Army Special Operations Brigade

Army Special Operations Brigade
Brigade flash
Active2021 – 14 April 2026[1]
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
TypeSpecial operations-capable[2]
RoleSpecial Operations
Unconventional Warfare
Security Force Assistance
Foreign internal defence
Counterinsurgency
SizeBrigade
Part ofLand Special Operations Force[3]

The Army Special Operations Brigade, previously called the Specialised Infantry Group, was a formation of the British Army, initially created as a result of the Army 2020 Refine reorganisation, intended to train foreign forces.[4][5] Its name and role was adapted after the Defence in a Competitive Age reforms, to a unit that not only trains partner nations, but also fights alongside them in "complex high-threat environments".[6][7] The brigade was disbanded in spring 2026 and its units assigned to Land Special Operations Force.[8]

History

Specialised Infantry Group

The group was formed to work alongside partner forces,[5] a role which has similarities to that of the US Army Security Force Assistance Brigades.[9][10] Officially formed in October 2017 with the 4th Battalion, The Rifles (4 Rifles) and Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland (1 Scots).[11][12][13][4][5] in July 2018, the 2nd Battalion, Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment was added to the Group.[11][12][13][5] and in January 2019, a fourth battalion, the 2nd Battalion, Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, was added and this was followed by the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles in 2020.[12][14][13][15][5][16]

In August 2017, Team 5 from B Company 1 Scots were the first team to deploy on operations under the Specialised Infantry Group. Being deployed to Somalia, training the Somalia National Army for their ongoing fight against Al-Shabaab.[17] In February 2018, 4 Rifles deployed for the first time to Kuwait to work with the Kuwait Army and Kuwait National Guard.[18] R Company, It also trained the Afghan Army and forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.[19] In July 2018, C Company from the 2 PWRR was dispatched to Nigeria, where 1 Scots also trained the Nigerian Army for their fight against Boko Haram.[20]

Army Special Operations Brigade

In August 2021 the group was re-designated as the Army Special Operations Brigade[21] consisting of the four battalions of the newly created Ranger Regiment, two reinforcement companies of the Royal Gurkha Rifles, 255 Signal Squadron under command,[22] and 1 Squadron Honourable Artillery Company attached to provide long-range surveillance patrols.[23][24]

The mentoring and training role previously undertaken by the Specialised Infantry Group was taken on by a new brigade formed through the conversion of the 11th Infantry Brigade into the 11th Security Force Assistance Brigade.[6][25][26]

The inaugural Brigade Commander was Brigadier Angus Fair DSO* OBE who formerly commanded the Specialised Infantry Group.[27][28][29]

By 2024, the brigade had been transferred from the disbanded 6 (UK) Division to the Land Special Operations Force set up in 1 December 2023[3] under Field Army Troops.[30]

Structure

Former Structure (2021)

The structure of the Specialised Infantry Group in March 2021 was as follows:

Future Structure (2030)

Graphic representing the structure of the new brigade.

The future structure of the brigade (by 2030) will be:[42][7][43]

References

  1. ↑ "77 Brigade no longer exists as a formed unit within Defence". British Army - Army Policy and Secretariat. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
  2. ↑ Defence in a Competitive Age (PDF). Ministry of Defence. March 2021. pp. 46, 68. ISBN 9781528624626. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Land Special Operations Force - a Freedom of Information request to British Army". WhatDoTheyKnow. 19 September 2025.
  4. 1 2 "Defence review to see dozens of sites close". BBC News. 7 November 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Specialised Infantry Group". army.mod.uk. British Army. Archived from the original on 1 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  6. 1 2 3 "New British Army brigade: reshaping UK special operations for the better?". IISS. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  7. 1 2 "Army Special Operations Brigade". Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  8. ↑ "77 Brigade no longer exists as a formed unit within Defence". British Army - Army Policy and Secretariat. Retrieved 11 July 2026.
  9. ↑ Matisek, Jahara; Williamson, Joshua (June 2020). "Limited Wars in the Periphery: The Dilemma of American Military Assistance". Expeditions with MCU Press. doi:10.36304/ExpwMCUP.2020.03.
  10. ↑ Matisek, Jahara; Reno, William (2019). "Getting American Security Force Assistance Right: Political Context Matters" (PDF). Joint Force Quarterly. 92 (1st quarter): 65–73.
  11. 1 2 "Leadership in The Specialised Infantry: An Interview with Brigadier James Roddis". thearmyleader.co.uk. The Army Leader. 8 December 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  12. 1 2 3 "Army 2020 Refine Structure" (PDF). britisharmedforcesreview. HM Armed Forces Review. 15 October 2019. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  13. 1 2 3 "Written Statement: Strategic Defence and Security Review – Army:Written statement – HCWS367". parliament.uk. Hansard. 15 December 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2019. Specialised Infantry Battalions
  14. ↑ "New Gurkha battalion to be established as brigade grows". gov.uk. London. 11 March 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  15. ↑ "New 3rd Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles Will Begin Recruiting 2019". warfare.today. 12 March 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  16. ↑ Latter, Mick (3 February 2020). "The Third Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles reformation parade".
  17. ↑ "British Army Twitter". 19 September 2017.
  18. ↑ Grzeszczyk, Sian (21 February 2018). "EXCLUSIVE: Specialist British Soldiers' First Operational Deployment In Kuwait". Forces News. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  19. ↑ Wiltshire, Amy (2 May 2019). "Duchess Of Cornwall Presents 4 RIFLES With Medals". Forces News. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  20. ↑ Cotterill, Tom (23 July 2018). "Portsmouth soldiers teach Nigerian Army how to defeat brutal terror group Boko Haram". Portsmouth News. Portsmouth. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  21. ↑ "First glimpse of 'Future Soldier'". Soldier Magazine. 1 August 2021. p. 14.
  22. 1 2 "Unit Details". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  23. ↑ Gregory, Lieutenant General Sir Andrew (25 November 2021). "The Integrated Review". Ministry of Defence. p. 1. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  24. ↑ Gregory, Lieutenant General Sir Andrew (25 November 2021). "The Integrated Review". Ministry of Defence. p. 2. Retrieved 3 December 2021.
  25. ↑ "New Army Ranger Regiment: What We Know So Far". Forces Network. 24 March 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
  26. ↑ "New Army Ranger Regiment: What We Know So Far". Forces Network. 6 April 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  27. ↑ Nicholls, Dominic (25 November 2021). "'Emotional intelligence' key for Army's new Rangers units". The Telegraph. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  28. ↑ Luscombe, Stephen. "Light Dragoons". The British Empire. Retrieved 13 December 2021. Angus George Costeker Fair
  29. ↑ "Aldershot Soldiers Receive Operational Medals". British Army (Press release). 14 November 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  30. ↑ "Formations, Divisions & Brigades | The British Army". 10 November 2024.
  31. ↑ "Specialised Infantry Group". army.mod.uk. British Army. Archived from the original on 1 August 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  32. ↑ Weir, Fiona (2 October 2014). "Warm Welcome for 1 SCOTS in Holywood". Forces Network. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  33. 1 2 "Army 2020 Refine changes since 2017" (PDF). Dropbox. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  34. 1 2 3 Fallon, Michael (15 December 2016). "Strategic Defence and Security Review – Army: Written statement – HCWS367". Hansard. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  35. 1 2 3 4 "Regiments to change bases, in major Army restructure". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  36. 1 2 "Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  37. 1 2 British Army Newsletter | Summer 2020 | Issue 5 | In Front.
  38. 1 2 "Duke of Lancaster's Regiment". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  39. 1 2 Garrison, Aldershot (Winter 2020). "The Garrison: Aldershot Garrison, Home of the British Army, Issue #7: Winter 2020". Aldershot Garrison. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  40. 1 2 "4 RIFLES". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  41. ↑ "New specialist Gurkha battalion established". Ministry of Defence. 14 March 2019. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  42. ↑ "Unit Details". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  43. ↑ "New Army Ranger Regiment: What We Know So Far". Forces Network. 25 November 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  44. ↑ "6th (United Kingdom) Division". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  45. ↑ Weir, Fiona (2 October 2014). "Warm Welcome for 1 SCOTS in Holywood". Forces Network. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  46. ↑ "1 RANGER - Commanding Officer's Foreword" (PDF). Royal Regiment of Scotland Association Journal. Vol. 20. Royal Regiment of Scotland Association. 2023. p. 209. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  47. 1 2 3 Fallon, Michael (15 December 2016). "Strategic Defence and Security Review – Army: Written statement – HCWS367". Hansard. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  48. ↑ Latter, Mick (30 November 2021). "F (Falklands) Company, Formation Parade 18th November 2021". Welcome to the Gurkha Brigade Association. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  49. ↑ Rushworth, Will (9 February 2022). "4 RANGER'S GURKHAS DEPLOYED ACROSS AFRICA" (PDF). 4 RIFLES. Bugle. No. 19 Spring 2022. Kettering: Crest Publications. p. 30. … G (Coriano) Coy, the newest addition to 4 RANGER, …
  50. ↑ Peach, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart (2012). "Defence and Intelligence" (PDF). Geospatial World Forum. Joint Forces Command. p. 3. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  51. ↑ The Integrated Review, Lt Gen Andrew Gregory CBE, Master Gunner St James's Park, 25 November 2021
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