The rifles will just be general infantry, the equipment and role will depend on the mission. For instance the Paras and Royal Marines have served in Afghanistan, they will be replaced by elements of 12 Mech Brigade. The infantry battallions will be from the grenadier guards, the Anglian regiment, the worcestershire and sherwood foresters (they dont just operate in forests, its just the quirky British names!). The infantry battallions, although from a mech brigade will probably spend more time patrolling on foot through villages or using lighter vehicles, rather than taking the full compliment of Warrior AFV's. The brigade is made up of armoured, medium and light roled troops. The infantry units are supported by the Cahllengers of the Hussars and the light reconnaissance vehicles of the Dragoons.
Remember that the British army has been involved in Ulster for decades where troops from a variety of roles have been deployed on foot patrol, an artillery regiment may leave its guns behind an carry out a tour as infantry in a policing role. Flexibility is the key. The re roling of units is what is being changed now. For instance , a light infantry unit in the UK could find itself reroled to a mechanised brigade using Warriors and posted to Germany, in ten years the unit might have a different role. The decision has now been taken that the re roling uses up large amounts of training and work up time. Now big regiments are the name of the game, stable and more ready to deploy.
Scouting in British army would be done by recce or patrol plattoons within the individual infantry battallions or by the attached recce troops using scimitar and other vehicles. The Paras have a pathfinder platoon, the Marines have a patrol company.
