4 Military Intelligence Battalion (United Kingdom)
| 4th Military Intelligence Battalion | |
|---|---|
| 4 MI Bn | |
| Active | post 2000–Present |
| Land |  Vereinigtes Königreich |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Size | Battalion |
| Part of | 1st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade |
| Battalion HQ | Ward Barracks, Bulford Camp |
| Engagements | Operation Telic Operation Herrick |
| Insignia | |
| Battalion badge |  |
The 4th Military Intelligence Battalion (4 MI Bn) is a military intelligence unit of the British Army's Intelligence Corps, which provides close intelligence support to the headquarters for the only warfighting division in the army.
History
The 1999 Staff Officer's Handbook mentions 1st and 2nd Military Intelligence Battalions based in Germany and United Kingdom respectively. The 3rd (V) MI Battalion also appears here, however a 4th MI Bn is not mentioned. Therefore, it can be reasonably assumed the battalion was formed between 2000 and 2008 (when 5 Bn was formed).[1] By 2007, the battalion appears as part of 1st Military Intelligence Brigade.[2]
Under the Army 2020 programme announced in 2013, the battalion left the disbanding 1 MI Bde to join the new 1st Intelligence and Surveillance Brigade along with the other 4 battalions of the Intelligence Corps (1–3 and 5). In addition, the battalion moved to its current location at Ward Barracks, Bulford Camp[3].[4][5]
As part of the programme, the corps' reserve component was expanded. Therefore, in 2015 7 Military Intelligence Battalion was formed with its headquarters in Bristol, based on 54 Military Intelligence Coy, 5 MI Bn.[6] This new battalion was placed under 1 IS Bde and paired with 4 MI Bn shortly thereafter.[4]
Role
The 4th Military Intelligence Battalion (4 MI Bn) is the largest concentration of Intelligence Corps (Int Corps) personnel in the Army, focused on supporting the 3rd (United Kingdom) Division. 4 MI Bn is a regular army unit, which sits under the 1st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade.[7][8] It is tasked with supporting 3 UK Div including its new armoured infantry and strike brigades. The current battalion is split between Bulford Camp and Aldershot Garrison.[9]
Though supporting 3 (UK) Division is the battalion's primary role, it also provides MI support to London District, Southern England, and British Army Germany.[10]
The battalion also oversees small intelligence sections at Bovington Camp, and until 2017, C Company was based Antwerp Barracks, Paderborn Garrison.[11][12]
Structure
Following the Army 2020 Refine, the battalion was reorganised into three multi-functional companies, a headquarters, a logistic support section, and a new 'Operations Support MI Company'.[9][13][10]
- Battalion Headquarters
- Headquarters Company
- 41 Military Intelligence Company — supporting 1 Armoured Infantry Brigade (below organisation is standard throughout the companies)[10]
- Company Headquarters
- Close Support (CS) Intelligence Section
- General Support (GS) Intelligence Section
- Battle Group Intelligence Support Section (BGISS)
- Counter Intelligence and Security (CI&Sy) Section
- 42 Military Intelligence Company — supporting 12 Armoured Infantry Brigade
- 43 Military Intelligence Company — supporting 20 Armoured Infantry Brigade
- Operations Support Military Intelligence Company[10]
- Logistic Support Section, at Aldershot Garrison — supporting 101st Logistic Brigade
Footnotes
- ^ Staff Officer's Handbook, pp. 142–143.
- ^ "1 MI Bde Organisation". 2008-02-29. Archived from the original on 2008-02-29. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
- ^ "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. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Ministry, of Defence (July 2013). "Transforming the British Army an Update" (PDF). United Kingdom Parliamentary Publishings. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Regular Army basing matrix by Formation and Unit" (PDF). Army Families Federation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 August 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
- ^ "Summary of Army 2020 Reserve Structure and Basing Changes" (PDF). British Army Documents. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
- ^ British Army, Force Troops Command Handbook.
- ^ "1st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
- ^ a b "Intelligence Corps Battalions". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
- ^ a b c d "4 Military Intelligence". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 2021-03-28.
- ^ "Future of British Army Bases in Germany Revealed" (PDF). British Forces in Germany. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 March 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
{{cite web}}:|archive-date=/|archive-url=timestamp mismatch; 4 March 2016 suggested (help) - ^ "British Army units from 1945 on - 200 Squadron". british-army-units1945on.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
- ^ "Information regarding Companies and sub-units of the Royal Military Police and Intelligence Corps under Army 2020" (PDF). Publishing Service, United Kingdom Government. 12 June 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
References
- Tanner, James (2014). The British Army since 2000. Oxford, United Kingdom: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1782005933. OCLC 944154544.