How many people are in a company battalion of a division? How many people are in a company: how the number of military units is formed
In this case, the company is not part of the battalion, but acts as a separate and autonomous formation. In some branches of the military, the term “company” is not used, but is replaced by similar military formations. For example, cavalry is equipped with squadrons of one hundred people each, artillery with batteries, border troops with outposts, and aviation with units. Battalion The size of this military formation depends on the type of troops. Often the number of military personnel in this case ranges from 250 to a thousand soldiers. There are battalions of up to one hundred soldiers. Such a formation is equipped with 2-4 companies or platoons, operating independently. Due to their significant numbers, battalions are used as the main tactical formations. It is commanded by an officer of at least the rank of lieutenant colonel. The commander is also called “battalion commander”.
How many people are in a company, battalion, platoon, etc.
The front is already a self-sufficient structure with reserves, warehouses, training units, military schools, and so on. The front commander commands the front. This is a lieutenant general or army general. As part of the reorganization of the armed forces in 2010, the number of administrative districts was reduced to 4 (there were 6 military districts, 4 military fleets).
When creating new structures, the US unified combat commands were taken as a model. New operational-strategic command units were formed on the basis of territorial combined arms formations. In 2014, to organize the defense of Arctic areas, the creation of a northern group began from three districts.
The effectiveness of the introduced innovative combat command and control system of the General Staff should be ensured by Russian military districts formed according to a new principle.
Structure of the armed forces
The number of personnel in the regiment ranges from 900 to 2000 people. Brigade. Just like a regiment, it is the main tactical formation. Actually, the brigade occupies an intermediate position between a regiment and a division.
The structure of a brigade is most often the same as a regiment, but there are significantly more battalions and other units in a brigade. So in a motorized rifle brigade there are one and a half to two times more motorized rifle and tank battalions than in a regiment. A brigade can also consist of two regiments, plus battalions and auxiliary companies.
On average, a brigade has from 2 to 8 thousand people. The commander of a brigade, as well as a regiment, is a colonel. Division. The main operational-tactical formation. Just like a regiment, it is named after the predominant branch of troops in it.
However, the predominance of one or another type of troops is much less than in the regiment.
Company, division, battalion: strength
Each division is divided, as a rule, into three batteries, which, in turn, consist of three to four platoons. Number and structure of the division As mentioned above, three or four regiments form an artillery division. The number of personnel in such a unit reaches six thousand people.
As a rule, the command of a division is entrusted to a soldier with the rank of major general, but there have been cases when these units were commanded by colonels and even lieutenant colonels. Two divisions form the largest unit in the artillery - the corps. The number of military personnel in artillery corps can reach 12,000 people.
Such a unit is often commanded by a lieutenant general.
Military ranks of the Russian Federation
Division, unit, formation,...What is it?) In literature, military documents, in the media of propaganda, in conversations, in official documents devoted to military issues, the terms are constantly encountered - formation, regiment, unit, military unit, company, battalion, army, etc. For military people, everything here is clear, simple and unambiguous. They immediately understand what we are talking about, what number of soldiers these names hide, what this or that formation can do on the battlefield.
For civilians, all these names mean little. Very often they are confused about these terms. Moreover, if in civilian structures a “department” often means a large part of a company or plant, then in the army a “department” is the smallest formation of several people.
The number of military units in the Russian Federation
Very often, in feature films and literary works on military topics, terms such as company, battalion, and regiment are used. The number of formations is not indicated by the author. Military people, of course, are aware of this issue, as well as many others related to the army. This article is addressed to those who are far from the army, but still want to navigate the military hierarchy and know what a squad, company, battalion, division is. The number, structure and tasks of these formations are described in the article. The smallest formation A division, or department, is the minimum unit in the hierarchy of the Armed Forces of the Soviet and later Russian army. This formation is homogeneous in its composition, that is, it consists of either infantrymen, cavalrymen, etc. When performing combat missions, the unit acts as a single unit.
Hierarchy of military formations
Smaller Units A platoon consists of several sections, and its personnel size varies from 9 to 50 people. As a rule, the platoon commander is a soldier with the rank of lieutenant. The smallest permanent unit in the army is the squad.
The number of military personnel in it ranges from three to sixteen people. In most cases, a soldier with the rank of sergeant or senior sergeant is appointed as the squad commander. The number of artillery regiments The time has come to take a closer look at what an artillery regiment is, the number of personnel of this unit and some other parameters.
An artillery regiment is a structural unit of such troops as artillery. As a rule, it is included as an integral part of an artillery division, consisting of three or four units.
Most of the soldiers are in the companies of construction battalions. There their number reaches 250 people. In motorized rifle units it varies from 60 to 101 servicemen. There are slightly fewer personnel in the airborne forces. The number of army personnel here does not exceed 80 people.
But the fewest soldiers are in tank companies. There are only 31 to 41 military personnel there. In general, depending on the type of troops and the specific state, the number of military personnel in a company can vary from 18 to 280 people. In addition, in some branches of the military there is no such unit as a company, but at the same time there are analogues.
Attention
For cavalry it is a squadron, which includes about a hundred people, for artillery it is a battery, for border troops it is an outpost, for aviation it is a unit. The company consists of command personnel and several platoons. Also, a company may include special squads that are not part of platoons.
However, the attentive reader can now imagine the naval and aviation hierarchy quite simply and with minor errors. As far as the author knows: in aviation - a unit, a squadron, a regiment, a division, a corps, an air army. In the fleet - ship (crew), division, brigade, division, flotilla, fleet.
However, this is all inaccurate; aviation and naval experts will correct me. Literature. 1.Combat Regulations of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of the USSR (Division - Brigade - Regiment). Military publishing house of the USSR Ministry of Defense. Moscow. 19852. Regulations on military service by officers of the Soviet Army and Navy. Order of the USSR Ministry of Defense No. 200-67.3. Directory of an officer of the Soviet Army and Navy. Moscow. Military publishing house 19704. A reference book for officers of the Soviet Army and Navy on legislation. Moscow. Military publishing house 19765.
This will be my first blog post. It’s not a full-fledged article in terms of the number of words and information, but it’s a very important note, which can be read in one breath and has almost more benefits than many of my articles. So, what is a squad, platoon, company and other concepts known to us from books and films? And how many people do they contain? What is a platoon, company, battalion, etc. Contents
- 1 What is a platoon, company, battalion, etc.
- 2 How many people do they include?
- 3 What other similar tactical terms exist?
- 4 Summary
- Branch
- Platoon
- Battalion
- Brigade
- Division
- Frame
- Army
- Front (district)
These are all tactical units in the branches and types of troops of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
Armed Forces (AF) of the state- defensive and military organizations supplied by the government and used in the interests of the state. In some countries the structure Sun paramilitary organizations are included.
Types of aircraft
BoCs are usually divided into different types; these are usually the army (ground forces), aviation (air force) and navy (navy/navy). A number of countries organize part of their Armed Forces as separate corps - the Marine Corps (USA), etc. The Coast Guard may also be part of the Armed Forces (although in many countries it is classified as a police force, or is a civilian agency). The French structure, copied by many countries, includes three traditional branches, and, as a fourth, the Gendarmerie.
The term consolidated forces is often used, meaning military units made up of two or more branches of the Armed Forces.
Organizational hierarchy of the Armed Forces
The minimum unit of the aircraft is a unit. The unit usually operates as a single unit, and is homogeneous in composition (for example, only infantry, only cavalry, etc.). In turn, divisions can be divided into smaller units.
In the Soviet and Russian armies, the main unit is a battalion, or company. They represent tactical level .
Larger units of the Russian Armed Forces are called, depending on their size, units, formations and associations (English formations). Examples of formations are brigades, divisions, wings, etc. They form strategic level , in a number of countries, for example, in Russia, it stands out operational level , the main operational unit was the division.
In different states (and even in different types of armed forces of the same state), the same unit name can be used with different meanings, for example, squadron. It may be used in the navy to designate a formation of several ships; can be used in aviation as the name of a unit (squadron); in a number of armies, including the American and Red Army - the name of the cavalry unit corresponding to the battalion; in British Commonwealth armies, a squadron often denotes a tank company.
Command (English command) are units, units and formations that together form a single whole and are under the command of one officer. This is usually a high-level organizational unit responsible directly to the government or national general staff. In a number of countries, commands are united by type of armed forces, for example, the Command of the Ground Forces.
In the Russian Army, the term “command” roughly corresponds to the term “union”.
Hierarchy of modern armies
Symbol | Army unit name (divisions; connections) | Number of soldiers | Number of subordinate units | Command of an army unit (divisions; connections) |
---|---|---|---|---|
XXXXXXX | region or theater of war | 300 000 + | 2+ fronts | marshal or commander-in-chief |
XXXXXX | front, district | 200 000 + | 2+ army groups | army general, marshal |
XXXXX | army group | 100 000 + | 2+ armies | army general, marshal |
XXXX | army | 50 000 - 60 000+ | 2+ buildings | general, colonel general |
XXX | frame | 30 000 - 50 000 | 2-4 divisions | lieutenant general |
XX | division | 10 000 - 20 000 | 2-4 brigades | major general |
X | brigade | 3000-5000 | 2+ regiments | colonel, major general |
III | regiment | 2000-3000 | 2-3 battalions | lieutenant colonel, colonel |
II | battalion, division | 300-1000 | 2-6 mouth | major, lieutenant colonel |
I | company, battery, squadron | 70-250 | 2-8 platoons | senior lieutenant or captain |
platoon, detachment | 25-60 | 3-4 compartments | junior lieutenant, lieutenant or senior lieutenant | |
? | squad, crew, crew | 8-16 | 2 groups, links | junior sergeant, sergeant, senior sergeant |
? | unit, group, team | 4-8 | 0 | corporal, junior sergeant |
Steps in this ladder can be skipped: for example, in NATO forces there is usually a battalion-brigade organization (in Russia such an organization is also used, it is an alternative to the battalion-regiment-division division). At the same time, units of higher levels can only exist in large armed forces.
An army, an army group, a region and a theater of military operations are the largest formations, which can differ greatly from each other in size and composition. At the division level, support forces are usually added (field artillery, medical service, logistics service, etc.), which may not be present at the regiment and battalion level. In the USA, a regiment with support units is called a regimental combat team, in England and other countries - a combat group.
In some countries, traditional names may be used, creating confusion. Thus, British and Canadian tank battalions are divided into squadrons (companies, English companies) and troops, English. troops (corresponding to platoons, English platoons), while in the American cavalry a squadron corresponds not to a company, but to a battalion, and is divided into troops (troops, corresponding to companies) and platoons.
The fronts of the Red Army during World War II corresponded, according to this classification, to army groups.
Add-ons
- The names of the listed units may vary depending on the type of troops. For example:
b). In missile forces, artillery, and air defense forces, a squad may be called a crew. Functionally corresponds to a crew that serves one gun or combat vehicle; V). In missile and artillery and air defense forces, a company is called a battery, and a battalion is called a division; G). In the cavalry, a battalion was called a squadron. Currently, in the armies of Anglo-Saxon countries (Britain, USA) there are so-called. armored cavalry troops, in which this name is retained; d). In cavalry, a company was called a half-squadron. Currently, in the armies of Anglo-Saxon countries (Britain, USA) there are so-called. armored cavalry troops, in which such a name or "corpse" is retained; e). Other names also exist in Russian Cossack troops;
- The indicated number refers to infantry (motorized infantry, motorized rifle) troops. In other branches of the military, the number of units with the same names may be significantly smaller. For example, an infantry regiment consists of 3 - 4 thousand people, an artillery regiment - of 1 thousand.
- Any military unit in the army has not one, but two states - peacetime and wartime. The wartime workforce adds new positions in existing units, new units, and new units. Missing military personnel are called up by general mobilization in wartime. In the Soviet (and Russian) Army there are:
In the modern Russian Army, about 85% of military units have a reduced staff, the remaining 15% are so-called. “units of constant readiness”, which are deployed at full strength. In peacetime, the Armed Forces in Russia are divided into military districts, each of which is headed by a district commander with the rank of colonel general. In wartime, fronts are deployed on the bases of military districts.
- All modern armies have adopted a “ternary” (sometimes “quaternary”) composition. This means that an infantry regiment consists of three infantry battalions (“three-battalion composition”). In addition to them, it includes smaller auxiliary units - for example, a mortar battery, a repair company, etc. In turn, each infantry battalion of the regiment consists of three infantry companies, and smaller auxiliary units, for example, a communications platoon.
- The hierarchy, therefore, may not be direct; for example, a mortar battery in an infantry regiment is not part of any battalion (division). Accordingly, separate battalions can be allocated, each of which is an independent military unit, or even separate companies. Also, each regiment can be part of a division, or (at a higher level) directly subordinate to the command of the corps (“corps subordination regiment”), or, at an even higher level, the regiment can subordinate directly to the command of a military district (“district subordination regiment”);
- In an infantry regiment, the main units - infantry battalions - report directly to the regimental commander. All auxiliary units are subordinate to his deputies. The same system is repeated at all levels. For example, for an artillery regiment of district subordination, the chief will not be the commander of the district troops, but the chief of the district artillery. The communications platoon of an infantry battalion is subordinate not to the battalion commander, but to his first deputy - the chief of staff.
- Brigades are a separate unit. In terms of their position, brigades stand between a regiment (the regiment commander is a colonel) and a division (the division commander is a major general). In most armies of the world there is an intermediate rank between the ranks of colonel and major general "Brigadier General", corresponding to the brigade commander. In Russia, traditionally there is no such title. In the modern Russian Army, the Soviet division of military district-corps-division-regiment-battalion, as a rule, is replaced by the abbreviated military district - brigade - battalion.
Currently, there is a transition to a “new look of the armed forces” of the Russian Federation corresponding to the corps-brigade-battalion structure. This transition leads to a reduction in the number of officers, which poses certain difficulties for the Ministry of Defense, the need to provide housing or housing certificates for dismissed officers. As well as the redistribution of personnel and weapons of disbanded units.
Different levels
In the Russian Army, the units specified in this article are divided into divisions(squad - battalion), parts(separate battalion - regiment), connections(brigade, division) and associations(corps, army, front). Accordingly, the lowest one is isolated, tactical the level at which the basic unit is the division, operational level (army-front), the largest - strategic(group of fronts).
Detailed description
Branch
In the Soviet and Russian armies, a squad is the smallest military formation with a full-time commander. The squad is commanded by a junior sergeant or sergeant. Usually there are 9-13 people in a motorized rifle squad. In departments of other branches of the military, the number of personnel in the department ranges from 3 to 15 people. In some branches of the military the branch is called differently. In artillery - crew, in tank forces - crew. In some other armies, the squad is not the smallest formation. For example, in the US Army, the smallest formation is a group, and a squad consists of two groups. But basically, in most armies, the squad is the smallest formation. Typically a squad is part of a platoon, but can exist outside of a platoon. For example, the reconnaissance diving section of an engineer battalion is not part of any of the battalion’s platoons, but is directly subordinate to the battalion chief of staff.
Platoon
Several squads make up a platoon. Usually there are from 2 to 4 squads in a platoon, but more are possible. The platoon is headed by a commander with the rank of officer. In the Soviet and Russian armies this is junior lieutenant, lieutenant or senior lieutenant. On average, the number of platoon personnel ranges from 9 to 45 people. Usually in all branches of the military the name is the same - platoon. Usually a platoon is part of a company, but can exist independently.
Company
Several platoons make up a company. In addition, a company may also include several independent squads that are not included in any of the platoons. For example, a motorized rifle company has three motorized rifle platoons, a machine gun squad, and an anti-tank squad. Typically a company consists of 2-4 platoons, sometimes more platoons. A company is the smallest formation of tactical importance, that is, a formation capable of independently performing small tactical tasks on the battlefield. The company commander is a captain. On average, the size of a company can be from 70 to 200 people. Motorized rifle companies usually have about 101-150 people, tank companies 30-35 people. Usually a company is part of a battalion, but it is not uncommon for companies to exist as independent formations. In artillery, a formation of this type is called a battery, in cavalry - a squadron.
Battalion
Consists of several companies (usually 2-4) and several platoons that are not part of any of the companies. The battalion is one of the main tactical formations. A battalion, like a company, platoon, or squad, is named after its branch of service (tank, motorized rifle, engineer, communications). But the battalion already includes formations of other types of weapons. For example, in a motorized rifle battalion, in addition to motorized rifle companies, there is a mortar battery, a logistics platoon, and a communications platoon. The battalion commander is a major or lieutenant colonel. The battalion already has its own headquarters. Usually, on average, a battalion, depending on the type of troops, can number from 250 to 950 people. However, there are battalions of about 150 people. In artillery, this type of formation is called a division.
- Note1: The name of the formation - squad, platoon, company, etc. depends not on the number of personnel, but on the type of troops and the tactical tasks assigned to the formation of this type. Hence the dispersion in the number of personnel in formations that have the same name.
Regiment
In the Soviet and Russian armies, this is the main (one might say key) tactical formation and a completely autonomous formation in the economic sense. The regiment is commanded by a colonel. Although regiments are named according to the types of troops (tank, motorized rifle, communications, pontoon-bridge, etc.), in fact this is a formation consisting of units of many types of troops, and the name is given according to the predominant type of troops. For example, in a motorized rifle regiment there are two or three motorized rifle battalions, one tank battalion, one artillery battalion (read battalion), one anti-aircraft missile battalion, a reconnaissance company, an engineer company, a communications company, an anti-tank battery, a chemical defense platoon, a repair company, logistics company, orchestra, medical center. The number of personnel in the regiment ranges from 900 to 2000 people.
Brigade
Just like a regiment, it is the main tactical formation. Actually, the brigade occupies an intermediate position between a regiment and a division. The structure of a brigade is most often the same as a regiment, but there are significantly more battalions and other units in a brigade. So in a motorized rifle brigade there are one and a half to two times more motorized rifle and tank battalions than in a regiment. A brigade can also consist of two regiments, plus battalions and auxiliary companies. On average, the brigade has from 2 to 8 thousand people. The brigade commander, as well as the regiment, is a colonel.
Division
The main operational-tactical formation. Just like a regiment, it is named after the predominant branch of troops in it. However, the predominance of one or another type of troops is much less than in the regiment. A motorized rifle division and a tank division are identical in structure, with the only difference being that in a motorized rifle division there are two or three motorized rifle regiments and one tank, and in a tank division, on the contrary, there are two or three tank regiments and one motorized rifle. In addition to these main regiments, the division has one or two artillery regiments, one anti-aircraft missile regiment, a rocket battalion, a missile battalion, a helicopter squadron, an engineer battalion, a communications battalion, an automobile battalion, a reconnaissance battalion, an electronic warfare battalion, and a logistics battalion. a repair and restoration battalion, a medical battalion, a chemical defense company, and several different support companies and platoons. In the modern Russian Army, there are or may be divisions of tank, motorized rifle, artillery, airborne, missile and aviation divisions. In other branches of the military, as a rule, the highest formation is a regiment or brigade. On average, there are 12-24 thousand people in a division. Division commander, Major General.
Frame
Just as a brigade is an intermediate formation between a regiment and a division, so a corps is an intermediate formation between a division and an army. The corps is already a combined arms formation, that is, it usually lacks the characteristic of one type of force, although there may also be tank or artillery corps, that is, corps with a complete predominance of tank or artillery divisions. The combined arms corps is usually referred to as the "army corps". There is no single structure of buildings. Each time a corps is formed based on a specific military or military-political situation and can consist of two or three divisions and a varying number of formations of other branches of the military. Usually a corps is created where it is not practical to create an army. In peacetime, there were literally three to five corps in the Soviet Army. During the Great Patriotic War, corps were usually created either for an offensive in a secondary direction, an offensive in a zone where it was impossible to deploy an army, or, conversely, for concentrating forces in the main direction (tank corps). Very often then the corps existed for a few weeks or months and was disbanded upon completion of the task. It is impossible to talk about the structure and strength of the corps, because as many corps exist or existed, so many of their structures existed. Corps commander, Lieutenant General.
Army
This word is used in three main meanings: 1. Army - the armed forces of the state as a whole; 2. Army - ground forces of the armed forces of the state (as opposed to the fleet and military aviation); 3.Army - military formation. Here we are talking about the army as a military formation. The army is a large military formation for operational purposes. The army includes divisions, regiments, battalions of all types of troops. Armies are usually no longer divided by branch of service, although tank armies may exist where tank divisions predominate. An army may also include one or more corps. It is impossible to talk about the structure and size of the army, because as many armies exist or existed, so many of their structures existed. The soldier at the head of the army is no longer called “commander”, but “commander of the army.” Usually the regular rank of army commander is colonel general. In peacetime, armies are rarely organized as military formations. Usually divisions, regiments, and battalions are directly included in the district.
Military District (Front)
This is the highest military formation of the strategic type. There are no larger formations. The name “front” is used only in wartime for a formation conducting combat operations. For such formations in peacetime, or located in the rear, the name “okrug” (military district) is used. The front includes several armies, corps, divisions, regiments, battalions of all types of troops. The composition and strength of the front may vary. Fronts are never subdivided by types of troops (i.e. there cannot be a tank front, an artillery front, etc.). At the head of the front (district) is the commander of the front (district) with the rank of army general.
- Note 2: Above in the text there are the concepts “tactical formation”, “operational-tactical formation”, “strategic..”, etc. These terms indicate the range of tasks solved by this formation in the light of military art. The art of war is divided into three levels:
1. Tactics (the art of combat). A squad, platoon, company, battalion, regiment solve tactical problems, that is, fight. 2. Operational art (the art of fighting, battle). A division, corps, or army solve operational problems, that is, they conduct a battle. 3. Strategy (the art of warfare in general). The front solves both operational and strategic tasks, that is, it wages major battles, as a result of which the strategic situation changes and the outcome of the war can be decided.
There is also such a name as “group of troops”. In wartime, this is the name given to military formations that solve operational tasks inherent in the front, but operate in a narrower area or a secondary direction and, accordingly, are significantly smaller and weaker than such a formation as the front, but stronger than the army. In peacetime, this was the name in the Soviet Army for associations of formations stationed abroad (Group of Soviet Forces in Germany, Central Group of Forces, Northern Group of Forces, Southern Group of Forces). In Germany, this group of troops included several armies and divisions. In Czechoslovakia, the Central Group of Forces consisted of five divisions, three of which were combined into a corps. In Poland the group of troops consisted of two divisions, and in Hungary of three divisions.
In the literature and in military documents one also encounters such names as “team” and “detachment”. The term “team” has now fallen out of use. It was used to designate formations of special troops (sappers, signalmen, reconnaissance officers, etc.) that are part of general military formations. Usually, in terms of numbers and combat missions solved, it is something between a platoon and a company. The term “detachment” was used to designate similar formations in terms of tasks and numbers as the average between a company and a battalion. It is still occasionally used to designate a permanently existing formation. For example, a drilling squad is an engineering formation designed to drill wells for water extraction in areas where there are no surface water sources. The term “detachment” is also used to designate a group of units organized temporarily for the period of battle (advance detachment, outflanking detachment, covering detachment).
Above in the text, I specifically did not use the concepts - division, part, connection, association, replacing these words with the faceless “formation”. I did this in order to avoid confusion. Now that we have dealt with specific names, we can move on to unifying and grouping names.
Subdivision
This word refers to all military formations that are part of the unit. A squad, platoon, company, battalion - they are all united by one word “unit”. The word comes from the concept of division, to divide. That is, the part is divided into divisions.
Part (V.ch.)
It is the basic unit of the armed forces. The term “unit” most often means regiment and brigade. The external features of the unit are: the presence of its own office work, military economy, bank account, postal and telegraph address, its own official seal, the commander’s right to give written orders, open ( Military unit 08728) and closed ( 44th tank training division) names. That is, the part has sufficient autonomy. The presence of a Battle Banner is not necessary for a unit. In addition to the regiment and brigade, the units include division headquarters, corps headquarters, army headquarters, district headquarters, as well as other military organizations (voentorg, army hospital, garrison clinic, district food warehouse, district song and dance ensemble, garrison officers' house, garrison household goods services, central school for junior specialists, military school, military institute, etc.). In a number of cases, the status of a unit with all its external signs may be the formations that we classified above as subdivisions. Units can be a battalion, a company, and sometimes even a platoon. Such formations are not part of regiments or brigades, but directly as an independent military unit with the rights of a regiment or brigade can be part of both a division and a corps, army, front (district) and even directly subordinate to the General Staff. Such formations also have their own open and closed names. For example, 650th separate transport and landing battalion, 1257 separate communications company, 65th separate radio intelligence platoon. A characteristic feature of such parts is the word “separate”, which appears after the numbers before the name. However, a regiment can also have the word “separate” in its name. This is the case if the regiment is not part of the division, but is directly part of the army (corps, district, front). For example, the 120th separate regiment of guards mortars.
- Note 3: Please note that the terms military unit (V.ch.) and military unit (V/Ch No.) do not mean the same thing. The term “military unit” is used as a general designation, without specifics. If we are talking about a specific regiment, brigade, etc., then the term “military unit” is used. Usually its number is also mentioned: “military unit 74292” (but you cannot use “military unit 74292”) or, for short, military unit 74292.
Compound
Usually this term refers to a division. Here the word "connection" means the joining of parts. The division headquarters has the status of a unit. Other units (regiments) are subordinate to this unit (headquarters). All together forms a formation - a division. However, in some cases, a brigade may also have the status of a connection. This happens when the brigade includes separate battalions and companies, which themselves have the status of a unit. In this case, the brigade headquarters, like the division headquarters, has the status of a unit, and battalions and companies, as independent units, are subordinate to the brigade headquarters. By the way, at the same time, battalions and companies can exist within the headquarters of a brigade (division). So at the same time, a formation can have battalions and companies as subunits, and battalions and companies as units.
An association
This concept includes corps, army, district (front) troops, and army groups. The headquarters of an association is a department (part) to which various formations and military units are subordinated.
In literature, military documents, in the media of propaganda, in conversations, in official documents devoted to military issues, terms are constantly encountered - formation, regiment, unit, military unit, company, battalion, army, etc. For military people, everything here is clear, simple and definitely. They immediately understand what we are talking about, what number of soldiers these names hide, what this or that formation can do on the battlefield. For civilians, all these names mean little. Very often they are confused about these terms. Moreover, if in civilian structures a “department” often means a large part of a company or plant, then in the army a “department” is the smallest formation of several people. And vice versa, a “brigade” at a factory is only a few dozen people or even a few people, but in the army a brigade is a large military formation numbering several thousand people. It is so that civilians can navigate the military hierarchy and this article was written.
To understand the general terms that group types of formations - subdivision, unit, formation, association, we will first understand the specific names.
Department. In the Soviet and Russian armies, a squad is the smallest military formation with a full-time commander. The squad is commanded by a junior sergeant or sergeant. Usually there are 9-13 people in a motorized rifle squad. In departments of other branches of the military, the number of personnel in the department ranges from 3 to 15 people. In some branches of the military the branch is called differently. In artillery - crew, in tank forces - crew. In some other armies, the squad is not the smallest formation. For example, in the US Army, the smallest formation is a group, and a squad consists of two groups. But basically, in most armies, the squad is the smallest formation. Typically a squad is part of a platoon, but can exist outside of a platoon. For example, the reconnaissance diving section of an engineer battalion is not part of any of the battalion’s platoons, but is directly subordinate to the battalion chief of staff.
Platoon. Several squads make up a platoon. Usually there are from 2 to 4 squads in a platoon, but more are possible. The platoon is headed by a commander with the rank of officer. In the Soviet and Russian armies this is junior lieutenant, lieutenant or senior lieutenant. On average, the number of platoon personnel ranges from 9 to 45 people. Usually in all branches of the military the name is the same - platoon. Usually a platoon is part of a company, but can exist independently.
Company. Several platoons make up a company. In addition, a company may also include several independent squads not included in any of the platoons. For example, a motorized rifle company has three motorized rifle platoons, a machine gun squad, and an anti-tank squad. Typically a company consists of 2-4 platoons, sometimes more platoons. A company is the smallest formation of tactical importance, i.e. a formation capable of independently performing small tactical tasks on the battlefield. The company commander is a captain. On average, the size of a company can be from 18 to 200 people. Motorized rifle companies usually have about 130-150 people, tank companies 30-35 people. Usually a company is part of a battalion, but it is not uncommon for companies to exist as independent formations. In artillery, a formation of this type is called a battery; in cavalry, a squadron.
Battalion. Consists of several companies (usually 2-4) and several platoons that are not part of any of the companies. The battalion is one of the main tactical formations. A battalion, like a company, platoon, or squad, is named after its branch of service (tank, motorized rifle, engineer, communications). But the battalion already includes formations of other types of weapons. For example, in a motorized rifle battalion, in addition to motorized rifle companies, there is a mortar battery, a logistics platoon, and a communications platoon. Battalion commander Lieutenant Colonel. The battalion already has its own headquarters. Usually, on average, a battalion, depending on the type of troops, can number from 250 to 950 people. However, there are battles of about 100 people. In artillery, this type of formation is called a division.
Note1: Name of formation - squad, platoon, company, etc. depends not on the number of personnel, but on the type of troops and the tactical tasks assigned to the formation of this type. Hence the dispersion in the number of personnel in formations that have the same name.
Regiment. In the Soviet and Russian armies, this is the main (I would say key) tactical formation and a completely autonomous formation in the economic sense. The regiment is commanded by a colonel. Although the regiments are named according to the types of troops (tank, motorized rifle, communications, pontoon-bridge, etc.), in fact this is a formation consisting of units of many types of troops, and the name is given according to the predominant type of troops. For example, in a motorized rifle regiment there are two or three motorized rifle battalions, one tank battalion, one artillery battalion (read battalion), one anti-aircraft missile battalion, a reconnaissance company, an engineer company, a communications company, an anti-tank battery, a chemical defense platoon, a repair company, logistics company, orchestra, medical center. The number of personnel in the regiment ranges from 900 to 2000 people.
Brigade. Just like a regiment, it is the main tactical formation. Actually, the brigade occupies an intermediate position between a regiment and a division. The structure of a brigade is most often the same as a regiment, but there are significantly more battalions and other units in a brigade. So in a motorized rifle brigade there are one and a half to two times more motorized rifle and tank battalions than in a regiment. A brigade can also consist of two regiments, plus battalions and auxiliary companies. On average, a brigade has from 2 to 8 thousand people. The commander of a brigade, as well as a regiment, is a colonel.
Division. The main operational-tactical formation. Just like a regiment, it is named after the predominant branch of troops in it. However, the predominance of one or another type of troops is much less than in the regiment. A motorized rifle division and a tank division are identical in structure, with the only difference being that in a motorized rifle division there are two or three motorized rifle regiments and one tank, and in a tank division, on the contrary, there are two or three tank regiments and one motorized rifle. In addition to these main regiments, the division has one or two artillery regiments, one anti-aircraft missile regiment, a rocket battalion, a missile battalion, a helicopter squadron, an engineer battalion, a communications battalion, an automobile battalion, a reconnaissance battalion, an electronic warfare battalion, and a logistics battalion. a repair and restoration battalion, a medical battalion, a chemical defense company, and several different support companies and platoons. In the modern Russian Army, there are or may be divisions of tank, motorized rifle, artillery, airborne, missile and aviation divisions. In other branches of the military, as a rule, the highest formation is a regiment or brigade. On average, there are 12-24 thousand people in a division. Division commander, Major General.
Frame. Just as a brigade is an intermediate formation between a regiment and a division, so a corps is an intermediate formation between a division and an army. The corps is already a combined arms formation, i.e. usually it is devoid of the characteristic of one type of military force, although tank or artillery corps may also exist, i.e. corps with a complete predominance of tank or artillery divisions. The combined arms corps is usually referred to as the "army corps". There is no single structure of buildings. Each time a corps is formed based on a specific military or military-political situation and can consist of two or three divisions and a varying number of formations of other branches of the military. Usually a corps is created where it is not practical to create an army. In peacetime, there were literally three to five corps in the Soviet Army. During the Great Patriotic War, corps were usually created either for an offensive in a secondary direction, an offensive in a zone where it was impossible to deploy an army, or, conversely, for concentrating forces in the main direction (tank corps). Very often then the corps existed for a few weeks or months and was disbanded upon completion of the task. It is impossible to talk about the structure and strength of the corps, because as many corps exist or existed, so many of their structures existed. Corps commander, Lieutenant General.
Army. This word is used in three main meanings: 1. Army - the armed forces of the state as a whole; 2. Army - ground forces of the armed forces of the state (as opposed to the fleet and military aviation); 3.Army - military formation. Here we are talking about the army as a military formation. The army is a large military formation for operational purposes. The army includes divisions, regiments, battalions of all types of troops. Armies are usually no longer divided by branch of service, although tank armies may exist where tank divisions predominate. An army may also include one or more corps. It is impossible to talk about the structure and size of the army, because as many armies exist or existed, so many of their structures existed. The soldier at the head of the army is no longer called “commander”, but “commander of the army.” Usually the regular rank of army commander is colonel general. In peacetime, armies are rarely organized as military formations. Usually divisions, regiments, and battalions are directly included in the district.
Front (district). This is the highest military formation of the strategic type. There are no larger formations. The name "front" is used only in wartime for a formation conducting combat operations. For such formations in peacetime, or located in the rear, the name “okrug” (military district) is used. The front includes several armies, corps, divisions, regiments, battalions of all types of troops. The composition and strength of the front may vary. Fronts are never subdivided by types of troops (i.e. there cannot be a tank front, an artillery front, etc.). At the head of the front (district) is the commander of the front (district) with the rank of army general.
Note 2: Above in the text there are the concepts “tactical formation”, “operational-tactical formation”, “strategic..”, etc. These terms indicate the range of tasks solved by this formation in the light of military art. The art of war is divided into three levels:
1. Tactics (the art of combat). A squad, platoon, company, battalion, regiment solve tactical problems, i.e. are fighting.
2. Operational art (the art of fighting, battle). A division, corps, army solve operational problems, i.e. are fighting.
3. Strategy (the art of warfare in general). The front solves both operational and strategic tasks, i.e. leads major battles, as a result of which the strategic situation changes and the outcome of the war can be decided.
There is also such a name as “group of troops”. In wartime, this is the name given to military formations that solve operational tasks inherent in the front, but operate in a narrower area or a secondary direction and, accordingly, are significantly smaller and weaker than such a formation as the front, but stronger than the army. In peacetime, this was the name in the Soviet Army for associations of formations stationed abroad (Group of Soviet Forces in Germany, Central Group of Forces, Northern Group of Forces, Southern Group of Forces). In Germany, this group of troops included several armies and divisions. In Czechoslovakia, the Central Group of Forces consisted of five divisions, three of which were combined into a corps. In Poland the group of troops consisted of two divisions, and in Hungary of three divisions.
In the literature and in military documents one also encounters such names as “team” and “detachment”. The term "team" has now fallen out of use. It was used to designate formations of special troops (sappers, signalmen, reconnaissance officers, etc.) that are part of general military formations. Usually, in terms of numbers and combat missions solved, it is something between a platoon and a company. The term "detachment" was used to designate similar formations in terms of tasks and numbers as the average between a company and a battalion. It is still occasionally used to designate a permanently existing formation. For example, a drilling squad is an engineering formation designed to drill wells for water extraction in areas where there are no surface water sources. The term “detachment” is also used to designate a group of units organized temporarily for the period of battle (advanced detachment, encircling detachment, covering detachment).
Above in the text, I specifically did not use the concepts - division, part, connection, association, replacing these words with the faceless “formation”. I did this in order to avoid confusion. Now that we have dealt with specific names, we can move on to unifying and grouping names.
Subdivision. This word refers to all military formations that are part of the unit. A squad, platoon, company, battalion - they are all united by one word "unit". The word comes from the concept of division, to divide. Those. part is divided into divisions.
Part. It is the basic unit of the armed forces. The term “unit” most often means regiment and brigade. The external features of the unit are: the presence of its own office work, military economy, bank account, postal and telegraph address, its own official seal, the commander’s right to give written orders, open (44 tank training division) and closed (military unit 08728) combined arms numbers. That is, the part has sufficient autonomy. The presence of a Battle Banner is not necessary for a unit. In addition to the regiment and brigade, the units include division headquarters, corps headquarters, army headquarters, district headquarters, as well as other military organizations (voentorg, army hospital, garrison clinic, district food warehouse, district song and dance ensemble, garrison officers' house, garrison household goods services, central school of junior specialists, military school, military institute, etc.). In a number of cases, the status of a unit with all its external signs may be the formations that we classified above as subdivisions. Units can be a battalion, a company, and sometimes even a platoon. Such formations are not part of regiments or brigades, but directly as an independent military unit with the rights of a regiment or brigade can be part of both a division and a corps, army, front (district) and even directly subordinate to the General Staff. Such formations also have their own open and closed numbers. For example, the 650th separate airborne transport battalion, the 1257th separate communications company, the 65th separate radio reconnaissance platoon. A characteristic feature of such parts is the word “separate” after the numbers before the name. However, a regiment can also have the word “separate” in its name. This is the case if the regiment is not part of the division, but is directly part of the army (corps, district, front). For example, the 120th separate regiment of guards mortars.
Note 3: Please note that the terms military unit and military unit do not mean exactly the same thing. The term "military unit" is used as a general designation, without specifics. If we are talking about a specific regiment, brigade, etc., then the term “military unit” is used. Usually its number is also mentioned: “military unit 74292” (but you cannot use “military unit 74292”) or, for short, military unit 74292.
Compound. As a standard, only a division fits this term. The word “connection” itself means to connect parts. The division headquarters has the status of a unit. Other units (regiments) are subordinate to this unit (headquarters). All together there is a division. However, in some cases, a brigade may also have the status of a connection. This happens if the brigade includes separate battalions and companies, each of which has the status of a unit in itself. In this case, the brigade headquarters, like the division headquarters, has the status of a unit, and battalions and companies, as independent units, are subordinate to the brigade headquarters. By the way, at the same time, battalions and companies can exist within the headquarters of a brigade (division). So at the same time, a formation can have battalions and companies as subunits, and battalions and companies as units.
An association. This term combines corps, army, army group and front (district). The headquarters of the association is also the part to which various formations and units are subordinated.
There are no other specific and grouping concepts in the military hierarchy. At least in the Ground Forces. In this article we did not touch upon the hierarchy of military formations of the aviation and navy. However, the attentive reader can now imagine the naval and aviation hierarchy quite simply and with minor errors. As far as the author knows: in aviation - a unit, a squadron, a regiment, a division, a corps, an air army. In the fleet - ship (crew), division, brigade, division, flotilla, fleet. However, this is all inaccurate; aviation and naval experts will correct me.
December 2nd, 2012
If the Soviet and German rifle squads and platoons were approximately similar in composition and structure, there were very significant differences between the Soviet rifle and German infantry companies.
The main difference was that the Soviet rifle company, unlike the German one, did not have material supply and support units in its structure.
This was a 100% combat unit.
The company's logistics support was a rifle battalion and a regiment. There were corresponding rear structures, rear convoys, etc.
At the level of a rifle company, the only person who was directly involved in providing support for the company was the company commander himself and the company foreman. It was on them that all the care for the simple company economy hung.
The rifle company did not even have its own field kitchen. Therefore, the provision of hot meals was carried out at the battalion or regiment level.
The situation was completely different in the German infantry company.
A German infantry company can be conditionally divided into two parts: combat and logistical support (a convoy, two quartermaster detachments, a mobile workshop).
These are the rear units of the company, which were engaged in supplying the company with everything necessary.
They did not directly participate in combat operations on the front line and during the company’s offensive they were subordinated directly to battalion and regimental rear structures.
These units were located 3-5 km from the front line.
What constituted the combat unit of a German infantry company?
German infantry company (Schuetzenkompanie).
The total strength of the German infantry company is 191 people
(in a Soviet rifle company 179 people).
This is what it looks like schematically:
Four messengers with the rank of Gefreiter inclusive.
One of them is simultaneously a bugler, the other a light signalman.
Armed with carbines.
Two cyclists with the rank of up to Gefreiter inclusive.
Armed with carbines. They travel on bicycles.
Two coachmen with the rank of Gefreiter inclusive. They drive a heavy horse-drawn carriage drawn by four horses.
Armed with carbines.
Groom for an officer's horse with the rank of Gefreiter inclusive. Armed with a carbine. Equipped with a bicycle for transportation.
Thus, the total number of combat units of the control department was not 12, but 9 people. With the company commander - 10 people.
The basis of the combat unit of an infantry company was infantry platoons.
There were 3 of them, just like in the Soviet rifle company.
The total number of soldiers in the infantry platoons was 49x3 = 147 people.
Taking into account the number of combat units of the control department, including the company commander (10 people), we get 157 people.
Infantry platoons at company level received reinforcement in the form of an anti-tank squad (Panzerabwehrbuchsentrupp).
There are 7 people in the department. Of these, 1 non-commissioned officer and 6 soldiers.
The squad's group weapons are three Pz.B.39 anti-tank rifles.
Squad leader with the rank of Obergeifreiter to Unterfeldwebel. Armed with a carbine.
Three calculations of anti-tank guns.
Each squad consisted of a PR shooter in the ranks up to and including Gefreiter (personal weapon - a pistol) and his assistant in the ranks up to and including Gefreiter. Armed with a carbine.
The total number of people in the calculation is 4 people.
The number of squad members is 7 people (3x2 +1 squad leader)
The anti-tank squad was armed with:
Anti-tank rifle Pz.B.39 - 3 pcs.
Repeating rifle Mauser 98k - 4 pcs.
8-shot pistol - 3 pcs.
In total, the German infantry company has a combat strength of 157 + 7 = 164 people out of 191 people in the company.
27 people are rear guards.
Vehicles:
1. Riding horse - 1 pc.
2. Bicycle - 3 pcs.
Only 4 horses per company.
A few words about the Pz.B.39 anti-tank rifle.
German anti-tank rifle Pz.B.39
The German army in World War II had two main types of anti-tank rifles - the PzB-38 and its later modification, the PzB-39.
The abbreviation PzB stands for Panzerbüchse (anti-tank rifle).
Both the PzB-38 and PzB-39 used the "Patrone 318" 7.92x94 mm cartridge.
Several types of such cartridges were produced:
Patrone 318 SmK-Rs-L"spur- a cartridge with a pointed bullet in a casing, with a poisonous reagent, tracer.
Patrone 318 SmKH-Rs-L"spur.- a cartridge with a pointed bullet in a shell (hard) with a poisonous reagent, tracer.
This, in fact, is an armor-piercing cartridge.
Number 318
was the reciprocal number of the old designation (813 - 8 mm bullet in a 13 mm sleeve).
SmK meant Spitzgeschoss mit Kern (sharpened bullet in a jacket)
SmKH- Spitzgeschoss mit Kern (Hart) (sharpened bullet in a jacket (Hard)
Rs- Reizstoff (Poisonous agent), because the bullet had a small amount of tear gas to affect the crew of the armored vehicle, chloro-acetophenone was placed in the recess at the bottom of the core - a toxic agent with tear action, but due to the small amount of tear gas in the capsule, the crew most often just it did not notice. By the way, until German samples of anti-tank rifles were captured, no one suspected that their bullets contained gas.
L"spur- Leuchtspur (Tracer), the bullet had a small tracer in the rear.
Its bullet weighing 14.5 g accelerated in the barrel to 1180 m/s. The fairly high armor-piercing effect of the bullet, piercing 20-mm armor installed at an angle of 20° to the normal at a distance of 400 m, was ensured by a tungsten core.
According to other data, the PTR penetrated 20 mm armor from a distance of 300 m and 30 mm armor from a distance of 100 m at an angle of 90°.
In practice, fire was fired from a distance of 100 to 200 m, mainly at the tracks and fuel tanks of the tank in order to stop it.
However, at the same time, the PTR very quickly discovered its position and became an excellent target for shooters.
Therefore, if anti-tank rifles were a reinforcement of the German infantry company in the confrontation with tanks, it was not too significant.
The main part of the tanks was destroyed by anti-tank guns, which the German infantry company did not have at its disposal.
Now let’s compare a German infantry company with a Soviet infantry company, not from the point of view of the total number of personnel, but from the point of view of the combat strength of those who were directly on the front line.
Soviet rifle company
The rifle company was the next largest tactical unit after the platoon and was part of the rifle battalion.
The rifle company was commanded by a company commander (company commander) with the rank of captain.
The company commander was entitled to a riding horse.
Because on a company march, he had to control the movement of the company, which was stretched during the march, and if necessary, the horse could be used to communicate with other companies or the battalion command.
Armed with a TT pistol.
The company political instructor was the assistant to the company commander.
He conducted political educational work in the company's units and kept in touch with the political department of the battalion and regiment.
Armed with a TT pistol.
But the actual assistant to the company commander was the company foreman.
He was in charge of the rather poor, frankly speaking, company economy, dealt with the issues of providing the company units with everything they needed, receiving everything they needed in the battalion, which included the rifle company.
For these purposes, the company had one horse and cart, which was driven by a driver with the rank of private, armed with a rifle like the foreman.
The company had its own clerk. He was also armed with a rifle.
There was one messenger in the company with the rank of private. But despite his private rank, he was, perhaps, the left hand of the company commander. He was entrusted with important tasks, he was always close to the battalion commander, knew all the platoon commanders and squad leaders well, etc. And he was known not only in the company units, but also in the battalion.
He was also armed with a rifle.
The basis of a rifle company consisted of rifle platoons.
There were 3 such platoons in the rifle company.
At the company level, rifle platoons were reinforced primarily in the form of a machine gun platoon.
Machine gun platoon.
The machine gun platoon was headed by a machine gun platoon commander with the rank of lieutenant.
Weapon - TT pistol.
The machine gun platoon consisted of two crews of the Maxim heavy machine gun.
Each crew was commanded by a sergeant.
Weapon - TT pistol.
The crew consisted of a crew commander and four privates (gunner, assistant gunner, cartridge carrier and driver), armed with rifles.
According to the state, each crew relied on a horse and a cart for transporting a machine gun (cart). The crew was armed with rifles.
The number of machine gun crews was 6 soldiers.
The size of the machine gun platoon was (6x2 + platoon commander) = 13 soldiers.
Armed with a machine gun platoon:
Machine gun "Maxima" - 2 pcs.
Self-loading rifle SVT 38/40 - (4x2)=8 pcs.
TT pistol - 3 pcs.
The main purpose of the Maxim machine gun was to suppress enemy firing points and support infantry.
The high rate of fire (combat 600 rounds per minute) and high firing accuracy of the machine gun made it possible to carry out this task from a distance of 100 to 1000 m to friendly troops.
All machine gun crew members had the same skills in firing a machine gun and, if necessary, could change the crew commander, gunner, etc.
Each heavy machine gun carried a combat set of cartridges, 12 boxes with machine gun belts (a belt - 250 rounds), two spare barrels, one box with spare parts, one box with accessories, three cans for water and lubricant, and an optical machine gun sight.
The machine gun had an armor shield that protected it from shrapnel, light bullets, etc.
Shield thickness - 6 mm.
German machine gunners have no protection other than a helmet.
True, it was not always the shield that saved the machine gunner.
Bullet hits are visible.
And here it’s actually a sieve. Apparently they were shooting from armor-piercing cartridges.
And the trunk got it.
Thus, the main weapon reinforcement for platoons at the company level was the 7.62 mm heavy machine gun of the Maxim system, model 1910/30.
In addition, as a company reinforcement of platoons during the battle, the company had 2 snipers.
A fairly powerful reinforcement of company units for the purpose of destroying enemy firing points from long distances and incapacitating enemy unit commanders.
The snipers were armed with a Mosin rifle (three-line) with a PU optical sight (short sight).
What is a sniper? A good sniper from a distance of 300 m in a minute of shooting can easily kill an infantry squad. And in a pair - half a platoon. Not to mention machine gun points, gun crews, etc.
But they could also work from 800 m.
The company also included a sanitary department.
The squad was commanded by the squad commander, a sergeant-medic.
He had 4 orderlies under his command.
The squad is armed with 1 pistol.
Well, that’s practically one orderly per platoon.
Rifle platoons, unlike German infantry platoons, did not have a medical orderly.
But as we see, the platoon was still not left without a medic.
Total: 5 people. Armed with one pistol.
Total company strength:
Company commander - 1 person.
Company political instructor - 1 person.
Company sergeant major - 1 person.
Bellboy - 1 person.
Clerk - 1 person.
Riding - 1 person.
Rifle platoons - 51x3=153 people
Machine gun platoon - 13 people
Sniper - 2 people
Sanitary department - 5 people.
Total: 179 people.
In service with the company:
Machine gun "Maxima" - 2 pcs.
PD Degtyarev machine gun - 12 pcs. (4 pieces each in each rifle platoon)
Light 50 mm mortar - 3 pcs. (1 piece each in each rifle platoon)
PPD submachine gun - 27 pcs. (9 pieces in each platoon)
Rifle SVT-38, SVT-40 - 152 pcs. (36 pieces in each platoon + 8x4 = 32 + 8 pieces in a machine gun platoon + 4 for the rest)
Mosin sniper rifle with PU sight - 2 pcs.
TT pistols - 22 pcs. (6 pieces in each platoon + 1 in a machine gun platoon + 1 in the medical department + 2 in the company and political officer)
Vehicles:
Riding horse - 1 pc.
Horse and cart - 3 pcs.
Total 4 horses
In service with a German infantry company / in comparison with a Soviet rifle company:
1. Light machine gun - 12/12
2. Heavy machine gun - 0/2
3. Submachine gun - 16/27
4. Repeating rifle - 132/0
5. Self-loading rifle - 0/152
6. Sniper rifle - 0/2
7. Mortar 50 mm - 3/3
8. Anti-tank rifle - 3/0
9. Pistol - 47/22
From this we can conclude that the Soviet rifle company at the company level was significantly superior in firepower and armament to the German infantry company.
Conclusions on numbers.
The total strength of the German infantry company is 191 people. (Soviet rifle company - 179 people)
However, the combat unit of the infantry company was only 164 people. The rest belonged to the company's rear services.
Thus, the Soviet rifle company outnumbered the German infantry company by 15 people (179-164).
At the battalion level, this excess was 15x3=45 people.
At the regimental level 45x3=135 people
At the divisional level there are 135x3=405 people.
405 people is almost 2.5 companies, that is, almost an infantry battalion.
The advantage in vehicles, carts and draft power at company level in a German infantry company was associated with the work of the rear services of the German company.
The combat unit of the company moved on foot in the same way as a Soviet rifle company.
Vehicles of the combat unit of the Soviet rifle company:
1. Riding horse - 1 pc.
2. Horse and cart - 3 pcs.
Only 4 horses per rifle company
Vehicles of a combat unit of a German infantry company:
1. Riding horse - 1 pc.
2. Bicycle - 3 pcs.
3. 4-horse heavy cart - 1 pc.
Only 4 horses per infantry company.
On the march, the German infantry company moved exclusively on foot, as did the soldiers of the Soviet rifle company.
Therefore, the German infantry company had no advantage in vehicles over the Soviet rifle company.
Drawing a general conclusion, we can conclude that in terms of the number of combat personnel, weapons and firepower, the Soviet rifle company was superior to the German infantry company, inferior to it only in the supply organization system.
This will be my first blog post. It’s not a full-fledged article in terms of the number of words and information, but it’s a very important note, which can be read in one breath and has almost more benefits than many of my articles. So, what is a squad, platoon, company and other concepts known to us from books and films? And how many people do they contain?
What is a platoon, company, battalion, etc.
- Branch
- Platoon
- Battalion
- Brigade
- Division
- Frame
- Army
- Front (district)
These are all tactical units in the branches and types of troops. I have arranged them in order from least number of people to most to make it easier for you to remember them. During my service, I most often met with everyone up to the regiment.
From the brigade and above (in number of people) during the 11 months of service, we didn’t even say. Perhaps this is due to the fact that I do not serve in a military unit, but in an educational institution.
How many people do they include?
Department. Numbers from 5 to 10 people. The squad is commanded by the squad leader. A squad leader is a sergeant's position, so commode (short for squad leader) is often a junior sergeant or sergeant.
Platoon. A platoon includes from 3 to 6 sections, that is, it can reach from 15 to 60 people. The platoon commander is in charge of the platoon. This is already an officer position. It is occupied by a minimum of a lieutenant and a maximum of a captain.
Company. A company includes from 3 to 6 platoons, that is, it can consist of from 45 to 360 people. The company is commanded by the company commander. This is a major position. In fact, the commander is a senior lieutenant or captain (in the army, a company commander is affectionately and abbreviated as a company commander).
Battalion. This is either 3 or 4 companies + headquarters and individual specialists (gunsmith, signalman, snipers, etc.), a mortar platoon (not always), sometimes air defense and tank destroyers (hereinafter referred to as PTB). The battalion includes from 145 to 500 people. The commander of the battalion (abbreviated as battalion commander) commands.
This is the position of lieutenant colonel. But in our country, both captains and majors command, who in the future can become lieutenant colonels, provided they retain this position.
Regiment. From 3 to 6 battalions, that is, from 500 to 2500+ people + headquarters + regimental artillery + air defense + fire-fighting tanks. The regiment is commanded by a colonel. But maybe also a lieutenant colonel.
Brigade. A brigade is several battalions, sometimes 2 or even 3 regiments. The brigade usually has from 1,000 to 4,000 people. It is commanded by a colonel. The abbreviated title for the position of brigade commander is brigade commander.
Division. These are several regiments, including artillery and, possibly, tank + rear service + sometimes aviation. Commanded by a colonel or major general. The number of divisions varies. From 4,500 to 22,000 people.
Frame. These are several divisions. That is, in the region of 100,000 people. The corps is commanded by a major general.
Army. From two to ten divisions of different types of troops + rear units + repair shops and so on. The number can be very different. On average from 200,000 to 1,000,000 people and above. The army is commanded by a major general or lieutenant general.
Front. In peacetime - a military district. It’s difficult to give exact numbers here. They vary by region, military doctrine, political environment and the like.
The front is already a self-sufficient structure with reserves, warehouses, training units, military schools, and so on. The front commander commands the front. This is a lieutenant general or army general.
The composition of the front depends on the assigned tasks and the situation. Typically the front includes:
- control;
- missile army (one - two);
- army (five - six);
- tank army (one - two);
- air army (one - two);
- air defense army;
- separate formations and units of various types of troops and special troops of front-line subordination;
- formations, units and establishments of operational logistics.
The front can be strengthened by formations and units of other branches of the Armed Forces and the reserve of the Supreme High Command.
What other similar tactical terms exist?
Subdivision. This word refers to all military formations that are part of the unit. Squad, platoon, company, battalion - they are all united by one word “unit”. The word comes from the concept of division, to divide. That is, the part is divided into divisions.
Part. This is the main unit of the Armed Forces. The term “unit” most often means regiment and brigade. The external features of the unit are: the presence of its own office work, military economy, bank account, postal and telegraph address, its own official seal, the commander’s right to give written orders, open (44 tank training division) and closed (military unit 08728) combined arms numbers. That is, the part has sufficient autonomy.
IMPORTANT! Please note that the terms military unit and military unit do not mean exactly the same thing. The term “military unit” is used as a general designation, without specifics. If we are talking about a specific regiment, brigade, etc., then the term “military unit” is used. Usually its number is also mentioned: “military unit 74292” (but you cannot use “military unit 74292”) or, for short, military unit 74292.
Compound. As a standard, only a division fits this term. The word “connection” itself means to connect parts. The division headquarters has the status of a unit. Other units (regiments) are subordinate to this unit (headquarters). All together there is a division. However, in some cases, a brigade may also have the status of a connection. This happens if the brigade includes separate battalions and companies, each of which has the status of a unit in itself.
An association. This term combines corps, army, army group and front (district). The headquarters of the association is also the part to which various formations and units are subordinated.
Bottom line
There are no other specific and grouping concepts in the military hierarchy. At least in the Ground Forces. In this article we did not touch upon the hierarchy of military formations of the aviation and navy. However, the attentive reader can now imagine the naval and aviation hierarchy quite simply and with minor errors.
Now it will be easier for us to dialogue, friends! After all, every day we are getting closer to speaking the same language. You are learning more and more military terms and meanings, and I am getting closer and closer to civilian life!))
I wish everyone to find in this article what they were looking for,