United Kingdom

The 'Union Flag', the flag of the United Kingdom, commonly known as the 'Union Jack'

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, also known as the UK or Britain, is a country in Western Europe.

A former imperial power, at its height the British Empire, encompassed almost a quarter of the world's land surface, making it the largest empire in history. The British Empire was not fully dissolved until after World War II.

The British Empire fought as a major Allied faction during World War I, and took part in numerous campaigns such as the Western Front, Gallipoli, Sinai, Palestine, and Mesopotamia.

During World War II, British troops played a large part in the war in multiple theaters. In Asia, British troops fought to defend colonies in India, Burma, Singapore and Malaya, while in North Africa, British troops fought an Axis advance into Egypt.

Closer to home, British forces played a part in the initial months of the war, prior to the Dunkirk evacuation. Britain was later among the forces involved in liberating France in 1944-45 in the Normandy landings, continuing to fight on the Western European front until the end of the war. In the intervening years, British aircraft fought in the Battle of Britain, engaging in aerial combat with German Luftwaffe bombers, while British cities were badly bombed during the Blitz.

Battlefield

Forces

"Who Dares Wins"

— Motto of the Special Air Service

The British Army is the land forces division in the British armed forces. Founded in 1707, they conduct ground operations. The British Army is featured in Battlefield 1942 and Battlefield 1.

The Special Air Service (SAS) is a special forces division within the British Army. First active from 1941 to 1945, then from 1947 onward they conduct diverse, unconventional warfare and are renowned as one of the best special forces groups in the world. They are featured in Battlefield 1942: Secret Weapons of WWII and Battlefield 2: Special Forces.

The Royal Air Force is the aerial forces division of the British armed forces. Founded in 1918, they conduct aerial support and operations. They are featured in Battlefield 1942. The RAF's precursor, the Royal Flying Corps, also appears in Battlefield 1.

The Royal Navy, the naval division of the British armed forces, it is not featured in any Battlefield games, however the HMS Prince of Wales is featured in Battlefield 1942.

The UK is a part of both NATO and the European Union, both of which are featured as factions in their own rights in the Battlefield series. The UK is therefore presumably involved indirectly in other Battlefield games as a part of these two alliances.

Location

In Battlefield 1942, the UK itself is only featured as a location in one map, Battle of Britain. However, another map from Battlefield 1942, El Alamein, is set in the British colony of Egypt.

In Battlefield 1, a scene from the campaign chapter Friends In High Places is set in London, the capital of the United Kingdom. In the mission Forte Et Fidele, Clyde Blackburn and Wilson are aboard a Royal Navy dreadnought moored adjacent to the Houses of Parliament when a German bombing raid is launched against the city. The two crew a Bristol F2.B and take to the skies over the capital, where they shoot down a number of enemy fighters, bombers and Zepellins.

Trivia

• In Battlefield 2, many of the default European Union weapons are directly referred to with the prefix "gb", indicating that they were originally planned as a playable faction instead of the EU.
• The British soldiers in Battlefield 1942 were voiced by Nigel Lindsay.