regiments to deploy in infantry roles when required, particularly in Northern Ireland. Everyone receives the same basic training. Tank troopers are soldiers first and armoured specialists second."
Under plans announced last year for a restructuring of the infantry, the current 40 battalions are to be cut by four to 36 and reorganised into large regional regiments.
Critics claim that slashing the strength of the infantry at a time when it is in constant demand worldwide makes no military sense and will inevitably increase overstretch and further harm recruitment.
The six Scottish units are due to be merged into the Royal Regiment of Scotland next year and it is unlikely they will meet more than half of the 300-400 replacements needed annually simply to fill the gaps left by soldiers completing their service. The Highlanders, recruited from the north-east, will also be going to Iraq as part of 7 Armoured Brigade.
Copyright © 2005 Newsquest (Herald & Times) Limited. All Rights Reserved
SCOTLAND'S only tank regiment is to be sent to Iraq to fight as light infantry because the army is running out of foot soldiers.
The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (RSDG), which helped spearhead the armoured assault on Basra in 2003, is to swop most of its 68-tonne Challenger 2 tanks for rifles when it deploys back to Iraq's second city in October, as part of 7th Armoured Brigade, the Desert Rats.
Only 13 of the current 40 battalions - and just one of the six Scottish infantry units - has achieved the Ministry of Defence's goal of a 24-month gap between operational deployments in the last five years. Recruitment is also down across the entire army, with all but two of the infantry battalions failing to meet their targets for new enlistments and a forecast shortfall of 3600 this year.
Although a squadron's worth, about 14 tanks, are to go with the RSDG, the vast majority of the regiment's 57 Challengers are to be left at their permanent base in Fallingbostel, Germany.
A spokesman for the UK 1st Armoured Division, which includes the RSDG, confirmed the use of the tank troopers as emergency infantry, but said they would be "employed as necessary, depending on circumstance". The 420 officers and men of the unit have also been told that they can expect to be sent to Iraq or Afghanistan for six-month tours once every two years for the next decade to help underpin Britain's military commitment to both countries.
Britain has 8500 troops in Iraq and is preparing to deploy a 5000-strong brigade group to Afghanistan next spring.
An RSDG source told The Herald: "We asked why we were being sent in a role for which we are not primarily trained and were told that regular infantry was 'overstretched, exhausted, and unavailable' for the deployment.
"As an armoured unit, we also have 100 fewer men than a line infantry battalion. The shortfall is usually made up by odds and sods borrowed from anywhere that has spare soldiers. The more likely alternative is that we will be the rent-a-mob reinforcements broken down into penny-packets to help out hard-pressed and understrength infantry units."
The RSDG, which normally engages targets up to 2000 yards away with 120mm cannon, is conducting a crash programme of refresher training for troopers more likely to face insurgents at ranges of under 100 yards with rifles which fire 5.56mm rounds.
The 1st Armoured Division spokesman added: "The Scots Dragoon Guards will be taking sufficient armour for any task required in the shape of a few Challenger 2s, although sub-units will be operating as light infantry.
"It has not been uncommon in the past for both armoured and artillery regiments to deploy in infantry roles when required, particularly in Northern Ireland. Everyone receives the same basic training. Tank troopers are soldiers first and armoured specialists second."
Under plans announced last year for a restructuring of the infantry, the current 40 battalions are to be cut by four to 36 and reorganised into large regional regiments.
Critics claim that slashing the strength of the infantry at a time when it is in constant demand worldwide makes no military sense and will inevitably increase overstretch and further harm recruitment.
The six Scottish units are due to be merged into the Royal Regiment of Scotland next year and it is unlikely they will meet more than half of the 300-400 replacements needed annually simply to fill the gaps left by soldiers completing their service. The Highlanders, recruited from the north-east, will also be going to Iraq as part of 7 Armoured Brigade.
