The fourteen British Overseas Territories (BOT) are territories under the jurisdiction and sovereignty of the United Kingdom. They are those parts of the former British Empire that have not chosen independence or have voted to remain British territories. While each has its own internal leadership, they share the British monarch (Elizabeth II) as head of state and come under the command if the Royal Navy/military for protection..
Current overseas territories
The 14 British Overseas Territories are:
Akrotiri and Dhekelia bases - Mediterranean (Cyprus)
Anguilla - Caribbean and North Atlantic Ocean
Bermuda - North Atlantic Ocean
British Antarctic Territory - Antarctica
British Indian Ocean Territory,Diego Garcia (base) - Indian Ocean
British Virgin Islands - Caribbean and North Atlantic Ocean
Cayman Islands - Caribbean and North Atlantic Ocean
Falkland Islands - South Atlantic Ocean
Gibraltar - Iberian Peninsula (Continental Europe)
Montserrat - Caribbean and North Atlantic Ocean
Pitcairn Islands - Pacific Ocean
Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha - South Atlantic Ocean
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands - South Atlantic Ocean
Turks and Caicos Islands - Lucayan Archipelago and North Atlantic Ocean
UK also has military presence in 4 other countries:
Brunei - Mechanized infantry battalion and a helicopter link; 900 personnel
Germany - Rhine garrison, (British Forces Germany) - 21,500 personnel as of 2012
Kenya - The British Peace Support Team (BPST) and British Army Training Unit Kenya – (BATUK). It has 56 permanent staff and a rotating staff of 110 personnel
Sierra Leone - International Mine Action Training Centre (IMATC) located on the southern edge of Sierra Leone’s capital Freetown.
Taking a look at British Antarctic territory.............
HMS Protector paid a visit to BOT base in Antarctica, where Britain has 2 permanent research stations.
Royal Navy Signy Research Station and panorama,South Orkney Islands.
The territory is inhabited by the staff of research and support stations operated and maintained by the British Antartic Survey and other organisations. The territory is inhabited by the staff of research and support stations operated and maintained by the British Antartic Survey and other organisations.
The crew of the Royal Navy ship HMS Protector has celebrated Christmas early on the ice of Antarctica.
Since 1996, the historic base at Port Lockroy on Goudier Island has been staffed by the UK Antartic Heritage Trust during the Antarctic summer. Receiving about 10,000 visitors a year, it is one of the most visited sites on the continent. Visitors can tour the museum, buy souvenirs, post mail, and view the large Gentoo Penguin colony
Royal Navy ice patrol ship HMS Endurance hosted Princess Anne on British Antarctic Territory pictured above.
HMS Protector's ship's company have taken to the ice in Antarctica dressed as Father Christmas in support of the ship's affiliated charity.
