12 (Force Support) Engineer Group is an engineer formation of the British Army.
| 12th (Force Support) Engineer Group 12th (Air Support) Engineer Brigade | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | August 1974–present |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Type | Engineers |
| Role | Force Support |
| Size | Several regiments or independent squadrons |
| Part of | 8th Engineer Brigade |
History
editThe group can trace its origins to 12th Engineer Brigade which was originally created to command the reserve Airfield Damage Repair regiments. In 1989 the brigade was under the command of the Eastern District, United Kingdom Land Forces and was headquartered at Waterbeach. By 1989, the brigade had a mix of regular and reserve units.[1] and the brigade had the following structure:[1]
- Headquarters - RAF Waterbeach
- 39th Airfield Damage Repair Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers
- 529 (Air Support) Special Team, Royal Engineers -
- Airfields Works Group, Royal Engineers
- 50 Construction Field Squadron, Royal Engineers
- 216 Airfield Damage Repair Squadron, Royal Engineers (Volunteers)
- 217 Airfield Damage Repair Squadron, Royal Engineers (Volunteers)
- 218 Airfield Damage Repair Squadron, Royal Engineers (Volunteers)
- 219 Airfield Damage Repair Squadron, Royal Engineers (Volunteers)
After the Options for Change force reductions, the brigade was re-titled as the 12 (Air Support) Engineer Group, however it remained at RAF Waterbeach.[2]
The 12th Engineer Group was formed after the conversion of the former 12th Engineer Brigade. In 2005, as a result of the Delivering Security in a Changing World White Paper, the group was moved under the command of the new 8th Force Engineer Brigade. Before the initial Army 2020 changes, the group had the following structure:[3] [failed verification]
Structure
editAfter the Army 2020 Refine reforms, the group was retitled as 12 (Force Support) Engineer Group remaining under the 8th Engineer Brigade. Its responsibilities changed from Airfield Support to "support to Theatre Entry, Route Maintenance, and Enabling Airfield Operations".[5][6] The group's current structure is:[7][2]
- 12th (Force Support) Engineer Group, at RAF Wittering, Cambridgeshire
- 32nd Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, at Marne Barracks, Catterick Garrison[8][9][10]
- 36th Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, at Invicta Park Barracks, Maidstone[8][11][12][13] — regiment doubles as HQ Queen's Gurkha Engineers[14]
- 39th Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, at Kinloss Barracks, Kinloss[8][12][15]
- 71st Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers (V), at Waterloo Lines, Leuchars Station[8][12] — paired with 32 Engineer Regiment[10]
- 75th Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers (V), at Peninsula Barracks, Warrington[8][12] — paired with 36 Engineer Regiment[10]
- 43 Headquarters and Support Squadron, at Chetwynd Barracks, Chilwell[16][17] (moving to Beacon Barracks, Stafford)[18]
- 20th Works Group (Air Support), Royal Engineers, at RAF Wittering[8][12] (Hybrid)[19]
- 62nd Works Group, Royal Engineers, at Chetwynd Barracks, Chilwell[8] (moving to Beacon Barracks, Stafford)[18]
- 63rd Works Group, Royal Engineers, at Chetwynd Barracks, Chilwell[8] (moving to Beacon Barracks, Stafford)[18]
- 65th Works Group, Royal Engineers (V), at Chetwynd Barracks, Chilwell[8] (moving to Beacon Barracks, Stafford)[18]
- 66th Works Group, Royal Engineers, at Chetwynd Barracks, Chilwell[8] (moving to Beacon Barracks, Stafford)[18]
Commanders
editCommanding Officers of the group included:[22]
- 2005–2008: Col. Andrew M. Mills
- 2008–2010: Col. Frank R. Noble
- 2010–2013: Col. Andrew W. Phillips
- 2013–2014: Col. Jason C. Rhodes
- 2014–2017: Col. Matthew Quare
- 2017–2020: Col. Thomas G.J. Marsden
- 2020–Present Col. Simon D. Millar
References
edit- ^ a b The Corps Of Royal Engineers: Organization and Units 1889—2018. p. 217.
- ^ a b The Corps Of Royal Engineers: Organization and Units 1889—2018. p. 266.
- ^ "12 (Air Sp) Engr Gp - British Army Website". army.mod.uk. 20 February 2019. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
- ^ "71 Engr Regt (V) - British Army Website". army.mod.uk. 20 February 2019. Archived from the original on 11 March 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
- ^ "United Kingdom". Military Engineering Centre of Excellence. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ "8 Engineer Brigade". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ "British Army - Formations - Force Troops Command - 1 Arty Bde - 8 Engr Brigade - 1 Signal Brigade - Armed Forces - a3a4". www.armedforces.co.uk. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Army, Question for Ministry of Defence — current Order of Battle by manpower and basing locations for the corps". United Kingdom Parliament — Written questions, answers, and statements. 22 November 2018. Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
- ^ "Transforming A 'Super Garrison': Construction At Catterick". Forces Network. 23 December 2020. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
- ^ a b c Ministry of Defence (July 2013). "Transforming the British Army an Update" (PDF). Parliamentary Publishments. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 March 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
- ^ Cooper, Tim. "Queen's Gurkha Engineers Celebrate 73rd Birthday". Forces Network. Retrieved 2021-10-09.
- ^ a b c d e "Written Question for the Ministry of Defence regarding Army basing and personnel". Parliamentary Replies. 22 November 2018. Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
- ^ "36 Engineer Regiment". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
- ^ "36 Engineer Regiment". 36 Engineer Regiment — Twitter. Archived from the original on 6 May 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
- ^ "39 Engineer Regiment". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 2020-08-18.
- ^ Watson & Rinaldi, p. 281.
- ^ "OC 43 HQ & Sp Sqn RE". OC 43 HQ & Sp Sqn RE — Twitter. Archived from the original on 5 December 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
- ^ a b c d e "170 Engineer Group + Chetwynd Barracks - a Freedom of Information request to British Army". WhatDoTheyKnow. 2024-12-07. Retrieved 2024-12-23.
- ^ "20 Works Group RE (Air Support)". British Army. Retrieved 2017-09-25.
- ^ "Information regarding locations of Army Reserve units" (PDF). What do they know?. 6 July 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 July 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
- ^ Watson & Rinaldi, pp. 335–338. (RE Order of Battle Army 2020)
- ^ Regiments and Commanding Officers, 1960–.