Bovington Camp(/ˈbɒvɪŋtən/) is aBritish Armymilitary baseinDorset,South West England.Together withLulworth Campit forms part of Bovington Garrison.
| Bovington Camp | |
|---|---|
| NearDorchester | |
 Tank Training Area | |
  Bovington Camp Location within Dorset | |
| Coordinates | 50°42′N2°14′W/ 50.70°N 02.24°W |
| Type | Barracks |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Ministry of Defence |
| Operator |  British Army |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1899 |
| Built for | War Office |
| In use | 1899–present |
The garrison is home to The Armour Centre and contains two barracks complexes and two forest andheathlandtraining areas that support Phase Two training for soldiers of theRoyal Armoured Corpsand trade training for theHousehold Cavalry Regimentas well as other armoured units. It also housesThe Tank Museumon its property.
History
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The camps at Bovington andLulworthwere originally established in 1899 as aninfantrytraining area and ranges. In 1916, they became training camps for the Heavy Branch of theMachine Gun Corpswhich relocated fromNorfolk.The Heavy Branch was responsible for the operation of thetankin theBritish Army.In 1917 the Heavy Branch split from the Machine Gun Corps to become the Tank Corps, with the Depot and Central Schools being based at Bovington.[1]
In 1937 the Central Schools became the Armoured Fighting Vehicles School, with driving and maintenance training at Bovington and gunnery atLulworth.The School became known as the Royal Armoured Corps Centre in 1947,[1]now renamed The Armour Centre.
Resident units
editThe camp is home to:
Ministry of Defence
- Defence Support Group[2]
British Army
- Headquarters,Royal Armoured Corps[3]
- Regimental Headquarters,Royal Wessex Yeomanry,at Allenby Barracks
- Regimental Headquarters,Royal Tank Regiment,at Stanley Barracks[4]
- Armoured Trials and Development Unit[2][5]
- The Armour Centre[6]
- Combat Communication Information Systems (CIS) School[7]
- Armoured Fighting Vehicle Training Group[6]
- Royal Armoured Corps Training Regiment,at Allenby Barracks[6]
- Armoured Fighting Vehicle Schools Regiment
- Armoured Fighting Vehicle School of Communications, Driving & Maintenance[6]
- Armoured Fighting Vehicle School of Gunnery, atLulworth Camp[6][8]
Royal Navy
- Royal NavyCentre of Recruiting[9]
- Royal Navy School of Recruiting[9]
- Viking Squadron,at Stanley Barracks[10]
Training
editSoldiers and Officers attend stage 2 training at the Armoured Fighting Vehicle Training Group following initial training and undertake courses in gunnery, signals, driving, vehicle maintenance and tactics. The centre also provides through career, and promotion, training for soldiers and officers. The group delivers course through three operating sections; Communications, Gunnery and Driving & Maintenance. The majority of this training is delivered at Bovington Camp with live gunnery activities taking place at nearbyLulworth Ranges.[11]
References
edit- ^ab"Bovington Garrison & The Armour Centre: A History"(PDF).Retrieved8 January2015.
- ^ab"Google Earth".earth.google.com.Retrieved6 May2021.
- ^"Royal Armoured Corps [UK]".18 December 2007. Archived fromthe originalon 18 December 2007.Retrieved10 July2020.
- ^"The Royal Tank Regiment [UK]".15 December 2007. Archived fromthe originalon 15 December 2007.Retrieved10 July2020.
- ^"Unit History: ATDU (Armoured Trials and Developement [sic] Unit) ".Retrieved26 February2021.
- ^abcde"Armour Centre, Bovington".www.army.mod.uk.Retrieved10 July2020.
- ^"Specialist Weapons School".Retrieved25 February2021.
- ^"West Lulworth - Army Camp".www.westlulworth.org.uk.Retrieved10 July2020.
- ^ab"Chapter 16 - Recruiting Glossary - Royal Navy"(PDF).p. 7.Retrieved24 February2021.
- ^"Armoured Support Group".Retrieved24 February2021.
- ^"Armour Centre, Bovington".Retrieved8 January2015.
External links
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Media related toBovington Campat Wikimedia Commons