British Army Order of Battle 1989
The following order of battle is extracted from regiments.org (specifically the location data extracted from the national archive), and a question in Parliamentary Hansard about the role of TA units.
The British Army had 2 Forward Edge of Battle Divisions, the 1st and 4th. These would be the âfront lineâ of the BAOR. The 3rd Division was the tactical reserve, without any major TA reinforcements, it was lighter, but much more mobile than the 1st and 4th. The 2nd Division was the deep reserve, almost entirely TA, and totally airmobile, they would counter any major penetration.
The Strategic Reserve at home comprised 3 Brigades ready for deployment to world trouble spots. The 3rd Commando Brigade was largely formed of Royal Marines and the 5th Airborne Brigade was comprised of Paratroopers. The 1st Infantry Brigade was the a home based Armour-Mechanised formation, and included the highest priority TA Battalion in the army, 1 Wessex, which had priority above the vast majority of regular units for equipment and training.
The regional forces were a general reserve. Of note is 54 Brigade, which on mobilisation of 2nd Infantry Division assumed control of the 15 and 49 Brigade areas, and the remaining units.
In addition to the forces listed in Northern Ireland, there were also roulemont units pulled from other formations, usually 4 major units, including armoured and artillery units in the infantry role.
British Army of the Rhine (1st British Army)
Corps Troops
4th Battalion, Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters (From 49th (Eastern) Infantry Brigade)
9th/12th Royal Lancers (Recce)
Berlin Brigade
1st Battalion, Kingâs Regiment
1st Battalion, Light Infantry
1st Battalion, Royal Highland Fusiliers
1st Battalion, Black Watch
Artillery Division
Various artillery regiments
8th Battalion, Queenâs Fusiliers (From 56th (London) Infantry Brigade)
1st Armoured Division
1st Queenâs Dragoon Guards (Recce)
4th Battalion, Parachute Regiment
10th Battalion, Parachute Regiment
15th Battalion, Parachute Regiment
7th Armoured Brigade (Fallingbostal, FRG)
Royal Scots Dragoon Guards
2nd Royal Tank Regiment
1st Battalion, Staffordshire Regiment
4th Battalion, Royal Green Jackets (From 56th (London) Infantry Brigade)
12th Armoured Brigade (Osnabruck, FRG)
5th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards
4th Royal Tank Regiment
1st Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment
1st Battalion, Royal Green Jackets
22nd Armoured Brigade (Hohne, FRG)
Queenâs Own Hussars
1st Battalion, Scots Guards
2nd Battalion, Royal Anglian Regiment (Celle)
4th Armoured Division
16th/5th Queenâs Royal Lancers (Recce)
11th Armoured Brigade (Minden, FRG)
3rd Royal Tank Regiment (Hemer)
2nd Battalion, Queenâs Regiment
3rd Battalion, Royal Anglian Regiment
1st Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
1/51st Highland Volunteers (From 51st (Highland) Infantry Brigade)
<<That was me, there. I think 4th Armoured Division was considered quite important at the time....
2/51st Highland Volunteers (From 51st (Highland) Infantry Brigade)
1/52nd Lowland Volunteers (From 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Brigade)