British Ground Forces

The Land Forces of Great Britain are the most numerous branch of the Royal Armed Forces. They have 102 thousand people and are designed to solve a wide range of tasks in the conduct of hostilities both according to national plans and as part of the joint armed forces of NATO, the response force of the European Union and other multinational formations, as well as to participate in peacekeeping and humanitarian operations. In addition, units and subdivisions of the ground forces can be involved to assist civilian authorities in localizing the impact of man-made and natural disasters, as well as in eliminating their consequences.

British ground forces structure

The country's ground forces consist of regular troops and a reserve. Regular troops are subdivided according to their intended purpose into maneuverable forces, a joint helicopter command, and a command for training and improving the combat capabilities of the ground forces.

Agile forces(field army) are the most combat-ready component of the ground forces. They are designed to operate outside the metropolis according to national plans and as part of multinational groups. Formations and units of the field army are manned by 85-95%, weapons and military equipment - by 100%.

Joint Helicopter Command includes all helicopter units and divisions of the national Armed Forces, as well as the 16th Air Assault Brigade. Its main task is to ensure the mobility of ground forces units during various operations and combat support for their use.

Command for training and improving combat capabilities is intended mainly for the organization of recruitment, training, all-round support and conduct of combat training. It includes: recruitment and initial training centers, training centers for vocational training and training grounds, the military academy of the ground forces (Sandhurst), and logistic support units of the ground forces.

The ground forces of Great Britain are divided according to their functional purpose into the following types of troops: motorized infantry, armored units, army aviation, artillery and air defense units, engineering troops, rear troops of the ground forces, as well as the military police and the military medical service of the ground forces.

In total, the ground forces are armed with 345 tanks; guns PA - 266, MLRS - 42 and mortars - 2 563; ATGM - 900; SAM launchers - 253; armored combat vehicles - 2,603; combat helicopters - 294 units.

At present, the British regular forces have 36 battalions: mechanized (armed with BMP "Warrior"); motorized infantry (armored personnel carriers "Saxon" and "Spartan"); light and airborne.

The combat capabilities of the ground forces of the United Kingdom are represented by 11 armored regiments of regular troops (weapons - main battle tanks "Challenger-2"), as well as 15 regiments of artillery and air defense (self-propelled howitzers AS 90, transported 105-mm howitzers, multiple launch rocket systems GMLRS, air defense systems "Sgarstrik" and "Rapira", UAV "Hermes").

Five Army Aviation Regiments provide support for ground units on the battlefield. They are armed with helicopters Apache, Lynx, Gazelle, Chinook and Puma.

Corps of Engineers represented by 14 shelves equipped with special appliances and equipment. In addition, the ground forces include 12 signal regiments, 17 logistic support regiments and eight battalions of the military medical service.

Under the existing system of maintaining combat readiness, the units of the ground forces of Great Britain do not have places of permanent deployment. In practice, this means redeploying battalions to training centers with a frequency of 2-2.5 years. The retraining period takes about 12 months. Thus, out of 36 battalions of infantry of regular troops, five to seven subunits are not capable of performing the assigned tasks in full.

Ground Forces Reserve consists of a regular reserve and an organized reserve (in English terminology - a territorial army).

Regular reserve includes former military personnel of regular troops who are periodically involved in retraining and, in the event of mobilization, can be called up to military service.

Territorial Army (TA) consists of military personnel who have entered into a contract for service in the reserve. TA is designed to solve the following main tasks: training of personnel and the formation of subunits as a component of regular troops performing combat missions to protect national and allied interests outside the country; replenishment with trained personnel of cadre units and subunits of regular troops on the territory of the country, as well as replenishment of losses incurred during the conduct of hostilities; developing ties with civilian population and local governments to assist in emergencies and to promote service in the British Armed Forces.

The territorial army is composed of contract reservists and has two tank, 14 infantry and one reconnaissance mechanized battalion, five artillery and two regiments of army aviation, as well as units and subunits of combat and logistics support (10 engineering battalions, 11 signal regiments and 16 logistic regiments), in which reservists undergo military training.

In addition, a component of the territorial army is the response force (about 7 thousand people), designed to participate, together with the police and special services, in anti-terrorist operations on the territory of the country, to assist civilian authorities in eliminating the consequences of large-scale terrorist actions of various nature (including using weapons of mass destruction), man-made disasters and natural disasters.

In peacetime, 6-7% of the total number of reservists is periodically involved. With the outbreak of the war in Iraq, this figure increased to 15%.

According to the established historical tradition, which appeared as a result of the military reform carried out in 1881, which adopted the so-called Cardwell system, in the British Armed Forces there are regiments - territorial recruitment centers with their own names. These parts can be categorized by territory (Gards, Scottish, Queens, Kings, Prince of Wales, Light).

The Conservative government, following in the wake of the foreign policy of American imperialism, through which it expects to maintain its weight and influence in European affairs, provided the country for the deployment of 160 American cruise missiles (including 96 at Greenham Common and 64 at Molsworth). The British Isles contain more than 20 thousand American troops, the United States uses eight air bases and several naval bases. Here are their ammunition depots, including nuclear ones, communication centers, etc.

The aggressive nature of the British military-political leadership and its imperial ambitions were most openly manifested in 1982 during the US-backed trip to the Falkland Islands (Malvinas). The English Tories are artificially whipping up an atmosphere of militant chauvinism and anti-Soviet hysteria in the country in order to make it easier to achieve the allocation of huge appropriations for militaristic purposes.

The construction of the British Armed Forces is carried out in accordance with the military doctrine requiring a compact, balanced ground forces, air force and naval forces that would be able to ensure the achievement of political goals and the implementation of strategic tasks in any possible conflicts, as well as taking into account the development program of the joint armed forces ( OVS) NATO. At the same time, the main attention is paid to expanding mobilization capabilities, combat readiness of troops, improving the organizational structure of the branches of the armed forces, increasing their strategic and tactical mobility, strengthening the fire and strike power of formations and units, improving the quality of operational and combat training of headquarters and troops, as well as equipping them modern models of weapons and military equipment.

By designation, the British command subdivides the armed forces into strategic nuclear and general purpose... The former included four nuclear-powered missile submarines equipped with Polaris-AZ missiles (16 ballistic missile silos each). The rest of the formations and parts of the branches of the armed forces are general-purpose forces with delivery vehicles nuclear weapons.

The plans for the construction of the armed forces for the 80-90s provide for a further increase in the combat potential of the strategic nuclear forces by re-equipping SSBNs, as well as replacing them with new ones. Since 1983, the general-purpose forces have been reorganizing the ground forces, creating "rapid deployment forces", modernizing ships of the main classes, qualitatively updating the air force fleet, and taking a number of measures aimed at increasing the combat and mobilization readiness of reserve components of the armed services. forces.

According to foreign press reports, the total number of regular armed forces is 321,000: ground forces - 159,000, Air Force - 90,000, and Navy - 72,000. There are about 280,000 people in various categories of the reserve.

Bodies of the highest military administration. In accordance with the legislation existing in Great Britain, the king (queen) is the supreme commander of the country's armed forces. In fact, the top leadership of the country's military policy, the main directions of building the armed forces and preparations for war is exercised by the Cabinet of Ministers through the Defense Committee headed by the Prime Minister.

Defense Committee is engaged in the development of issues of military policy of the state in accordance with the instructions of the cabinet of ministers, determines the general direction of the development and use of the armed forces, and in wartime he leads operations. It includes the prime minister (chairman) and ministers: defense, foreign affairs, internal affairs, finance, industry, trade and others.

Ministry of Defence fulfills the decisions of the Cabinet of Ministers and the Defense Committee, that is, the British government, which expresses the interests of monopoly capital and the landed aristocracy. It directly supervises the country's armed forces, carries out all measures for their construction, organization, armament and material and technical support.

Its main bodies are the defense headquarters, the departments of the ground forces, the air force and the navy, the main directorates (planning and construction of the armed forces, arms procurement, budgetary and financial, personnel and rear services, administrative, military scientific).

The Minister of Defense has a supreme collegial body - defense council, which solves the fundamental issues of building the armed forces. It consists of the Minister of Defense (chairman) and the Deputy, Chief of the Defense Staff, Chiefs of Staff of the branches of the armed forces and some of the main directorates of the Ministry of Defense.

Defense headquarters is the organ of the operational command of the armed forces. It includes the apparatus of the chief of staff of defense and main directorates (operational, military policy, communications, intelligence and others). His chief is in fact the commander-in-chief of the country's armed forces.

The departments of the Land Forces, the Air Force and the Navy are responsible for the construction and use of the corresponding branches of the armed forces, their recruitment, the organization of combat training and logistics. They are headed by parliamentary deputy defense ministers.

Ground troops are the most numerous branch of the British Armed Forces, designed to conduct hostilities both independently and as part of the NATO Allied Forces in Europe.

The ground forces are composed of regular and territorial troops. The first are organizationally consolidated into two commands: on the territory of Great Britain and in the Federal Republic of Germany, as well as into small contingents deployed in other parts of the world.

In the combat composition of the regular troops, there are three armored divisions, one motorized infantry and one artillery division, 13 separate motorized infantry brigades, as well as separate units and subunits of various types of troops and services.

Ground Forces Command in Great Britain includes a motorized infantry division (2nd), ten separate motorized infantry brigades (of which five are cropped) and a number of separate units of various types of troops.

Formations and units deployed on their own territory form the so-called UK mobile forces, which are part of the strategic reserve of the NATO Supreme Commander in Europe. They are intended mainly to reinforce British troops in the FRG, to defend the British Isles, and to perform other tasks. Here are the units and subunits of the ground forces, allocated in accordance with the plans of the block command in mobile NATO forces: a separate motorized infantry battalion, an artillery battery, a reconnaissance company, a communications company, a sapper platoon, support and service units with a total strength of about 1.5 thousand people. This contingent is considered prepared for combat operations in Arctic conditions.

British Army Command in the Federal Republic of Germany (British Rhine Army, headquarters in Reindalen) - the largest grouping of the British ground forces (about 55 thousand people). Its commander is also the commander NATO Northern Group of armies in the Central European theater of operations.

The basis of this command is 1st Army Corps(headquarters in Bielefeld), which is the most combat-ready formation of the British forces, equipped with nuclear weapons and other modern weapons.

As reported in the foreign press, the number of British troops in the FRG during the period of mobilization deployment (in the event of an emergency in Europe) can be increased by more than 2 times due to formations and units located on the territory of the metropolis, and the command headquarters in wartime becomes the headquarters of the rear of the British troops in West Germany.

In the English zone of West Berlin a separate Berlin motorized infantry brigade of about 3 thousand people is stationed.

Units and subunits of the ground forces stationed in overseas territories are intended to protect the interests of the British monopolies, to maintain British influence in dependent countries, as well as to support reactionary regimes fighting the national liberation movement. V Gibraltar the garrison is based on a reinforced motorized infantry battalion. On British military bases on about. Cyprus two motorized infantry battalions and support and service units with a total strength of up to 3 thousand people are stationed. In hong kong there is a separate motorized infantry brigade, and in Brunei(Southeast Asia) and Belize(Central America) - one separate motorized infantry battalion.

Currently, the British command is carrying out a wide militarization of the Falkland Islands (Malvinas) with the aim of turning them into a British outpost in the South Atlantic. According to Western press reports, a separate motorized infantry brigade has been deployed in the archipelago. The nearly four thousandth garrison of British troops is directly subordinate to the Chief of Defense Staff of Great Britain. Here, at an increased pace, the creation of radar posts is underway to control the airspace over the water area of ​​the South Atlantic.

The backbone of the British Army Reserve is territorial troops, the total number of which is about 73 thousand people. Designed to reinforce the 1st Army Corps in the FRG and the defense of the British Isles, they, together with regular troops in Great Britain, constitute the base for the mobilization deployment of ground forces. In them, according to the London Institute for Strategic Research, there are 35 reserve motorized infantry battalions, 19 reserve regiments (reconnaissance, artillery, anti-aircraft, engineering and others), units of other branches of the military and services, as well as "Ulster Defense Regiment" performing military police functions in Northern Ireland. In peacetime, reserve units have only staff headquarters.

As reported in the foreign press, by mid-1984, the British ground forces were armed with 12 launchers of Lance guided missiles with nuclear warheads, about 70 new Challenger tanks, over 900 Chieftain main battle tanks of various modifications, up to 300 light tanks "Scorpion". The units had over 500 artillery pieces of 105, 155, 175 and 203.2 mm calibers, including 16 self-propelled howitzers M110 (203.2 mm) and 100 M109 (155 mm), as well as 81 and 51 mm mortars. The main anti-tank weapons are Stryker self-propelled launchers with Swingfire ATGMs, Milan anti-tank systems and recoilless guns, and military air defense means Rapira anti-aircraft missile systems (108 PU) and Bloupipe portable air defense systems.

For the transportation of personnel, units and subunits have up to 1,700 Saladin and Ferret armored vehicles, about 3,000 Saracen, Trougen and Spartan armored personnel carriers, as well as up to 500 combat reconnaissance vehicles Semither and Fox.

In service army aviation there are about 300 Lynx, Gazelle, Scout, Aluette and others helicopters.

Organization. As reported in the foreign press, the army corps is considered the highest combined-arms operational-tactical formation capable of operating in an independent operational direction, and the division is considered the main tactical unit.

1st Army Corps(the number of personnel is about 50 thousand people) Great Britain includes a headquarters, three armored divisions (1st, 3rd and 4th), an artillery division (1st), two separate reconnaissance and one amphibious engineer regiment, two signal regiments, others units and subdivisions of combat and logistic support.

Armored division(about 16 thousand people) has a headquarters, three headquarters of armored brigades, three to five tank and three artillery regiments, five motorized infantry battalions, four regiments (army aviation, communications, engineering and transport), a military police company and support and service units.

In service there are about 200 Chieftain tanks and Scorpion light tanks, 24 155-mm M109 self-propelled howitzers, 24 towed 155-mm FH70 howitzers, 24 105-mm Abbot self-propelled guns, 40 81-mm mortars, 30 self-propelled launchers ATGM "Swingfire", up to 120 launchers ATGM "Milan", over 30 helicopters "Lynx" and "Gazelle", SAM "Bloupipe", almost 2 thousand armored vehicles and vehicles for various purposes.

Motorized Infantry Division(over 17 thousand people) includes a headquarters, three motorized infantry brigades of four battalions (of which two are reduced in strength), tank, reconnaissance, artillery, engineering and transport regiments, army aviation and communications regiments, as well as units and subdivisions of logistic support. In service there are about 60 tanks, up to 150 field artillery and mortars, over 200 anti-tank systems, up to 30 helicopters, as well as about 3 thousand armored vehicles and vehicles.

(about 5 thousand people) consists of six regiments of three to four batteries (one missile, two artillery, two anti-aircraft missiles, one reconnaissance artillery), as well as units of combat and logistic support. In total, it has 12 Lance launchers, 12 203.2-mm self-propelled howitzers, 24 175-mm self-propelled guns, 72 Rapiha air defense systems, UAVs, about 400 armored personnel carriers and vehicles.

A separate motorized infantry brigade consists of a headquarters, 3 - 5 MTB, a tank regiment or reconnaissance battalion, a medical company, a helicopter squadron - up to 30 light tanks "Scorpion", 18 - 24 105-mm guns, 24 - 32 81-mm mortars, 48 - 72 ATGM "Milan", 12 helicopters and other weapons and equipment.

Air Force. According to Western press reports, the British command entrusts the Air Force with the tasks of destroying large groupings of troops and important objects on enemy territory using both nuclear and conventional weapons, directly supporting the combat operations of the country's land forces, protecting military bases and sea communications, and conducting reconnaissance , the transfer of troops and equipment to the theater of operations and their support from the air.

The Air Force currently consists of two Combat Commands (in Great Britain and the Federal Republic of Germany) and a Home Front Command. The Chief of Staff of the Air Force (aka Commander) is responsible for their construction, the development of plans for the operational use of aviation in wartime, the organization and conduct of combat training, material and technical support, as well as for training flight and technical personnel.

Combat Aviation Command(the highest operational formation of the Air Force), as a rule, consist of air groups (wings), which are operational-tactical formations. The group usually includes units and subunits based on the same airfield. The main tactical unit of the Air Force - aviation squadron, numbering 8 - 18 machines, depending on the type of aviation and type of aircraft and consisting of several detachments.

By mid-1984, the British Air Force had over 1,500 aircraft and helicopters for various purposes (including up to 620 combat aircraft, of which about 430 were attack aircraft), 64 Blood Hound missiles and 48 Rapier missiles. The number of personnel of the regular air force is 92 thousand people, the reserve is about 30 thousand.

Air Force Command UK(headquarters in High Wycombe), which is transferred to the command of NATO, has the forces and means to conduct independent air operations using both conventional and nuclear weapons. It performs tasks both on the territory of its country and on the land and sea theaters of NATO, primarily in Central Europe and in the East Atlantic. Already in peacetime, part of its forces and assets is subordinated to the Supreme Commander of the NATO Joint Armed Forces in Europe.

The command consists of three aviation groups (1st bomber, 11th fighter and 18th - base patrol aviation), aviation units and subunits located in Cyprus and Hong Kong, as well as three squadrons of the Bloodhound and Rapier air defense missile systems. ".

The 1st Bomber Aviation Group (headquarters in Apeywon) has 16 combat squadrons and one combat training squadron. They are based at Honington, Whiton, Marem and Saint Mogan aircraft stations. Its aircraft fleet includes more than 40 Tornado-GR.I aircraft, Bukanir light bombers (including the British Air Force command in Germany and a reserve of approximately 90 aircraft), about 50 KaH6eppa-PR.7 and 9 reconnaissance aircraft, "Nimrod-R.2", up to 20 tanker aircraft "Viktor-K.2" and 12 "Canberra-TT.18", designed to designate air targets. The 11th Fighter Air Group (headquarters at Stanmore) is stationed at Binbrook, Lewchars, Wattishham, Coningsby and Lossiemouth. It has seven combat and two combat training squadrons. It is armed with Phantom-FG.I and 2 aircraft (there are about 140 of this type in the British Air Force), up to 60 Lightning-RZ and 6 fighter-interceptors and 11 Shackleton-AEW.2 AWACS aircraft.

The 18th Aviation Group of Basic Patrol Aviation includes three squadrons of Nimrod-MR.2 base patrol aircraft and two combat training aircraft (in total, the Air Force has about 40 such aircraft). This group also has two search and rescue squadrons, which are armed with about 30 Wessex-HAr.2 and Sea King-HAR.Z helicopters. Its main tasks are patrolling, conducting reconnaissance and search and rescue operations in the East Atlantic, North Sea, in the English Channel and in the country's territorial waters.

Air Force units and subdivisions in other parts of the world: Akrotiri air station on the island. Cyprus and Hong Kong - a squadron of Wessex-NS.2 helicopters, Belize_ (Central America) - a Harrier tactical fighter unit and m how many helicopters.

British Air Force Command in Germany(headquarters in Reindalen) has 12 combat air squadrons, one squadron of transport helicopters and five squadrons of antiaircraft missiles "Bloodhound" and "Rapier". Organizationally, it is part of the 2 OTAK of the NATO Joint Air Force and constitutes its main strike force on the northern flank of the Central European theater of operations.

This command is armed with about 60 fighter-bombers "Jaguar-GR.I" ( carriers of nuclear weapons), more than 20 new tactical fighters "Tornado-GR.I", 60 aircraft "Xappnep-GR.3" and "Fahtom-FGR, 2", several light bombers "Bukanir-S.2" (replaced by aircraft "Tornado-GR .I "), 15 tactical reconnaissance aircraft" Jaguar-GR.I ", communications aircraft" Pembroke ", 15 helicopters. All aviation equipment, the Bloodhound and Rapier missiles are deployed at four air bases: Bryggen, Wildenrath, Gutersloh and Laarbruch.

Air Force Logistics Command solves the problems of material and technical support of combat and auxiliary units and formations, and also provides communications in the interests of the Air Force and the training of flight technical personnel.

Organizationally, it includes the main control center for logistics, communications headquarters, specialized parts of logistics and repair, schools, colleges and training centers. The number of personnel is over 20 thousand people. There are more than 500 training aircraft and helicopters in the training institutions of the logistics command.

According to Western press reports, the country's militant circles are carrying out measures aimed at increasing the combat readiness of the Air Force and increasing their combat power: the aircraft fleet, weapons systems and their control are being improved. So, in the near future it is planned to purchase about 200 tactical fighters "Tornado-GR.I" and 23 "Harrier-GR.3", 60 aircraft GR.S (AV-8B, created in the USA on the basis of the aircraft "Harrier"), VC-10.

The possibility of adopting a new medium-range air defense system is also being considered. In connection with the re-equipment of the Air Force new technology certain changes are also taking place in the organization of air commands, formations and units.

Naval forces Great Britain include the navy, naval aviation and marines. The number of personnel is about 72 thousand people, of which 7.8 thousand are in the marines.

The main combat missions of the British Navy are to deliver nuclear missile strikes against vital targets on enemy territory, destroy ship groupings, surface ships and submarines, provide support to ground forces in coastal areas, conduct amphibious operations and protect sea communications.

The operational and administrative management body is naval headquarters(located in Northwood, a suburb of London), led by the Chief of Staff (First Sea Lord), who is the de facto Navy Commander and Naval Adviser to the Secretary of Defense.

In terms of organizational structure, the naval forces include five commands (navy, in the UK, naval aviation, marines and training), as well as the Gibraltar naval area.

Navy Command includes three flotillas of surface ships and one mine-sweeping force, as well as a submarine force. The 1st and 2nd flotillas each include four squadrons of destroyers and frigates, and the 3rd - anti-submarine aircraft carriers and landing helicopter ships. The flotilla of mine-sweeping forces has three squadrons of minesweepers and one squadron of ships protecting the fishing zone and oil and gas complexes. The submarine forces have four squadrons: the 10th (four nuclear missile submarines), the 1st (up to ten diesel submarines), the 2nd and 3rd (four each - six nuclear submarines and four - six diesel submarines).

The naval command in the UK includes part of the auxiliary vessels and the reserve of the naval personnel, the naval areas (Portsmouth, Plymouth, Chatham and Scottish), which have at their disposal mainly auxiliary vessels and basic floating equipment, all coastal facilities and training centers.

The Naval Aviation Command includes the following squadrons: three - Sea Harrier fighter-attack aircraft, which are carriers of nuclear weapons, seven - anti-submarine helicopters, two - transport-assault helicopters, about nine - auxiliary aviation. In addition, four squadrons of Nimrod-MR.2 base patrol aircraft from the Air Force can be used in the interests of the Navy.

Marine Corps Command has a brigade (three marine battalions, an artillery regiment, a supply and logistics regiment, a helicopter squadron, auxiliary units) and naval detachments.

Training command organizes the manning of the crews of the ships, ensures the training of personnel and the development of a complex of combat training tasks by them before the ships are put into the combat-ready forces of the fleet.

Part of the British Navy is located in the South Atlantic in the Falkland (Malvinas) Islands, in the Western Atlantic in the Bermuda Islands, in the Indian Ocean in the area of. Diego Garcia and the Western part The Pacific(Hong Kong). Forces and assets in these zones are allocated from the command of the navy and other commands.

In mid-1984, the Navy, according to foreign press, had: 31 submarines (four SSBNs of the Resolution type, 13 nuclear-powered torpedo boats of the Valiant, Swiftshur, Trafalgar types and 15 diesel-powered Oberon and Porpois "), more than 180 warships and boats, including three anti-submarine aircraft carriers (R05 Invincible, R06 Illastries and R12 Hermes), amphibious helicopter carrier R08 Bulwark, four light cruisers, 11 destroyers ( Sheffield "), 46 frigates, of which 18 URO, nine landing and about 40 mine-sweeping ships, as well as over 200 auxiliary ships.

The naval aviation has about 30 vertical or short take-off and landing Sea Harriers, more than 160 anti-submarine and transport-assault helicopters and, in addition, up to 180 aircraft and auxiliary aviation helicopters.

The marines are armed with 105-mm cannons, 81-mm mortars, ATGM "Milan", air defense systems "Bloupipe", helicopters "Lynx", "Gazelle" and "Scout".

The main direction in the construction of the British Navy is the qualitative improvement of the ship composition through the construction of new modern warships of various classes and mainly for special purposes. Due to the fact that in the first half of the 90s the service life of SSBNs expires, the British government decided to replace them with new ones, equipped with American Trident-2 missiles. The plans provide for the construction of four to five SSBNs with a displacement of 10,000-12,000 tons, armed with 16 ballistic missiles each.

For the basing of ships in Great Britain, an extensive network of naval bases has been created, concentrated mainly on the southern coast of the country and in the Firth of Forth. The largest naval bases are Plymouth, Portsmouth and Rosyth, accounting for up to 76 percent. combat ships of the main classes. In the Firth of Clyde (Scotland) is the forward base of the US Navy SSBN Holy Loch.

Manning the armed forces personnel are hired at the age of 17.5 to 30 years. As the Western press notes, this gives the British ruling circles the opportunity to gradually create a closed caste of military personnel with special views and their own way of life.

Persons entering military service in the ground forces and the air force enter into regular or short-term contracts for a period of three to 22 years, and in the navy - for 12 years (at the request of a soldier, this period can be increased to 22).

Those recruited into the armed forces are gradually torn away from the people, succumb to the influence of military propaganda and turn into loyal servants of the imperialists.

The age limit for military service for privates and non-commissioned officers is 45 (for the Air Force - 47). In some cases, all branches of the armed forces are allowed to continue military service until the age of 55. Persons who have served for 12 years are exempt from compulsory stay in the reserve, and at least 22 are entitled to a lifetime pension.

The recruitment of candidates for the armed forces is directly handled by the headquarters of the military districts, to which the information (recruitment) points are subordinate. Persons deemed fit for military service are sworn in and sent to undergo basic military training at the training centers of the branches of the armed forces.

In the ground forces, there is single training (duration six weeks), including physical, combat, fire, tactical and general education, as well as training in the specialty (from two to six months, depending on the military specialty), which is carried out in the training center (school ) kind of troops or service.

Initial training in the Air Force is divided into single (in training centers for five weeks) and special (flight personnel in Air Force schools, duration 12 months, and technical personnel in schools, 2-12 months).

Navy recruits receive basic military training at Navy training centers and schools, located mainly in the area of ​​the naval bases of Portsmouth and Plymouth.

After receiving initial training, servicemen are assigned a primary military rank, and they are sent to the troops for further service.

The British command considers non-commissioned officers to be the "cementing core" of the personnel of the armed forces, therefore their recruitment is especially strict: they select the best privates with commanding or high technical abilities who have proven their reliability and loyalty to the ruling circles, and the advantage is given to those who came to military service from youth paramilitary organizations. The foreign press notes that non-commissioned officers are entrusted with the main duties of training privates, maintaining discipline and draconian order in the armed forces. They also carry out certain tasks of indoctrinating personnel in the spirit of reactionary ideology. As a rule, non-commissioned officers of the services of the armed forces are trained in courses at units or formations or at schools of the combat arms (services). Promotion in service and rank depends on the vacant positions, as well as on the personal qualities of the non-commissioned officer, his ability to perform duties associated with the next position and rank. In addition, he must pass qualifying exams and be positively certified.

The main conductors of the policy and ideology of the British monopoly bourgeoisie in the army and navy are officers and generals. According to the principles of manning and the nature of training, the British officer corps is heterogeneous: personnel and short-term service. The most privileged and trained caste are career officers who graduated from a military college or school and serve in the armed forces for life. Short-term officers are those who have enlisted in the military for a period of at least three years and have pledged to serve in the reserve for five years. They are trained in military schools and usually serve as junior officers. Subsequently, many of them become personnel.

In the British Armed Forces, permanent and temporary military ranks are established for officers and generals. Permanent titles are awarded depending on the length of service and the position held. If an officer is appointed to a higher position, and his term of service for the assignment of the next permanent rank has not expired, then he is assigned a temporary rank corresponding to the new position.

Upon dismissal from active service, temporary ranks are removed, and pension benefits are calculated from the salary for the permanent rank. Generals (admirals) are dismissed from active service at the age of 55-65 years, officers - 45-55 years old, but an officer can submit a resignation letter after three years of service.

The British Armed Forces are an obedient instrument in the hands of the Conservative government, which, together with NATO allies, is striving to achieve military superiority over the USSR and other countries of the socialist community in order to implement its aggressive designs.

Lieutenant Colonel S. Anzhersky