(2) to retain the Brigade of Gurkhas;
(3) to expand the T. & A.V.R. in order to make provision for an uncom- mitted reserve of formed units of trained men and to increase the contribution of reserve forces to NATO.
Army Structure
21. The Government would have preferred to cancel the second phase of the reduction of major Army units. But, after carefully reviewing the man- power situation, it reluctantly concluded that there was no alternative to proceeding with the rundown, subject to two important changes:
(1) the tenth major unit reduction, envisaged as a possible supplement to
the second phase, will not take place;
(2) the plans have been modified to provide one additional air-portable squadron in the Royal Armoured Corps; one additional Royal Engineer squadron at reduced strength; six infantry companies; and later, it is hoped, one additional Royal Artillery battery. These units will be of great value in carrying out essential duties both in this country and overseas; they will be a nucleus for potential expansion in the future. These changes have enabled the names of famous regiments, if they so wished, to be retained.
The Gurkhas
22. The Government has decided to remove the uncertainty created by the previous Administration about the future of the Brigade of Gurkhas. The Brigade will remain in being with either four or five Gurkha infantry battalions. Its precise organisation, including supporting services, is still being considered. The greater part of the Brigade will continue to be stationed in the Far East; but it is planned to deploy one battalion to the United Kingdom. The retention of the Brigade of Gurkhas will materially assist in relieving the general strain upon infantry resources and give the Army a greater degree of flexibility in meeting its commitments both in and outside Europe.
Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve
23. The Government has completed its review of the rôle and size of the T. & A.V.R. The present units of the T. & A.V.R. have important tasks; they are well organised, well equipped and well trained. But there are too few trained men available to support the Regular Forces in time of crisis. The size of the T. & A.V.R. is too closely tailored to specific requirements and takes no account of the need for an uncommitted reserve, available for unforeseen contingencies.
24. The Government has decided that the provision of such a reserve should be one of the rôles of the T. & A.V.R. Further units will therefore be estab- lished for this purpose. They will be mainly infantry units, but may include units of other arms and corps. They will be given modern equipment, though on lighter scales than those T. & A.V.R. units which need to be immediately available to fight alongside regular forces in B.A.O.R. and in the United Kingdom Mobile Force.
25. It has also been decided to increase the contribution of reserve forces to NATO by the formation of an additional T. & A.V.R. armoured car regiment.
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