215 Signal Squadron
Encyclopedia
215 Signal Squadron is a Squadron of the British Army's
Royal Corps of Signals
. It is responsible for installing, maintaining and operating all types of telecommunications equipment and information
systems in support of 1st Mechanized Brigade (United Kingdom).
On 16 December 1983, 1st Infantry Brigade Headquarters and Signal Squadron (216) relinquished the tradition of wearing the Airborne Lanyard and changed its number from 216 to 215. It was during this transition that the Squadron was first issued with the new Clansman
range of radios. The Squadron then settled into its new home in Tidworth. In the time up to 1 April 1993 the Squadron exercised in many countries including Germany, France, Italy and Cyprus.
On 1 April 1993, the Brigade was given the new title and role of 1 Mechanized Brigade. On this change the Squadron was able to keep its identification and stayed in Tidworth with the title 1 Mechanized Brigade Headquarters and Signal Squadron (215).
The major change for the Squadron was the issue of ASV 436, a reflection of its mechanized role. The Squadron was also issued with trunk communications equipment in the form of Ptarmigan, fitted in ASV 439. It was at this time that the Troops changed their names from simply Alpha and Charlie to Bengal and Sabre. The following year the newly re-roled Brigade was tested to its limit while on Exercise FIRST CRUSADE. At the time this was the largest exercise to take place within the UK for 30 years: over eight hundred armoured vehicles were deployed on Salisbury Plain. This training led to the Squadron being more than up to the task when the Brigade was deployed to the Former Republic of Yugoslavia in 1996. During this tour the Squadron was based in Sipovo.
On its return the Squadron started back into its exercise routine, deploying on Brigade exercises and conducting adventurous training in countries such as Italy, Switzerland and Cyprus. In 1999, the Brigade was once again called upon to deploy to the Former Republic of Yugoslavia, this time deploying to Banja Luka on Operation PALANTINE. Once again the Squadron professionally carried out its duties and received commendations from various organisations.
After two cold deployments to the Balkans, the Brigade Headquarters and elements of the Squadron finally had a reprieve with an operational tour to Sierra Leone, on Operation SILKMAN at the end of 2000. The Squadron's involvement in this operation came to a close in May 2001.
In April 2002 the Squadron deployed to Kosovo on Op AGRICOLA 8 to provide CIS infrastructure and command support to Multi National Brigade (Centre). The Squadron returned at the end of October 2002 and commenced the Training Year as part of the Formation Readiness Cycle. This culminated with the Brigade and Signal Squadron deploying to BATUS in Canada in August 2003.
Following on from the training in BATUS, the squadron deployed to Iraq, and was situated in the compounds of Saddam Hussain's former palace where we continued to help the Iraqi people rebuild their country. The Squadron was due to deploy to Iraq again in 2008; however, UK Forces had pulled out of Iraq by that point and so was set on a training standing.
In early 2010 the Squadron was paired with its sister squadron 216 Parachute Signal Squadron
to provide support to it for their coming deployment to Afghanistan for Operation Herrick XIII
. A number of Signallers are attached to 216 for the duration of the tour.
Located in the heart of Salisbury Plain Training Area, the Squadron deploys on exercise several times each year. In the last twelve months, exercises have taken a number of forms including Squadron deployments aimed at practising basic communications skills; command support to the Brigade staff in order for them to conduct planning and execution of Battle group operations; the provision of the Exercise Control facility to a Divisional level exercise and support to the annual Tidworth 10 charity run.
The future holds no less variety of tasks and the next few months will see the Squadron providing command support to 16 Air Assault Brigade as they prepare for operations; a comprehensive leadership exercise for the Defence Sixth Form College Welbeck and ongoing support to HQ 1st Mechanized Brigade. In addition a significant number of personnel will deploy to locations including Afghanistan, Kenya and the Falkland Islands.
215 Signal Squadron is a Mechanized unit albeit it is currently re-balancing in order to provide support that more closely reflects that found on operations. The Headquarters operates primarily using Bowman
equipment though the Squadron is capable on other communications systems used on operations.
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...
Royal Corps of Signals
Royal Corps of Signals
The Royal Corps of Signals is one of the combat support arms of the British Army...
. It is responsible for installing, maintaining and operating all types of telecommunications equipment and information
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
systems in support of 1st Mechanized Brigade (United Kingdom).
History
The title 215 Signal Squadron was first used in 1959 when it was formed from 51 Infantry Brigade Signal Squadron in the Middle East. During the Squadron's short time with 51 Infantry Brigade, it served in Cyprus and the Oman. After a life of only one year 215 Signal Squadron was amalgamated with 201 Signal Squadron, now part of 1st (UK) Armoured Division Headquarters and Signal Regiment, and dropped its number.On 16 December 1983, 1st Infantry Brigade Headquarters and Signal Squadron (216) relinquished the tradition of wearing the Airborne Lanyard and changed its number from 216 to 215. It was during this transition that the Squadron was first issued with the new Clansman
Clansman
Clansman is the name of a combat net radio system used by the British Army from 1976 to 2010.Clansman was developed by the Signals Research and Development Establishment in the 1960s, to satisfy a General Staff Requirement laid down in 1965...
range of radios. The Squadron then settled into its new home in Tidworth. In the time up to 1 April 1993 the Squadron exercised in many countries including Germany, France, Italy and Cyprus.
On 1 April 1993, the Brigade was given the new title and role of 1 Mechanized Brigade. On this change the Squadron was able to keep its identification and stayed in Tidworth with the title 1 Mechanized Brigade Headquarters and Signal Squadron (215).
The major change for the Squadron was the issue of ASV 436, a reflection of its mechanized role. The Squadron was also issued with trunk communications equipment in the form of Ptarmigan, fitted in ASV 439. It was at this time that the Troops changed their names from simply Alpha and Charlie to Bengal and Sabre. The following year the newly re-roled Brigade was tested to its limit while on Exercise FIRST CRUSADE. At the time this was the largest exercise to take place within the UK for 30 years: over eight hundred armoured vehicles were deployed on Salisbury Plain. This training led to the Squadron being more than up to the task when the Brigade was deployed to the Former Republic of Yugoslavia in 1996. During this tour the Squadron was based in Sipovo.
On its return the Squadron started back into its exercise routine, deploying on Brigade exercises and conducting adventurous training in countries such as Italy, Switzerland and Cyprus. In 1999, the Brigade was once again called upon to deploy to the Former Republic of Yugoslavia, this time deploying to Banja Luka on Operation PALANTINE. Once again the Squadron professionally carried out its duties and received commendations from various organisations.
After two cold deployments to the Balkans, the Brigade Headquarters and elements of the Squadron finally had a reprieve with an operational tour to Sierra Leone, on Operation SILKMAN at the end of 2000. The Squadron's involvement in this operation came to a close in May 2001.
In April 2002 the Squadron deployed to Kosovo on Op AGRICOLA 8 to provide CIS infrastructure and command support to Multi National Brigade (Centre). The Squadron returned at the end of October 2002 and commenced the Training Year as part of the Formation Readiness Cycle. This culminated with the Brigade and Signal Squadron deploying to BATUS in Canada in August 2003.
Following on from the training in BATUS, the squadron deployed to Iraq, and was situated in the compounds of Saddam Hussain's former palace where we continued to help the Iraqi people rebuild their country. The Squadron was due to deploy to Iraq again in 2008; however, UK Forces had pulled out of Iraq by that point and so was set on a training standing.
In early 2010 the Squadron was paired with its sister squadron 216 Parachute Signal Squadron
216 Parachute Squadron Royal Signals
216 Parachute Signal Squadron is a Squadron of the British Army's Royal Corps of Signals. It is responsible for installing, maintaining and operating all types of telecommunications equipment and information systems in support of 16 Air Assault Brigade.-History:216 Parachute Signal was formed in...
to provide support to it for their coming deployment to Afghanistan for Operation Herrick XIII
Operation Herrick
Operation Herrick is the codename under which all British operations in the war in Afghanistan have been conducted since 2002. It consists of the British contribution to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force and support to the US-led Operation Enduring Freedom...
. A number of Signallers are attached to 216 for the duration of the tour.
Today
215 Signal Squadron is an independent squadron supporting HQ 1st Mechanized Brigade at Tidworth, Wilts, operating within 3rd (UK) Division.Located in the heart of Salisbury Plain Training Area, the Squadron deploys on exercise several times each year. In the last twelve months, exercises have taken a number of forms including Squadron deployments aimed at practising basic communications skills; command support to the Brigade staff in order for them to conduct planning and execution of Battle group operations; the provision of the Exercise Control facility to a Divisional level exercise and support to the annual Tidworth 10 charity run.
The future holds no less variety of tasks and the next few months will see the Squadron providing command support to 16 Air Assault Brigade as they prepare for operations; a comprehensive leadership exercise for the Defence Sixth Form College Welbeck and ongoing support to HQ 1st Mechanized Brigade. In addition a significant number of personnel will deploy to locations including Afghanistan, Kenya and the Falkland Islands.
215 Signal Squadron is a Mechanized unit albeit it is currently re-balancing in order to provide support that more closely reflects that found on operations. The Headquarters operates primarily using Bowman
Bowman
-Places:Antarctica* Bowman Island* Bowman PeninsulaAustralia* Bowman Park, South Australia* Division of Bowman, an electoral district in the Australian House of RepresentativesCanada* Bowman, Quebec* Bowman BayUnited States* Bowman, Chicot County, Arkansas...
equipment though the Squadron is capable on other communications systems used on operations.