Military Themed RPs or Nation RPs

[Gunther]

So you're going to role play a nation that contains an army or RP a force on force between two different military forces of unknown sizes. How do you create an army? How do they fight? How are they organized? Why do they organize and fight the way they do? These are all questions you may ask yourself during the creation of your army. I spent 21 years in the US Army on both Active Duty and in my state's Army National Guard. I retired almost ten years ago as a Captain in the Infantry. I have served as both a Rifle Platoon Leader and a Company Commander. If you want to know how to organize and fight a rifle squad check out the link in my signature titled, Small Unit Tactics.


Command Relationships

A Commander is defined as someone appointed as a leader in charge of two to five subordinate units who has the sole responsibility for every person in his command and everything that his command either does or fails to do.

Subordinate Command is a lower echelon command that works with the Commander in order to accomplish his goals following the commander’s single unified vision. The Subordinate commander only answers to his immediate Supervisor/Commander.

Theater is the region of the world where military operations are taking place. Depending on the size of the operation typically a General (O-10) will be theater Commander. If more than five armies exist in theater, Congress may deem it necessary to promote a General to General of the Army (O-11), the highest ranking soldier in the Army. If a Theater commander receives the promotion to General of the Army, then so does the Army Chief of Staff and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (echelons above reality).

One person can only be in command of two to five subordinate units. If only one subordinate unit exists, then no higher commander is required, the subordinate commander is in command. If six subordinate units are available then two commanders will be needed creating two newly formed subordinate commands to an even higher single unified command. Experience has shown that one person can safely and efficiently control and monitor the activities of no greater than five subordinate units. Therefore the numbers 2-5 are used in determining Command Relationships.

This model can also be applied to the civilian world in managerial relationships. If a company has several departments within their organization, two to five departments which work along similar lines can be grouped under one overseeing manager and so forth. A Regional manager may be placed in charge of two to five Retail outlets. If he is given responsibility for a sixth outlet, the work becomes overwhelming and his attention is distracted thereby providing substandard performance.

Let’s get back to the military Command relationships.

The US Army model of echelons (levels) exists as such:

Fire Team = 4 men with a Sergeant (E-5) leading. It could be 2-5 men.

Squad = A Light Infantry squad has 9 men with a Staff Sergeant (E-6) leading and two Fire Teams. The squad leader could in theory control as many as five fire teams if needed, but maintaining two keeps it simple. The Squad is the lowest maneuver element. You do not want to overcomplicate things at this level.

Platoon = A Light Infantry Platoon has 34 men with a Lieutenant (O-1/O-2)) leading, PLT HQs section, 2 Machine gun teams and three Rifle Squads. The Platoon leader could control 2-5 squads but is typically organized with three for administrative purposes. On occasion, the Company Commander may task organize a platoon so that one platoon has four squads while another has two just for the completion of a specific operation. Once the mission is complete, the platoons would revert back to the administrative organization.

Company = A Light Infantry Company has 129 men with a Captain (O-3) commanding, Co HQs section, Anti-Armor section, mortar section and three Rifle Platoons. Again the Company Commander could control 2-5 Platoons. During Combined Arms Operations he could possibly receive a platoon of combat engineers and a platoon of armor to conduct a specific operation. A mechanized Infantry Company has a different number of soldiers available.

Battalion = A Light Infantry Battalion has 505 men with a Lieutenant Colonel (O-5) commanding, Headquarters and Headquarters Company and two to five maneuver Companies. The Battalion Commander may find himself with an additional Infantry company from another battalion and an armor Company to support a current operation thereby giving him control of five companies. A mechanized Infantry Battalion has a different number of soldiers available.

Brigade is a subordinate command that technically only has a Brigade Headquarters and Headquarters Company of 70-100 men. There is a Colonel who commands a Brigade. The Brigade Commander is given 2-5 maneuver battalions to command by his Division Commander.

Division = 10,000 – 15,000 men depending upon the type of organization the division represents. The Division typically has three maneuver brigades (subordinate Commands) which control the 9-10 maneuver battalions assigned to it by the Department of the Army. A Division Commander is a Major General (O-8)

Corps = 2-5 Divisions as assigned by the Theater Commander. A Corps will also contain a Corps Artillery asset which is of Brigade strength. A Corps can number as few as 20,000 soldiers or as many as 75,000. A Corps Commander is typically a Lieutenant General (O-9). This is definitely “echelons above reality”.

Army = 2-5 Corps will be assigned to an Army by the Department of the Army or Army Chief of Staff. An Army will have additional assets including an Artillery asset and many other Combat Service Support Assets. A General will command an Army (O-10). You will find anywhere from 40,000 to 375,000 troops in an Army.

Army Group = 2-5 Armies or 80,000 to nearly 2 million soldiers. Typically the Army Group is not used unless there is a major campaign going on. If a theater command has greater than five armies available to them, the Army Group will be used as an intermediate command between Army and Theater. The Army Group Commander is also a General (O-10) but due to command relationship he outranks his subordinate commanders at Army level.




Notes on British and former Commonwealth Armies
German Army During World War II
Cavalry/Scouts contributed by Hotshot

[Foster]

*Does not agree with counter-Ambush strategy unless enemy is of ridiculously poor aim because they've let corrosive-primed com-block ammo ruin their chambers*

And even then you're taking a gamble.

The one you have seems to be some compromise between sitting down in the nearest gully as they pin your force down into a barrel-shoot/sniper-duel, and the Rhodesian-counterambush in their hot-pants with an FN-FAL tucked between their legs so they have their hands free to stab them with a kukri.

As for 73 Easting, the up-armored T-55s on the berm-line gave better resaults
*T-55M-77

[Gunther]

Technology Defines Tactics

Pre-19th Century Organizations
19th Century Organizations
Early 20th Century Organizations
Late 20th Century Organization
21st Century Organization
Fire and Maneuver



How nations organize their armies and how those armies fight are defined by technology innovative thinking and lessons learned from experience. This essay intends to illuminate the evolution of military organizations throughout history.

From the time of the Roman Legions through the late 18th Century armies were organized into Corps-sized formations. The three primary corps are the Infantry, the Cavalry and the Artillery corps. In ancient days, the "Artillery" corps may have been more accurately referred to as the "Siege" Corps as crude siege weapons were employed for high impact ranged weapons.

The Infantry Cavalry corps may have been organized into subordinate echelons. The Roman legion, a subordinate command of the Roman Infantry Corps was further organized into six Cohorts. A cohort is similar in size to what we would call a Battalion or Regiment today. The cohort was divided into ten centuries; which is where the term Centurion is derived. A Roman Century was composed of 70-100 soldiers depending on which author you read and which time period of Roman History you read. Various authors have defined the organizational structure differently.

Genghis Khan organized his army into 10-man "squads"; 10 squads into 10 "companies"; and 10 companies into 10 "regiments". Genghis Khan also conducted After Actions Reviews (AAR) of all military actions. This was a "lessons learned" review for the leader and his subordinate commanders. All advanced armies in the world today conduct an AAR at every level from squad to echelons above reality.

18th Century British Infantry Regiments began life with ~1000 men. The regiment was organized into 10 Companies; similar to Genghis Khan and the Roman Legions. Each Company was composed of 10 Squads and there were 10 men in each squad. The Regiment had 8 Companies of the Line or Line Companies. These were the units that met the enemy hand to hand and attempted to kill them. The other companies where a Grenadier Company and a Light Company.

The Grenadier Company was composed of large men who were 70" or taller. They were armed with a crude grenade which was lobbed en masse at the enemy. The Grenadier Company was considered an elite unit in that due to the member's size, they often intimidated their opponents. Later, when the "grenade" went out of style, the units retained their Grenadier status. In some cases, the Grenadier companies were joined together from various regiments and called Grenadier Battalions or Grenadier Regiments.

The Light Company was composed of small men who were 70" or shorter. These men were agile on their feet and could run fast and far. Due to their agility and size, the Light company was often used for picket duty; a means of informing the unit that the enemy was about to attack. Light Companies could be used for long range reconnaissance missions as well. Similar to the Grenadiers, the Light Companies were pooled from various regiments to form Light Battalions or Light Regiments. Eventually Line Regiments removed the Light and Grenadier companies completely and used an 8 Company formation of 800 soldiers.

[Gunther]

As regiments incurred losses in the 19th Century and earlier Armies did not replace them. Therefore, if a unit initially mustered in with 800 soldiers it would be quite possible for them to muster out with two or three hundred or less. Most of the losses would have obviously come from death, but a percentage would also be due to loss of limbs or serious illnesses and prisoners of war and desertions.

Napoleon Bonaparte was the first military thinker to introduce a new revolutionary formation, what I will call a Combined Arms Corps. Napoleon's Corps is essentially an Independent Command that integrates Infantry, Cavalry and Artillery units under one subordinate command. Napoleon used this new formation at the outset of his campaigns in 1797. Eventually his opponents learned how he operated and utilized these lessons learned for their own uses.

Here is an example of a French Corps at Waterloo:

I Corps (Field Marshal Jean Baptiste d'Erlon) 19,800 soldiers & 46 artillery pieces
1st Division (Baron Quiot) 4200 soldiers in 8 Bns & 8 artillery pieces
1st Brigade (Quiot) 2110 soldiers in 4 Bns
1st & 2nd Bn, 54th Line Infantry (960)
1st & 2nd Bn, 55th Line Infantry (1150)
2nd Brigade (Bourgeois) 1880 soldiers in 4 Bns
1st & 2nd Bn, 28th Line Infantry (900)
1st & 2nd Bn, 105th Line Infantry (980)
Artillery (Brigade) (Hamelin)
20th Battery, 6th Foot Artillery (Hamelin) 85 soldiers, 6x6 pdrs & 2x6" howitzers
5th Company, 1st Train Squadron (Paleprat) 99 soldiers

2nd Division (Francois Donzelot) 5300 soldiers in 9 Bns & 8 artillery pieces
1st Brigade (Schmitz) 2915 soldiers in 5 Bns.
1st, 2nd & 3rd Bns, 3th Light Infantry (1875)
1st & 2nd Bns, 17th Line Infantry (1050)
2nd Brigade (Aulard) 2200 in 4 Bns
1st & 2nd Bns, 19th Line Infantry (1030)
1st & 2nd Bns, 51st Line Infantry (1170)
Artillery (Brigade) (Cantin) 185 soldiers & 8 artillery pieces
10th Battery, 6th foot Artillery (Cantin) 90 soldiers, 6x6 pdrs & 2x6" howitzers
9th Company, 1st Train Squadron (Vaillant) 95 soldiers

3rd Division (Marcognet) 4100 soldiers in 8 Bns & 8 artillery pieces
1st Brigade (Nogues) 1930 soldiers in 4 Bns
1st & 2nd Bns, 21st Line Infantry (1040)
1st & 2nd Bns, 46th Line Infantry (890)
2nd Brigade (Grenier) 1975 in 4 Bns
1st & 2nd Bns, 25th Line Infantry (975)
1st & 2nd Bns, 45th Line Infantry (1,000)
Artillery (Brigade) (Emon) 180 soldiers & 8 Artillery pieces
19th battery, 6th Foot Artillery (Emon) 85 soldiers, 6x6 pdrs & 2x6" Howitzers
2nd Company, 1st Train Squadron (Cosqueterre) 95 soldiers

4th Division (Durutte) 4,000 in 8 Bns & 8 Artillery pieces
1st Brigade (Pegot) 2135 soldiers in 4 Bns
1st & 2nd Bns, 8th Line Infantry (985)
1st & 2nd Bns, 29th Line Infantry (1150)
2nd Brigade (Brue) 1730 soldiers in 4 Bns
1st & 2nd Bns, 85th Line Infantry (630)
1st & 2nd Bns, 95th Line Infantry (1100)
Artillery (Brigade) (Bourgeois) 180 & 8 artillery pieces
9th Battery, 6th Foot Artillery (Bourgeois) 90 soldiers, 6x6 pdrs & 2x6" howitzers
3rd Company, 1st Train Squadron (Drulin) 90 soldiers

1st Cavalry Division (Jacquinot) 1700 in 11 Squadrons & 6 artillery pieces
1st Brigade (Bruno) 910 in 6 Sqdns
7th Hussars (495) *There are 3 Squadrons in a Regiment
3rd Chasseurs (415)
2nd Brigade (Gobrecht) 800 in 6 Sqdns
3rd Lancers (460)
4th Lancers (340)
Artillery (Brigade) (Bourgeois) 160 soldiers & 6 artillery pieces
2nd Battery, 1st Horse Artillery (Charlet) 75 soldiers, 4x6 pdrs & 2x6" Howitzers
4th Company, 1st Train Squadron (Daux) 85 soldiers

Artillery Reserve (Dessalles) 200 soldiers & 8 Artillery pieces (Corps Asset)
11th Battery, 6th Foot Artillery (Charlet) 90 soldiers, 6x 12 pdrs & 2x6" howitzers
6th Company, 1st Train Squadron (Didier) 110 soldiers

Engineers (Garbe) 355 soldiers (Corps Asset)
2nd Company, 1st Engineers (350)

The above organization utilizing Combined Arms Corps or Independent Corps Commands was used all throughout the 19th Century; including The Spanish American War. There are minor changes that occur throughout the century.

[Gunther]

World War I witnesses a change in the organization as the Machine gun enters its infancy. Infantry Regiments receive Machinegun Battalions and companies. Entire companies devoted to nothing but Machine guns. By the end of WWI, each Battalion has a Machine gun Company. A standard Infantry Regiment would look like this:

Regimental Headquarters Company
1st Battalion Headquarters Company
A Company (Line)
B Company (Line)
C Company (Line)
D Company (Machine gun)
2nd Battalion Headquarters Company
E Company (Line)
F Company (Line)
G Company (Line)
H Company (MG)
3rd Battalion Headquarters Company
I Company (Line)
K Company (Line)
L Company (Line)
M Company (MG)

With the introduction of the Machine gun company to the Infantry Battalion, the High Impact Ranged weapon we used to see as a distinct corps 200 years prior is now at the Battalion Level.

WWI also saw the introduction of the Tank and the Airplane. To counter both of these the Anti-Tank weapon (AT) and the Anti-Aircraft weapon (AA) were created. The years between the two world wars introduced the Anti-Aircraft Battalions which were included at the Division level and Anti-Tank platoons which were included at the Battalion Level. Scouts and Recon units were also added to the Infantry Battalion. Previously the job of scouting the enemy was performed by Infantrymen. They still are today, but there are also units specifically designed for this purpose.

By 1940, a US Infantry Battalion now consisted of the following:

Battalion Headquarters Company
3x Line Company (A-C for 1st Bn, E-G for 2nd Bn & I-L for 3rd Bn.)
1x Weapons Company

The weapons Company had the Intelligence & Reconnaissance Platoon (I&R) which conducted reconnaissance in front of the Battalion. They may also perform surveillance missions. The Mortar Platoon; generally used the 81mm mortar at Battalion level and 4.2" at Regimental level. and the AT Platoon. The AT platoon was equipped with 57mm AT guns initially and were eventually replaced with the improved 75mm AT gun as enemy Armor improved.

The combined Arms integration of Machine guns, Anti-Tank guns, Mortars and Infantry is now down to the Battalion level. In fact, a standard Line Company now has a weapons Platoon consisting of a section of 60mm Mortars and six .30 caliber MGs. Eventually, company would replace their 60mm Mortars with 81mm and Battalion would replace their 81mm mortars with 4.2" mortars.

The Rifle Squad in World War II consisted of 10 men just as it did in Genghis Khan's Army centuries earlier. Everyone carried the M1 Garand Rifle except the BAR gunner; he carried the Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR). The BAR was no machinegun as it had a limited magazine capacity, but it was full automatic and used a High velocity round. This the beginning of placing the High Impact Ranged weapon at Squad level. The Assistant Squad Leader in a Rifle Squad in WWII also had a grenade projector. He carried the M1903A1 Bolt Action rifle and using a blank round with the grenade projector could send a hand grenade flying about 200 yards.

During WWII, German units formed Kampfgruppen or Battle Groups. These battle groups were a Combined Arms unit at the Brigade level (sub-Divisional). General they were composed of a 2 battalions of Panzergrenadieren (Mechanized Infantry), a battalion of Panzers (Armor) a Company of Pioneers (Combat Engineers) and a Battalion of Field Artillery. Just as the British, Prussians and Austrians learned from Napoleon 140 years earlier, the Americans, British and Russians learned from the Germans. During the rest of WWII and the Korean War they established combined Arms Teams and Task Forces, but didn't make it permanent until the late 1950's.

[Gunther]

In 1959, the US Army disposed of their Regimental system of organizing their army resulting from experiences of WWII, Korean War and training experiences of the 1950's. The Combined Arms system went deeper into the organization in this year. Instead of having Pure branched Regiments of Infantry, Armor and Field Artillery, they were broken up into Battalions. Every Battalion would consist of the following:

Battalion Headquarters Company
4x Line Companies
1x Weapons Company

To further the implementation of the Combined Arms integration, Divisions used Brigades for Subordinate Command instead of Regiments. An Armor Division consisted of 5 Armor Battalions, 5 Mechanized Infantry Battalions, A Division Artillery Brigade (DIVARTY), Division Support Command (DISCOM) and eventually the Division Aviation Brigade. A Mechanized Infantry Division consisted of 4 Armor Battalions, 6 Mech Infantry Battalions, DIVARTY, DISCOM and AVN BDE. This organization existed until 2005. I retired before the final change occurred.

During the Vietnam War, the rifle squad was composed of 11 soldiers; the squad leader and two fire teams. The fire team was composed of a team leader, Automatic Rifleman (He fired his rifle on full auto), Grenadier (M79 GL) and 2x Rifleman. The Machine guns in the Company Weapons Platoons were then parceled out to Infantry Platoon level. A Rifle Platoon during Vietnam consisted of 3x 11-man squads, the Platoon headquarters (3 men) and 2 Machine gun teams of 6 men.

The 1970's witnessed the invention of the M203 Grenade Launcher which is attached to the bottom of the rifle. This simple invention reduced the size of a rifle squad from 11 men to 9 men. The M203 removed the Grenadier (M79) and 1 Rifleman. The introduction of the M47 Dragon Wire Guided AT Missile replaced the older AT guns. By this time the Army had been using 90mm Recoilless Rifles for AT purpose. The M47 was introduced to the Platoon and the Recoilless Rifles went away.

A 1980's Rifle Platoon consisted of

Platoon HQs (PL, PSG & Radio/Telephone Operator - RTO)
3x 9-man Rifle Squads
1x Weapons Squad

The Weapons Squad consisted of the Squad leader, 2 machine gun teams (6 soldiers) and 2 Dragon gunners (M47).

Light Infantry units changed again in the 1990's and removed all the Dragons to an AT Section at Company level and reduced the MG teams to 2 men instead of 3. The 81mm Mortar Platoon left company level and a Light Weight Company Mortar (LWCM) section consisting of 6 men and 2x 60mm mortars took their place.

To understand the current organization, one must compare it to the previous one. Prior to the 2005 change, there were three maneuver Brigades, Divarty, Discom and the Aviation Brigade. Since a Mech Infantry Division had 4 Armor and 6 mech Infantry battalions, those were organized however the Division Commander wanted to organize them.

A Peace time organization could have looked like this:

4th Infantry Division (Mechanized)
1st Brigade
1st Bn, 8th IN (M)
2nd Bn, 8th IN (M)
1st Bn, 69th AR
2nd Bn, 69th AR
2nd Brigade
3rd Bn, 8th IN (M)
1st Bn, 12th IN (M)
3rd Bn, 69th AR
3rd Brigade
3rd Bn, 12th IN (M)
1st Bn, 22nd IN (M)
1st Bn, 70th AR
DISCOM
4th Engineer Battalion
4th Medical Battalion
1st Battalion 161st Air Defense Artillery (ADA)
124th Signal Battalion
1st Battalion 20th Transportation
704th Maintenance Battalion
412th Maintenance Battalion
4th AG Company
4th Finance Company
4th MP Company
704th MI Battalion
4th ID Band
DIVARTY
2nd Bn, 9th FA (DS) M109 155mm SP
6th Bn, 29th FA (DS) M109 155mm SP
4th Bn, 77th FA (DS) M109 155mm SP
5th Bn, 16th FA (GS) 8" SP
AVN BDE
1st Squadron 10th Cavalry (Armored)
4th Aviation Battalion

When a Maneuver Brigade goes to the field or wartime, slice elements from DISCOM and DIVARTY are generally attached to the Brigade. So in this case, the 1st Brigade goes to the field with its 4 maneuver Battalions plus a Fire Support Team from the 2nd Bn, 9th Field Artillery; it's Direct Support Artillery Battalion. The FA Bn Commander becomes the Fire Support Coordinator for the Brigade. One of the companies from the 704th Maint Battalion will go to the field with the Administrative and Logistics Operations Center (ALOC) of the 1st Brigade. A slice element from 4th Engineers, 4th Medical Battalion, 1st Battalion 161st Air Defense Artillery (ADA), 124th Signal Battalion, 1st Battalion 20th Transportation and the 704th MI Battalion all go with the 1st Brigade to the field. The DISCOM which is a brigade level echelon is purely a peacetime administrative organization. During Field Training Exercises and wartime, they dissolve.

[Gunther]

In 2005, The Army reorganized again and put all those slice elements right with the Brigades they support in the field. So, the 704th Maintenance Battalion with its 3 Maintenance Companies went away. In its place is the 704th Forward Support Battalion consisting of A Company (Transportation Company), B Company (Maintenance Company and C Company (Medical Company). The FSB would then be permanently assigned to the Brigade it supports. The same thing was done to all the Combat support and Combat Service Support assets. Even the Field Artillery Battalions were absorbed into the maneuver Brigades. The big change is there are now only 2 maneuver Battalions per Brigade and there are four Brigades. At first glance it may look like a Division has gotten larger because they have four maneuver Brigades, but in reality they have gotten smaller. Previously there were 10 maneuver Battalions, now there are only 8.



In the diagram above you can see that the DISCOM and DIVARTY have completely dissolved into the maneuver brigades; they no longer exist. The Combined Arms Corps that Napoleon Bonaparte started 200 years ago has been more and more refined.

[Gunther]

The preceding portion of this essay covers how organization evolved based on advances in technology. The coupled together, they had a significant impact on tactics as well.

The Basic Tactic is called "Fire and Maneuver". The Korean Symbol of Balance; the Ying and the Yang are the Fire (Ying) and Maneuver (Yang) or the hammer and the anvil. In the early 19th Century, European Armies, bombarded the opposing Forces (OPFOR) with massive concentrated Artillery fire. Behind the Artillery came the charging Cavalry. Both the Artillery and the Cavalry sought to create gaps in the enemy lines. The Infantry needed to follow the Cavalry close behind in order to exploit those gaps. If they could put forces on the enemy flanks increasing the volume of fire placed on the enemy, it would cause them to either run away or die in place (DIP).

As technology and organizations change so does the application of this simple technique of "Fire and Maneuver". Originally, it was entire Divisions or Corps doing the maneuver. By the mid 19th Century, it was Battalions and Regiments doing the Fire and Maneuver. One battalion stands and fires at the enemy while another Battalion advances. The first Battalion creates a Base of Fire Element (Fire) while the sister Battalion attempts to find advantageous ground. When it does, then the two swap roles and the 2nd Battalion lays down a base of fire while the original battalion moves forward.

Once machine guns were introduced and integrated at the Company and Platoon level, then the Fire and Maneuver technique was applied to squads and Platoons. During WWII, a machine gun section reinforced by a rifle squad could lay down a base of fire while the remaining two squads of a platoon maneuvered around to the side of an enemy; thereby gaining the advantage.

When Fire teams were created in the 1960's, the application of fire and maneuver then fell upon the squad itself. A team lays down a base of fire while B Team moves to the advantageous ground.

In 1805 it was a French Field Marschal making key battle field decisions and on the modern battlefield, it is the Staff Sergeant and Lieutenant making the key battlefield decisions. This is the evolution of organization and tactics as defined by the changes in technology.

[YankeeSamurai]

Nice guide, very factual and informative. I love reading about military history and tactics, I learned a lot from this thread and from several of your other guides too. Do you know of any roleplays that utilize the content covered in your military guides?

[Gunther]

The Australian suggested I post a model of some other nation besides the US. Obviously, I am most familiar with the US Army, but I can research other nation's militaries. So, I did some research on the British Army and have come up with a Command Relationships for the British Army. This model would fit any former Commonwealth nation as well. If you are doing a Nation Roleplay, you will want to use fictional names anyway. Maybe he wanted me to do a model of the Australian Army? Man, I must have missed that one. Doh!



Command Relationships in the British Army:

Section - Each section is commanded by a corporal (Section Leader), with a lance corporal (Assistant Section Leader) as second-in-command and six privates divided into two four-man fireteams. Each team carries one Light machine gun, one underbarrel grenade launcher and three assault rifles. A British Army Infantry Section is equivalent to a US Army Infantry Squad

Platoon/Troop - a rifle platoon from an infantry company consists of three infantry sections of eight men, plus a signaller (radio operator), a platoon sergeant, the platoon commander (either a second lieutenant or lieutenant) and a mortar man operating a light mortar (full strength of 28 men). An armoured or mechanized "platoon" is known as a "Troop". This is the equivalent of an American Platoon. A British Troop may be commanded by a Captain.

Company/Squadron - A British Squadron is lead by a Major and consists of three or four platoons/troops and a Headquarters section containing the Squadron Commander, Executive Officer (Captain), Squadron Sergeant Major (Warrant Officer Class 2), Quartermaster Sergeant (Colour Sergeant), 2x Signalers and other support troops.

In the British Army and many other Commonwealth armies, a squadron is the counterpart of an infantry company or artillery battery. A squadron is a sub-unit of a battalion-sized formation (usually a regiment), and is usually made up of two or more troops. The designation is also used for company-sized units in the Special Air Service, Special Reconnaissance Regiment, Honourable Artillery Company, Royal Engineers, Royal Corps of Signals, Royal Army Medical Corps, Royal Marine Commandos and Royal Logistic Corps, and formerly in the now defunct Royal Corps of Transport. Squadrons are commonly designated using letters or numbers (e.g. No. 1 Squadron or A Squadron). In some British Army units it is a tradition for squadrons to also be named after an important historical battle in which the regiment has taken part. In some special cases, squadrons can also be named after a unique honour which has been bestowed on the unit.

Regiment/Battalion - The Regimental designation of a unit bears the unit's lineage and honours. All Military units are steeped in history. Often times, the Regimental designation is determined by a location in the country. The Regiment/Battalion is commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel with a Major as the Battalion Executive Officer and Warrant Officer Class 1 as the Regimental Sergeant Major.


The Battalion designation for the Regiment is spoken as its number. If you read 1 Scots, that should be read, "One Scots", not "First Scots". The Parachute Regiment consists of three Battalions. The first battalion is referred to as "One Para", which is the United Kingdom's Parachute Training Battalion. "Two Para and Three Para" are both operational Parachute Battalions in the 16 Air Assault Brigade - "One Six Air Assault Brigade". The Battalion is commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel.

Group - This organization is lead by a Colonel and may be found between a Brigade and a Regiment/Battalion level of organization.

Brigade - This organization is lead by a Brigadier and contains a Recce Regiment/Battalion, Armour Battalion, two Mech Infantry Battalions, a Light Infantry Battalion, a Field Artillery Battalion (Royal Artillery) and two Engineer Battalions. Light Brigades consist exclusively of Light Infantry formations.

Divisions are commanded by a Major General and contain 2-5 Maneuver Brigades

Corps are commanded by a Lieutenant General and contain 2-5 Divisions. Although there are currently no designated Corps in the British Army, the Field Army at Wilton is a Corps sized formation and lead by Lieutenant General Adrian John Bradshaw, CB, OBE (54 years old)

Army are commanded by a General and may contain 2-5 Corps. There are currently no designated Armies in the British Army, although Commander of British Land Forces holds the (4-star) rank of General in the British Army, the highest possible rank in the British Army. The rank of Field Marshal is retained as an honourary title and may be resurrected if the United Kingdom deployed its forces in a major world wide conflict involving five or more Armies.


Notes on the British Army

The British Army consists of The Field Army, which is a Corps Sized Combat Arms element, Personnel & Support command and Force Development and Training Command. The Field Army consists of the 1 Armoured Division, 3 Mechanized Infantry Division, 16 Air Assault Brigade which falls under the Joint Helicopter Command and Theatre Troops. The Joint Helicopter Command consists of the 16 AA BDE, three Independent aviation Battalions and one signal battalion. Force Development & Training Command consists of six Training Battalions.

There are also Territorial Army units (Reserve Units) I did not cover for this model. For this model, I wrote in parenthesis, the American equivalent to make it easier to translate units. Many of the Maneuver battalions in this model consist a Headquarters Squadron, four maneuver squadrons and a maneuver support squadron. The Maneuver Support Squadron is equivalent to a US Weapons company consisting of Company Headquarters (Squadron HQs), a Scout Platoon (Recce Troop), Mortar Platoon (troop) and an Anti-Tank Platoon (AT Troop).

The 1 Armoured Division, located at Herford, Germany consists of three Maneuver Brigades and Divisional Assets.

1AD (UK) Division Assets:
1 Div HQs & Signals Regiment (Bn Strength)
1 Rgt. Army Air Corps (Aviation Bn)
12 Rgt. Royal Artillery (FA Bn)
28 Engineer Regiment (Bn Strength)
1 Rgt. Royal Military Police (Bn Strength)
1 Logistics Support Regiment (Bn Strength)
2 Logistics Support Regiment (Bn Strength)

Subordinate Commands:

4 Mechanized Brigade (Catterick)
204 Signal squadron (Company strength)
Queen's Royal Lancers Regiment (Armoured Cavalry Squadron)

16 Lancer Squadron (Company Strength)

17 Lancer Squadron (Company Strength)

21 Lancer Squadron (Company Strength)

5 Lancer Squadron (Company Strength)

Royal Dragoons Guard Regiment (Armour Battalion)

Headquarters Squadron - "The Prince of Wales' Squadron" (Company Strength)

A Squadron - "The Blue Horse" From the 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards (Company Strength)

B Squadron - "The Black Horse" From the 7th Dragoon Guards (Princess Royal's) (Company Strength)

C Squadron - "The Black Dragoons" From The Inniskillings(6th Dragoons) (Company Strength)

D Squadron - "The Green Horse" From The 5th Dragoon Guards (Princess Charlotte of Wales's) (Company Strength)

1 Battalion, Scotts Guards Regiment (Mech Infantry Battalion)

F Company (Detached to London for public duties)

1 Battalion, Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (Mech Infantry Battalion)
1 Battalion, Mercian Regiment (Light Infantry Battalion)
4 Regiment Royal Artillery (FA Battalion)
21 Engineer Regiment (Battalion strength)
1 Royal E&M Engineers (Battalion Strength)

7 Armour Brigade (Hohne)
207 Signals Squadron (Company strength)
9/12 Royal Lancers (Armoured Cavalry Squadron)
Royal Scots Dragoons Guards Regt. (Armour Battalion)

No. 1 Squadron

4x Troops (Platoon size) with three MBTs/ Troop + 2 MBTs at HQs. = 14 MBTs

No. 2 Squadron

No. 3 Squadron

No. 4 Squadron

4 Battalion, The Highlanders Regiment (Mech Infantry Battalion)
3 Battalion, Mercian Regiment (Mech Infantry Battalion)
2 Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (Light Infantry Battalion)
3 Royal Horse Artillery (FA BN)
32 Engineer Regiment (Battalion Strength)
2 Royal E&M Engineers (Battalion Strength)


20 Armour Brigade (Sennelager)
200th Signal Squadron (Company Strength)
Queen's Dragoon Guards Regiment (Armoured Cavalry Squadron)
Queen's Royal Hussars (Armour Battalion) 58 MBTs/Regiment

No. 1 Squadron

4x Troops (Platoon size) with three MBTs/ Troop + 2 MBTs at HQs. = 14 MBTs

No. 2 Squadron

No. 3 Squadron

No. 4 Squadron

1 Battalion, Princess of Wales Regiment (Mech Infantry Battalion)
5 Battalion, The Rifles Regiment (Mech Infantry Battalion)
1 Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment (Light Infantry Battalion)
26 Regiment Royal Artillery (FA Battalion)
35 Engineer Regiment (Battalion Strength)
3 Royal E&M Engineers (Battalion Strength)




The 3 Mechanized Division, located at Bulford consists of four Maneuver Brigades and Divisional Assets.

3MD (UK) Division Assets:
3 Div HQs & Signals Regiment (Bn Strength)
5 Rgt. Army Air Corps (Aviation Bn)
47 Rgt. Royal Artillery (FA Bn)
36 Engineer Regiment (Bn Strength)
3 Rgt. Royal Military Police (Bn Strength)
3 Medical Regiment (Bn Strength)
3 Logistics Support Regiment (Bn Strength)
4 Logistics Support Regiment (Bn Strength)
12 Logistics Support Regiment (Bn Strength)


Subordinate Commands:

1 Mechanized Brigade (Tidworth)
215 Signal Squadron (Company Strength)
Household Cavalry Regiment (Armoured Cavalry Squadron)

four Squadrons with four troops/squadron and 14 vehicles/troop.

2 Royal Tank Regiment (Armour Battalion)
2 Battalion, The Royal Welsh Regiment (Mech Infantry Battalion)
4 Battalion, The Rifles Regiment (Mech Infantry Battalion)
Coldstream Guards Regiment (Light Infantry Battalion)

*Alternating role performing public duties at London and Windsor, Buckingham Palace.

1 Royal Horse Artillery (FA BN)
22 Engineer Regiment (Battalion Strength)
6 Royal E&M Engineers (Battalion Strength)


12 Mechanized Brigade (Bulford)
228 Signal Squadron (Company Strength)
The Light Dragoons Regiment (Armoured Cavalry Squadron)

four Squadrons with four troops/squadron and 14 vehicles/troop.

The King's Royal Hussars Regiment (Armour Battalion)
3 Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment (Mech Infantry Battalion)
1 Battalion, Royal Anglian Regiment (Mech Infantry Battalion)
2 Battalion, Princess of Wales Regiment (Light Infantry Battalion)
19 Royal Artillery (FA BN)
26 Engineer Regiment (Battalion Strength)
4 Royal E&M Engineers (Battalion Strength)


19 Light Brigade (Catterick)
209 Signal Squadron (Company Strength)
Welsh Guards (Light Infantry Battalion)

*Alternating role performing public duties at London and Windsor, Buckingham Palace.

2 Battalion, The Rifles Regiment (Light Infantry Battalion)
2 Battalion, Mercian Regiment (Light Infantry Battalion)
2 Battalion, Royal Ghurka Rifles Regiment (Light Infantry Battalion)
1 Battalion, The Royal Welsh Regiment (Light Infantry Battalion)
40 Royal Artillery (FA BN)
38 Engineer Regiment (Battalion Strength)
19 Royal E&M Engineers (Battalion Strength)


52nd Light Brigade (Edinburgh)
258 Signal Squadron (Company Strength)
Welsh Guards (Light Infantry Battalion)

*Alternating role performing public duties at London and Windsor, Buckingham Palace.

1 Battalion, Royal Scots Borderers Regiment (Light Infantry Battalion)
2 Battalion, Royal Highland Fusiliers Regiment (Light Infantry Battalion)
3 Battalion, Black Watch Regiment (Light Infantry Battalion)
2 Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment (Light Infantry Battalion)
3 Battalion, The Rifles Regiment (Light Infantry Battalion)



6MD (UK) Division
The 6 Mech Division is located at York and has no organic units assigned to it. This Division is used during high tempo periods to offer as a Distant Divisional Headquarters asset deployed to a combat theatre. When the United Kingdom has combat units assigned to a combat theatre, like Afghanistan, the 6 Mech Division becomes the higher level command element representing the UK, in country. Units, which administratively are assigned to the 1 Armoured Division, JHC and the 3 Mech Division or Territorial Army units are temporarily assigned to the 6th Mech Division while they are serving in the combat theatre of operations. Once their tour of duty is complete, they return to their administrative organizations.



Joint Helicopter Command
This is considered a Division level Command which contains Division Assets and the 16th Air Assault Brigade. The JHC is located at Wilton.

JHC Division Assets:
2 Regiment Army Air Corps (Training) (Battalion Strength)
6 Regiment Army Air Corps (Battalion Strength)
7 Regiment Army Air Corps (Training) (Battalion Strength)
21 Signal Regiment (air) (Battalion Strength)



16 Air Assault Brigade (Colchester)
216 Parachute Signal Squadron (Company Strength)
1 Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment (Air Assault Infantry Battalion)
2 Battalion, Parachute Regiment (Airborne Infantry Battalion)
3 Battalion, Parachute Regiment (Airborne Infantry Battalion)
5 Battalion, Argyll & Southerland Highlanders Regiment (Air Assault Infantry Battalion)
7 Regiment (Parachute) Royal Horse Artillery (FA BN)
3 Regiment Army Air Corps (Battalion Strength)
4 Regiment Army Air Corps (Battalion Strength)
9 Regiment Army Air Corps (Battalion Strength)
23 Air Assault Engineer Regiment (Battalion Strength)
7 Royal Air Assault E&M Engineers (Battalion Strength)
13 Air Assault Support Regiment (Battalion Strength)
16 Medical Regiment (Battalion Strength)
156 Provost Company, Royal Military Police
Pathfinder Platoon (Parachute)


Theatre troops is a Division Level asset located in London that contains primarily combat service support troops. It is organized into three Logistic Brigades, three Signal Brigades, one Artillery Brigade, a Military Intelligence Brigade, a medical Brigade and a very large Engineer Brigade.

16 Royal Artillery Regiment (FA Bn) C-RAM


101 Logistic Brigade (Aldershot)
261 Signal Squadron (Company Strength)
9 Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) (Battalion Strength
10 Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) (Battalion Strength
27 Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) (Battalion Strength
104 Royal E&M Engineers (Battalion Strength)
4 Rgt. Royal Military Police (Bn Strength)
4 Medical Regiment (Bn Strength)
101 Mil. Work Dog Squadron (Company Strength)


102 Logistic Brigade (Gütersloh)
262 Signal Squadron (Company Strength)
6 Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) (Battalion Strength)
7 Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) (Battalion Strength)
8 Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) (Battalion Strength)
101 Royal E&M Engineers (Battalion Strength)
5 Rgt. Royal Military Police (Bn Strength)
5 Medical Regiment (Bn Strength)
102 Mil. Work Dog Squadron (Company Strength)
103 Mil. Work Dog Squadron (Company Strength)
105 Mil. Work Dog Squadron (Company Strength)


104 Logistic Brigade (Grantham)
262 Signal Squadron (Company Strength)
11 EOD Regiment, RLC (Battalion Strength)
17 Port & Maritime Regiment (Battalion Strength)
23 Pioneer Regiment, RLC (Battalion Strength)
24 Regiment, RLC (Postal & Courier) (Battalion Strength)
29 Regiment, RLC (Air Despatch) (Battalion Strength)
162 Movement Control Regiment (Battalion Strength)
166 Support Regiment (Battalion Srength)
168 Pioneer Regiment (Bn Strength)
104 Mil. Work Dog Squadron (Company Strength)


1 Signal Brigade (Gloucester)
7 Signal Regiment
16 Signal Regiment


2 (NC) Signal Brigade (Corsham)
10 Signal Regiment (Bn Strength)
32 Signal Regiment (Bn Strength)
37 Signal Regiment (Bn Strength)
38 Signal Regiment (Bn Strength)
39 Signal Regiment (Bn Strength)
71 Signal Regiment (Bn Strength)
2 Signal Squadron (Co. Strength)
Specialist Group, Royal Signals (Bn Strength)

81 Signal Squadron (Co. Strength)

Land Information Assurance Group (Bn Strength)


11th Signal Brigade (Donnington)
2 Signal Regiment (Bn Strength)
14 Signal Regiment (EW) (Bn Strength)
30 Signal Regiment (Bn Strength)



1 Artillery Brigade
5 Regiment, Royal Artillery (Surveillance & Target Acquisition Bn)

4/73 (Sphinx) Special Operations Post Battery (S&TA Battery)

32 Regiment, Royal Artillery (S&TA BN) UAVs
39 Regiment, Royal Artillery (FA Bn) GMLRS


1st Military Intelligence Brigade
1 MI Regiment (Bn Strength)
2 MI Regiment (Bn Strength)
3 MI Regiment (Bn Strength)
4 MI Regiment (Bn Strength)
5 MI Regiment (Bn Strength)
15 Psyops Regiment (Bn Strength)



2 Medical Brigade
22 Field Hospital (Co. Strength)
34 Field Hospital (Co. Strength)
202 (Midlands) Field Hospital (Volunteers) (Co. Strength)
203 (Welsh) Field Hospital (Volunteers) (Co. Strength)
204 (North Irish) Field Hospital (Volunteers) (Co. Strength)
205 (Scottish) Field Hospital (Volunteers) (Co. Strength)
207 (Manchester) Field Hospital (Volunteers) (Co. Strength)
212 (Yorkshire) Field Hospital (Volunteers) (Co. Strength)
243 (Wessex) Field Hospital (Volunteers) (Co. Strength)
256 (City of London) Field Hospital (Co. Strength)



The 8 Force Engineer Brigade is an oversized Brigade containing three Engineer Regiments of actual regimental sized. The Brigade performs Air Support, EOD, Infrastructure Support, Water, Electrical, Fuel and Railway & Ports Operations.


12 (Air Support) Engineer Group
25 Engineer Regiment (Bn Strength)
39 Engineer Regiment (Bn Strength)
71 Engineer Regiment (Bn Strength)
73 Engineer Regiment (Bn Strength)
529 Specialist Team, Royal Engineers (Co. Strength)


29 (Emergency Ordnance Disposal) Engineer Group
33 Engineer Regiment (Bn Strength)
101 Engineer Regiment (Bn Strength)


170 (Infrastructure Support) Engineer Group
62 Works Group (Water) (Bn Strength)
63 Works Group (Electrical) (Bn Strength)
64 Works Group (Fuel) (Bn Strength)
65 Works Group (Railway & Ports) (Bn Strength)
66 Works Group (Air Support) (Bn Strength)


The Force Development & Training Command is located at Wilton and contains the following units:

1 Battalion, Royal Tank Regiment (Armour Bn)

HQ, A, D, G, & H Squadrons

2 Battalion, Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (Mech Infantry Bn)
14 Regiment Royal Artillery (FA Bn) (Training)
11 Signal Regiment (Bn Strength) (The Royal School of Signals)
5 Training Regiment, RLC (Bn Strength)
25 Training Regiment, RLC (Bn Strength)