COS 104/72
Plans
Distribution
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
CHIEFS OF STAFF COMMITTEE
——————————————
UNITED
KINGDOM MOBILE FORCE DEPLOYMENT TO NORTHERN EUROPEAN COMMAND
(JUTLAND/SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN) PART 1 OF JOINT THEATRE PLAN (JTP) NATO 70
- OPERATION GRACIE
Note by the
Secretary
1. The Chiefs of Staff have approved (1) the
report (2) as amended
at
Annex A. In approving the report the Chiefs of
Staff agreed to instruct
the United Kingdom Commanders-in-Chief Committee (Overseas) to:
- Re-open the question of the use of Aarhus as an alternative port
with the Commander-in-Chief Northern European Command and with the
Danish authorities.
- Issue the plan amended in accordance with their views.
B G T STANBRIDGE
Air Commodore
Secretary
Chiefs of Staff Committee
Annex:
- United Kingdom Mobile Force Deployment to
Northern European
Command (Jutland/Schleswig-Holstein). (12 pages)
Notes:
- COS 36th Meeting/72, Minute 102.
- DOP 526/72 (Final dated 27 /November 1972.
Ministry of Defence
Main Building
Whitehall SW1
27 December 1972
ANNEX A TO
COS 104/72
UNITED
KINGDOM MOBILE FORCE DEPLOYMENT TO NORTHERN EUROPEAN COMMAND
(JUTLAND/SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN)
INTRODUCTION
1. In 1968 we approved (1) a
number of roles for additional UK
forces
which had been earmarked for assignment to NATO. These additional
forces included the United Kingdom Mobile Force (UKMF). Subsequently
the Commanders-in-Chief (West) (CICC(West)), now the United Kingdom
Commanders-in-Chief Committee (Overseas) (UKCICC(Overseas)), was
instructed (2) to carry out the planning for the
mounting and despatch
of these forces.
2. The plan for the deployment of the whole UKMF,
less the Parachute
Force and Special Air Service Regiment, to Northern European Command
(NEC) (Jutland/Schleswig-Holstein) has now been completed. It is in
three parts as follows:
- Part 1. (3). The
general plan for the deployment of the UKMF.
- Part 2. The
external movement plan covering the movement of the
force from the UK to NEC.
- Part 3. The
movement of the force from peacelocations within the
UK to ports and airfields of departure.
3. The detailed movement plans (Parts 2 and 3) (4)(5) which support the
main deployment plan (Part 1) have been issued separately by UKCICC
after the necessary examination by movement planning staffs.
AIM
4. To examine and report on Joint Theatre Plan (JTP)
NATO No 70
(Final
Draft) Part 1 - Operation GRACIE - UKMF Deployment to NEC
(Jutland/Schleswig-Holstein).
OUTLINE OF
THE PLAN
FORCES TO BE DEPLOYED
5. General.
The
force consists of land and air elements of
approximately:
- 29,000 men.
Notes:
- COS 85/68
- COS 40/69
- JTF(NATO) No 70 - Operation GRACIE - Part I
- Issued separateily under CICC(West)370(D)
dated 24 September 1971
- "Movement of the UKMF in the United Kingdom",
issued separately
to UK addresses under CICC(West)760 dated 14 February 1972.
- 10,000 vehicles, trailers and guns.
- 31,000 tons of stores.
- 82 RAF aircraft.
6. Land
Element. This
consists of:
- 3(UK) Division
- Logistic Support Force (LSF).
7. Air
Element. This
comprises:
- Three Phantom Fighter Ground Attack and Reconnaissance 2 (FGR2)
squadrons. Thery comprise:
- Two squadrons in the fighter/ground attack (FGA) (NATO term
FBA) role - 20 aircraft
- One squadron in the tactical reconnsissance (NATO term TRF)
role - 10 aircraft (6)
- One Andover squadron (short range transport) - 10 aircraft
- One Wessex squadron (support helicopters) - 16 aircraft
- Two Puma squadrons (support helicopters) - 26 aircraft
- Supporting units, air control and tasking agencies, elements of
the Tactical Supply Wing and Tactical Communications Wing.
MOVEMENT OF THE FORCE
8. Movement
in the UK.
The movement of the force to the ports and
airfields of departure is set out in Part 3 of the JTP.
9. Movement
to
Jutland/Schleswig-Holstein.
- The detailed movement plan for the move of the force from the UK
to Jutland/Schleswing-Holstein is set out in Part 2. This shows that
combat units will move early, by brigades, with eight days stocks and
the necessary logistic units to receive and issue these stocks; the
remaining logistic units and War Maintenance Reserve (WMR) stocks will
follow. Summaries of the sea and air movement elements of the plan are
set out in the Annexes C and D respectively to Part 1 of the JTP.
Note:
- The reconnaissance squadron required
specialised ground support
which is not yet available in AFNORTH; until it is avaulable this
squadron will deploy to RAF Laarbruch when the rest of the UKMF deploys
to Jutland/Schleswig-Holstein. A supplementary plan to cover its
deployment will be issued later and be incorporated as Part I of the
JTP.
The National Archives of the UK:
Public Record Office DEFE 5/194/28.
© Crown copyright
1972.
Reproduced under the terms of the Crown copyright waiver on unpublished
public records.