Brits With Battleships: Difference between revisions

{{Useful Notes}}

 

The men and women who defend the United Kingdom and fight wars overseas.

 

Self Explanatory. Home to all the squaddies and [[The Squadette|squadettes]]. Their main weapon is the L85 assault rifle (some military people will look at you funny if you call it the SA80 as the SA80 refers to the entire family of British Army rifles, machine guns, sniper rifles, etc, etc), which is rather short and can't be fired left-handed unless a face full of hot cartridge casings is your idea of fun. Note: ''Not'' named the "Royal Army" because it is descended from the institutions established by the "New Model Army" which fought for Parliament against the King in the seventeenth century civil wars, unlike the navy. There are "Royal" units in the Army, but they are regiments, divisions, even corps, rather than the Army as a whole, ''e.g.'', Royal Armoured Corps, Royal Artillery, and the Royal Flying Corps in bygone days. 110,210 regulars, 33,100 territorials and 121,800 regular reserves.

 

A core feature of the British army - or at least of its fighting arms - is the Regimental system. The Regiments (typically one or two battalion formations) play a far greater part than they do for many foreign armies and are a soldier's primary point of attachment. A man belongs to his regiment first and foremost, wears its (usually historic) distinctive uniform and frequently adopts its traditions and rivalries. Whilst he remains a private then his job title may also depend on which regiment he belongs to - titles include Trooper, Rifleman, Fusilier, Kingsman and Guardsman. Other ranks may also be renamed in some rare cases. TA personnel in frontline combat roles are divided between several regiments, usually forming one battalion.

The most famous regiments are (current names if they're still around):

* The Special Air Service (SAS) regiment: The original Special Forces unit; the people who rescue hostages from embassies and look cool doing it, as well as other, more sneaky, activities. Started out in the North African desert in WWII. With two former members both in the novels business, they get a lot of coverage. Their motto "Who Dares Wins" is used a lot by Del Boy in ''[[Only Fools and Horses]]''. They were the world's first Special Forces (as we would use the term today) and are still considered the best; all other Special Forces groups in the world are trained by the SAS or use the methods they developed. Occasionally fulfill a similar role to the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team, but contrary to popular belief they only provide VIP escort duties under exceptional circumstances. Once described by famed war correspondent Kate Adie as being like Martians: quiet, watchful and wearing a lot of strange weaponry. Applicants are only allowed in after at least 3 years of service with another regiment.

* The Parachute Regiment: AKA The Paras. Jump out of planes for a living. Also includes the Pathfinders. Wear burgundy headgear. Getting in is seriously hard, and is by invitation only. Infamous for the Bloody Sunday massacre.

* The Foot Guards (Grenadier/Coldstream/Scots/Irish/Welsh Guards): Five regiments. These are the ones who usually wear the [[Nice Hat|bearskin hats]], stand outside Buckingham Palace and get many an American tourist trying to make them smile in fiction. Don't annoy them too much though, those rifles are real, are loaded and can fire full auto. The Irish lot recruit mostly from [[Stroke Country]], but also do so from The Republic Of Ireland (unofficially). Definitely ''not'' just ceremonial units, they have fought in many areas around the world such as North Africa, Italy (Like This Tropers' Granddad)and western Europe in WWII, and managed to hold the Hougoumont farmhouse at Waterloo against 14000 Frenchmen; All Guard Regiments have seen combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, including receiving battle honours in 2005. They can be distinguished via their button designs.

 

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