The Last War: 357.

[Bernard Woolley]

Simon, the emergency planning all assumed attacks on military and infrastructure targets. Not what were effectively random attacks scattered across the city. Nobody thought that the Soviets would do that sort of thing because it made no military sense.

Btw, I do appreciate your comments.

[Johnnie Lyle]

It’s hard writing total screw-ups in fiction because people expect fiction to be “plausible.”

Many such screw-ups in @ are implausible/unreasonable to an impartial omniscient observer who is not subjected to the same factors (such as fatigue or complacency) that impact the principals involved.

It’s a tough gig, but Bernard’s choices to me look reasonable, especially for a force that is stretched to the limits by multiple crises at the same time.

[Simon Darkshade]

Thank you, Bernard, for both the explanation and kind words.

I can see that my issue does come on the meta level of looking at the sheer number of emergency service, civil defence and military personnel in London and being a tad surprised that the response has eaten every last one of 65,000+, but that might be a case of looking at the forest rather than the trees. I am the same bloke who gave Sterlings to the Girl Guides and AR-15s to the Cubs, so my perspective may err a bit on the side of extra-extra-preparedness.

There is still the same sinking feeling as when Churchill was told “Aucune” in 1940; perhaps that image might be employed in whatever aftermath occurs for that extra level of resonance. From a writing perspective, there is a lot of slack there for the reader to accept little contrivances such as this flow of events, as the tale has racked up a plethora of audience brownie points to ‘pay’ for them.

[Johnnie Lyle]

Thank you, Bernard, for both the explanation and kind words.

I can see that my issue does come on the meta level of looking at the sheer number of emergency service, civil defence and military personnel in London and being a tad surprised that the response has eaten every last one of 65,000+, but that might be a case of looking at the forest rather than the trees. I am the same bloke who gave Sterlings to the Girl Guides and AR-15s to the Cubs, so my perspective may err a bit on the side of extra-extra-preparedness.

There is still the same sinking feeling as when Churchill was told “Aucune” in 1940; perhaps that image might be employed in whatever aftermath occurs for that extra level of resonance. From a writing perspective, there is a lot of slack there for the reader to accept little contrivances such as this flow of events, as the tale has racked up a plethora of audience brownie points to ‘pay’ for them.

Simon, it’s extremely frightening how quickly you can run out of assets.

California’s major disaster response training for emergency operation centers focuses on the first three hours of a major earthquake and the cupboard gets bare really really quickly. That’s when everyone is keyed up, fresh and rested.

We’re now something like a month into The War, and I don’t know if Bernard has stated how badly attritted the home front resources are, but it has to be bad. Casualties, exhaustion (if COVID is any indication nobody will be anywhere near as rested as they should be) and especially other war demands taking priority. Again, I’m not sure Bernard has given us good numbers, but there has to be conflicting demands on those people, and the MOD has to be getting sharper in its demands for people as the war heats up and casualties grow. That alone will push them back onto older and less experienced/less modern staff to fill the gaps.

It’s a vicious vicious cycle.

[Nik_SpeakerToCats]

"Nobody thought that the Soviets would do that sort of thing because it made no military sense."

{Cough} Ukraine...

FWIW, still does not make military sense, because riled citizens work longer and harder, will bear a serious grudge...

Um, do we have any idea who assured Rusputin, "They'll fold like the French in 1940..."

[jemhouston]

"Nobody thought that the Soviets would do that sort of thing because it made no military sense."

{Cough} Ukraine...

FWIW, still does not make military sense, because riled citizens work longer and harder, will bear a serious grudge...

Um, do we have any idea who assured Rusputin, "They'll fold like the French in 1940..."

Only part of France folded. Some fought on, and did the Russians ever fold?

[Nik_SpeakerToCats]

Totally true.
You know that, I know that, but...

[Simon Darkshade]

Thank you, Bernard, for both the explanation and kind words.

I can see that my issue does come on the meta level of looking at the sheer number of emergency service, civil defence and military personnel in London and being a tad surprised that the response has eaten every last one of 65,000+, but that might be a case of looking at the forest rather than the trees. I am the same bloke who gave Sterlings to the Girl Guides and AR-15s to the Cubs, so my perspective may err a bit on the side of extra-extra-preparedness.

There is still the same sinking feeling as when Churchill was told “Aucune” in 1940; perhaps that image might be employed in whatever aftermath occurs for that extra level of resonance. From a writing perspective, there is a lot of slack there for the reader to accept little contrivances such as this flow of events, as the tale has racked up a plethora of audience brownie points to ‘pay’ for them.

Simon, it’s extremely frightening how quickly you can run out of assets.

California’s major disaster response training for emergency operation centers focuses on the first three hours of a major earthquake and the cupboard gets bare really really quickly. That’s when everyone is keyed up, fresh and rested.

We’re now something like a month into The War, and I don’t know if Bernard has stated how badly attritted the home front resources are, but it has to be bad. Casualties, exhaustion (if COVID is any indication nobody will be anywhere near as rested as they should be) and especially other war demands taking priority. Again, I’m not sure Bernard has given us good numbers, but there has to be conflicting demands on those people, and the MOD has to be getting sharper in its demands for people as the war heats up and casualties grow. That alone will push them back onto older and less experienced/less modern staff to fill the gaps.

It’s a vicious vicious cycle.

All of that is correct and understood.

(The following is my slightly nerdy analysis, not any form of OOC criticism; the criticism is directed 'in-universe' to the planners)

The narrative account spoke of "twelve missile impact sites, so far, which has resulted in eight major incidents, each of which would have taxed us in peacetime. The other four are serious enough on their own." in Chapter 347, following on from the actual attacks in Chapter 346:

- "We have a group headed straight for London, another two groups look like they are headed towards the Midlands, and one is headed towards southern Scotland."
- 'If we made one serious mistake, it was assuming that the Soviets would only attack military and infrastructure targets. That any missiles or bombs hitting civilian areas would be accidental and generally near to those targets. We also assumed that only a few rogue missiles might hit the city. We were wrong about that too.’ – Anonymous emergency planner, Greater London Authority, quoted in Chapter 5, ‘The British Fire Service and the Third World War’ (Oxford 2015).'
- The targets described in 346 were the Bricklayer's Arms Junction in Bermondsley and the Haddon Hall Baptist Church on Tower Bridge Road in Southwark

- In one of the subsequent chapters when John Reid pops his head into a fire unit, there is mention of a Westminster hit and one on the Albert Embankment area

Facts:
- The mistaken assumption that the Reds would only hit military/infrastructure targets is a fair and reasonable one, given the available information and prewar thinking/analysis
- Each major missile site would have taxed fire/rescue services in peacetime (No issues with that)
- 8 major incidents and 4 lesser ones that are still serious (All straightforward)
- 'Most' of the Met's authorised firearms officers have been employed as first aid (2469 personnel in @ 2021; one would anticipate these numbers being higher in wartime 2005 Britain, but let us take ~2500 as the low end figure)
- Total uniform numbers would then be ~38,000, plus ~2000 PCSOs
- Not all of those would be available at any one time, given shifts, human needs like sleep and general duties
- Chapter 346 has the "time stamp" of D+21. The action seemed to take place in daytime.
- Chapter 357 is D+23
- The time cited is 'less than 24 hours" after the multiple cruise missile hits
- Officers from surrounding counties are being called in to help

Analysis
- Even at less than 24 hours after the attack, not having enough available plod is stretching things. Call it an absolute ceiling of 20,000 on duty at any point if we must, but something buggered up in the 'triage' system. Indeed, this might be a better way of putting it: Communications, Command and Control was overwhelmed by the attack, leading to apparent deficiences in deployable manpower
- There has been sufficient time for reinforcements from outside London to be called in, make their way to London through modern transportation means and provide some small measure of relief for the taxed emergency service personnel
- There is absolutely no question that attacks on this scale would push fire, ambulance, NEVs/civil defence and hospital capacity past the point of overwhelmed, as seen in the @ examples of 9/11 and Bali 2002
- How many uniformed police are being allocated to each target? 500? 1000? Either number would seem to be excessive to the point of interfering with the logistics of rescue, recovery and the flow in and out of personnel engaged in them
- The sums would work out at ~2000 AFOs and thousands of uniformed police being used in the immediate response to the attacks. One could anticipate some level of relief at some point in between D+21 and D+23, as the police need to eat and sleep and be cycled through the ringer, as it were
- The timing of the KEVII attack was very, very inconvenient, as within another 24 hours, the force structure would have returned to something closer to operational

- There was no reasonable way to plan for either attack, but future lessons learned include:
i.) Holding a reserve of AFOs for emergency reinforcement/CP duties
ii.) In the immediate aftermath of a major attack, tightening up procedures and security across the board to prevent leakers whilst attention is drawn elsewhere
iii.) Make better use of military reserve forces, such as the RDF, in a manner that does not interfere with their main purpose
iv.) Carcere eos. Novit enim Dominus qui sunt eius.
v.) Relearn all the lessons of the Last War that were paid for in blood

[Kendog52361]

In regards to the attack on the "unnamed Royal/VIP", and the availability, or lack thereof, of AFOs, I had a small thought. Firstly, I'm not commenting on the AFOs, simply because I really don't know enough about it.

That being said, one thought I did have, is there's a large pool of guys, who are armed, and are otherwise mostly sitting around, day-to-day. From what I remember at the End of the Cold War, IRL, there were about 8 Battalions of Foot Guards, two 1 Battalion Regiments, and three 2 Battalion Regiments.

I'm guessing a bit, here, but from my general understanding, of the three 2 Battalion Regiments, while 1 Battalion was in an operationally deployed unit, such as an armored brigade, the other is based in the "London Area", on Public Duties Roles. While one is basically devoted to the RDF, and one is providing support for the RDF from Windsor, that still leaves 1+ Battalions of Foot Guards who are otherwise available.

I could easily see, especially in any Transition To War situation, groups of Foot Guards receiving Close Protection Duty Training, to provide CP Support to various Royals, while the AFOs can then be focused elsewhere.

Yes, in this specific situation, I could still see most of those Foot Guards providing support to the ongoing search and rescue operations, but I could also still see them providing roughly squad sized units to support CP Duties for various Royals, who either don't normally have protection, or like in this case, is considered relatively low risk, but don't have sufficient AFOs available.

Another reason I could see Foot Guards receiving CP Training, is the RDF has roughly a battalion of Foot Guards assigned, and while they're presumably providing "outside protection" at rest locations, as infantry, they're fully trained in "fighting on foot", compared to the Household Calvary, so having some of them able to supplement or replace the Met Close Protection Cops, such as if they loose them (such as via death or simply needing to sleep), simply makes sense, to me.

Edit: A couple of clarifications, here. Firstly, I'm not really commenting on the "attack" in the story, it's just something I thought of, after reading of the "incident" in the story.

Second, I forgot to mention it earlier, but earlier in the story, the Household Calvary Mounted Regiment(?) were supporting local law enforcement, and while it's very possible that they're helping with search and rescue, I could easily see them assigning a couple of Land Rovers to provide security escort to the aforementioned "unnamed VIP", even if they're intending to meet up along the way, and are now scrambling/speeding to the "incident site".

Thirdly, I'm assuming that, at the very least, the three 2 Battalion Regiments of Foot Guards keep their 2nd Battalions in this timeline. I also wouldn't be surprised if, in the aftermath of the Tactical Nuclear Weapons Treaty, they didn't expand the Foot Guards Regiments as part of a larger enlarging of the Military, with those 2 remaining single Battalion Foot Guard Regiments didn't get a 2nd Battalion, as well, even if they were only "Reserve Forces.

Fourthly, while the RDF Foot Guards Regiment are presumably dedicated to the RDF Mission, I could see them, along with the other Foot Guards Units getting that Close Protection Training. I also seem to recall that while the RDF was pretty formalized in formation in London, they were a bit more makeshift in Windsor, with whoever was available having the job to get the Royal(s) out.

Finally, with the various Treaties basically limiting the War to Conventional Forces, only, I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't expand the general RDF Mission, to have forces "dedicated" for other Senior Royals, in case of invasion or spec ops attacking. I could see, for example, the Welsh Guard having a unit assigned to support/protect the Prince of Wales and his family, maybe a small detachment from the Blues and Royals supporting/protecting the Princess Royal and her Family, and so on. Basically, they're choosing Units that have a (direct) connection to that Royal they're being assigned to support/protect.

[Jotun]

While it is something that cropped up during the OOTW after 1994, the Bundeswehr uses Feldjäger/MPs for close protection duties. The Feldjäger have a working arrangement with the CP personnel in the BKA and Border Police, if I am not at all mistaken.
It would be no biggie for each regiment to train a company or so in CP duties with the help of the various Beit police forces, or would it?

[James1978]

See below for what is theoretically available from the Army.

From the British Army Wartime ORBAT

Home Forces & Strategic Reserve
London District.
(H.Q Horse Guards)
Royal Duties Force - Wellington Barracks [NOTE 5]
London District Mounted Squadron, RMP
323 Squadron (R), Royal Logistics Corps.
56th (London) Infantry Brigade
- Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment: Land Rover/FV721 Fox
-- The King’s Troop, RHA
- The Inns of Court & City Yeomanry: Land Rover/FV721 Fox
- 1st Battalion The Coldstream Guards: Light Role
- 2nd Battalion The Grenadier Guards (+): Light Role
-- 2 Company (HSF), HAC
- 2nd Battalion The Scots Guards (+): Light Role
-- 1 Company (HSF), HAC
- 3rd (London Irish Rifles) Battalion, The London Regiment (+): Home Service Force
-- 5 (HSF) Company 10th (V) Bn, The Parachute Regiment
- 7th (Post Office Rifles) Battalion, The London Regiment: Home Service Force
- 15th (County of London) Battalion (Prince of Wales’ Own Civil Service Rifles), The London Regiment: Home Service Force
-- Tower HSF Platoon

***************************
5) Formed from a battalion of the Foot Guards and a squadron of the Household Cavalry, with a strength of around 1,300. Has the task of evacuating HM the Queen and other members of the Royal Family in the event of a crisis, and guarding them, when they reach the destination. Remains a shadow formation until needed.

[James1978]

Speaking from a US perspective . . .

Someone correct me if I'm off base, but the UK situation appears akin to if the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia (MPDC) was also responsible for Presidential protection. MPDC has around 3,800 sworn officers. Or maybe the NYPD would be a better size comparison with around 35,000 sworn officers.

I think we often either lose sight of or are simply are unaware that the small army attending POTUS, VPOTUS, and their families fall well outside the norm for executive protection, to say nothing of the military resources dedicated to Presidential support. Keep in mind that the United States Secret Service (USSS) does more than just executive protection. They have a regular law enforcement role with field offices spread around the country - and those agents can be pulled in for protective work on an as needed basis. Then there is the uniformed division that is responsible for physical security of the White House, VP Residence, and some other locations around DC. The USSS has around 3,200 Special Agents, and around 1,300 in the Uniformed Division.

I'm not sure to what extent regular US MP units train for close protection. US Army CID has the Protective Services Battalion, that handles security for SECDEF, Army Chief of Staff, and other senior civilian and military officials. I know Delta and DevGru train for the mission, and I think they are trained by the USSS. During Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Schwarzkopf's close protection detail was provided by Delta.

I'm gonna take a wild guess the the SAS and SBS also train for close protection, but they aren't exactly available at the moment.
But the question of if you could form maybe a composite close protection company out of the various Guard's battalions is an interesting one. Individual soldiers could attend a Basic Close Protection Course, and learn enough to support full-time close protection officers.

[Simon Darkshade]

The NYPD would be the better size comparison.

I, for myself, never fell into the trap of comparison with the Yanks, as that is a completely different situation with legal and jurisdictional issues up the wazoo.

Despite the preferences of the principal, this isn’t a minor VIP nor the circumstances of one. As far as those above him, in the RF there are the Queen and DoE, the PoW and his two sons; nationally, there is the PM and War Cabinet and the Leader of the Opposition as far as the order of precedence goes. The line of succession is a bit important in a Constitutional Monarchy in a shooting war where the enemy is bombing the buggery out of the capital. He’s in the top 20 or 25 people to protect in the whole country, not Prince Richard of Gloucester.

[Kendog52361]

See below for what is theoretically available from the Army.

From the British Army Wartime ORBAT

Home Forces & Strategic Reserve
London District.
(H.Q Horse Guards)
Royal Duties Force - Wellington Barracks [NOTE 5]
London District Mounted Squadron, RMP
323 Squadron (R), Royal Logistics Corps.
56th (London) Infantry Brigade
- Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment: Land Rover/FV721 Fox
-- The King’s Troop, RHA
- The Inns of Court & City Yeomanry: Land Rover/FV721 Fox
- 1st Battalion The Coldstream Guards: Light Role
- 2nd Battalion The Grenadier Guards (+): Light Role
-- 2 Company (HSF), HAC
- 2nd Battalion The Scots Guards (+): Light Role
-- 1 Company (HSF), HAC
- 3rd (London Irish Rifles) Battalion, The London Regiment (+): Home Service Force
-- 5 (HSF) Company 10th (V) Bn, The Parachute Regiment
- 7th (Post Office Rifles) Battalion, The London Regiment: Home Service Force
- 15th (County of London) Battalion (Prince of Wales’ Own Civil Service Rifles), The London Regiment: Home Service Force
-- Tower HSF Platoon

***************************
5) Formed from a battalion of the Foot Guards and a squadron of the Household Cavalry, with a strength of around 1,300. Has the task of evacuating HM the Queen and other members of the Royal Family in the event of a crisis, and guarding them, when they reach the destination. Remains a shadow formation until needed.

That's about what I was figuring for Foot Guard Battalions being available, although I admit I don't know whether that's including the Foot Guards Battalion in Windsor or not, although I'll assume for this, it is. Assuming one Battalion is, more or less, dedicated to the RSF Unit, even if it's more "shadow formation" right now, and so isn't really available to supplement CP Duties, that still leaves 2 Battalions who could provide a troops to support/supplement Close Protection Operations for the Royal Family.

As for why I'm focusing on The Foot Guards, it's due to, in part, with them being the "Sovereign's Personal Troops". That's due to their historical close association, connection, and role, supporting the Royal Family, compared to other British Army Units. You could see that connection most clearly, in 1992, when the Household Calvary Unit(s) supported cleanup at Windsor Castle after the massive fire. Plus, of course, despite there being "lower Colonels" of the Household Division Units, such as Princess Anne for the Blues and Royals or Prince William for, now, the Welsh Foot Guards, for all of them, their Colonel-in-Chief is always the Sovereign, at the time, Queen Elizabeth II, now (IRL), King Charles III.

[Louie]

See below for what is theoretically available from the Army.

From the British Army Wartime ORBAT

Home Forces & Strategic Reserve
London District.
(H.Q Horse Guards)
Royal Duties Force - Wellington Barracks [NOTE 5]
London District Mounted Squadron, RMP
323 Squadron (R), Royal Logistics Corps.
56th (London) Infantry Brigade
- Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment: Land Rover/FV721 Fox
-- The King’s Troop, RHA
- The Inns of Court & City Yeomanry: Land Rover/FV721 Fox
- 1st Battalion The Coldstream Guards: Light Role
- 2nd Battalion The Grenadier Guards (+): Light Role
-- 2 Company (HSF), HAC
- 2nd Battalion The Scots Guards (+): Light Role
-- 1 Company (HSF), HAC
- 3rd (London Irish Rifles) Battalion, The London Regiment (+): Home Service Force
-- 5 (HSF) Company 10th (V) Bn, The Parachute Regiment
- 7th (Post Office Rifles) Battalion, The London Regiment: Home Service Force
- 15th (County of London) Battalion (Prince of Wales’ Own Civil Service Rifles), The London Regiment: Home Service Force
-- Tower HSF Platoon

***************************
5) Formed from a battalion of the Foot Guards and a squadron of the Household Cavalry, with a strength of around 1,300. Has the task of evacuating HM the Queen and other members of the Royal Family in the event of a crisis, and guarding them, when they reach the destination. Remains a shadow formation until needed.

That's about what I was figuring for Foot Guard Battalions being available, although I admit I don't know whether that's including the Foot Guards Battalion in Windsor or not, although I'll assume for this, it is. Assuming one Battalion is, more or less, dedicated to the RSF Unit, even if it's more "shadow formation" right now, and so isn't really available to supplement CP Duties, that still leaves 2 Battalions who could provide a troops to support/supplement Close Protection Operations for the Royal Family.

As for why I'm focusing on The Foot Guards, it's due to, in part, with them being the "Sovereign's Personal Troops". That's due to their historical close association, connection, and role, supporting the Royal Family, compared to other British Army Units. You could see that connection most clearly, in 1992, when the Household Calvary Unit(s) supported cleanup at Windsor Castle after the massive fire. Plus, of course, despite there being "lower Colonels" of the Household Division Units, such as Princess Anne for the Blues and Royals or Prince William for, now, the Welsh Foot Guards, for all of them, their Colonel-in-Chief is always the Sovereign, at the time, Queen Elizabeth II, now (IRL), King Charles III.

I don't want to be pedantic again BUT, I will speak on the two subjects that I am well versed on (Bernard and James know why). I will start with the Guards:
IRL........HCMR had a MHD role.....pre-1989 it is was to supply two Home Defence Inf Coys. Post 1989 it was scheduled to provide a MHD Recce Regt for London District in Land Rovers.

One Sqn (FOX CVR(W) equipped) of the Windsor based Cavalry Regt (the LG & RHG/D Arms Plotted with themselves between Windsor and BAOR) would join the Pirbright based Guards Bn on Operation Candid, the protection (Special Duties) of the Royal Family and if need be the evacuation of members from London. The other four Guards Bns on TTW would provide their MILAN Pls to BAOR but then would have the following initial roles:
-One Bn as Regional Reserve for London District
-One Bn Special Duties for the Central Government
-One Bn Security for Gold Reserves and Art Treasures
-One Bn MACA (HM Customs & the Police) assistance in seizing enemy ships, aircraft, and persons.

Once the above was completed the three Guards Bns were earmarked to possibly form a Bde (there were no concrete plans but there was reference to them forming one of the two COGRAM Bdes)

So the Crown Jewels would most likely have been moved out by a Coy of one of the Guards Bns. The Operation Candid Unit may have moved some Jewels if they remained in the Queen's possession.

As for the other units...two Guards Bns and one HC Regt were always in BAOR. The Windsor based HC Regt provided a Sqn to CANDID (see above) leaving RHQ & HQ Sqn plus two tracked sqns under 5 Abn Bde (one sqn may have been available, if needed for 3 Cdo Bde). This leaves one Guard Bn which was in the overall Arms Plot.....Berlin, Northern Ireland, etc

So there would definitely NOT be Guards personnel seconded to CP duties, which, as stated, are the provenance of RMP.

NYPD.....IRL in 2001 the NYPD had around 39,000 to 40,000 Uniformed Armed Personnel (Uniformed Members of The Service, UMOS). Trust me, 9/11 stretched that number VERY thin. State Police, Army National Guard, and personnel from Departments around the U.S. had to supplement that manpower for Counter Terrorism duties, Rescue & Recovery work at Ground Zero, regular calls for service/investigative work, and Force Protection for each Police facility (there were and are hundreds around the City) and sensitive locations. Most NYPD Cops were working anywhere between 16-20 hour shifts that even with the massive influx of assistance only reduced this to a minimum on duty time of 12 hours, again trust me.....
Bernard's story doesn't confine the action to one part of London, or for that matter, only London. So it is well within the realm of possibility and frankly, in all likelihood The MET and other Police Forces were well stretched and scrapping the proverbial bottom of the barrel (NYPD gave full police powers to all their unarmed civilian Auxiliary Police and any Retirees that showed up to help).

[Kendog52361]

In regards to any CP Support Duties by the Foot Guards, I was limiting that only to the Royal Family, due to the above varying other duties, plus the stretching of available AFOs, and so on. I doubt they would be the lead in any such usage, but having a basic CP Capability, to support Met Armed Police, for Royal Guard Duties, only, I could maybe see. I do think it would likely be limited to being implemented during the Transition to War, simply due to the practical problems of giving Foot Guards CP Training, only for them to then deploy, to the overseas Foot Guards Battalion of their Regiment. IRL, in such a situation, I could see the Incremental Foot Guards Companies receiving that basic capability, but still limited to the Royal Family, in a supporting role, only.

[Louie]

Ken,

GOC London District would be loathe to release bodies to “non-essential” members of the Royal Family (the Queen, POW, Will, & Harry taking precedence), however…..considering that traditionally many Met Officers seemed to come from the Guards, I can see Met Officers recalled to the Colours on TTW, some may have been CP trained already…..perhaps they have some minor ailment that prevents them being deployed overseas….that could be a possibility.

[James1978]

Supposing there was a Guards company, or even platoon tasked with CP support, I suspect they'd serve in a role closer to the USSS Counter Assault Team (CAT). In the event of an Attack on Principal, i.e. POTUS, CAT would engage an attacker(s) buying time for the protective detail agents to evacuate the principal.

I listened to a podcast interview with a former CAT agent a while back - interesting stuff.

Having said all that, I suspect any Guards CAT equivalent probably sticks close to the PM, the Queen, and the POW.

[James1978]

Where are the Guards Battalions?

The Grenadier Guards
1st Battalion - 6(G)AB / 3AD - BAOR
2nd Battalion - 56(London)IB - London District

The Coldstream Guards
1st Battalion - 56(London)IB - London District
2nd Battalion - 19IB / 4AD - 1 Corps / BAOR

The Scots Guards
1st Battalion - 6(G)AB / 3AD - 1 Corps / BAOR
2nd Battalion - 56(London)IB - London District

The Irish Guards
1st Battalion - 24 Airmobile / 2ID - 1 Corps / BAOR

The Welsh Guards
1st Battalion - 3AB/1 (Aust) Div - Kuwait - US X Corps

The London Regiment (V)
1st (Queen’s Regiment and London Scottish) Battalion - 1 Arty Brigade - 1 Corps, BAOR
2nd (City of London Fusiliers Regiment) Battalion - 47AB / 7AD - 2 Corps, BAOR
3rd (London Irish Rifles) Battalion - 56(London)IB - London District
7th (Post Office Rifles) Battalion - 56(London)IB - London District
15th (County of London) Battalion (Prince of Wales’ Own Civil Service Rifles) - 56(London)IB - London District

[Pdf27]

One comment on Prince Andrew: the Royal Family has historically been very aware of the necessity that they be seen to be taking the same risks as the troops sworn to them, and while they aren't going to do anything which will bring additional risk to the troops under their command accepting personal risk seems to be the done thing. At this point he's 4th in line to the throne and a serving naval officer wounded in action: having a full protective detail in the circumstances would be bad news for the Firm if it got reported on.