British Army Training Unit Suffield
Encyclopedia
The British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS) is a British Army
unit located at the vast training area of Canadian Forces Base Suffield
in Alberta
, Canada
. BATUS is the British Army's largest armoured training facility and it can accommodate live-firing and tactical effect simulation (TES) exercises up to battle group
level.
was first utilised by the British forces during the Second World War. A British chemical weapons testing facility was located in French-controlled Algeria
, however, upon the conquest of France
by Germany
, the facility was lost. The British could find no suitable location in the UK and thus an agreement was signed between Canada and the UK to allow the Suffield area to become available to British scientists for testing. Consequently, British and Canadian forces employed the area for a variety of experiments. Upon the end of WWII, the British departed the Suffield area and it was formally taken over by the Canadian Defence Research Board.
In 1969, Colonel Gaddafi
orchestrated a coup in Libya
, and duly took control of the country and proceeded to, after negotiations, close down British military installations located at El Adem and Tobruk
, and additionally American installations located near Tripoli
. This presented the UK with quite a dilemma as there were no suitably expansive areas to allow the British Army
to undertake armoured warfare exercises on a suitably large scale in Europe
. Thus, in 1971, a 10-year lease was signed between the British and Canadian Governments that authorised battle group training to take place in the Suffield area by the British Army. In January 1972 the British Army Training Unit Suffield was formally established. In July the first live rounds were fired by the 4th Royal Tank Regiment
Battle Group. In 1981 the lease for Suffield was extended and in 1991, the lease was again extended. In 2006, on the expiration of this lease, the British and Canadian governments concluded an agreement that will allow British forces to maintain their training practices in Canada indefinitely.
During the winter months, some specialist arctic warfare training is conducted on the Suffield Block by the Canadian Forces while the UK vehicle fleet is prepared for the following year. Currently, around 40 Challenger 2 tanks, 60 Warrior tracked armoured vehicle
s, and a similar number of CVR(T) and Bulldog Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs), a fleet of Engineer vehicles including the latest TITAN AVRE
and TROJAN
AVLB, as well as Gazelle
helicopters making up 29 (BATUS) Flight Army Air Corps
are based at BATUS.
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
unit located at the vast training area of Canadian Forces Base Suffield
CFB Suffield
Canadian Forces Base Suffield , is the largest Canadian Forces Base and the largest Commonwealth military training base in the world...
in Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. BATUS is the British Army's largest armoured training facility and it can accommodate live-firing and tactical effect simulation (TES) exercises up to battle group
Battlegroup (army)
A battlegroup , or task force in modern military theory, is the basic building block of an army's fighting force. A battlegroup is formed around an infantry battalion or armoured regiment, which is usually commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel...
level.
History
The Suffield BlockSuffield Block
The Suffield Block is an area located within Cypress County, southern Alberta, Canada approximately bounded by Highway 884 on the west, Highway 555 on the north,the South Saskatchewan River on the east and the Trans-Canada Highway on the south...
was first utilised by the British forces during the Second World War. A British chemical weapons testing facility was located in French-controlled Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, however, upon the conquest of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
by Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, the facility was lost. The British could find no suitable location in the UK and thus an agreement was signed between Canada and the UK to allow the Suffield area to become available to British scientists for testing. Consequently, British and Canadian forces employed the area for a variety of experiments. Upon the end of WWII, the British departed the Suffield area and it was formally taken over by the Canadian Defence Research Board.
In 1969, Colonel Gaddafi
Muammar al-Gaddafi
Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar Gaddafi or "September 1942" 20 October 2011), commonly known as Muammar Gaddafi or Colonel Gaddafi, was the official ruler of the Libyan Arab Republic from 1969 to 1977 and then the "Brother Leader" of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya from 1977 to 2011.He seized power in a...
orchestrated a coup in Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
, and duly took control of the country and proceeded to, after negotiations, close down British military installations located at El Adem and Tobruk
Tobruk
Tobruk or Tubruq is a city, seaport, and peninsula on Libya's eastern Mediterranean coast, near the border with Egypt. It is the capital of the Butnan District and has a population of 120,000 ....
, and additionally American installations located near Tripoli
Tripoli
Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
. This presented the UK with quite a dilemma as there were no suitably expansive areas to allow the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
to undertake armoured warfare exercises on a suitably large scale in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. Thus, in 1971, a 10-year lease was signed between the British and Canadian Governments that authorised battle group training to take place in the Suffield area by the British Army. In January 1972 the British Army Training Unit Suffield was formally established. In July the first live rounds were fired by the 4th Royal Tank Regiment
Royal Tank Regiment
The Royal Tank Regiment is an armoured regiment of the British Army. It was formerly known as the Tank Corps and the Royal Tank Corps. It is part of the Royal Armoured Corps and is made up of two operational regiments, the 1st Royal Tank Regiment and the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment...
Battle Group. In 1981 the lease for Suffield was extended and in 1991, the lease was again extended. In 2006, on the expiration of this lease, the British and Canadian governments concluded an agreement that will allow British forces to maintain their training practices in Canada indefinitely.
Current
Due to the hostile winters, BATUS conducts training from May to October each year. This normally consists of 4 to 6 battlegroups (BGs) each exercising for around 24 days each, supported by the BATUS permanent and temporary staff and a dedicated enemy (traditionally provided by a single nominated regiment). Despite there being relatively few servicemen permanently posted to BATUS, these numbers are significantly increased by temporary staff who form the bulk of the Range Safety and Control Group (RSCG) (which provides live fire safety and training delivery) as well a large proportion of the camp based supporting organisations including a dedicated logistics squadron and a REME workshop.During the winter months, some specialist arctic warfare training is conducted on the Suffield Block by the Canadian Forces while the UK vehicle fleet is prepared for the following year. Currently, around 40 Challenger 2 tanks, 60 Warrior tracked armoured vehicle
Warrior Tracked Armoured Vehicle
The Warrior tracked vehicle family is a series of British armoured vehicles, originally developed to replace the older FV430 series of armoured vehicles. The Warrior started life as the MCV-80 project that was first broached in the 1970s, GKN Sankey/Defence winning the production contract in 1980....
s, and a similar number of CVR(T) and Bulldog Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs), a fleet of Engineer vehicles including the latest TITAN AVRE
Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers
Armoured Vehicle Royal Engineers is the title given to a series of armoured vehicles operated by the Royal Engineers for the purpose of battlefield engineer support. These vehicles have been either purpose-built or post-production modifications of existing tank-based armoured vehicles...
and TROJAN
Trojan (vehicle)
The Trojan armoured fighting vehicle can breach minefields and be used for many other tasks. It is currently in use with the Royal Engineers of the British Army.-Design:It is based on a Challenger 2 tank chassis, but lacks the main armament...
AVLB, as well as Gazelle
Aérospatiale Gazelle
The Aérospatiale Gazelle is a five-seat light helicopter, powered by a single turbine engine. It was designed and manufactured in France by Sud Aviation . It was also manufactured under licence by Westland Aircraft in the United Kingdom , by SOKO in Yugoslavia and ABHCO in Egypt...
helicopters making up 29 (BATUS) Flight Army Air Corps
29 (BATUS) Flight Army Air Corps
The 29 Flight Army Air Corps is an independent flight within the British Army's Army Air Corps.The British Army Training Unit Suffield conducts major training exercises in Alberta, Canada at the Canadian Forces Base Suffield. 29 Flight AAC provides aviation support for the training...
are based at BATUS.
- Stationed Units
- HQ BATUS
- Resident OPFOR - rotated every year, this is made up either of an armoured regiment or infantry battalion
- 29 Flight29 (BATUS) Flight Army Air CorpsThe 29 Flight Army Air Corps is an independent flight within the British Army's Army Air Corps.The British Army Training Unit Suffield conducts major training exercises in Alberta, Canada at the Canadian Forces Base Suffield. 29 Flight AAC provides aviation support for the training...
, Army Air Corps - 105 Logistic Support Squadron, Royal Logistic CorpsRoyal Logistic CorpsThe Royal Logistic Corps provides logistic support functions to the British Army. It is the largest Corps in the Army, comprising around 17% of its strength...
- BATUS REMERoyal Electrical and Mechanical EngineersThe Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers is a corps of the British Army that has responsibility for the maintenance, servicing and inspection of almost every electrical and mechanical piece of equipment within the British Army from Challenger II main battle tanks and WAH64 Apache...
Workshop