16 Air Assault Brigade

Active British Army formation November 2019 December 2012 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team 16AAB_new.svg Insignia of 16 Air Assault Brigade 1999–present United Kingdom United Kingdom Air assault 1st (UK) Division Brigadier Ed Cartwright Colchester Garrison Brigade Commander Light-blue and maroon Iraq WarWar in AfghanistanFall of Kabul General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team is a formation of the British Army predominantly based in Colchester, Essex. It makes up the Air Assault Task Force, a battlegroup held at high readiness, and is the only brigade in the British Army focused on operating via parachute, helicopter and air-landing. History thumb|Paratroopers from 16 Air Assault Brigade jump from a Royal Air Force C-130 Hercules over the Salisbury Plain Training Area during Exercise Wessex Storm on 19 November 2014. right|thumb|Soldiers from 16 Air Assault Brigade preparing for an evening raid near Basra, Iraq Formation The brigade was formed as part of the defence reforms implemented by the Strategic Defence Review on 1 September 1999, by the merging of 24 Airmobile Brigade and elements of 5th Airborne Brigade. This grouping created a highly mobile brigade of parachute units and airmobile units, which employ helicopters.19 June 2010 Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom) 4th Division http://www.army.mod.uk/structure/2082.aspx https://web.archive.org/web/20100731145948/http://www.army.mod.uk/structure/2082.aspx 31 July 2010 Macedonia After a ceasefire was declared in the Republic of Macedonia (now known as the Republic of North Macedonia) between government forces and rebels known as the National Liberation Army, NATO launched a British-led effort, Operation Essential Harvest, to collect weapons voluntarily given up by the rebels. The brigade HQ and some of its elements deployed in August 2001, acting as the spearhead for the NATO operation. It returned home after the NATO mission was completed in September.https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/first-british-troops-leave-for-macedonia-despite-safety-fears-9263456.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/first-british-troops-leave-for-macedonia-despite-safety-fears-9263456.html 1 May 2022 subscription live First British troops leave for Macedonia despite safety fears 18 August 2001 The Independent 18 November 2018 Afghanistan After the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, NATO established a peacekeeping force in December known as the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), based in the capital Kabul. The brigade HQ and some of its units deployed to Afghanistan in 2001, 2006, 2008 and again in 2010–11.Thousands welcome 16 Air Assault Brigade home from Afghanistan https://www.gov.uk/government/news/thousands-welcome-16-air-assault-brigade-home-from-afghanistan Ministry of Defence 8 June 2011 16th Air Assault Brigade has deployed to Afghanistan more times than any other formation.https://www.forces.net/services/tri-service/16-air-assault-brigade-welcomes-gurkhas 16 Air Assault Brigade forces.net dead https://web.archive.org/web/20191002175539/https://www.forces.net/services/tri-service/16-air-assault-brigade-welcomes-gurkhas 2 October 2019 2 October 2019 Following Taliban gains across the country, the brigade returned to Kabul in August 2021 to ensure the safe evacuation of British nationals as part of Operation Pitting.Colchester troops deployed to Afghanistan to rescue British nationals https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/19511422.troops-deployed-afghanistan-rescue-british-nationals/ 2021-08-13 Gazette en Iraq During the build-up to the invasion of Iraq, the brigade, commanded by Brigadier Jacko Page, was deployed to Kuwait in February 2003. The brigade was part of 1 (UK) Armoured Division and after extensive training in Kuwait it took part in the beginning of the invasion on 20 March. The brigade's objective was to secure the southern oil fields before they were destroyed by Saddam Hussein's forces. The brigade's 7th Parachute Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery entered Iraq on 20 March to support U.S. Marine Corps forces in their efforts to capture the Rumaila oil fields, nearly all of the oil wells being taken intact. The rest of the brigade, supported by its AAC helicopters, entered Iraq soon afterwards, still tasked with securing Rumaila. The brigade often met sporadic resistance and had to deal with disarming the many explosives attached to the infrastructure.https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/british-troops-of-16-air-assault-brigade-fight-through-the-smoke-to-secure-oil-fields-112026.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/british-troops-of-16-air-assault-brigade-fight-through-the-smoke-to-secure-oil-fields-112026.html 1 May 2022 subscription live British troops of 16 Air Assault Brigade fight through the smoke to secure oil fields 23 March 2003 The Independent 18 November 2018 The brigade was subsequently used to guard the oil fields and protect Allied supply lines with elements moving further north of Basra – Iraq's second largest city – to provide a screen protecting it from Iraqi attack. On 31 March, the brigade, assisted by artillery and air support, attacked an Iraqi armoured column advancing on Basra, destroying 17 T-55 tanks, 5 artillery pieces and 7 armoured personnel carriers. After British forces entered Basra on 6 April 3 PARA was employed to clear the 'old quarter' of the city on 7 April due to the narrow streets making it inaccessible to vehicles.https://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/07/world/nation-war-overview-april-6-2003-british-thrust-basra-door-door-baghdad-deadly.html A British Thrust in Basra, Door to Door in Baghdad, and a Deadly Mistake 6 April 2003 The New York Times 18 November 2018 After Basra's capture, the brigade was based in Maysan Province, centred around the province's capital Al-Amarah. The brigade carried out patrols into towns, helped bring normality back to the south, tried to maintain order and destroyed any conventional weapons caches that were found. The war was officially declared over on 1 May and the brigade began to return home that same month. During one patrol into Majar al-Kabir on 24 June, the brigade suffered its largest casualties in Iraq when six Royal Military Policemen of 156 Provost Company were killed by a large Iraqi mob.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iraq/1434138/Men-who-made-the-ultimate-sacrifice.html Men who made the ultimate sacrifice The Telegraph 26 June 2003 1 November 2015 Tristan da Cunha On 9 May 2026, a 16 Air Assault Brigade team executed a first-of-its-kind emergency humanitarian mission, parachuting onto Tristan da Cunha to treat a British national with suspected hantavirus. A local island resident who disembarked from the virus-hit cruise ship MV Hondius. Oxygen supplies at the island's hospital had reached a critical level. The territory normally operates with just a two-person medical team. The team comprised six paratroopers from Pathfinder Platoon of the 16 Air Assault Brigade, one specialist doctor and one military intensive care nurse.2026-05-11 Soldier on parachuting to Tristan da Cunha for Hantavirus aid https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/cgqp3xq7959o limited 2026-05-12 BBC News en-GBDetails of the Daring Airdrop at Tristan da Cunha, 9th May 2026 Peter Millington Tristan da Cunha Website 2026-05-11 https://www.tristandc.com/government/news-2026-05-11-airdrop.php Due to the critical care required, an intensive care doctor and an intensive care nurse were strapped to paratroopers for tandem jumps. The nurse had done a civilian tandem jump before, but for the doctor, it was their first time.Falling backwards and plunging through clouds: British paratroopers' landing on Tristan da Cunha Dan Sabbagh The Guardian 2026-04-14 https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/may/14/british-army-paratroopers-tristan-da-cunha-hantavirus 2026-05-14 An RAF A400M transport aircraft flew the team 6,788 km from RAF Brize Norton to Ascension Island, before flying another 3,000 km south, sustained by mid-air refuelling from an RAF Voyager tanker. Arriving at the drop zone 5 km northeast of the island, the team jumped from 2500 m so the winds exceeding 50 ln h would blow them over land. Once the personnel were on the ground, the A400M air-dropped 3.3 tonnes of vital medical cargo and oxygen cylinders across three subsequent runs, successfully stabilising the island's healthcare emergency2026-05-10 Army parachutes onto Tristan da Cunha to help Briton with suspected hantavirus https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgzv77ldpdo 2026-05-11 BBC News en-GB9 May 2026 TRISTAN DA CUNHA PUBLIC NOTICE Philip Kendall https://www.tristandc.com/government/public-notice-2026-05-09-airdrop.pdf 13 May 2026 This will be a spectacular event, and I encourage you all to have your cameras ready to take lots of photos, but please do not get in the way of the drop zones or Prince Philip Hall unless you have been told you are directly involved. before the aircraft returned to Ascension.https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles/when-the-call-came-the-raf-was-ready-delivering-lifesaving-support-at-speed-and-range// When the Call Came, the RAF was Ready: Delivering Lifesaving Support at Speed and Range Royal Air Force Medway P223 6 was then dispatched from her post in the Falkland Islands on 14 May 2026. She sailed for seven days through notoriously rough waters to reach Tristan da Cunha. Medway arrived off the coast on 22 May. Her primary objectives are to deliver six fresh civilian clinicians and heavy medical provisions to ensure long-term healthcare resilience on the island and extract the paratroopers and military medics to the Falklands.https://www.navylookout.com/hms-medway-arrives-at-tristan-da-cunha-with-medics-and-supplies/ HMS Medway arrives at Tristan da Cunha with medics and supplies - Navy Lookout 23 May 2026 On 24 May, sea conditions allowed the military medics and paratroopers to board the ship using a Tristan Fisheries RIB, although some of the paratroopers' kit remained on the island and will be shipped at a later date. Medway then sailed for the Falklands.https://www.tristandc.com/news-2026-05-24-hms-medway.php HMS Medway Departs after Successfully Exchanging Personnel Philip Kendall www.tristandc.com Command structure 16 Air Assault Brigade is now under the command of 1st (UK) Division and, from 2024, provides the land component command of a joint and multi-domain sovereign Global Response Force (GRF).2023-09-12 General Sir Patrick Sanders DSEI 2023 Keynote Speech https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/general-sir-patrick-sanders-dsei-2023-keynote-speech 2023-11-07 GOV.UK en Structure As the British Army's rapid response formation, 16 Air Assault Brigade has served in the vanguard of all of the Army's recent operational deployments to Sierra Leone, Macedonia, Iraq and Afghanistan, and is the largest brigade in the Army, with 6,200 personnel. It comprises: 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment76–77 https://www.army.mod.uk/media/15057/adr010310-futuresoldierguide_30nov.pdf British Army Future Soldier Guide 28 August 2022 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment 4th Battalion, Parachute Regiment (Reserve) 1st Battalion, Royal Gurkha Rifles 1st Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment 7th Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery 23 Parachute Engineer Regiment 13 Air Assault Support Regiment RLC 16 Medical Regiment 216 Parachute Signal Squadron the Pathfinder PlatoonPathfinders pack a greater punch than numbers suggest https://www.army.mod.uk/news-and-events/news/2021/07/pathfinders-pack-a-greater-punch-than-numbers-suggest/ 2021-09-30 British Army 29 September 2021 Gavin O'Connor en-GB dead https://web.archive.org/web/20210930142827/https://www.army.mod.uk/news-and-events/news/2021/07/pathfinders-pack-a-greater-punch-than-numbers-suggest/ 2021-09-30 one intelligence company 7 Air Assault Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers The brigade HQ is based in Colchester Garrison and reports directly to Commander Field Army whilst the Army Air Corps units previously assigned to the brigade will remain under Joint Aviation Command.Janes Defence Weekly, 23 September 2015, Tim Ripley The Brigade Headquarters has personnel from both the British Army and the Royal Air Force assigned, enabling it to carry out air and land operations. Due to the brigade's mobile role, it is lightly armed and equipped. The brigade's land equipment includes Foxhounds,https://defence-blog.com/british-army-upgrades-its-foxhound-armoured-vehicles/ British Army upgrades its Foxhound armoured vehicles 28 July 2020 The Defence Blog – Military and Defense News Jackal 2s,2022-11-05 Supacat JACKAL HMWP ~ Part Three https://www.joint-forces.com/features/59212-supacat-jackal-hmwp-part-three 2023-07-15 Joint Forces News en-GB WMIK Land Rovers, Supacat ATMPs, towed L118 light guns, Javelin anti-tank and lightweight Starstreak air-defence missile launchers. The aviation element of the brigade consists of three attack regiments equipped with AH-64E Apache and AW159 Wildcat helicopters from the Army Air Corps, Chinook and Puma support helicopters from the RAF, and Merlin support helicopters from the Fleet Air Arm (all of which are controlled by Joint Aviation Command). Furthermore, two four-man Tactical Air Control Parties (TACPs) manned by the RAF Regiment provide airspace deconfliction, integration of air platforms within the battlespace, and terminal control of air assets.https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1060030952 Tactical Air Control Parties (TACPs), 16 Air Assault Brigade Imperial War Museum 18 November 2018 Under the Defence in a Competitive Age programme and subsequent Future Soldier, the brigade was redesignated as the 16th Air Assault Brigade. At the same time, the 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment re-joined the brigade.British Army units from 1945 on - Royal Irish Regiment http://british-army-units1945on.co.uk/infantry/royal-irish-regiment.html 2021-08-13 british-army-units1945on.co.ukFirst glimpse of 'Future Soldier' Soldier - Magazine of the British Army August 2021 14 https://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/html5/reader/production/default.aspx?pubname=&edid=0377652b-c123-4bff-8806-61b9af842025 13 August 2021 Pathfinder Platoon Pathfinder Platoon In 1984, 5th Airborne Brigade was in the process of developing its Limited Parachute Assault Capability (LPAC). This required a formation of 15 Hercules aircraft to drop a parachute battalion group over two drop zones (DZs) in under five minutes, by day or night. To do this, there was a requirement for the DZs to be clearly marked, to ensure that the crews had an easily identified reference point to allow them to drop accurately and consistently. With the demise of the 16th Parachute Brigade in 1977, the disbandment of No 1 (Guards) Independent Company meant that the expertise had been lost. Regimental Headquarters was asked to look at the options for providing this capability. Major Phil Neame produced a paper in October 1984 recommending the formation of an independent platoon, with manpower drawn from all three battalions and coming directly under the command of the Brigade Headquarters. It would number a total of 28 in 7 patrols of 4 men and include 2 Royal Signals operators.http://www.paradata.org.uk/article/4383/related/32185 The Formation of Pathfinder Platoon for 5 Airborne Brigade 25 October 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141025211940/http://www.paradata.org.uk/article/4383/related/32185 25 October 2014 deadBlakely David Pathfinder: A Special Forces Mission Behind Enemy Lines 2013 Orion Publishing 978-1409129028 Today, the Pathfinder Platoon is made up of selected personnel from the armed forces,http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/WarrantOfficerClass1rsmDarrenChantSergeantMatthewTelfordAndGuardsmanJamesMajorKilledInAfghanistan.htm Warrant Officer Class 1 (RSM) Darren Chant, Sergeant Matthew Telford and Guardsman James Major killed in Afghanistan WO1 (RSM) Chant was born in Walthamstow on 5 September 1969. He completed his basic training at the Guards Depot, Pirbright, in 1986 and was deployed to South Armagh, Northern Ireland, in 1993. After an attachment to the Pathfinder Platoon from 1997 to 1999, he returned to the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards 2 August 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100814061505/http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/MilitaryOperations/WarrantOfficerClass1rsmDarrenChantSergeantMatthewTelfordAndGuardsmanJamesMajorKilledInAfghanistan.htm 14 August 2010 who have undergone a rigorous selection and training programme. The Group is formed around a platoon to company strength cadre of reconnaissance and communications specialists. Its roles include locating and marking parachute drop zones and tactical and helicopter landing zones for air landing operations. Once the main force has landed, the group provides tactical intelligence to assist operational decision-making within the brigade headquarters.18 June 2010 Fact file: 16 Air Assault Brigade BBC News http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2677291.stm 26 February 2003 The pathfinders can utilise various airborne insertion techniques, which range from the current in-service Low Level Parachute (LLP), to High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) and High Altitude High Opening (HAHO) systems.http://www.paradata.org.uk/units/pathfinder-platoon Paradata 25 October 2014 25 October 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141025211745/http://www.paradata.org.uk/units/pathfinder-platoon deadhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1486875/RAF-not-good-enough-for-SAS-parachute-training.html London The Daily Telegraph RAF 'not good enough' for SAS parachute training Thomas Harding 1 April 2005 18 June 2010 Traditions thumb|Top: Drop Zone patch. Bottom left to right: Desert Subdued, Full Colour, DPM Subdued versions of the Brigade's original Striking Eagle insignia (1999–2015) The numeral 16 is derived from the 1st Airborne Division and 6th Airborne Division of the Second World War, first used by the 16th Parachute Brigade formed in 1948.Ferguson, p.34 The brigade's original emblem was a light-blue and maroon shield with a light blue Striking Eagle outlined in maroon emblazoned upon it, and was adopted from the Special Training Centre in Lochailort, Scotland, where Special Forces and Airborne troops were trained between 1943 and 1945. The sign was worn on the left arm. The colours chosen were traditional and showed the make-up of the brigade, maroon for Airborne and light-blue for Army Air Corps.https://www.paradata.org.uk/article/formation-16-air-assault-brigade Formation of 16 Air Assault Brigade Paradata 18 November 2018 The symbol of 5 Airborne Brigade had been Bellerophon on top of Pegasus (a winged horse of Greek mythology) and became synonymous with British airborne forces during World War II. When 16 Air Assault Brigade was formed there was some controversy when the Parachute units of 5 Airborne had to give up the Pegasus symbol and replace it with the Striking Eagle symbol.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/11945878/Paras-win-15-year-battle-to-reinstate-Pegasus-emblem.html Paras win 15-year battle to reinstate Pegasus emblem 22 October 2015 The Telegraph 18 November 2018 However, following Army 2020 restructuring, command of 16 Air Assault Brigade was transferred from Joint Helicopter Command to Commander Field Army, and the Pegasus emblem returned as the symbol of British airborne forces on 25 November 2015. Composition The composition of the brigade after the Future Soldier reorganisation: Headquarters, 16th Air Assault Brigade, at Merville Barracks, Colchester GarrisonBritish Army Review Winter 2021, p. 56.Allwood Greg Know Your Army – Weapons And Organisation https://www.forces.net/services/army/know-your-army-weapons-and-organisation 2021-10-09 Forces Network en6 July 2019 Parachute Regiment Marks 50 Years In Aldershot https://www.forces.net/news/parachute-regiment-marks-50-years-aldershot 2021-08-31 Forces Network enGoogle Earth https://earth.google.com/web/search/Merville+Barracks/@51.87749011,0.89175256,31.30518935a,0d,48.83896944y,164.56101926h,88.3041527t,0r/data=CigiJgokCRSV0DjEBEtAEWMCpoz_AUtAGbREp4ypRvC_Ic6xjQgV4vC_IhoKFkZFZGk1SVZWODdrb3A3TURkY1AtOHcQAg 2021-11-11 earth.google.com 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (Airborne Infantry), at Merville Barracks, Colchester Garrison22 November 2018 Army, Question for Ministry of Defence — current Order of Battle by manpower and basing locations for the corps. https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2018-11-22/194616 live https://web.archive.org/web/20200915161827/https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2018-11-22/194616 15 September 2020 20 February 2021 United Kingdom Parliament — Written questions, answers, and statements 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (Airborne Infantry, at Merville Barracks, Colchester Garrison 4th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment (Army Reserve), at Thornbury Barracks, PudseyGoogle Earth https://earth.google.com/web/search/Thornbury+Barracks,+Pudsey/@53.80439263,-1.69312864,166.3981781a,0d,21.54421353y,318.20929667h,92.7610706t,0r/data=CigiJgokCewv7Xp2CkpAEcDwu976CUpAGbCsyJaZOfY_ITDXmGJtH_Y_IhoKFjBEZzRLaWlUcXYwODR4Q0RUbEJKcVEQAg 2021-11-11 earth.google.com 1st Battalion or 2nd Battalion (rotates every 3 years), The Royal Gurkha Rifles (Air Assault Infantry), at Folkestone 1st Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment (27th (Inniskilling), 83rd, 87th and The Ulster Defence Regiment) (Light Recce Strike Infantry), at Clive Barracks, Tern Hil (Will move to Edinburgh by 2027) 7th Parachute Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery (Airborne Close Support Artillery), at Merville Barracks, Colchester Garrison (12 x L118 105mm light gunsWatling, p. 2.) A (1st City of London) Battery, Honourable Artillery Company, at Armoury House, Finsbury Barrackshttps://www.army.mod.uk/learn-and-explore/about-the-army/corps-regiments-and-units/royal-artillery/honourable-artillery-company/ Honourable Artillery Company | The British Army www.army.mod.uk (a battery of 105mm light guns. The battery is paired with 7th Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery.https://hac.org.uk/what-we-do/soldiering Soldiering 1 January 1970 HAC) 23 Parachute Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers (Close Support Air Manoeuvre Engineers), at Rock Barracks, WoodbridgeAirborne Sappers build their skills in Cyprus https://www.army.mod.uk/news-and-events/news/2021/04/airborne-sappers-build-their-skills-in-cyprus/ 2021-04-06 British Army en-GB27 July 2018 British Corporal Who Gave Lifesaving First Aid Honoured https://www.forces.net/news/british-corporal-who-gave-lifesaving-first-aid-honoured 2021-08-31 Forces Network en17 July 2018 Specialist Army Engineer Squadron Restored https://www.forces.net/news/specialist-army-engineer-squadron-restored 2021-08-31 Forces Network enGoogle Earth https://earth.google.com/web/search/Rock+Barracks,+Woodbridge/@52.07982095,1.38605354,22.47907829a,0d,33.54058539y,89.89709526h,84.89360771t,0r/data=CigiJgokCWpQ0VMziklAEWbvWc3NiUlAGSaLlGwfOvI_IWK4z_DEL_I_IhoKFlhwcHpISnVjSkFMZVJDYUVzZVRFZHcQAg 2021-11-11 earth.google.com 299 Parachute Squadron (Army Reserve), in Wakefield, Gateshead, and Hull6 July 2020 Information regarding locations of Army Reserve units https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/664382/response/1596315/attach/3/20200706%20FOI05506%20Arbeely%20Response%20Letter%20ArmySec.pdf live https://web.archive.org/web/20200706215250/https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/664382/response/1596315/attach/3/20200706%20FOI05506%20Arbeely%20Response%20Letter%20ArmySec.pdf 6 July 2020 7 March 2021 What do they know?Watson & Rinaldi, pp. 335–338. (RE Order of Battle Army 2020) 13 Air Assault Support Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps (Air Assault Logistics), at Merville Barracks, Colchester Garrison 16 Medical Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps (Air Manoeuvre Medical Regiment), at Merville Barracks, Colchester GarrisonCross Charlotte 27 January 2015 Field Hospital 'Parachuted' into Norfolk https://www.forces.net/services/army/field-hospital-parachuted-norfolk 2021-08-31 Forces Network en 144 Parachute Medical Squadron (Army Reserve), in London, Cardiff, Glasgow, and Nottingham16 Medical Regiment https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/army-medical-services/16-medical-regiment/ 2021-03-20 British Army en-GB 216 Parachute Signal Squadron, Royal Corps of Signals (Communication and Information Support),23 May 2018 IN PICTURES: Ex Mercury Dagger Puts Airborne Signallers Through Their Paces https://www.forces.net/news/pictures-ex-mercury-dagger-puts-airborne-signallers-through-their-paces 2021-08-31 Forces Network en at Merville Barracks, Colchester Garrison28 March 2019 IN PICTURES: Airborne Signallers On Exercise Mercury Dagger https://www.forces.net/news/army/pictures-airborne-signallers-exercise-mercury-dagger 2021-08-31 Forces Network en The Pathfinder Platoon (Pathfinders), at Merville Barracks, Colchester Garrison 16 VHR (Very High Readiness) MI Coy, Intelligence Corps, at Merville Barracks, Colchester Garrison16 VHR (Very High Readiness) MI Coy https://twitter.com/Int_Corps/status/1707787783790526503?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet 2023-09-30 X (formerly Twitter) enhttps://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/intelligence-corps/our-units/ Intelligence Corps Battalions www.army.mod.uk 8 Field Company (Para), REME, at Merville Barracks, Colchester Garrison2025-01-10 Historic vehicle unveiled as gate guardian for soldiers who support Army's global response force https://www.forcesnews.com/services/army/historic-vehicle-unveiled-gate-guardian-soldiers-who-support-armys-global-response 2025-01-12 Forces News en2022-12-02 Colchester's Airborne Craftsmen put fitness, teamwork and tech skills to the test https://www.forcesnews.com/services/army/colchesters-airborne-craftsmen-put-teamwork-fitness-and-tech-skills-test 2025-01-12 Forces News en Commanders Commanders have included: 1999–2000 Brigadier Peter Wall (late Royal Engineers) 2000–2002 Brigadier Barney White-Spunner (late Blues and Royals) 2002–2004 Brigadier Jacko Page (late Parachute Regiment) 2004–2007 Brigadier Ed Butler (late Royal Green Jackets)https://www-independent-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/speculation-as-ex-sas-chief-quits-842514.html?amp_js_v=a2&amp_gsa=1&amp&usqp=mq331AQCKAE%3D#aoh=15724499322926&amp_ct=1572449939256&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.independent.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fuk%2Fhome-news%2Fspeculation-as-ex-sas-chief-quits-842514.html Speculation as ex-SAS chief quits 8 June 2008 The Independent 30 October 2019 2007–2008 Brigadier Mark Carleton-Smith (late Irish Guards)War in Afghanistan cannot be won, British commander Brigadier Mark Carleton-Smith warns The Telegraph, 5 October 2008 2008–2011 Brigadier James Chiswell (late Parachute Regiment) 2011–2013 Brigadier Giles Hill (late Parachute Regiment) 2013–2015 Brigadier Nick Borton (late Royal Regiment of Scotland) 2015–2017 Brigadier Colin Weir (late Royal Irish) 2017–2019 Brigadier Nick Perry (late King's Royal Hussars) 2019–2020 Brigadier John Clark (late Royal Engineers) 2020–2021 Brigadier James Martin (late Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment)https://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Generals-Current.pdf Generals July 2020 Mackie Colin 1 July 2020 gulabin.com Colin Mackie 12 July 2020 Brigadier James R. Martin (late Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment): Commander, 16th Air Assault Brigade, July 2020 2021–2023 Brigadier Nick Cowley (late The Queen's Royal Hussars) 2023–2025 Brigadier Mark Berry (late Life Guards) 2025–present Brigadier Ed Cartwright (late Parachute Regiment) See also Army Special Operations Brigade United Kingdom Commando Force Historic/Defunct 1st Airborne Division 6th Airborne Division Footnotes References Ferguson Gregory The Paras 1940–84, Volume 1 of Elite series Osprey Publishing Oxford, UK 1984 0-85045-573-1 Watling Jack Occasional Paper: The Future of Fires, Maximising the United Kingdom's Tactical and Operational Firepower Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies 2019 Whitehall, London, United Kingdom Watson Graham E. The Corps of Royal Engineers: Organization and Units 1889 – 2018 Rinaldi Richard A. Tiger Lilly Books 2018 978-1717901804 United Kingdom External links 51 52.814 N 0 53.295 E type:landmark title 16th Air Assault Brigade HQ in Colchester Category:Military units and formations established in 1999 Category:Airborne infantry brigades of the United Kingdom Category:Military units and formations of the United Kingdom in the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) Category:Military units and formations of the United Kingdom in the Iraq War Category:1999 establishments in the United Kingdom Category:Future Soldier