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How many troops do Scotland have?

Scotland is not an independent country, so it does not have its own military or troop numbers separate from the United Kingdom. However, there are some key things to understand about Scotland’s relationship to the UK armed forces.

Scottish Regiments in the British Army

Although Scotland does not have its own separate military, there are a number of Scottish infantry and cavalry regiments that are part of the British Army. Some of the most famous Scottish regiments include:

  • The Royal Scots
  • The King’s Own Scottish Borderers
  • The Black Watch
  • The Highlanders
  • The Scots Guards

These regiments recruit primarily from Scotland, have Scottish symbols and traditions, but operate as part of the larger British Army. It’s estimated there are about 15,000 Scottish troops across all regiments of the British Army.

Royal Navy and Royal Air Force

In addition to the Army, there are also Scottish personnel serving in the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. Major Naval bases in Scotland include Faslane and Coulport, which are home to the UK’s nuclear deterrent submarines. Major RAF bases include Lossiemouth and Leuchars.

Scotland does not have its own Navy or Air Force, but Scots make up a proportion of the overall UK armed forces. Exact numbers are hard to pin down, but based on Scotland’s share of the UK population, there are likely 10,000-15,000 Scots serving in the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.

Territorial Army and Reserves

Scotland also has a number of Army Reserve and Territorial Army units. These part-time volunteer forces are not considered regular military troops, but can be called up to support regular forces if needed. Some of the key Scottish reserve units include:

  • 52nd Lowland Brigade
  • 51st Highland Brigade
  • 6th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland
  • 7th Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland

In total, there are around 4,000 Army reservists based in Scotland, who train in their spare time but have civilian careers and lives otherwise. The Royal Naval and Air Force Reserves also have a presence in Scotland.

Police and Emergency Services

While not military, Scotland does have its own police force and emergency services which play a role in homeland security and civil contingencies. These include:

  • Police Scotland – Scotland’s national police force with 17,000 officers.
  • Scottish Fire and Rescue Service – Providing fire and rescue services across Scotland.
  • Scottish Ambulance Service – Scotland’s state-owned ambulance service.

These organisations have some capabilities that mirror or support military capacities like public order control, search and rescue, hazardous response, etc. As such, they contribute to Scotland’s overall homeland defensive capacities.

Table of Scottish Troop Numbers

Branch Estimated Troop Numbers
Scottish Regiments of the British Army 15,000
Royal Navy 10,000-15,000
Royal Air Force 10,000-15,000
Army Reserves and Territorial Army 4,000
Total 39,000 – 49,000

Other Considerations

A few other key points on Scottish defence and security:

  • Scotland has no powers over defence policy, this is reserved to the UK Government.
  • However, the Scottish Government has some limited emergency powers.
  • The SNP manifesto proposes a new Scottish Defence Force if Scotland becomes independent.
  • There are defence equipment contractors like BAE Systems with major facilities in Scotland.
  • Several UK defence agencies and research facilities are based in Scotland.

Conclusion

While Scotland does not have formal armed forces of its own, it contributes a significant minority of personnel to the UK’s military across the Army, Navy and Air Force. In total, credible estimates put the number of Scottish military personnel at between 39,000-49,000 regular troops. In addition, Scotland has police, emergency services and reservists that support security and defence capabilities.

The future of Scottish defence contributions depends heavily on whether Scotland eventually becomes an independent country. Until then, Scots will continue serving proudly across all branches of the UK armed forces.