Annex A
HCDC REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON OVERSTRETCH
The numbers and percentages of personnel,
shown separately for the categories: on operations: on immediate
notice to move; on training for specific operations (eg, Northern
Ireland specific training); and recovering from operations; giving
figures for each Service, broken down by major units, major sub
units or detachments, and minor units.
NAVAL SERVICE
An Operational Commitment Snapshot for the Naval
Service as at 1 July 1999 is at Appendix 1 to this Annex.[11]
ARMY
A summary of HQ LAND personnel committed to
operations is at Appendix 2. A summary of the position within
NI Resident Troops is included at Appendix 3.[12]
As at 1 July 1999 the Army was some 6 per cent
undermanned and some 47 per cent of the Army was committed to
operations. This was at the peak of the UK's deployment to OP
AGRICOLA and the NI Marching Season. The latter figure has since
reduced to some 30 per cent, which refers to those who are preparing
to be deployed, deployed or recovering from deployment where as
the broken down figures are the 1 July snapshot of those actually
deployed that day.
As at 1 August 1999 the percentage of HQ LAND
troops deployed on operations was:
| Royal Armoured Corps |
17.6% |
| Royal Artillery | 31.2% |
| Royal Engineers | 30.2% |
| Royal Signals | 32% |
| Infantry | 28.8% |
| Combat Service Support | 20%
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RAF
A summary showing the position in respect of RAF Formed Units
on 1 July 1999 is at Appendix 4.[13]
This snapshot does not, however, show the complete picture because
the RAF deploys its personnel in a different way to the Army.
By 1 July 1999, offensive air operations over Bosnia had ceased
and the RAF's offensive commitments had been replaced by support
operations requiring "non-formed unit" personnel. Specifically,
personnel from the supply, movements, administration, catering
and MT trades were deployed to Kosovo. It is estimated that, as
at 1 July 1999, around an additional 1600 (3.1 per cent) RAF personnel
were deployed on this basis worldwide (of which some 500 were
serving in the Falkland Islands). A further 350 (0.7 per cent)
personnel were on notice to move and around 500 (1.0 per cent)
were recovering on post-operational tour leave. In total, therefore,
some 5,900 RAF personnel were either deployed, about to deploy
or recovering from deployment on 1 July 1999. This represented
around 11.5 per cent of the trained strength of 51,546.
11
See overleaf. Back
12
See p. Back
13
Not printed. Back
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