Military of the Falkland Islands 10696 225840915 2008-07-15T17:24:37Z 217.171.129.75 {{Infobox Military Unit |unit_name= British Forces South Atlantic Islands |image=[[Image:British joint forces flag Falkland Islands.svg|150px|]] |caption=The British joint-forces flag used in the Falklands <ref>{{cite web | author = Flags of the World | title = Falkland Islands | url = http://fotw.vexillum.com/flags/fk.html | accessdate = September 23| accessyear = 2006 }}</ref> |dates= |country= |allegiance=[[United Kingdom]] |branch= Joint Service ([[Royal Navy]], [[British Army]], [[Royal Air Force]]) |type= |role= |size= |command_structure=[[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] |garrison= |garrison_label= |nickname= |patron= |motto= |colors= |colors_label= |march= |mascot= |equipment= |equipment_label= |battles= |anniversaries= |decorations= |battle_honours= <!-- Commanders --> |commander1=[[Air Commodore]] [[Gordon Moulds]] |commander1_label=Commander British Forces South Atlantic Islands |commander2= |commander2_label= |commander3= |commander3_label= |notable_commanders= <!-- Insignia --> |identification_symbol= |identification_symbol_label= |identification_symbol_2= |identification_symbol_2_label= <!-- Aircraft --> |aircraft_attack= |aircraft_bomber= |aircraft_electronic= |aircraft_fighter= |aircraft_interceptor=[[Panavia Tornado ADV|Tornado F3]] |aircraft_patrol= |aircraft_recon= |aircraft_trainer= |aircraft_transport=[[C-130 Hercules|Hercules C3]] [[Vickers VC10|VC-10]] [[Westland Sea King|Sea King]] }} The '''Falkland Islands''' are an [[British overseas territory|overseas territory]] of the [[United Kingdom]] and, as such, rely on the UK for guarantee of their security. The other UK territories in the [[South Atlantic]], [[South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands]], fall under the protection of the [[British Armed Forces|British forces]] on [[Falkland Islands|the Falklands]] (also known as '''British Forces Falkland Islands''' or '''British Forces South Atlantic Islands'''), which includes commitments from the [[British Army]], [[Royal Air Force]] and [[Royal Navy]].<ref>{{cite web | author = Permanent Joint Headquarters | title = British Forces South Atlantic Islands | url = http://www.northwood.mod.uk/pjobs/falklands/bfsai.htm | accessdate = June 19 | accessyear = 2006 }}</ref> They are headed by the Commander of the British Forces South Atlantic Islands (CBFSAI).<ref>{{cite web | author = Falkland Islands Information Portal | title = Acronyms | url = http://www.falklands.info/background/acro.html | accessdate = June 19 | accessyear = 2006 }}</ref> The maintenance of only a token military force before the [[Falklands War]] allowed [[Argentina]] to start that conflict by easily capturing the islands.<ref>{{cite web | author = Britain's Small Wars | title = The Falklands War | url = http://www.britains-smallwars.com/Falklands/index.html | accessdate = June 19 | accessyear = 2006 }}</ref> Following the reclamation of the territory in 1982, the UK invested heavily in the defence of the islands, the centrepiece of which is the new airfield at [[RAF Mount Pleasant]], 25 miles west of the previous base at [[Stanley, Falkland Islands|Stanley]]. The base was opened in 1985, and became fully operational in 1986.<ref>{{cite web | author = Falkland Islands Government | title = Defence | url = http://www.falklands.gov.fk/3.htm | accessdate = June 19 | accessyear = 2006 }}</ref> ==Falkland Islands Defence Force== The Falkland Islands maintains its own part-time volunteer force, the [[Falkland Islands Defence Force]] (FIDF), previously known as the Falkland Islands Volunteer Corps. Although this unit existed in 1982 as a reinforcement for the Governor's detachment of Royal Marines, it did not play any part in the war of 1982, its members having spent the duration of the hostilities under house arrest by the Argentines.<ref>{{cite web | author = Falkland Islands Information Portal | title = Falkland Islands Defence Force: 150 years of Voluntary Service | url = http://www.falklands.info/history/histarticle24.html | accessdate = June 19 | accessyear = 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | author = Land Forces of Britain, the Empire and Commonwealth | title = Falkland Islands Defence Force | url = http://www.regiments.org/regiments/atlantic/volmil/inf/fk-fidf.htm | accessdate = June 19 | accessyear = 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | author = Falkland Islands Rifle Association | title = History | url = http://www.horizon.co.fk/fira/history.htm | accessdate = June 19 | accessyear = 2006 }}</ref> ==Royal Navy== RAF Mount Pleasant has its own port facility <ref>{{cite web | author = Falkland Islands Portal | title = Defence | url = http://www.falklandislands.com/government/defence.asp | accessdate = June 19 | accessyear = 2006 }}</ref> called [[Mare Harbour]], and the [[Royal Navy]] maintains a presence in the area with a [[frigate]] or [[destroyer]] in the South Atlantic and a patrol ship permanently close to the islands. In addition, an Ice Patrol Ship, [[HMS Endurance (A171)|HMS ''Endurance'']], is on station close to [[Antarctica]] for six months of the year. The warship carries out the [[Standing Royal Navy deployments|South Atlantic Patrol Task]] mission which "provides a maritime presence to protect the UK's interests in the region". The [[Type 42 destroyer]] [[HMS Edinburgh (D97)|HMS ''Edinburgh'']] took over the South Atlantic Patrol Task in October 2006<ref>{{cite web | author = MOD | title = HMS Edinburgh News | url = http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.1634 | accessdate = November 6 | accessyear = 2006 }}</ref>, replacing [[HMS Southampton (D90)|HMS ''Southampton'']]. Prior to ''Southampton's'' deployment in August 2005 the role was filled by [[HMS Cardiff (D108)|HMS ''Cardiff'']], which was decommissioned on return to the UK. The Falkland Islands Patrol ship was formerly a [[Castle class patrol vessel|Castle class]] vessel. In 2007 [[HMS Clyde (P257)|HMS ''Clyde'']] relieved [[HMS Dumbarton Castle (P265)|HMS ''Dumbarton Castle'']] and [[HMS Leeds Castle (P258)|HMS ''Leeds Castle'']]. It is planned that she will stay permanently in the South Atlantic until 2012. The Royal Navy also has [[Swiftsure class submarine|''Swiftsure'']] and [[Trafalgar class submarine|''Trafalgar'']] class [[attack submarine]]s that it can deploy to the area, though such deployments are classified. The threat from submarines to hostile ships was demonstrated during the [[Falklands War]] when [[HMS Conqueror (S48)|HMS ''Conqueror'']] sank the Argentine cruiser [[ARA General Belgrano|ARA ''General Belgrano'']]. The Royal Navy's submarines also carry [[BGM-109 Tomahawk]] [[cruise missile]]s which have a range of 1500 miles and can strike at targets within an enemy country. ==British Army== The [[British Army]] maintains a small garrison on the Falkland Islands based at Mount Pleasant. The total deployment is about 500 personnel made up of an infantry company, an engineer squadron, a signals unit, a logistics group and supporting services.<ref>{{cite web | author = British Army | title = Falkland Islands | url = http://www.army.mod.uk/aroundtheworld/flk/index.htm | accessdate = June 19 | accessyear = 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | author = Royal Logistic Corps | title = Falkland Islands | url = http://www.army.mod.uk/temp/rlcta_old/around_the_world/falkland_islands.htm | accessdate = June 19 | accessyear = 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | author = Ministry of Defence | title = Falkland Islands HIVE | url = http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceFor/ServiceCommunity/Hive/Overseas/FalklandIslandsHive.htm | accessdate = June 19 | accessyear = 2006 }}</ref> The 33 Engineer Regiment (EOD) provides a constant support and is part of the Joint Service Falkland Islands Detachment which consists of [[Royal Air Force|RAF]] and [[Royal Logistic Corps|RLC]] [[Bomb disposal|EOD]] teams. It is mainly based in [[Stanley, Falkland Islands|Stanley]] but there is also a detachment at Mount Pleasant. The group destroys munitions from the [[Falklands War]] that did not explode at the time and briefs troops, tourists and citizens on the areas which are safe and the minefield marking which have been put in place.<ref>{{cite web | author = Royal Engineers | title = Joint Services Explosive Ordnance Disposal in the Falkland Islands | url = http://www.army.mod.uk/royalengineers/org/33regt/falklands.htm | accessdate = June 19 | accessyear = 2006 }}</ref> There is also a Joint Communications Unit (JCUFI which incorporates the Signals Unit) providing the [[electronic warfare]] and command and control systems for the [[Royal Navy]], Army and RAF stationed there.<ref>{{cite web | author = Royal Corps of Signals | title = Falkland Islands | url = http://www.army.mod.uk/royalsignals/jcufi/ | accessdate = June 19 | accessyear = 2006 }}</ref> ==Royal Air Force== [[RAF Mount Pleasant]], built following the surrender of Argentine invasion forces, is capable of accepting trans-Atlantic aircraft such as the [[Lockheed Tristar]]. The Tristar was purchased mainly for the UK-Falklands route, until their entry into service of leased [[Boeing 747|747s]] and [[Boeing 767|767s]].<ref>{{cite web | author = Royal Air Force | title = Mount Pleasant, Falkland Islands | url = http://www.raf.mod.uk/stations/os_base.html | accessdate = June 19 | accessyear = 2006 }}</ref> The RAF's [[Panavia Tornado ADV|Tornado F3s]] provide air defence for the islands and surrounding territories. The four aircraft, and the crews that fly them, are rotated with UK based assets. The aircraft are housed in non-hardened shelters, sixteen of which were built for surge operations in times of tension or hostility. In response to recent reassertions of claims by Argentina, the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] has announced that No. 1435 is converting to the [[Eurofighter Typhoon]] by the end of 2007 instead of 2009. The [[VC10]] provides air transport and aerial refueling for the fighters. When a fighter is launched it is almost immediately followed by the VC10 as changeable weather conditions might make diversion to another airfield necessary. The Hercules provides resupply missions through the use of air-drops and also carries out maritime patrol. The latter is an important mission to the Falkland Islands government as the Hercules verifies that all fishing vessels are licensed; at £1,000 per licence per season this is an extremely lucrative source of income. The [[helicopter]]s of No. 1564 Flight (formerly [[No. 78 Squadron RAF|No. 78 Squadron]]) provide air transport missions. The [[Westland Sea King|Sea Kings]] carry out short and medium range [[search and rescue]] missions. The sole remaining [[CH-47 Chinook|Chinook]] was returned to the UK in October 2006 to be redeployed to Afghanistan. ===Organisation=== *[[No. 1435 Flight RAF|No. 1435 Flight]]{{ndash}} 4 [[Panavia Tornado ADV|Tornado F3]]s *[[No. 1312 Flight RAF|No. 1312 Flight]]{{ndash}} 1 [[Vickers VC-10]], 1 [[C-130 Hercules|Hercules C3]] *[[No. 1564 Flight RAF|No. 1564 Flight]]{{ndash}} 2 [[Westland Sea King|Sea King]] HAR3s. == Joint Rapid Reaction Force == The UK maintains a [[Joint Rapid Reaction Force]] containing elements of all three services which could be deployed to the islands in the event of receiving intelligence of a specific threat to the islands. ==Expenditure== The estimated [[Pound sterling|Sterling]] figure (FY04/05) was &pound;365 million which came from the [[United Kingdom|UK]] [[Military of the United Kingdom|defence]] budget. This equates to a [[United States dollar|US Dollar]] figure (FY04/05) of $657 million and as a percent of [[United Kingdom|British]] [[Gross domestic product|GDP]] (2004) amounts to approximately 0.03%.{{Fact|date=September 2007}} ==Commanders== The following have served as Commander British Forces Falkland Islands / South Atlantic Islands: *[[Peter de la Billière]] (1984-85)[http://www.britains-smallwars.com/gulf/Billiere.html] *[[Air Vice-Marshal]] [[Kip Kemball]] (1986)[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A0DE1DB113CF935A25755C0A960948260] *''list incomplete'' *[[Brigadier]] David Nicholls (1999)[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/news/2006/07/22/db2202.xml] *Brigadier Geoff Sheldon (2000)[http://www.falklands.gov.fk/focus/69-3.htm] *''list incomplete'' *[[Commodore]] R J Ibbotson (2002)[http://www.falklands.gov.fk/media/armed-forces-minister-to-be-at-commemoration-in-june-2002.htm] *''list incomplete'' *[[Air Commodore]] [[Richard Lacey]] (2004)[http://www.sartma.com/art_1057_11_239_2.html] *''list incomplete'' *Commodore Moncrieff (2006)[http://www.sartma.com/artd_3042_06_2006_39.html] *[[Brigadier]] [[Nick Davis (British Army officer)|N R Davies]] (2007)[http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/HistoryAndHonour/LiberationDayInStanleyMarkedByParadeAndWreathLayingvideo.htm] *[[Air Commodore]] [[Gordon Moulds]] (2008)[http://www.sartma.com/art_5472.html] ==Sources== <div class="references-small"> <references /> </div> <div class="Boxmerge"> {{Falkland Islands topics}} {{South America topic|Military of}} </div> {{British Forces deployments}} [[Category:Military of the Falkland Islands|Military of the Falkland Islands]] [[Category:Military of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands]] [[Category:British Armed Forces deployments]]