Army troop relocations announced by Ministry of Defence
Army troop relocations announced by Ministry of Defence
(about 1 hour later)
The Ministry of Defence has revealed how it will withdraw UK troops and their families from Germany by 2020.
About 1,800 soldiers are to return to the UK from January as the withdrawal of British military personnel stationed in Germany gets under way.
About 450 service personnel from 7 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) will move from Bielefeld to RAF Cottesmore in Rutland by summer 2013.
The Ministry of Defence says it wants to bring back 20,000 soldiers by 2020 in a bid to save £250m per year.
Meanwhile, 120 soldiers from 43 Close Support Squadron RLC will move to Abingdon, Oxfordshire, to join its parent regiment.
First to return will be a total of about 600 soldiers from 7 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) and 43 Close Support Squadron RLC.
It is estimated the move from Germany will save the MoD £250m a year.
Army units will also change location within the UK earlier than planned.
The department says the move will also give greater stability for military families.
Meanwhile, two regiments currently in Cyprus will return to the UK instead of their previous bases in Germany.
Defence review
The Army will also take over RAF Kinloss earlier than the intended date of 2014-15. The total number of service personnel in Scotland will be maintained.
Two of the regiments affected are currently located in Cyprus. They will return to new UK bases, instead of their previous homes in Germany.
'Greater stability'
The 2nd Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment will move its 620 personnel to Cottesmore in July 2012, while 2nd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment will move to Elizabeth Barracks, Pirbright, Surrey, in July 2013. This will also affect 620 soldiers.
Relocating troops formed part of the government's strategic defence review, published by ministers in July.
Also relocating from their Germany base will be 930 soldiers from 39 Engineer Regiment (Air Support) from its base at Waterbeach, near Cambridge, to the former RAF base at Kinloss, Moray.
The MoD says the move will give greater stability for military families.
Meanwhile 44 soldiers from HQ 12 (Air Support) Engineer Group will move from Waterbeach to RAF Wittering, near Peterborough, in the summer of 2013.
Details include:
The moves are part of the government's strategic defence review which was published by ministers in July.
43 Close Support Squadron RLC moves from Gütersloh, Germany, to Abingdon, Oxfordshire, to join up with its parent Regiment (12 Logistic Support Regiment) by the end of January 2012. This will affect 120 soldiers
7 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) moves from Bielefeld in Germany to Cottesmore, Rutland, Leicestershire, by summer 2013. The RAF is vacating its base on the site in 2012
2nd Battalion The Royal Anglian Regiment moves from Cyprus to Cottesmore in July 2012, affecting 620 soldiers
2nd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment moves from Cyprus to Elizabeth Barracks, Pirbright, in July 2013. This will also affect 620 soldiers
About 930 soldiers from 39 Engineer Regiment (Air Support) move from Waterbeach, near Cambridge, to the former RAF Kinloss, Moray, in the summer of 2012
HQ 12 (Air Support) Engineer Group will move its 44 soldiers from Waterbeach to join RAF personnel at Wittering, near Peterborough, in the summer of 2013
The relocations mean Waterbeach Barracks will be sold while Trenchard Barracks at Celle and Munster station will be handed back to the German authorities, enabling the closure of Rheindahlen Military Complex.
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