SUMMARY - CAVALRY REGIMENTS AND ROLES

OVERVIEW

The Household Cavalry (HCav) and The Royal Armoured Corps (RAC) are grouped together as one arm and have traditionally provided the armoured (tank) forces and the armoured reconnaissance component of the British Army.

The Household Cavalry and the RAC is composed of 10 regular regiments (including the two regiments of the Household Cavalry, discussed below) and the four reserve Yeomanry Regiments with the Army Reserve. Apart from the Royal Tank Regiment, which was formed in the First World War with the specific task of fighting in armoured vehicles, the regular element of the RAC is provided by the successors of those regiments that formed the mounted units of the pre mechanised era. The Yeomanry Regiments are tasked with providing a variety of operational reinforcement tasks in support of the regular RAC.

Although very much part of the RAC as an 'Arm' the Household Cavalry (HCav) is a distinct corps consisting of two regiments. The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment (HCMR), which is permanently stationed in London, has the task of providing mounted troops for state ceremonial functions. The Household Cavalry Regiment (HCR) is stationed in Windsor and is an Armoured Cavalry Regiment that plays a full role in operational and training activity within the Field Army. Officers and soldiers from the Household Cavalry are posted between the two regiments as needs dictate (For general purposes, in this publication, the term RAC includes the HCav).

Armour has provided battle winning shock action and firepower since the earliest tanks helped to break the stalemate of the Western Front during the First World War. In the same way, armoured reconnaissance, with the ability to penetrate the enemy’s forward defences and gain information by using stealth and firepower, has shaped the way in which armour has been used to its best advantage.

Defence represents the best use of ground features in conjunction with engineering and concealed firepower. The ability of armour to overwhelm all but the heaviest defences and deliver a group of highly capable armoured fighting platforms into the combat area remains a battle winning capability embraced by all major armies.

ROLES
Armoured Cavalry Regiments with a total unit strength figure of 528 personnel provide the reconnaissance and surveillance capability previously provided by Force Reconnaissance Regiments. Until the arrival into service of the Scout SV in 2020, these regiments will continue to use the Combat Vehicle Reconnaissance (Tracked).

The Light Cavalry Regiments with a total unit strength figure of figure of 402 personnel will provide a mobile tactical reconnaissance capability in both mounted and dismounted roles. In the main Light Cavalry Regiments will be equipped with Jackal and Coyote vehicles.

T56 Regiments with a total unit strength figure of 587 personnel will continue to be equipped with Challenger 2 Main Battle Tanks.

REGIMENTS AND ROLES

TRAINING

AFV Training Group      Bovington