SECRET
ENCLOSURE 1 TO COS 1578/22/9/70
THE SHORTAGE OF INFANTRY BATTALIONS IN THE BRITISH ARMY ORBAT
NOTE BY THE ARMY DEPARTMENT
1 At their meeting on 15 July 1970 (1) the Chiefs of Staff considered a note by the Army Department (2) on this subject and:
•
noted that there would be commitments in the medium and long term for at least 51 battalions;
a.
noted that only 46 British battalions could be provided, at least until the mid-1970s;
C. subject to later consideration of the wider aspects of defence policy and finance, endorsed the conclusion of that paper that to go some way to cover this shortfall the Brigade of Gurkhas should be retained after 1971 at an overall strength of 6,500 to 7,000 and organised on a basis of 5 battalions.
AIM
2.
The aim of this paper is to up-date the detail of the previous Army Department note, and to seek the agreement of the Chiefs of Staff that the retention of the Brigade of Gurkhas, at a strength of 5 battalions after 1971, should continue to be the planning assumption.
3.
BACKGROUND
Since the Chiefs of Staff meeting on 15 July developments relevant to the availability of and the requirements for infantry battalions have occurred in respect of:
3.
h.
the level of the Hong Kong garrison,
the Government's Fast of Suez nolicy.
the force levels in Northern Ireland.
C.
the Government's decision that infantry battalions due for reduction in Phase 2 of the Army rundown should be allowed to remain in the ORBAT at company strength.
4.
DISCUSSION
As regards paragraphs 3a and b above, the Chiefs of Staff agreer, at their meeting (3) on 16 September, that the Hong Kong Garrison should not exceed 6 2/3 units. There will however be a new commitment for one extra battalion (ie 4 instead of 3) to be available to reinforce the Garrison at seven days notice at all times. Within the total of 6 2/3 major units, 5 infantry battalions will now
(1) COS 21st Meeting/70 (2) COS(Misc)/20/10/7/70 (3) C03 31st Meeting/70
COS
- 2 -
SECRET
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.