Biggest news of the war so far.

[Pongo]

Amazing the blinders some people have on.
the Iraqi military in 91 had been hammered for 6 weeks by the most increadble air campaign in history.
To think they would be as frail now without any bombardment at all is absolute lunacy.
But that is what the US stratagy required.
How do you dehydrate units that stradle the largest rivers in that area of the world?

You cant starve those units without starving the people of Bagdad first.

The Iraqi boys that were 6-12 years old in 1991 have had 12 years of reason to hate the US and be indoctrinated to want to risk it all to strike back at the country they felt was starving them.
Now they are 18 to 24. And their are 100s of thousands of them.
CNN is showing them that it is possible to blow up Amtracks. Shoot down Apaches, ambush logistical vehicles.

scary.

[Dune]

Originally posted by Vermillion
I don't keep up on Army force structure, so excuse my stupidity.  I was always more of an Air Force guy.

I read somewhere that the US army has approximately 10 full sized divisions now since the cutbacks during the Clinton Administration.

How many heavy armored divisions do we still keep active? I noticed that the 1st Armored Division is listed, so what other ones do we still have.

And do our mechanized infantry units (ie like the 3rd ID) contain the same basic force structure of the early 90's, or have they beefed them up with more pure armor, or scaled back the armor contingent?

For a full listing all the entire US Army's OOB: http://www.globalsecurity.org/milit...ency/index.html

For a more direct answer to your question:

There are only 10 divisions; 1st Cav, 1st AD, 1st Inf (Mech), 2nd Inf, 3rd Inf (Mech), 4th Inf(Mech), 10th Inf (Light), 25th Inf, 82nd AB, 101st AA.  There are, of course, other units such as the 2nd and 3rd Armored Cav Rgts.

The 1st AD is the only active US armored division, although there is one in the USANG, the 49th AD.

A mechanized infantry division's main force is its three manuever brigades.  Two of the brigades contain 2 inf battalions and 1 armor battalion.  The heavy brigade is 2 armor battalions and 1 inf. bat.  Each battalion has around 55 M1's or M2's, depending on what it is.

3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized) "Rock of the Marne"  ~ 18,000 troops
1st BDE, 3rd Infantry Div   58 M1's 116 M2's
     2nd BN, 7th Infantry Rgt
     3rd BN, 7th Infantry Rgt
     3rd BN, 69th Armor Rgt
     C Troop, 1st Cav Rgt
2nd BDE, 3rd Infantry Div 116 M1's 58 M2's
     3rd BN, 15th Infantry Rgt
     1st BN, 64th Armor Rgt
     4th BN, 64th Armor Rgt
     E Trp, 9th Cavalry Rgt    
3rd BDE, 3rd Infantry Div 58 M1's 116 M2's
     1st BN, 30th Infantry Rgt
     1st BN, 15th Infantry Rgt
     2nd BN, 69th Armor Rgt
     D Troop, 10th Cavalry Rgt

An armored division is set up with 2 brigades consisting of 2 armor bat's and 1 inf bat and 1 brigade with 2 inf bat's and 1 armor bat.  Basically the opposite of the mech inf div.

[Raubvogel]

It's time for me to sit back and let time prove me right.

I think I have a bit better knowledge of the US Army's workings and capabilities than the average internet general.

[Dune]

Right about what though?

That the US/Allies has much better equipment?  No argument at all.

That the US/Allies is much better trained in how to use it?  Same

That the US/Allies is much better led?  Same again.

That the US/Allies will win this war through air superiority, better mobility, better logistics, greater firepower, better troops, better CO's, etc.  Once again, no argument.

However, I do have an argument.  And it's this:

In the 1st Gulf War, we (and our allies) deployed almost 600,000 troops.  We have around 250,000 this time.  In the 1st GW we deployed 2 armored divisions, 2 airborne divisions, 2 mech inf divisions, 1 cavalry divsion, 2 armored cav regiments, 3 aviation brigades, 1 UK armored divsion, 2 Marine divisions and a French lt armored div.  Now we have, in the field; 1 mech inf div, 1 Marine div., 1 UK armored div, 1 airborne div, 1 aviation brigade, 1 airborne brigade and small parts of 3 other divisions.  

We are trying to go farther and leaving longer lines of communication.  We should have waited.  Not for inspections, but for more troops to arrive.

Even if we utilize the northern airfields, we are still talking about a division and a half of airborne troops (101st AA and 175th AB).  No armor.  Light arty.  The Marines have already found out what happens when you use AAPV's for tanks.  RPG's go through the front.  

I'll say it again.  The 1st MEF/1st AD (UK) and 3rd ID should be passing other units through for the final push on Baghdad.  That would allow them to pacify their rear areas.  Instead they are being stretched out and run ragged.  They have been either on the move or in combat for almost 6 days.  They will start to make more mistakes because of fatigue and equipment will begin to fail.  Especially in this weather.  And now is when they will be facing the best the enemy has.  As good as us?  Nope.

Will we win?  Yes.  Without a doubt.  Our troops and equipment is just too good.  But, will it cost more than it should?  Yes.