The Army has almost 400 more senior officers on its payroll than it had in 2004, despite the fact that its frontline "bayonet strength" is 3800 soldiers short of full strength.

There are 60 generals, 180 brigadiers - the equivalent of more than 22 for each of the UK's eight deployable brigades - 580 colonels and 1750 lieutenant-colonels for a force numbering just over 80,500 trained soldiers.

The total of senior ranks is 2570, compared with 2200 four years ago. There are 4710 majors, 4690 captains and 1710 lieutenants and second-lieutenants. The "chiefs to Indians" ratio is one officer for every six soldiers, one of the highest of any army in the world.

A brigade's strength can vary according to its assigned task, but normally contains about 3500 soldiers split into two or three infantry battalions, a squadron of tanks, artillery, engineers and support units. It is commanded by a brigadier.

A division is a grouping of three brigades and is led by a major general.

The Ministry of Defence denied that an apparently top-heavy top brass was a waste of scarce military resources at a time when the defence budget is being squeezed by deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"There are no officers sitting at home collecting their pay on gardening leave at public expense. Many senior ranks are employed in key tri-service posts, on attachment to technical projects in their areas of expertise or training foreign armies," a spokesman said.

"While the bare numbers might seem excessive, it's far from the truth. We have experienced a shortage at captain's rank which is only now balancing itself out.

"Higher ranks play vital roles in planning, intelligence and staff work. Not everyone is needed on the front line."