6 Regiment Army Air Corps

6 Regiment Army Air Corps is the sole Army Reserve regiment of the British Army Air Corps (AAC). The regiment operates in a groundcrew role, providing support to Army Aviation units of the Joint Helicopter Command.

6 Regiment Army Air Corps
Active2006 – present
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
TypeAviation
RoleHelicopter support
SizeRegiment
575 personnel[1]
Part ofJoint Helicopter Command
BaseBury St Edmunds
Insignia
Squadron Badge heraldryThe Regimental emblem is the Army Air Corps Cap Badge with the Roman numerals VI beneath.

History

6 Regiment Army Air Corps (6 AAC) was formed on 2 July 2006 at Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. It is the only reserves regiment of the Army Air Corps.[2] The Regiment was initially formed as an attack helicopter ground crew regiment, providing attack helicopter support to the regular Army Air Corps regiments at Wattisham.[3] The regiment has since begun training groundcrew to work with the Lynx, allowing it to provide general support to the majority of the Army Air Corps.

In 2009 655 Squadron (V) The Scottish Horse joined the regiment.

The Army 2020 and Future Reserves 20 announcements in July 2013 made significant changes to the role and structure of 6 Regiment Army Air Corps. Those changes will be largely in place by 1 April 2014, though extensive conversion training will continue until approximately 2017.[4]

Unit Role

The role of 6 Regiment Army Air Corps is to provide ground support to Army aviation units operating the AgustaWestland Apache and the Lynx Battlefield Utility Helicopter. 6 Regiment Army Air Corps is also capable of providing wider support to all aviation units within the Joint Helicopter Command both on exercise and on operations. More specifically the roles of 6 Regt AAC and its personnel are:

  • To have the ability to fight and operate in austere places under difficult and occasionally dangerous conditions.
  • To deploy on operations as whole formed teams up to squadron level (130 soldiers) to provide:
    • Refuelling and re-arming teams.
    • The operations room teams for the co-ordination and control of aviation operations.
    • Specialist helicopter handling teams (HHT) to help ground units (e.g. infantry) operate with aviation.
  • Personnel with specific skills to augment regular forces.
  • Integration with Regular Army aviation units who operate Apache and Lynx (including WILDCAT).
  • Capability of working with and supporting tri-service (Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force) aviation assets such as Chinooks, Pumas, Merlins, Defender 4000s and Gazelles.

The Army Reserve does not recruit pilots for flying roles.

6 Regiment Army Air Corps previously supplied troops to Op HERRICK, and to Op TELIC.

Structure

From April 2014, 6 Regiment Army Air Corps consists of a Regimental Headquarters (RHQ) and the following sub-units:

Headquarters Squadron, 6 Regiment Army Air Corps.

  • Located in Bury St Edmunds.
  • Provide the administrative, logistical and training support needed to facilitate 6 Regt AAC activities.

No. 675 (The Rifles) Squadron AAC

  • Located in Somerset (Taunton and Yeovil)
  • Created from the transfer of B Company 6 RIFLES to 6 Regt AAC.
  • Paired with 1 Regt AAC in Yeovilton.
  • Provide ground support to WILDCAT.
  • Provide helicopter handling teams.
  • Support local community engagement.

No. 677 (Suffolk and Norfolk Yeomanry) Squadron AAC

  • Located in East Anglia (Bury St Edmunds, Norwich and Ipswich)
  • Paired with 3 Regt AAC in Wattisham.
  • Provide ground support to Apache.
  • Where capacity allows: assist 675 Sqn with the provision of helicopter handling teams.
  • Support local community engagement.

No. 678 (The Rifles) Squadron AAC

  • Located in Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire (Milton Keynes and Luton)
  • Created from the transfer of E company of 7 RIFLES, 201 Bty of 100 Regt RA and 1 Sqn 38 Signals Regiment (RBY) Bletchly.
  • Paired with 4 Regt AAC in Wattisham.
  • Provide ground support to Apache.
  • Where capacity allows: assist 675 Sqn with the provision of helicopter handling teams.
  • Support local community engagement.

No. 679 (The Duke of Connaught's) Squadron AAC

  • Located in Hampshire (Portsmouth and Middle Wallop).
  • Created by the renaming of 655 Sqn AAC at Middle Wallop and then the transfer of D company of 3 PWRR.
  • Paired with the Army Aviation Centre (AACen) at Middle Wallop.
  • Provide ground support to Apache.
  • Provide ground support to AACen training.
  • Where capacity allows: assist 675 Sqn with the provision of helicopter handling teams.
  • Support local community engagement.

See also

References
  1. "Army – Question for Ministry of Defence". p. 1. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  2. http://www.army.mod.uk/aviation/27765.aspx
  3. https://www.army.mod.uk/aviation/27836.aspx
  4. 6 Regt AAC Regimental Guide Dated 3 July 2013.

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