The British Army’s 3rd Battalion The Ranger Regiment has taken part in Exercise Jagare, a Swedish Armed Forces-led reconnaissance exercise.
The British Army say here that this unique exercise has taken place less than six months after the signing of historic security declarations with Sweden and Finland by the British Government “to reinforce and fortify northern Europe’s defences in the face of renewed threats, and will forge closer bonds between the two countries”.
“Sweden has been part of a ten nation alliance known as the Joint Expeditionary Force or JEF, since 2017. The JEF can act as a rapid reaction force in times of crisis both independently and as part of NATO.
Set within the framework of JEF cooperation, 13 personnel from 3 RANGER teamed up with a squad from the 193rd Jägarbataljonen (Swedish Rangers), part of the Norrland Dragoon Regiment, a specialised arctic light infantry unit.
In a first, they joined together as one group to take part in arduous unsupported long distance patrols and conduct reconnaissance on multiple targets setting the conditions for actions to be taken using both live and blank ammunition. Operating in Sweden’s unforgiving subarctic conditions also gave personnel an opportunity to practice crossing perilously cold waterways by boat.”
Colonel Teddy Larsson, Commander of the Norrland Dragoon Regiment said:
“The unique thing about this exercise is that for the first time we have integrated Swedish and British soldiers in the same group. In this way we have gained a very effective exchange of knowledge in a short time. I am impressed by the professionalism of both nations’ soldiers and how they immediately created cohesion in the group and a good cooperative climate.”
Apart from Celtic FC’s foes I wasn’t aware we had Rangers in the army.
Special Operations Brigade.
4 Infantry Battalions that used to form the Specialised Infantry Group form the brigade. They are the Ranger Regiment.
Thanks Dan
Cheers Frank. And just an aside, the other “Rangers” in the army that spring to mind are the Royal Irish Regiment, 1 RIR is a regular battalion and at Tern Hill, 2 RIR is a reserve battalion with its HQ at Palace Barracks.
When you say Bns… you mean 2 company’s, right? 250 personnel is hardly a Bn.
Their internal ORBAT was changed and I have no idea officially what that it is now. Like you, I’ve read they are below full Bn strength.
Then 22 SAS isn’t a Battalion either, since they’re smaller than an normal infantry battalion.
Hi Dern. Was that reply meant for me??
Not specifically, just throwing my 2p into the conversation.
👍 Ok, the original query on “battalion” or 2 “companies” came from Barry so just wondered. Indeed, I believe 22 is smaller.
We know infantry battalions have differing establishments based on role. I’d read both these and the SFAB Bns were reduced to distribute posts elsewhere but unsure by how much or whether they still have the 3 Companies plus HQ Coy plus FS Coy or a different set up.
If they operate in 12 man teams like you state below, do they even need to be full Bn sized.
I honestly have no clue what SFAB is doing, it’s entirely possible that they just cribbed the SpecInf book and went to 12 man teams, or they could have done something completely different. Anyway, even if they did they’d still be 3-4 coys with a HQ.
In 22, the Troops ie Platoons are just 16 guys strong.
Should have also said, no I don’t think there is any need for Rangers (don’t know about SFAB) to be full Infantry Battalion sized.
Hi Daniele, it’s a strange way of setting it up isn’t it.
In reality it’s four reinforced infantry battalions making up one larger than the norm Battalion.
Nothing wrong with that.
I guess it sounds good and looks impressive on paper on paper though, so PR will be happy.
Perhaps we have a surplus of Lt Col’s and the easiest way of employing them all is to turn Companies into Battalions!
Who knows mate….
These Ranger battalions must have 2 rifle companies and a battalion HQ as a minimum. A rifle Company can be as small as 110 men.
Sorry my typo, it should have read “four reinforced infantry Companies making up one larger than the norm Battalion”
?? The Ranger battalions are much smaller than conventional Infantry battalions. The Companies cannot be reinforced ones at that size.
Think you mean that the Ranger Regiment comprises 4 (small) Ranger Battalions each of 250 men.
Evening Graham,
Probably just me, I’ll have another go…
So, total of 1,000 = One large Battalion.
Four 250 personnel units = four large Companies.
The way we are going, we are going to have Company sized Regiments, with a Lt Col in Charge and Battalion sized ‘Divisions’ with a General in charge.
It’s all getting a bit bloody silly to be honest….
Makes sense to me anyway, if it doesn’t I’ll get my coat!
Evening John, My understanding is that the Ranger Regiment comprises 4 (small) Ranger Battalions each of 250 men. [A standard Inf Bn is about 450-500 men with each Coy being around 110 men]. I would expect a Ranger Bn to have two coys each of about 110 men and a Bn HQ (Lt Col commanding) with a very small Echelon component for support. In no other part of the army is shrinkage of this type happening, thus we will not see a Division of battalion size with a General in charge – but I appreciate your joke. Rangers are highly… Read more »
250 was the original orbat for SpecInf, it’s changed since then but it’s the easiest number to find so it keeps getting repeated.
I assumed it was 250 for a Ranger bn (morphing from Spec Inf), but if it is not, then what is the number?
Yeah but changes where made to the orbat when Spec Inf went away. Each Ranger Btn gained an extra coy (3 RGR was disbanded and distributed amongst the other battalions). I don’t think the exact number is officially published anywhere, which is why 250 is so often repeated, but quick mental maths puts a Ranger Btn between 3 and 400 now.
Thanks Dern. A small tight Coy is 110, so I would guess at 360, unless they beefed up the HQ Coy as well.
Interesting to see that ‘merge’ sights are starting to come online. That’s a potential game changer in DCC effectiveness.
What is a merge sight?
Basically a sight that merges two types of image. In this case it looks like there is an in-line TI sight in front of the LDS – so you don’t need a separate night sight, it’s all in one. That’s a big step forward (plus you don’t ruin your zero every time it gets dark)
Other types of merge sights might have both TI and Image Intensifying images that are merged – basically the ultimate night sight.
I wonder how they pick the 13 troops from the rangers who get to go play with the swedes. Great to learn about the cold weather from the experts.
Yeah will help immensely when trying to cut down on this winters fuel bills….
Not hard to imagine tbh. Both the Green Berets, which the Rangers are supposed to be like, and SpecInf, their predecessor, deployed in 12 man teams.
So 1x Team + and attachment from CHQ?
But who picks which 12 man team? Why that team and not another team. Would it be seen as a reward or punishment to go work in the cold.
Probably the OC of the Coy that’s at readyness. A tasking probably gets pushed down from HQ, and then the OC decides, based on the strengths and weaknesses of his teams which he’ll send. (Works pretty much the same with any unit or sub unit deployments I guess, like, how does the QRH decide which tanks crews go to Finland, and which end up on secondment to the Polish Army?). Whether it’s a reward or punishment, I guess, would depend on what other taskings 3 Ranger has going on at the moment. Anyway, given that 3 Rangers area of operations… Read more »
I didnt know that Sideshow Bob was Swedish?
Only thought I would mention that as I was going through series 2 of Frazier last night.
“3rd Battalion”? Or a small number of infantry? Be nice to see figures.
‘13 personnel from 3 RANGER teamed up with a squad from the 193rd Jägarbataljonen’
Why such a small number.13 men. Not an impressive way to launch the Rangers. Should have been a Company or at least a Platoon.
I guess a Rangers company is about 110 strong?
Re the small number, see what I said to Monkey Spanker above. Rangers aren’t conventional they won’t be deploying in conventional force structures.
Also this isn’t a “launch.” I’m pretty sure this isn’t even the first OS deployment of 3 Ranger.