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:

  1. 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.
  2. Issue the plan amended in accordance with their views.

B G T STANBRIDGE
Air Commodore
Secretary
Chiefs of Staff Committee

Annex:

  1. United Kingdom Mobile Force Deployment to Northern European Command (Jutland/Schleswig-Holstein). (12 pages)
Notes:
  1. COS 36th Meeting/72, Minute 102.
  2. 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:

  1. Part 1. (3). The general plan for the deployment of the UKMF.
  2. Part 2. The external movement plan covering the movement of the force from the UK to NEC.
  3. 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:

  1. 29,000 men.

Notes:

  1. COS 85/68
  2. COS 40/69
  3. JTF(NATO) No 70 - Operation GRACIE - Part I
  4. Issued separateily under CICC(West)370(D) dated 24 September 1971
  5. "Movement of the UKMF in the United Kingdom", issued separately to UK addresses under CICC(West)760 dated 14 February 1972.

  1. 10,000 vehicles, trailers and guns.
  2. 31,000 tons of stores.
  3. 82 RAF aircraft.
6. Land Element. This consists of:
  1. 3(UK) Division
  2. Logistic Support Force (LSF).
7. Air Element. This comprises:
  1. Three Phantom Fighter Ground Attack and Reconnaissance 2 (FGR2) squadrons. Thery comprise:
    1. Two squadrons in the fighter/ground attack (FGA) (NATO term FBA) role - 20 aircraft
    2. One squadron in the tactical reconnsissance (NATO term TRF) role - 10 aircraft (6)
  2. One Andover squadron (short range transport) - 10 aircraft
  3. One Wessex squadron (support helicopters) - 16 aircraft
  4. Two Puma squadrons (support helicopters) - 26 aircraft
  5. 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.

  1. 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:

  1. 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.