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| British Army Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers | |
|---|---|
| Unit name | Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers |
| Dates | 1942–present |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Branch | British Army |
| Role | Maintenance and recovery |
| Garrison | MoD Lyneham |
| Motto | Arte et Marte |
British Army Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers is a corps of the British Army responsible for the maintenance, repair and recovery of the Army's electrical, mechanical and electronic equipment. Formed during the Second World War, the corps integrates skills from engineering, logistics and technical trades to support units from battalion to expeditionary force level. REME personnel work alongside formations such as the Household Cavalry, Parachute Regiment, Royal Marines, Royal Artillery and Royal Logistics Corps across theatres including Europe, Africa and Asia.
The corps was created in 1942 amid the demands of the Second World War following precedents set by units like the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (pre-1942), Royal Army Service Corps and component workshops from the Royal Engineers. It consolidated maintenance functions previously performed by the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, Royal Artillery Workshops, Royal Tank Regiment technicians and similar elements attached to divisions such as the 1st Armoured Division and 7th Armoured Division. Post-war engagements saw REME elements deployed to the Korean War, Suez Crisis, Malayan Emergency and the Falklands War, supporting formations including the British Expeditionary Force (World War II), British Army of the Rhine, and later operations such as Gulf War, Bosnian War, Kosovo War and campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan. The corps has adapted through defence reviews such as the Options for Change and Army 2020 reforms, aligning with multinational frameworks like NATO and bilateral arrangements with the United States Army, French Army and German Bundeswehr.
REME provides technical maintenance at levels from immediate fault correction alongside units such as the Grenadier Guards and SAS to in-depth overhaul in workshops supporting formations like 3rd Division and 16 Air Assault Brigade. Responsibilities include repair of platforms such as the Challenger 2, Scimitar, Foxhound, Land Rover Defender and specialist avionics for helicopters like the Apache and Wildcat. The corps performs recovery operations using equipment comparable to the M88 Recovery Vehicle concept and supports logistics chains tied to organisations including the Defence Equipment and Support and the Ministry of Defence Police. REME trades overlap with civilian institutions like the Royal Society and industrial partners such as BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, Rheinmetall and Lockheed Martin.
REME is organised into regiments, battalions, companies and workshop troops aligned with brigades such as 16 Air Assault Brigade, 1st Armoured Infantry Brigade and divisional headquarters including Field Army. Key elements include National Support Regiments, Close Support Regiments attached to armoured and mechanised brigades, and Home Command units supporting institutions like the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and Defence Medical Services. The corps interfaces with logistic formations such as the Royal Logistics Corps, technical schools at establishments like MOD Lyneham and collaborative units with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Workshop School, Army Recruiting and Training Division, and multinational entities in the Multinational Division (Iraq).
Recruitment draws from British Armed Forces cohorts and communities across regions including Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England, with entrants progressing through phases at centres such as the Army Training Centre Pirbright and trade-specific instruction at REME training establishments historically located at Blandford Camp and more recently at MoD Lyneham. Training cooperates with civilian apprenticeships accredited by bodies like the Institute of Mechanical Engineers and academic partners including University of Birmingham, Cranfield University and University of Manchester for engineering and technical qualifications. Specialist courses cover areas linked to platforms like the Chinook, Apache, Warrior, Challenger 2 and systems developed by companies such as BAE Systems and General Dynamics.
REME operates workshop vehicles, recovery platforms and diagnostic systems compatible with vehicles and systems such as the Challenger 2, Warrior IFV, Foxhound, Panther (MRAP), Hercules C-130, Chinook, Apache and electronic suites by Thales Group and Honeywell. Capability areas include armoured vehicle powerpack exchange, armament repairs for systems like the L7A2 105mm gun and maintenance of communications equipment by suppliers such as Raytheon and BAE Systems. The corps also fields mobile workshops modelled on concepts used by the US Army Ordnance Corps and uses diagnostic standards influenced by NATO procedures and the International Organization for Standardization relevant to defence maintenance.
REME units have deployed in support of operations including Operation Overlord, Operation Market Garden, Operation Granby (Gulf War), Operation Herrick (Afghanistan), Operation Telic (Iraq), Operation Corporate (Falklands), UN missions in Sierra Leone and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and NATO deployments in Kosovo and the Baltic States. They have worked alongside coalition partners such as the United States Marine Corps, Canadian Armed Forces, Australian Defence Force and French Foreign Legion during multinational exercises like Exercise Joint Warrior and Exercise Saif Sareea.
REME’s cap badge and motto "Arte et Marte" reflect heritage shared with units like the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (pre-1942), and ceremonial links to regiments such as the Royal Tank Regiment. Traditions include recognition ceremonies tied to honours such as the Order of the British Empire awards for service personnel and unit awards presented by figures like the Monarch of the United Kingdom and senior officers with provenance from campaigns including Normandy Campaign and the Falklands Campaign. Insignia details and trade badges correspond to specialist roles analogous to badges used by the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force technical branches.