2 (National Communications) Signal Brigade
Active
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Army Regular and Territorial
Type	Royal Corps of Signals
Role	National Communications Regional ICP Support Military Aid to the Civil Community Military Aid to the Civil Power
Part of	Land Command
Motto	Certa Cito (“Swift and Sure”)
Colors	Sky Blue, Navy and Green (Air, Sea and Land)
March	Quick - Begone Dull Care Slow - H.R.H. (Princess Royal)
Mascot	Mercury (“Jimmy”)
Commanders
Current commander	Brigadier D. Hargreaves

2 (National Communications) Signal Brigade is an operational Brigade of the Royal Corps of Signals with a Regular HQ, 1 Regular Regiment, 8 TA Regiments and a number of specialist sub-units. Since the publication of the SDR New Chapter in 2001, the Brigade has been tasked with the provision of emergency and post disaster recovery communications infrastructure for Government, Armed Forces and emergency services throughout the United Kingdom by deploying and operating a variety of communications systems. During the Cold War, the Brigade's role was to re-establish some form of regional Government communications infrastructure in the aftermath of a nuclear strike on the UK.

[edit] Role

The Brigade currently has two distinct operational roles:

• National Communications - To provide mobile and static communications infrastructure for Government, Armed Forces and emergency services in the mainland United Kingdom, in the post-disaster recovery environment.

• Regional Integrated Contingency Planning (ICP) Support - The various Signal Regiments provide General Officers Commanding, of their respective regional Brigades and Divisions, with secure Command and Control communications facilities to execute their regional Integrated Contingency Planning (ICP) responsibilities in their region. This is achieved through provision of:
  • Deployable Communications Detachments for Key Points and Brigade Headquarters, using the REEBOK and EDWIN LAN systems;
  • Mobile Signal Detachments and Brigade Tactical HQs and Liaison Offices, using Bowman and Clansman radio systems and specialist data systems;
  • Airwave Gateway Vehicles to extend or replace the Airwave system sites and provide ground to air links.

In addition, the Brigade also contributes soldiers to ongoing Operations world wide and has sole responsibility for meeting the Royal Signals contribution in the Balkans. 2 Signal Brigade units are also providing Regimental based formations as part of the UK contribution to the UN in Cyprus.

[edit] Current Units

The Brigade consists of one regular and eight regiments of the Territorial Army that are under the administrative command of regional brigades throughout the United Kingdom as part of either the 2nd, 4th, 5th Divisions or London District under Land Command. They are:

• 10 Signal Regiment
• 31 (City of London) Signal Regiment
• 32 (Scottish) Signal Regiment
• 36 (Eastern) Signal Regiment
• 37 Signal Regiment
• 38 (City of Sheffield) Signal Regiment
• 39 (Skinners) Signal Regiment
• 40 (Ulster) Signal Regiment
• 71 (Yeomanry) Signal Regiment (includes First Aid Nursing Yeomanry that aid the Civil Authorities in an emergency scenario)

The Brigade also has a number of Specialist Signals units which fall within the Specialist Group Royal Signals (SGRS):

• 1 (Royal Buckinghamshire Yeomanry) Signal Regiment - is specially tasked with providing specialised Communications Support to Government Departments and implement Business Continuity Plans in times of a crisis.
• 2 (City of Dundee) Signal Squadron - Deploys long range communications systems to aid resilience of transmission of information.

SGRS also includes the following National TA Units (recruited from across the UK not just from a specific geographical area) based in Corsham:

• Land Information Assurance Group (LIAG) - This unit has the role of meeting the needs of digitization and growing dependence on computers and network-enabled systems in order that they are properly protected against attack or systems failure.

• 81 Signal Squadron - Provides specialist expertise in order to assist in the planning, delivery, maintenance and restoration of critical defence and national infrastructure for UK Operations, Overseas Operations, and Overseas Bases.

• Land Information And Communications Specialist Group (LICSG) - To provide expertise in computer, software and network operations in order to ensure the passage of information between deployed commanders, Permanent Joint Headquarters and Land Command across the spectrum of conflict and assist in the conduct and implementation of Information Communications Support at all levels.

[edit] External links

• 2 (National Communications) Signal Brigade: 2 (NC) Brigade