Author Topic: Military structure question (Read 811 times)

SMIDSY · « **on:** August 23, 2005, 05:09:25 AM »

just wondering about how it works. like X squads to a platoon, x platoons to a company. x companies to a battalion, x battalions to a regiment, x regiments to a brigade, x brigades to a division, x divisions to a corps, x corps to an army.
so could someone fill in the Xs?

PS
would be cool if someone told me the same of other militaries like britain or holland.

Mukiwa · « **Reply #1 on:** August 23, 2005, 05:31:02 AM »

Works in 3's

3 sections = platoon
3 platoons = company (plus say mortars, anti tank, Hmg's etc)
3 company = battallion (has some add ons)
3 battalions = brigade
3 brigades = division
3 divisions = corp
3 corps = army

However since WW2 the effectiveness of the Wermacht "Kampfgruppe" (battlegroup) ie an ad hoc mixture of units brought together for a specific task has proved to be popular in the West - I think the Soviets idea remains closer to set piece units - something that worked for them well in WW2 though has not been as successful when practiced by their client states post WW2 - ie Syria, Egypt, Cuba.

UK, USA, Israel and South Africa all have used "Battle Groups" in recent conflicts with success.

Perhaps some ex-Russian military members of the BBS could explain how Soviet and Russian Orbat works and if it has changed since the break up of the USSR?

Siaf__csf · « **Reply #2 on:** August 23, 2005, 06:12:22 AM »

That would be a first one. By definition, nothing soviet / russian works.

FalconSix · « **Reply #3 on:** August 23, 2005, 08:23:12 AM »

Hmm, I thought a brigade was an autonomus self supplied formation, and not part of a division or regiment structure.

BUG_EAF322 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 23, 2005, 08:35:21 AM »

All depend on what unit u are

When i was at the NCO school a company was 4 platoons big.

We where pure foot infantry.
a tank platoon has 4 tanks also call it 4 grps.

when i was with the anti air artillery a platoon was
3x gepard (dutch version)
1x ypr cmndr
3x Laro with stinger(laro is landrover)

being a nco on the gepard u where in the exceptional position in the army where the nco could make his own firing orders.

101ABN · « **Reply #5 on:** August 23, 2005, 08:40:27 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Mukiwa
Works in 3's

3 sections = platoon
3 platoons = company (plus say mortars, anti tank, Hmg's etc)
3 company = battallion (has some add ons)
3 battalions = brigade
3 brigades = division
3 divisions = corp
3 corps = army

since the new restructure in the army its just a bit different than mentioned above..

3-4 squads= platoon
3-4 platoons = company
4 companies = battalion (3 line units and 1 support unit HHC)
4 battalions = brigade (brigade combat team)
4 brigades = division (plus support battalions ie. AVN, ADA, DIVARTY)

Monk · « **Reply #6 on:** August 23, 2005, 10:39:21 AM »

Of course in a "real" Cav unit, there are Troops, Squadrons and Regiments. Regiments report directly to the Corps. You also have Companys and Batterys which are part of Squadrons.

Then of course there is Divisional Cav...........(I guess, if need be).

Well, it was once like that. Now you have Light Cav, which use to be Full Cav, who no longer have Company's because they no longer have tanks. This leads to the question - Do they have Batteries?

ASTAC · « **Reply #7 on:** August 23, 2005, 11:05:27 AM »

Navy:

We'll use Destroyers

X divisions = Department

5 Departments = Ship

3-5 Ships = Destroyer Squadron

1 DeSron + 2 cruisers + 2 subs + 1 tender + one CV= Battlegroup

x battlegroups = Fleet

4 Fleets = Navy

Sandman · « **Reply #8 on:** August 23, 2005, 01:22:29 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by ASTAC
Navy:

We'll use Destroyers

X divisions = Department

5 Departments = Ship

3-5 Ships = Destroyer Squadron

1 DeSron + 2 cruisers + 2 subs + 1 tender + one CV= Battlegroup

x battlegroups = Fleet

4 Fleets = Navy

Hmmm... I wasn't in a DESRON. I was in a CRUDESGRU.

ASTAC · « **Reply #9 on:** August 23, 2005, 03:23:28 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Sandman
Hmmm... I wasn't in a DESRON. I was in a CRUDESGRU.

Yeah usually the 2 cruisers plus the DeSron will make up a CRUDESGRU..left that out.

Mukiwa · « **Reply #10 on:** August 23, 2005, 03:29:33 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Siaf__csf
That would be a first one. By definition, nothing soviet / russian works.

Well they took on the best that the Wermacht had to offer for four years and kicked their arse - and everyone spent forty years working out how to defend Fulda - think they looked at going tactical nuke after 14 days - only way to stop them.

Beating 5th rate armies made up of poorly equipped conscripts is not indicative of milatry prowess.

LLv34_Snefens · « **Reply #11 on:** August 23, 2005, 03:44:43 PM »

I don't know if you wanted present or WWII, but for the latter you can get a good description for most countries in WWII.

http://www.orbat.com/site/ww2/drleo/

Click "index".

Gunslinger · « **Reply #12 on:** August 23, 2005, 06:00:17 PM »

Alot of Marine company's work the same way. You have
3 rifle platoons
1 weapons platoon (mortors MGs ect)

Then you have 3 companys + Hq Company = battallian
3 regular battalians plus support battalian (motor T food services ect) = regiment and so on.

Siaf__csf · « **Reply #13 on:** August 23, 2005, 06:05:31 PM »

Quote

Well they took on the best that the Wermacht had to offer for four years and kicked their arse

Well actually the way I see it they defended and counter attacked with inhuman amount of casualties and with total disrespect of human life.

The system worked very very poorly, they only had two advantages - winter and millions of men to slaughter.

Gunslinger · « **Reply #14 on:** August 23, 2005, 10:16:49 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Siaf__csf
Well actually the way I see it they defended and counter attacked with inhuman amount of casualties and with total disrespect of human life.

The system worked very very poorly, they only had two advantages - winter and millions of men to slaughter.

yea having your own Machine Guns pointed at your back has a way of motivating you that no officer can.