MOD Woodbridge
{{Short description|British Army installation in Suffolk, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox military installation
| name = MOD Woodbridge
| ensign = File:Flag of the British Army.svg
| ensign_size = 90px
| native_name =
| partof =
| location =
| nearest_town = Woodbridge, Suffolk
| country = England
| image = RAF Woodbridge from the air - geograph.org.uk - 2962720.jpg
| alt =
| caption = MOD Woodbridge from the air.
| image2 =
| alt2 =
| caption2 =
| type = Barracks and training airfield
| coordinates = {{Coord|52|05|16.08|N|001|24|02.97|E|region:GB_type:airport|display=inline,title}}
| gridref =
| image_map =
| image_mapsize =
| image_map_alt =
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| pushpin_map = Suffolk
| pushpin_mapsize =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Suffolk
| pushpin_relief =
| pushpin_image =
| pushpin_label = MOD Woodbridge
| pushpin_label_position = top
| pushpin_mark =
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| ownership = Ministry of Defence
| operator = British Army
| controlledby = Royal Engineers
| open_to_public =
| site_other_label =
| site_other =
| site_area = 369 hectares
| code =
| built = {{Start date|1943}}
| used = Royal Air Force (1943–1948)
United States Air Force (1952–1993)
British Army (2006–present)
| builder =
| materials =
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}}
Ministry of Defence Woodbridge or MOD Woodbridge is a military installation located near the town of Woodbridge, in Suffolk, England. The site opened in 2006 and is operated by the British Army and incorporates both Rock Barracks and Woodbridge Airfield. The barracks are home to two Royal Engineers regiments. The airfield is used periodically by helicopters of the Army Air Corps for training exercises.
The site was previously known as RAF Woodbridge and had periods where it was operated by the Royal Air Force and United States Air Force. The RAF station closed in August 1993.
History
= RAF Woodbridge =
Constructed in 1943 as a Royal Air Force (RAF) airfield during the Second World War to assist damaged aircraft to land on their return from raids over Germany, it was later used by the United States Air Force during the Cold War, being the primary home for the 79th Tactical Fighter Squadron and the 78th Tactical Fighter Squadron and squadrons of the 81st Fighter Wing under various designations until 1993. For many years, the 81st Fighter Wing also operated from nearby RAF Bentwaters, with Bentwaters and Woodbridge being known as the "Twin Bases". The RAF station closed in August 1993.{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/suffolk/dont_miss/codename/skyfields_of_suffolk2.shtml|title=The skyfields of Suffolk|publisher=BBC|date=29 August 2002|access-date=7 December 2019}}
= Reactivation =
In 2001, the Ministry of Defence announced that £100 million would be invested in the Woodbridge site in order to accommodate British Army personnel. Due to budgetary constraints and commitments to Operation Telic (the UK's contribution to the Iraq War), the start of work at Woodbridge was delayed until January 2004.{{Cite news|url=http://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/new-life-for-suffolk-raf-base-1-135436|title=New life for Suffolk RAF base|date=10 October 2003|work=Ipswich Star|access-date=16 October 2018|language=en}}
On 1 September 2006, the former Woodbridge site was split up and the two parts renamed as Woodbridge Airfield and Rock Barracks.{{cite web|url=https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/gallery-thousands-enjoy-rock-barracks-open-day-1-1013333|title=Gallery: Thousands enjoy Rock Barracks open day|publisher=East Anglian Daily Times|date=5 September 2011|access-date=7 December 2019}}
= Airfield =
Woodbridge Airfield is used by Army Air Corps helicopters for training exercises. During August 2016, the airfield was used for testing the Airbus A400M Atlas.{{Cite news|url=https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/a400m-austere-runway-trials/|title=A400M in austere runway trials|last=Allison|first=George|date=25 August 2016|work=UK Defence Journal|access-date=16 October 2018|language=en-GB}}
=Cancelled closure=
In November 2016, the Ministry of Defence announced that MOD Woodbridge would close by 2027.{{cite web|url=http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/rock_barracks_at_woodbridge_home_to_23_parachute_engineer_regiment_set_to_close_1_4766161|title=Rock Barracks at Woodbridge, home to 23 Parachute Engineer Regiment, set to close|last=Geater|first=Paul|date=7 November 2016|website=East Anglian Daily Times|access-date=16 October 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/565858/20161107_MOD_Better_Defence_Estate_FINAL.pdf|title=A Better Defence Estate|date=November 2016|website=GOV.UK|publisher=Ministry of Defence|access-date=16 October 2018}} However, in February 2019, following detailed assessment work, the Ministry of Defence concluded the retention of MOD Woodbridge supports the military requirement of the Army, and its closure was cancelled.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-47399898|title=Defence bases marked for closure will now be kept open|publisher=BBC News|date=28 February 2019|accessdate=16 January 2021}}
Based units
The following units are based at Rock Barracks.{{Cite web|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/news-and-events/news/2018/07/airborne-engineer-squadron-returns-to-the-ranks/|title=Airborne engineer squadron returns to the ranks|date=16 July 2018|website=British Army|language=en-GB|access-date=16 October 2018}}
- 23 Parachute Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers
- 12 Parachute Headquarters and Support Squadron
- 9 Parachute Squadron
- 51 Parachute Squadron
- 28 Engineer Regiment (C-CBRN), Royal Engineers{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/corps-of-royal-engineers/28-engineer-regiment/|title=28 Engineer Regiment|accessdate=15 April 2021}}
- Regimental Headquarters (moving from RAF Honington, by 2024)
- 42 Field Squadron (C-CBRN)
- 77 Field Squadron (C-CBRN)