GHQ Models Forums

Well, Gentlemen, while the image-nations and everything else shut down for the immediate crisis, let's have a pop quiz. Others are welcome to use questions on this thread.

My question: in the 1950s, there were two kinds of heavy tank battalions in the United States Army. How were they organized (number of platoons per company, number of companies, total number of tanks))? Please include the tank types. Combat support (scouts, mortars,) and service support elements not included in question. Only the principle tank types, has tanks, platoons, and comoanies.

Answer next Monday unless someone provides an answer earlier.

I was thinking pentomic division, but I’m fairly stumped. Here is my guess anyway:

Is this the ROAD division concept?

53 total tanks per battalion
3 companies per battalion
17 tanks per company (HQ and three 5-tank platoons)

Tanks were M47 and M48s

Redleg

You are thinking MEDIUM tanks, standard organization. The HEAVY tank battalion requires different thinking.

The Pentomic organization will be addressed in a future pop question.

Definitely the M103 which actually saw active service in one battalion in Europe. It had four companies of six platoons with three tanks each. Throw in two for the HQ and you've 74 in the battalion.

I'm guessing the second would have been the T26 super Pershings organized as a standard 17 tank company, three platoons of five plus two in the HQ and three more for battalion HQ resulting in a 54 tank.

Close, but no cigar on both counts.

But yes, the US Army did have a heavy tank battalion in Germany if M103A1s. Your organization is incorrect on both counts.

Deleted duplucate

The glorious IS-3 organized in platoons of 10. 30 in a company. Oh, wait....wrong country

Wrong tank, too.

Ok make it three in the HHC for a total of 75

Sorry, Cav dog. Wrong again.

The number of tanks per platoon and number of companies is right so I'm missing additional tanks in the company HQ so 78 in the M 103 battalion.

The M 26 Pershing was considered a heavy tank for a while and post war they were organized in 22 tank companies 4 platoons of 5 plus 2 in the company HQ. Those would've been 3 company battalions so 66 plus 2 in the HHC for a total of 68.

Cav dog,

You are almost there. Those "heavy" tank companies with 4 platoons per company also had 4 companies and 4 tanks in HHC, rather than 3.

Still don't have the M103 bn right, though.

ANSWER: The single heavy and battalion stationed in West Germany during the 1950s equipped with M103A1s had 72 tanks organized in 4 companies. Each company was equipped with 18 tanks organized in six platoons, each of three tanks. There were no headquarters tanks at either company or bn level. This unit was not minded to maneuver as an integral unit. Platoons were to be farmed out to the battalions of 90mm -gunned tanks, mech, and infantry units to help defend against the JSIII heavy tank.

NEXT QESTION:

What HEAVY machine gun was issued with the new M60 tank?

Liquid cooled .50 or 20mm.