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.

In 1973, the United Kingdom joined the European Union. Though having withdrawn its membership as of 2020, it is anticipated to rejoin the EU sometime in the distant future.

Armed Forces

Military Branches

Seal/Flag	Branch
	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, Battlefield 1 and Battlefield V.
	The Royal Air Force is the division of the aerial forces 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 warfare 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, and the Dreadnought of Battlefield 1 is modeled after the Iron Duke-class battleships, whereas the L-Class Destroyer is modeled after the Laforey-class destroyers.
	The Royal Marines are the amphibious light infantry force of the British armed forces, forming part of the Naval Service along with the Royal Navy. It is featured Battlefield 1: Turning Tides.

Special Forces

Seal/Flag	Branch
	The Special Air Service (SAS) is a special forces unit of the British Army. The SAS was founded in 1941 as a regiment, and later reconstituted as a corps in 1950. The unit undertakes a number of roles including covert reconnaissance, counter-terrorism, direct action and hostage rescue. They appear in the Battlefield 2: Special Forces expansion.
	The Special Boat Service (SBS) is the special forces unit of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy. The SBS can trace its origins back to the Second World War when the Army Special Boat Section was formed in 1940. After the Second World War, the Royal Marines formed special forces with several name changes—Special Boat Company was adopted in 1951 and re-designated as the Special Boat Squadron in 1974. They appear in Battlefield V singleplayer war story Under No Flag.
	The British Commandos were formed during the Second World War in June 1940, following a request from the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Winston Churchill, for a force that could carry out raids against German-occupied Europe. After the war most Commando units were disbanded, leaving only the Royal Marines 3 Commando Brigade. The modern Royal Marine Commandos, Parachute Regiment, Special Air Service and Special Boat Service trace their origins to the Commandos. They appear in the Battlefield 1942: Secret Weapons of WWII Expansion.

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.

Appearances

Battlefield 1942

In Battlefield 1942, the British Army is one of the major factions, fighting against the Axis in the North African front. In Battlefield 1942: The Road to Rome, the British Army fights on the Italian front. British Commandos are featured in Battlefield 1942: Secret Weapons of WWII, engaging in special operations against German forces.

The British mainland is featured as a location in one map, Battle of Britain. Two other maps from Battlefield 1942, El Alamein and Guadalcanal, is set in the British colony of Egypt and the British Solomon Islands respectfully.

Battlefield 2

The British Special Air Service is featured in Battlefield 2: Special Forces, engaging Russian Spetsnaz and Middle Eastern Insurgent Forces.

The United Kingdom makes an indirect appearance through the European Union, which uses some British equipment.

Battlefield 1

In Battlefield 1, the British Empire is one of the major combatants of World War I, and its forces are featured on many battles across the world. They fight against German forces on the Western Front and against Ottoman Forces in the Middle Eastern front. Both the British Army and the Royal Marines are featured in the game and its expansions, and forces from other countries under the British Empire, such as the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, are also featured in the game.

In singleplayer, 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 Zeppelins.

The multiplayer, the map London Calling featured in Battlefield 1: Apocalypse is set in the air above London.

Battlefield V

In Battlefield V, the United Kingdom is one of two factions available at launch. The British Army fighting against Wehrmacht across Europe and North Africa.

In My Country Calling, London appears during the 1939 section.

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.