British Army Training Unit Suffield
British Army Training Unit Suffield | |
---|---|
Suffield, Alberta Near Medicine Hat | |
Coordinates | 50°16′24″N 111°10′30″W / 50.27333°N 111.17500°W |
Type | Training Area |
Site information | |
Owner | Ministry of Defence |
Operator | British Army |
Website | www |
Site history | |
In use | 1971–present |
The British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS) is a British Army unit located at the vast training area of Canadian Forces Base Suffield near Suffield, Alberta, Canada.[1] 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. CFB Suffield is seven times the size of Salisbury Plain Training Area and 19% the size of Northern Ireland, offering the British Army the ability to conduct large exercises that UK military bases cannot accommodate.[2]
History
A British chemical weapons testing facility was located in
In 1969,
Reports in September 2020 suggested that tank training at BATUS could be brought to an end as the Challenger 2 tanks age.[5] Mayor of nearby city Medicine Hat, Ted Clugston (along with local MP Glen Motz) expressed concern about this, saying the base has been a "major economic stabilizing force since the 1970s".[6] A 2007 estimate suggested that the unit injects $100 million into the local economy.[7] In November 2021, reports suggested that the base would be closed in favour of the Omani-British Joint Training Area in Oman, however this was denied by Defence Secretary Ben Wallace who added that the base would see "change" but would not close. The MOD Press Office stated that the base would remain "a vital training base for the British Army".[8]
Current
Due to the hostile winters, BATUS conducts training from May to October each year. This normally consists of four to six battle groups (BGs) each exercising for around 30-38 days each, supported by the BATUS permanent and temporary staff and a dedicated enemy (traditionally provided by a single nominated regiment). There are relatively few servicemen permanently posted to BATUS (229 as of 2019, along with 250 dependent children[9]), but their numbers are significantly increased by temporary staff who form the bulk of the Operations Group (Ops Gp) who design and deliver the most complex live fire and simulated fully instrumented training for Armoured, Infantry and Strike Battlegroups. This, as well a large proportion of the camp based supporting organisations, including a dedicated logistics squadron and a REME workshop. Permanent postings to BATUS last two years.[10] French-speaking local actors are often hired for exercises, to give soldiers experience of working with non-English speaking civilians.[2][11]
A 30-day exercise, Prairie Fire, operates four times a year. It aims to precisely replicate the experience of being transported to a warzone, fighting, and returning to the UK. During the exercise, soldiers fight fictional "Donovians" in "Atropia".[12]
During the winter months, some specialist
1,400 soldiers and over 1,000 vehicles, including 22
- Stationed Units
- HQ BATUS
- Combat Ready Training Centre
- Resident OPFOR - rotated every year. This is made up of either an armoured regiment or infantry battalion.
- 29 Flight, Army Air Corps
- 105 Logistic Support Squadron, Royal Logistic Corps
- BATUS REME Workshop
See also
References
- ^ "British Army Training Unit Suffield". BATUS. Archived from the original on 10 September 2007. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
- ^ a b Tossini, J. Vitor (2019-04-05). "Britain in Canada – The British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS)". UK Defence Journal. Retrieved 2020-11-01.
- ^ Dau, Barry J. (1 June 1983). "The Suffield Military Reserve: An examination of land utilization patterns over time". University of Calgary. p. 105.
- ^ "Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Suffield, Canada". Air Force Technology. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
- ^ Gallant, Collin (2020-09-05). "DND working with British Army on their plans for Suffield". Medicine Hat News. Retrieved 2020-11-01.
- ^ Gallant, Collin (2020-08-28). "Elected officials tout need for Suffield, but not much else to do". Medicine Hat News. Retrieved 2020-11-01.
- ^ "Brit blokes banned by Medicine Hat bars". CBC. June 20, 2008. Retrieved 2020-11-01.
- BFBS. 24 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
- Forces Network. Retrieved 2020-11-01.
- ^ Ghani, Nus (2015-09-24). "Nus Ghani: Soldiering on – why I joined forces with the British Army in Canada". International Business Times UK. Retrieved 2020-11-01.
- ^ Graney, Juris (April 6, 2017). "Role-players sought to act in British military exercises at CFB Suffield". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved 2020-11-01.
- ^ Hopper, Tristin (May 26, 2017). "Alberta's British invasion: Massive military base allows troops from U.K. to replicate war". National Post. Retrieved 2020-11-01.
- ^ Zubova, Xenia (2023-10-24). "Goodbye Gazelle: Helicopter retiring from Army Air Corps after 49 years". Forces Network. Retrieved 2023-10-30.
- ^ "Deployments: Canada". British Army. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
- ^ "Exercise Prairie Phoenix: How REME Keep A Fleet Of Tanks Battle Ready". Forces News. 30 April 2019.
External links
- Media related to British Army Training Unit Suffield at Wikimedia Commons
- British Army - Canada