SECRET
GURKHAS
BACKGROUND
Current Position
1.
Hong Kong is currently the centre of gravity of the Brigade of Gurkhas. Its HQ is there as is the main training depot. Three out of the five infantry battalions are stationed in Hong Kong as are the Gurkha engineer, signals and transport regiments. CBF Hong Kong doubles as Major General Brigade cf Gurkhas (MGBG). Deployment of Gurkhas outside Hong Kong comprise:
2.
one infantry battalion in Brunei paid for by the Sultan.
a.
b. one infantry battalion, two infantry companies one signal sqn and one engineer squadron in the UK.
C. recruiting, transit and welfare facilities in two locations in Nepal (Kathmandu and Pokhara) collectively comprising British Gurkhas Nepal (BGN).
Once we withdraw from Hong Kong in 1997, the principal operational commitment for the Gurkhas vanishes.
The future of the Gurkhas:
3.
MOD consideration of the future of the Gurkhas has
proceeded in three stages. The first was a comprehensive survey of possible options for a future Gurkha force, covering size, structure, viability and cost, and effectively acted as a data-base for the second stage which addressed roles, deployments and force structures. The conclusion of this work was that post 1997 the Gurkhas should principally be based in the UK and have a role within the mainstream of the Army's commitments in effect either Home Defence or a reinforcement formation for BAOR. The Gurkha force would comprise:
a.
-
four infantry battalions of three rifle companies each (as opposed to four at present) one of which would be stationed in Brunei for as long as the Sultan was prepared to pay.
At any one time one of the three battalions in the UK would be "out of role" and act as a training and depot unit.
b.
two engineer squadrons.
C.
two signal squadrons.
d.
one transport squadron.
Such a force would be about 4000 strong compared with 8000 now, and would entail capital expenditure of the order of £186M and annual running costs of about £62M.
SECRET
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.