History provides ample evidence that, whereas battles are won by
leadership and bravery, wars are more often won by superior logistics - the practical, highly skilled and often imaginative art of moving fighting troops and keeping them supplied.
Within the British Army it is the Royal Logistic Corps that is responsible for supply and distribution, together with a host of supporting services - in peace, on operations and at war.
The Royal Logistic Corps was formed in April 1993 with the amalgamation of four corps (the Royal Corps of Transport, the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, the Army Catering Corps, the Royal Pioneer Corps) and an element of a fifth (the Royal Engineer Postal and Courier Service). The Corps has a total of 16,500 officers and soldiers, equating to 16% of the Regular British Army. This is further strengthened by 11,000 personnel within the Territorial Army.
It would be impossible to commit the British Army without essential support, including vehicles, spares, equipment, weapons, ammunition, food, fuel and water. The storage and distribution of these commodities are the role of the Royal Logistic Corps which must ensure that the right quantity of a particular commodity arrives at the correct place at the right time. Some RLC Supply Specialists are trained as bakers, for the provision of food on exercises and operations.
Cooking supper
and digging trenches...the Corps does it all.
Visit the official Royal Logistics Corps site by clicking here.
