Do Military Police 'specifically British' get involved in actual battles- e.g., are they combat troops to

Answer 1

The main task of the Military Police, in wartime, is to ensure that the front line troops fight! They were there to arrest anybody running away (and, sometimes shoot those, who froze!)

Fortunately times have changed somewhat, although, in the 60s and 70s, we used to rib the "Monkeys" about it!

Their primary task in modern mechanised warfare is to organise routes to and from the battlefield and to lay out laager areas and generally maintain discipline.

Their Iraq task is somewhat more diffuse; helping the enforcement of civil law and training local police.

Answer 2

There was a recent inquest on some military police who were surrounded in Iraq and killed They could not communicate with other troops because of the poor standard of radio equipment they had.

I have never served in the armed forces so i have no axe to grind but I understand that during WW ll they suffered proportionately more casualties near the front due to sniper action sometimes whilst directing traffic in the rear.

I do not want to see comments that it was our lads getting their own back

Answer 3

The tasks of the MP are clearly laid out:
1. Maintain discipline among the troops
2. act against erring troops-- desertors, mis demeanor,....
3. Secure supply lines and routes in time of hostilities
4. Tackle the POWs
5. If need be, fight the enemy

They are not regular combat troops, though given basic infantory training

Answer 4

YES!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3017332.stm

Answer 5

military police are given the same basic combat training as all other branches of the armed forces and while they are not specifically deployed for combat (EG 'we are attacking Western Tikrit in the morning, the attack will be led by 1st company of the military police') they have served in the front line the same as infantry regiments

Answer 6

Hi
I read somewhere (cant remember where) that military police were developed primarily to catch deserters in the front line and execute them. Thus encouraging the soldiers at the front line into facing the enemy where they had a better chance than if they faced their own military police .
Pehaps this is only one function they had.

Answer 7

Police military they are not train in combat troops like army but they still have similar principle in regard peace for nation and for citizens.

Answer 8

As far as i know they have the same basic training as every other soldier, but are not classified as front line combatants, in the event of hostilities they are tasked with ensuring discipline in the rear echelons, as most front line troops are disciplined by the Officers in place at the time, another of their duties are to Police any captured POW's and to ensure traffic can flow freely to the front..
It may not be the glamorous (If you can call any soldiers duty glamorous) but the role of the MP is vital to the tasks the British Army have faced in recent years, and will do for many more to come!!
(My apologies to any serving MP's if i have forgotten any duties you perform, i am not an expert, i am only someone who stands in awe of the sacrifices you make every day!)

Answer 9

They are deployed where-ever the Army, Navy, and Airforce are! Their duties are much the same though in the Army you are always a Soldier first then a tradesman second!

I know many have been killed in conflicts around the World!

I thank my lucky stars that my Hubby was one of the Lucky ones who came home! (Falklands)

Answer 10

They are trained to a basic level as all soldiers are. Past that they are policemen in the Army. They have to keep their infantry skills up to the basic levels on the ranges etc. They are not as highly trained as the infantry are today nor are they trained to be dismounted Armoured infantry or Light Infantry. Read 'Last Round' by Marc Nicol for their role in Iraq and how the guys were murdered.