Recently reading the headlines about Band of Brothers coming from HBO tho Netflix and it got me thinking:
– how does the US military divide up it’s soldiers? (Eg regiment vs troop vs platoon vs squadron)
– are there different rules for each branch of the military?
– I’ve only ever heard of the 101st airborne division but not other ones… Was there a 100th division? 99th division, etc? Why is the 101st so famous?
In: 642
On the structure, the US followed a 3×3 system when structuring their army units.
3 Rifle Squads in a Platoon. Each Squad had about 10 – 15 men and was commanded by a senior NCO (Staff or First Sergeant).
3 Rifle Platoons + 1 Heavy Weapons Platoon in a Company. Each Platoon had about 40 – 50 men and was commanded by a 1st or 2nd Lieutenant. The Heavy Weapons Platoon included the men manning mortars, heavy machine guns and anti-armour.
3 Rifle Companies + 1 Heavy Weapons Company in a Battalion. Each Company numbering around 200 men and was commanded by a Captain or Major. Each Company had its own HQ.
3 Battalions in a Regiment. Each Battalion numbering around 800 men and was commanded by a Major or Lieutenant-Colonel. Each Battalion had its own HQ and communications section.
3 Regiments in a Division. Each Regiment numbering around 3000 men and commanded by a Lieutenant-Colonel or Colonel. Each Regiment had its own HQ. Logistic, medical, service (food, veterinary, vehicle) intelligence and transport sections also tended to be at the Regimental level.
2-3 Divisions in an Army Corps. Each Division numbering around 15000 men when all support services are included. Each Division commanded by a Major General (2 Star). Each Division had its own HQ and at this level additional support units such as tank divisions, heavy artillery, anti-air and engineering were assigned as needed.
2-3 Army Corps in a Field Army. Each Army Corps numbering around 45000 men. Each Army Corps commanded by a Lieutenant General (3 Star).
2 or more Field Armies made up a Theatre of Operations. Each Field Army numbering in excess of 90000 men. Each Field Army was commanded by a 4 Star General.
The Theatre of Operations was overseen by a 4 or 5 Star General. At this level you are dealing directly with the president, the Chiefs of Staff and their equals in the other Allied nations. A Theatre would number hundreds of thousands of men.
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