The British Army have deployed nearly 3,500 troops and up to 800 vehicles to Europe for their largest combat exercise on the continent for over a decade.
Exercise Cerberus 22, a large-scale command post exercise, is taking place in Germany and is aimed at confirming that the five British Army brigade headquarters that sit within the division are ready for operations.
It sees the exercise, previously held in the UK on Salisbury Plain Training Area, move to its new central European location to test its ability move personnel and equipment on a large scale and to operate in an expeditionary setting rather than being close to home.
The British Army say here that the Brigades are being tested in a realistic scenario against a peer adversary with the divisional headquarters in overall command. Above them, the British-led NATO Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC) will provide overall NATO command and control over the exercise, “emphasising the importance of the NATO alliance and demonstrating the true scale of the deployment”.
Colonel Owain Luke, Chief of Staff, Headquarters 3rd United Kingdom Division (3 (UK) Div) who are running the exercise, was quoted as saying:
“We have deployed here to Germany to use the Land Regional Hub at Sennelager, which has also acted as a real test of our ability to deploy forces to the continent at speed.”
The Army added that 3 (UK) Div is the United Kingdom’s fighting Division and, as such, “can bring to bear the considerable firepower and concentrate the force”.
This includes reconnaissance, armoured cavalry; armoured and mechanised infantry, aviation, artillery, engineers, and logistics; in what the Army called “the full spectrum” of capability.
“In addition to British brigades on the exercise,” says Colonel Luke, “we are also joined by the 3rd Brigade Combat Team from the American 1st Cavalry Division. This exercise is also about building our interoperability with U.S. Forces as well as aligning with NATO procedures and working under Headquarters Allied Rapid Reaction Corps.”
Colonel Luke adds:
“The main objective of Cerberus 22 is to test, validate and support readiness of the five brigade headquarters: 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team, 12 Armoured Brigade Combat Team, 7th Light Mechanised Brigade Combat Team, 101 Operational Sustainment Brigade, and 1st Aviation Brigade Combat Team. Each headquarters will be assessed as being ready for operations by testing their ability to plan and execute operations within a simulated warfighting scenario set in Europe.”
Some of the equipment being used is already based in Germany which allows us to provide a more rapid response, further highlighting the importance of Sennelager and surrounding hubs.
Quick spend the budget before Rushi takes it all😉
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Quick question, can these Point Class vessels carry CIWS Phalanx if needed? Or, mounts for 30mm, Martlet/HVM? They’re great ships but have no armaments?
I’m sure they can.
Are military personnel aware that their US Navy aies have admitted loss of airspace controlled because of ‘no competition’ UFO’s–UAP’s???
I am currently working on a USN resupply vessel, 41K Tonnes armed with just some 50 cals!
The RN Bay, Tide and Fort class with Phalanx and 30mm are armed like Battleships in comparison!
I am sure a Point boat could have some Martlet teams onboard to augment the Force Protection teams they usually carry.
Thanks GB. You sound busy. You were working on a Bay vessel last week and now a 41000mt monster this week. Sounds huge.
Use it or lose it: government has always thought that defence doesn’t matter until it is too late. And then the bill is paid by the butcher. I loathe them all.
True and happening big time at the moment despite Ukraine war, we will be caught out again, I’m sure.
Well so they have the Brigade HQ’s x 5 but have they got the actual Brigades? Still a nice shopping trip to Germany before Xmas eh kids
It will confuse many and as so often it is mix and match. Only two of those Brigades sit in 3 UK Division, 12 Armoured Bde Combat Team, and 101 Logistics, or Ops Sustainment Bde.
7 LMBCT is part of 1 UK Division.
16 AA BCT is part of Field Troops or whatever it is called this week.
1 Aviation is part of the JHC.
3 UK Division also includes 20 ABCT and 1 DRSBCT.
And no, this will be elements of each, not the whole formations. Staff exercises to get the logistics and C3 right for such moves at scale are vital, and something we do well.
I knew this reply would be confusing before I started reading😂😂😂.
Nice trip to Germany for them all.
Looks like mr Wallace is still defence sect
Oh! Been out so not seen. He’s a fool if he gets rid as best DS for years.
DRSBCT Deep Recc Strike Bde Combat Team. A “merger” of 1 Armoured Infantry Bde and 1 Artillery Bde. Nice spin, as if you merge you keep the assets.
7 LMBCT Light Mechanised Bde Combat Team. The old 7th Armoured Bde, or Desert Rats. Infantry Bns with Foxhound.
16 AA BCT 16 Air Assault Brigade, basically much of Para Reg.
JHC Joint Helicopter Command, has the RAF SHF Pumas Chinooks, the AAC, and the RNs Commando Merlins who form the CHF.
Questions?….!
I wish they wouldn’t call them “BCTs”. “Battlegroups” was something of our own.
They often copy American terms for some reason.
A Battle Group is smaller than a Brigade and assume it’s still in use, as a Brigade or BCTs assets can still be spit up to form a BG.
But what was wrong with plain old Brigade? 3 Brigades to a Division? 3 Divisions to a Corps.
A BG is based on a manouevre unit (commanded by a Lt Col) – and the term is still in use. There will be Attachments and Detachments (Atts & Dets) by the process of Task Org’ing from that manouevre unit, be it an Inf Bn or an armoured regt, to turn it into a BG. Several BGs (usually 3 but it can be 2 to 5) comprise a bde or BCT.
I too rue the use of Americanisms. We used to commence an attack from the Start Line – now it is the more passive phrase – Line of Departure.
Thanks Graham, yes, that is how I understood it.
You do one or more CPXs to work up HQs before moving onto a CFX with the Brigades’ units.
Lionheart 84 we deployed 130,000 personnel and hundreds of tanks and armoured vehicles in a magnificent effort in Germany fast forward 2022 sad times we’ve been wilfully cut to the bone in a globalist effort to ensure we are unable to act independently cos everyone knows coalitions and globalism is the only show in town now. A nation of lions led by donkeys 💩
U.K. armoured forces are still numero uno but just a little light on numbers👍🏻
but hey it was the best of times it was the worst of times …….
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Hi I was a armored troop leader on that c/s T33 and yes the best of times.
Not quite Ex Lionheart though. The pinnacle of my army training 🙂
Those were the days. 😉
When we had TWO real armies, UKLF and BAOR , not the defence force of today.
This is what we do well and should concentrate on. Speed and agility, focus and delivery. Everything the budget price Steven Seag@l stunt double in the Kremlin doesn’t have.
Is this on the scale of ulan Eagle,Poland 1996?
It’s not Lionheart 84…
Seen more deployed on Exercise on Bellebery moor and New Found England out the back of Catterick. 3500 I’ve seen longer NAAFI queues 🙂
A good idea to show how weak we are to the smiling bear !?
Great to see genuine robust British military deployment following excellent ceremonial displays and tributes to HM Queen.