160 Transport Regiment RLC


160 Transport Regiment Royal Logistic Corps , was a regiment of the Territorial Army in the United Kingdom.

Lineage

160 Transport Regiment can trace its lineage back to 1951, when the Army Emergency Reserve was formed. This comprised a reserve of individuals rather than units, with civilian skills that could be transferred to military use. Reservists were required to undertake two weeks of military training per year and could be called up under the same conditions as the Regular Reserve regiments. As part of the Army Emergency Reserve the Royal Army Service Corps established ten transport columns and additional sub-units with other logistic roles. By 1962 this had been reduced to two; 101 Tank Transport Column and 104 Transport Column, plus sub-units. In 1965, when the Royal Corps of Transport was formed, these columns where redesignated regiments.

First formation

In the 1967 Defence Review the Territorial Army and the Army Emergency Reserve were merged and renamed the Territorial & Army Volunteer Reserve. As a result, on 1 April 1967, 160 Transport Regiment, Royal Corps of Transport , was formed at Grange Camp, Bedford, the location of the RCT's Central Volunteer Headquarters, from personnel from 101 and 104 Transport Regiments RASC. This new unit comprised 260 Squadron, 261 Squadron, 262 Squadron and 263 Squadron. It initially provided engineering support as part of the Logistic Support Group for the United Kingdom Mobile Force in NATO's Northern European Command.
In 1972 260 Squadron was transferred to 161 Ambulance Regiment, RCT. In 1976 the regiment moved to new headquarters at Prince William of Gloucester Barracks, Grantham. On 1 April 1982, 160 Transport Regiment became part of 2 Transport Group, Royal Corps of Transport, an RCZ formation of the British Army of the Rhine, exchanging roles with 155 (Wessex) Transport Regiment (Volunteers) which took over the engineer support role, and became a transport unit. It now comprised a Regimental HQ & Headquarters Squadron, 261 Squadron, 262 Squadron and 263 Squadron.
At this time 261 Squadron was operating the AEC Militant GS 10-ton truck which remained in service until around 1990. In 1990 a number of members of the regiment volunteered to serve with 15 Transport Squadron RCT, on a 6-month operational tour supporting the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus.
The Options for Change Defence Review of 1990, drastically reduced the size of both the Regular and Territorial Army, with the Royal Corps of Transport being merged into the Royal Logistic Corps in April 1993, and at the same time 160 Transport Regiment was disbanded, with many of its personnel being absorbed by 161 Ambulance Regiment, RLC.

Second formation

However, on 1 April 1995 160 Transport Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps was re-established to provide logistic support, particularly fuel resupply, to the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps. The regiment now comprised the Regimental HQ & 260 Squadron, 261 Squadron, 262 Squadron and 263 Squadron.
Following the 1998 Strategic Defence Review, 160 Transport Regiment was merged with 164 Transport Regiment, with squadrons from each being disbanded. The regiment now comprised the Regimental HQ, 261 Squadron and 263 Squadron, and 270 Squadron. In 2001 the regiment provided support to civil authorities during an 2001 [United Kingdom foot-and-mouth outbreak|outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease].
In January 2003 the Government decided to mobilise elements of the Territorial Army to support of military operations in Iraq, and around 120 members of the regiment served there attached to other units. In April 2006 160 Transport Regiment was augmented by the addition of 126 Squadron, transferred from 166 Supply Regiment RLC, which specialized in the construction and operation of bulk fuel installations. The regiment was twinned with 8 Transport Regiment RLC, during operations in Afghanistan, with personnel from the regiment providing replacements and backup, and also on detachment to other units.
As a result of the Army 2020 review, 160 Transport Regiment was disbanded at Grantham on 17 May 2014. However, personnel from the regiment then formed 160 Transport Squadron, as part of 158 Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, based at Sobraon Barracks, Lincoln.

Commanding officers

;Royal Corps of Transport
  • Lieutenant Colonel E. Dennis Higgs
  • Lieutenant Colonel Colin Brice
  • Lieutenant Colonel J. David Suthers
  • Lieutenant Colonel Derek S. Jackson
  • Lieutenant Colonel David B. Coates
  • Lieutenant Colonel John P. Lynch
  • Lieutenant Colonel Anthony S. Feldman
  • Lieutenant Colonel John Astbury
  • Lieutenant Colonel Richard M. Wilkinson
;Royal Logistics Corps
  • Lieutenant Colonel Richard M. Wilkinson
  • Lieutenant Colonel Alan A. D. Hamilton
  • Lieutenant Colonel Michael J. Robinson
  • Lieutenant Colonel Derrick Louis
  • Lieutenant Colonel Martin F. White
  • Lieutenant Colonel Michael C. A. Caseman-Jones
  • Lieutenant Colonel Michael Hughes

Honorary Colonels

  • Major General Walter Henry Dennison Ritchie
  • Major General Errol Henry Gerrard Lonsdale
  • Major General Peter Blunt
  • Colonel Rupert Lionel Wallis
  • Colonel Colin James Constable
  • Colonel John Astbury