12 (Force Support) Engineer Group

12 (Force Support) Engineer Group is an engineer formation of the British Army.

12th (Force Support) Engineer Group 12th (Air Support) Engineer Brigade
Active	August 1974–present
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Type	Engineers
Role	Force Support
Size	Several regiments or independent squadrons
Part of	8th Engineer Brigade

History

The group can trace its origins to 12th Engineer Brigade which was originally created to command the reserve Airfield Damage Repair regiments. In 1989 the brigade was under the command of the Eastern District, United Kingdom Land Forces and was headquartered at Waterbeach. By 1989, the brigade had a mix of regular and reserve units.^[1] and the brigade had the following structure:^[1]

• Headquarters - RAF Waterbeach
  • 39th Airfield Damage Repair Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers
  • 529 (Air Support) Special Team, Royal Engineers -
  • Airfields Works Group, Royal Engineers
  • 50 Construction Field Squadron, Royal Engineers
  • 216 Airfield Damage Repair Squadron, Royal Engineers (Volunteers)
  • 217 Airfield Damage Repair Squadron, Royal Engineers (Volunteers)
  • 218 Airfield Damage Repair Squadron, Royal Engineers (Volunteers)
  • 219 Airfield Damage Repair Squadron, Royal Engineers (Volunteers)

After the Options for Change force reductions, the brigade was re-titled as the 12 (Air Support) Engineer Group, however it remained at RAF Waterbeach.^[2]

The 12th Engineer Group was formed after the conversion of the former 12th Engineer Brigade. In 2005, as a result of the Delivering Security in a Changing World White Paper, the group was moved under the command of the new 8th Force Engineer Brigade. Before the initial Army 2020 changes, the group had the following structure:^{[3] [failed verification]}

• Headquarters - RAF Waterbeach
  • 25th Air Support Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers
  • 39th Air Support Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers
  • 71st Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers^{[4] [failed verification]}
  • 73rd Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers

Structure c.2017

After the Army 2020 Refine reforms, the group was retitled as 12 (Force Support) Engineer Group remaining under the 8th Engineer Brigade. Its responsibilities changed from Airfield Support to "support to Theatre Entry, Route Maintenance, and Enabling Airfield Operations".^[5][6] The group's current structure is:^[7][2]

• Headquarters - Wittering
  • 36 Engineer Regiment, Invicta Park Barracks
  • 39 Engineer Regiment^[8]
  • 71 Engineer Regiment - Paired with 39 Engineer Regiment
  • 75 Engineer Regiment - Paired with 36 Engineer Regiment (Specialized in Logistical and waters crossing)^[9][10]

Commanders

Commanding Officers of the group included:^[11]

• 2005–2008: Col. Andrew M. Mills
• 2008–2010: Col. Frank R. Noble
• 2010–2013: Col. Andrew W. Phillips
• 2013–2014: Col. Jason C. Rhodes
• 2014–2017: Col. Matthew Quare
• 2017–2020: Col. Thomas G.J. Marsden
• 2020–Present Col. Simon D. Millar

References

1. The Corps Of Royal Engineers: Organization and Units 1889—2018. p. 217.
2. The Corps Of Royal Engineers: Organization and Units 1889—2018. p. 266.
3. "12 (Air Sp) Engr Gp - British Army Website". army.mod.uk. 20 February 2019. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
4. "71 Engr Regt (V) - British Army Website". army.mod.uk. 20 February 2019. Archived from the original on 11 March 2013. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
5. "United Kingdom". Military Engineering Centre of Excellence. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
6. "8 Engineer Brigade". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
7. "British Army - Formations - Force Troops Command - 1 Arty Bde - 8 Engr Brigade - 1 Signal Brigade - Armed Forces - a3a4". www.armedforces.co.uk. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
8. "39 Engineer Regiment". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
9. "75 Engineer Regiment - British Army Website". 2017-12-01. Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
10. "Find your nearest location - British Army Website". 2017-09-15. Archived from the original on 2017-09-15. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
11. Regiments and Commanding Officers, 1960–.