HC Deb 17 January 1989 vol 145 cc129-30W
Mr. Sean Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the average number of(a) British land forces, (b) British main battle tanks and (c) British armoured personnel carriers stationed on the mainland of Europe in 1987.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The figures requested by the hon. Member for 1987 were approximately as follows:

Number
(a) British land forces 160,300
(b) British main battle tanks 2650
(a) British armoured personnel carriers 31,900
1 Includes 3,000 in Berlin.
2 Does not include reserve stocks.
3 Includes a number of non-troop carrying vehicles.

These figures include the British Army of the Rhine and forces stationed in Berlin.

Mr. Sean Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average number of trained infantrymen in each British Army of the Rhine infantry battalion.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The establishment of infantry battalions in BAOR varies according to role. The current average establishment is approximately 660 officers and soldiers. This figure is subject to change as the re-equipping of infantry battalions with Warrior and Saxon, and the conversion of 6 Brigade from the airmobile role, continue.

Mr. Sean Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average number of main battle tanks in each British Army of the Rhine armoured regiment.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

It is not our practice to give details of the number of tanks in operational units or formations.

Mr. Sean Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average number of anti-tank guided missile systems in each British Army of the Rhine infantry battalion.

Monthly sorties in the United Kingdom low-flying system
1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988
January 10,034 9,271 9,567 9,794 8,954 9,723 11,532 8,222 11,179
February 8,373 10,208 9,456 12,197 9,112 10,436 12,264 12,527 14,279
March 9,884 11,854 14,992 12,265 11,505 12,973 10,145 12,515 15,494
April 11,045 10,105 10,759 11,802 12,972 12,793 14,863 13,006 11,733
May 11,716 11,196 12,116 12,520 12,967 12,534 13,366 14,364 12,990
June 11,602 14,124 11,827 15,010 13,715 13,158 13,413 13,787 14,220
July 12,229 12,830 11,443 15,109 13,678 14,267 17,519 14,071 12,653

Mr. Archie Hamilton

It is not our practice to give details of the number of anti-tank guided missiles in operational units or formations.

Mr. Sean Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the average number of surface-to-air guided missile systems in each British Army of the Rhine air defence regiment.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

It is not our practice to disclose the numbers of surface-to-air guided missile systems in operational units or formations.

Mr. Sean Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the average amount of time spent by each British Army of the Rhine infantry battalion in(a) training and (b) exercise in 1987.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

In 1987, BAOR infantry battalions deployed for up to 26 weeks of training, of which approximately 15 weeks was for battalion level training and 11 weeks for company level training. The form in which records are held does not differentiate between training and exercise deployment and the specific information requested by the hon. Member could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Sean Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the average amount of time spent by each British Army of the Rhine armoured regiment in(a) training and (b) exercise in 1987.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

In 1987, BAOR armoured. regiments deployed for up to 23–25 weeks of training, of which approximately 14 weeks was for regimental training and eight weeks for squadron/troop training. The form in which records are held does not differentiate between training and exercise deployment and the specific information requested by the hon. Member could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

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