c1990s 24 Airmobile Brigade Formation Sign Patch Badge Helicopter Assault

24 Air Mobile Bde badge. VGC.

In 1990 several Members of Parliament described the brigade as "no more mobile than a bicycle battalion", due to a lack of available helicopters.

1st Battalion the Royal Anglian Regiment pioneered this new airmobile role and served with UNPROFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1995, as part of the 'Rapid Reaction Force'.

Under the 1998 Strategic Defence Review, as a cost cutting measure, the brigade was merged with elements of 5th Airborne Brigade to become the new 16th Air Assault Brigade.

1989 Structure:
Headquarters, 24th Airmobile Brigade at Catterick Garrison
24 Airmobile Brigade Headquarters & Signal Squadron, Royal Corps of Signals, at Catterick Garrison13
1st Battalion, Green Howards (Alexandra, Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire Regiment), at Somme Barracks, Catterick Garrison (Airmobile Infantry, 42 x MILAN Anti-Tank Missile Launchers)
586 Signal Troop (Airmobile), Royal Corps of Signals
Band of the Green Howards (Small Infantry Band)
Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire, at Bourlon Barracks, Catterick Garrison (Airmobile Infantry, 42 x MILAN Anti-Tank Missile Launchers)
Band of the Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire (Small Infantry Band)
27th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, at Alanbrooke Barracks, Topcliffe1218 (18 x FH70 155mm field howitzers) to 1st Artillery Brigade12
16th Air Defence Regiment, Royal Artillery, at Rapier Barracks, Kirton in Lindsey (36 x Towed Rapiers and 12 x Blindfire Radar)
9 Regiment Army Air Corps, at Alanbrooke Barracks, Topcliffe12 Moved to Dishforth Airfield over the next several years.
51 Field Squadron (Airmobile), Royal Engineers, at Claro Barracks, Ripon (under admin of 38 Engineer Regiment
24 (Airmobile) Ordnance Company, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, at Gaza Barracks, Catterick Garrison (under admin of 2 Ordnance Bn)
24th (Airmobile) Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps, in Catterick Garrison (22 x Land Rover Ambulances)
In addition to the above structure, on mobilisation the Tactical Support Element, 170 Provost Company, Royal Military Police (under HQ RMP, United Kingdom Land Forces) would have reinforced the brigade.

Code: 1453