As the war in Iraq began, the British deployed 45,000 personnel (including 26,000 ground troops) to Iraq in Operation Telic.

Source: British Ministry of Defence

Bookmarks: Naval and air components

Go to: British Units in World War II

Primary British ground units (in whole or in part)
in Operation Iraqi Freedom

1(UK) Armoured Division

  • Headquarters and 1 Armoured Division Signal Regiment

  • 30 Signal Regiment (strategic communications)

  • The Queen's Dragoon Guards (reconnaissance) (Note: This unit is also known as the Welsh Cavalry)

  • 1st Battalion The Duke of Wellington's Regiment (additional infantry capability)

  • 28 Engineer Regiment

  • 1 General Support Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps

  • 2 Close Support Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps

  • 2nd Battalion, Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers

  • 1 Close Support Medical Regiment

  • 5 General Support Medical Regiment

  • 1 Regiment, Royal Military Police

plus elements from various units including:

  • 33 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment

  • 30 Signal Regiment

  • 32 Regiment Royal Artillery (Phoenix UAVs)

7th Armoured Brigade (The Desert Rats)

  • Headquarters and Signal Squadron

  • Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Challenger 2 tanks)

  • 2nd Royal Tank Regiment (Challenger 2 tanks)

  • 1st Battalion The Black Watch (Warrior infantry fighting vehicles)

  • 1st Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (Warrior infantry fighting vehicles)

  • 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery (AS90 self-propelled guns)

  • 32 Armoured Engineer Regiment

plus elements from various units including:

  • Queen's Royal Lancers (Challenger 2 tanks)

  • 1st Battalion Irish Guards (Warrior infantry fighting vehicles)

  • 1st Battalion The Light Infantry (Warrior infantry fighting vehicles)

  • 26 Regiment Royal Artillery

  • 38 Engineer Regiment

16 Air Assault Brigade

  •  Headquarters and Signal Squadron

  • 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Regiment

  • 1st Battalion The Parachute Regiment

  •  3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment

  •  7 (Para) Regiment Royal Horse Artillery (105mm Light Guns)

  •  23 Engineer Regiment

  •  Household Cavalry Regiment (1 x armoured reconnaissance squadron)

  • 3rd Regiment Army Air Corps (Lynx & Gazelle helicopters)

  • 7 Air Assault Battalion, Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers

  • 13 Air Assault Support Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps

  • 16 Close Support Medical Regiment

  • 156 Provost Company RMP

102 Logistics Brigade

  • Headquarters

  • 2 Signal Regiment

  • 36 Engineer Regiment

  • 33 and 34 Field Hospitals

  • 202 Field Hospital (Volunteer)

  • 4 General Support Medical Regiment

  • 3 Battalion, Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers

  • 6 Supply Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps

  • 7 Transport Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps

  • 17 Port & Maritime Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps

  • 23 Pioneer Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps

  • 24 Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps

  • 5 Regiment, Royal Military Police

  • specialist Royal Engineer teams

  • airfield engineer support units from 12 Engineer Brigade

  • elements from 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment

  • elements from additional Royal Logistic Corps Regiments

Naval Task Group 2003

  • HMS Ark Royal (aircraft carrier)

  • HMS Ocean (helicopter carrier)

  • HMS Liverpool (Type 42 destroyer)

  • HMS Edinburgh (Type 42 destroyer)

  • HMS York (Type 42 destroyer)

  • HMS Marlborough (Type 23 frigate)

  • HMS Richmond (Type 23 frigate)

  • HMS Grimsby (mine-hunter)

  • HMS Ledbury (mine-hunter)

  • RFA Argus

  • RFA Sir Tristam

  • RFA Sir Galahad

  • RFA Sir Percivale

  • RFA Fort Victoria

  • RFA Fort Rosalie

  • RFA Fort Austin

  • RFA Orangeleaf

  • plus a Fleet Submarine

The amphibious force numbers some 4,000 and includes:

  • HQ 3 Commando Brigade

  • 40 Commando Royal Marines

  • 42 Commando Royal Marines

  • Helicopter air groups aboard Ark Royal and Ocean

Some 14 other Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels are also involved in the operation to some extent, including ships such as HMS Chatham which is assigned to the enforcement of United Nations sanctions, and an additional pair of minehunters, HMS Brocklesby and HMS Blyth.

The air component being deployed on Operation Telic numbers about 100 fixed-wing aircraft and 27 support helicopters, supported by some 7,000 personnel. Aircraft types involved include:

 

  • Sentry AEW1 command & control aircraft

  • Tornado GR4 bomber/reconnaissance aircraft

  • Jaguar GR3 attack/reconnaissance aircraft

  • Harrier GR7 attack aircraft

  • Tornado F3 air defence aircraft

  • VC-10 tanker aircraft

  • Tristar tanker aircraft

  • Hercules transport aircraft

  • Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft

  • Chinook helicopters

  • Puma helicopters

RAF Regiment units are providing ground defence for the force. The Army's 21 Signal Regiment is providing communications support for the Joint Helicopter Force.