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"US Light Armored Division Company lettering." Topic


15 Posts

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252 hits since 6 Nov 2009
©1994-2009 Bill Armintrout
Comments or corrections?

Hauptmann606 Nov 2009 7:32 p.m. PST

How were the armored and infantry companies lettered in the light armored divisions(NOT the 2nd and 3rd division)

Also, how were the battalions numbered?

Personal logo aecurtis Supporting Member of TMP Fezian06 Nov 2009 7:44 p.m. PST

There wasn't a "numbering system" for battalions within a division. Numbered battalions (based on lineage) would be assigned to a division. You'd need to check the composition of the division you wish to model, such as 5th AD:

link

Within a tank or armored infantry battalion, the companies were lettered HQ, A, B, C, D (only in a tank battalion), and Service.

Allen

Personal logo John the OFM Supporting Member of TMP06 Nov 2009 7:46 p.m. PST

"Light" armored divisions?
Enlighten the ignorant, please.

Personal logo aecurtis Supporting Member of TMP Fezian06 Nov 2009 8:01 p.m. PST

I'm as lazy as you are. I ain't typing, but you'll have to read, all the same:

link

Allen

Hauptmann606 Nov 2009 8:02 p.m. PST

John, the difference is the number of Battalions of Armor vs Number of Infantry.

In a Light Armor(all but the 2nd/3rd) Division there were 3 each of Armored Infantry and Armored battalions.

In the 2nd and 3rd divisions there were 2 armored regiments with a total of 6 armored battalions and 1 Armored infantry regiment with a total of 3 Battalions.

Hauptmann606 Nov 2009 8:09 p.m. PST

Thanks Allen, that's what I was thinking, but with my luck. lol

Personal logo John the OFM Supporting Member of TMP06 Nov 2009 8:14 p.m. PST

Ah, thank you.
I am now enlightened.

Hauptmann606 Nov 2009 8:16 p.m. PST

And knowing is half the battle.

Marc3359407 Nov 2009 4:46 a.m. PST

The differences in the two types goes a bit beyond merely counting battlions. From a quick glance it would appear that the heavy divisions had twice as many tanks as the lights, not so. As Allen's link points out total for the two was 390 for heavy and 260 for light.

A heavy division had 2 regiments each made up of 2 Medium and 1 light battlion. This meant 4 medium and 2 light battalions for the division and 12 medium companies and 6 light.

The light division indeed had 3 battalions but each battlion had 3 medium and 1 light company making for 9 medium and 3 light companies. So while a heavy had twice as many light tanks (of dubious value) only 1/3 more mediums.

There were also differences with the organization of the armored infantry with the light division's armored infantry battalions having as part of the permanent organization recce elements and self propelled artillery/assault gun support (M8 Scotts) while in the heavy division such assets had to be assigned from divisional assets. I believe as assets were made available both the 2nd and 3rd Division permanently augmented their infantry formations.

donlowry07 Nov 2009 11:24 a.m. PST

I've always wondered about the 1st AD (which fought in Italy). Did it follow the heavy organization, or the light?

Personal logo aecurtis Supporting Member of TMP Fezian07 Nov 2009 12:26 p.m. PST

Scroll down one page, to page 11, on the Google Books link I posted.

And watch your mailbox!

Allen

Hauptmann607 Nov 2009 2:25 p.m. PST

Don, all but the 2nd and 3rd were light divisions. The first started as a heavy but reorganized in 44.

majed438507 Nov 2009 6:54 p.m. PST

Here is the list of all the US armored divisions that were organized. The web page is from the US Center for Military History.

link

The 2nd and 3rd have their regiments listed, all the others show their TO&E after re-organization to battalions and Combat Commands.

In the "lettering" of the companies each separate battalion had A, B, C, D, HQ, etc.

Ed

McWong73 Supporting Member of TMP08 Nov 2009 3:19 p.m. PST

I'm not sure the US used the term "Light" to desribe their armoured divisions, rather that the 2nd and 3rd were called "Heavy".

Hauptmann608 Nov 2009 10:31 p.m. PST

It was an easy identifier… I've seen it done both ways.

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