United Kingdom: Northern Ireland Deployments 1969-Present

v.1.0 March 17, 2002

Graham Watson

Up to 1969 the British Army deployed a small garrison to the Province.  This was made up of one armoured reconnaisance regiment and two infantry battalions. They were supported by a signals squadron and a transport squadron.  In addition, the TAVR consisted of a single infantry battalion, a recce squadron, an air defence battery, an engineer regiment and a signal regiment.

Regular garrison 1969-

17^th/21^st Lancers

2^nd Bn Queen’s Regiment

1^st Bn Light Infantry

233 Signal Squadron

26 Transport Squadron

When the ‘Troubles’ began, 1st Bn Light Infantry was on temporary delpoyment to Kenya and its place had been filled by the newly-formed 1^st Bn Royal Regiment of Wales.  In addition, 1^st Bn The Prince of Wales’ Own Regiment of Yorkshire was on temporary deployment in the Province.

TAVR units 1969-

D Squadron (North Irish Horse), The Royal Yeomanry

RHQ 102 Air Defence Regiment & 206 Air Defence Battery

74 (Antrim Artillery) Engineer Regiment

40 (Ulster) Signal Regiment

4^th Bn Royal Irish Rangers

NB –the TAVR units would NOT play any role in the internal security operations which commenced in 1969.

As the security situation deteriorated the pattern of British Army deployment, which has remained since then, was established. This pattern saw-

-         an increase to five or six units of armour and/or infantry as ‘resident’ battalions. Each unit operated in the Province on a two-year long deployment, similar to that found in the rest of the UK and in Germany.

-         Other infantry battalions, together with armour and artillery in the infantry role, would deploy on six-month long ‘roulement’ deployments.  These battalions were employed in areas, which seemed to require more intensive operations –these included West Belfast and South Armagh.

-         More battalions were held on standy in Great Britain and Germany and could/were deployed for short periods of time, dependent on the security situation

-         The non-infantry element in the garrison –engineers, signals, aviation, and logistics-was increased through a mixture of resident sub-units and ‘roulement’ sub units

-         The Ulster Defence Regiment was formed from locally-enlisted personnel to provide extra support to the regular garrison. By 1972, the UDR comprised eleven battalions distributed around the Province. 

-         A support helicopter force was established by the RAF which was built up to two squadrons.

-         The Royal Navy provided a squadron of patrol vessels on anti-gun running duties.

-         The HQ 5^th Division moved to the Province in 1970 and became HQ Land Forces Northern Ireland at Lisburn. At the same time, the Province was divided into three brigade areas. They were 3^rd Infantry Brigade at Armagh, 8^th Infantry Brigade at Londonderry, and 39^th Infantry Brigade at Belfast (later Lisburn)

In the period since 1969 almost all of the units of the British Army have served in Northern Ireland: many battalions have done several residential and many roulement tours.  The scale of this deployment can be illustrated by a snapshot of the regular units in the Province at various times.

Northern Ireland January1975

Resident battalions-

15^th/19^th Hussars, Omagh

1^st Bn Royal Regiment of Wales, Holywood

1^st Bn Queen’s Lancashire Regiment, Ballykinlar

1^st Bn Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, Londonderry

1^st Bn Worcestershire & Sherwood Foresters Regiment, Ballykelly

Roulement battalions-

3^rd Bn Royal Anglian Regiment

2^nd Bn Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

1^st Bn King’s Own Royal Border Regiment

1^st Bn Royal Green Jackets

2^nd Bn Royal Green Jackets

49 Field Regiment RA  (in infantry role)

21 Engineer Regiment (in infantry role)

Northern Ireland January 1985

Resident battalions-

1^st Bn Royal Highland Fusiliers, Holywood

1^st Bn Devonshire & Dorset Regiment, Ballykinlar

1^st Bn Queen’s Own Highlanders, Aldergrove

1^st Bn Royal Anglian Regiment, Londonderry

1^st Bn Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, Ballykelly

3^rd Bn Light Infantry, Omagh

Roulement battalions-

3^rd Bn Royal Green Jackets

2^nd Bn Parachute Regiment

A Squadron, 4/7 Dragoon Guards

Northern Ireland January 1995

Resident battalions-

2^nd Bn Parachute Regiment, Holywood

1^st Bn Staffordshire Regiment, Ballykinlar

1^st Bn The Highlanders, Londonderry

1^st Bn Royal Regiment of Wales, Ballykelly

2^nd Bn Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, Omagh

Roulement battalions-

42 RM Commando

King’s Royal Hussars   (in infantry role)

5 Regiment RA              (in infantry role)

201 Signal Squadron     (in infantry role)