Reorganization of Forces.

[panzergator]

Reorganization of forces.

The Infantry Brigade is constituted. Brigade troops follows:

1-602 IN (Stryker).
2-602 IN (Stryker)(to be created).
4-34 IN (Motorized) (V150).
8-7 LAR (Marines).
E- 16 Cavalry (to be assigned).
1-4 Artillery (-)(M119).
C-3 Artillery (Marine)(M198).
Det, 33 Eng.
1/C-43 ADA.


The current Marine light infantry battalion is redesignated a Marine light armored reconnaissance battalion. It is assigned to Infantry Brigade to operate in a dual role of light infantry and reconnaissance.

The 4 Bn (Tanks)(Marines)(M60A1/AoA) is reassigned to 4AD. If armor support is required, one or both of the light armored reconnaissance battalions from 14th ACR may be attached.

A second Stryker battalion will be formed.
Two more 105 towed arty battalions will be formed.
An Engineer company and ADA battery will be formed.

The Infantry Brigade currently continues to receive equipment, to include a Stryker SHORAD platoon, 2 batteries of M119 guns, 3 platoons of Stryker ATs, 3 Stryker engineer vehicles, and two REBs. The M119 batteries will be reinforced by the Marine LARB's 6-piece M198 battery, which will form the brigade artillery. One additional M119 battery will be acquired for the current M119 battalion. Two additional M119 battalions will be acquired as budget and priority permit. While the STRYKER brigade normally uses M777 artillery units, that gun is not considered sufficiently agile to avoid counter-battery fire. The M119 is the most viable CURRENT alternative Likely, the current HIMARS bn will support the brigade, as well.

Identified equipment shortages in the Stryker bn and LARB, including LAV mortars, LAV AT, and LAV ADA, will be filled as soon as possible.

A brigade reconnaissance unit will be organized from current assets. A third light armor battalion (M551) is being formed and may be assigned as a reconnaissance battalion.

[redleg]

I like your infantry brigade organization, PG! When you get a chance can you go over the organization of the 4th AD? I'm curious as to the structure of the full division.

[chrisswim]

The CoC will need to study this information.
Conduct a SWAT Ana-lsis.
This will help the Commonwealth and it’s members to be effective should anyone get aggressive.

Nice to see.

[panzergator]

I base divisions on the H series TOE. It came into effect around 1960 with the change to ROAD. An armored division had 6tank battalions and 4 or 5 mech battalions. There were no mech battalions before ROAD. The predecessor to the mech battalion was the armored infantry battalion, which only existed in armored divisions. The mechanized division usually had five mech battalions and five armor battalions. (Reference Fort Knox Student Text 17-1-1, 1976). Both type divisions had a similar suite of supporting arms and other battalions; cavalry squadron, divarty (3 155SP battalions, M110 battalion), aviation battalion, air defense bn, intelligence bn, the engineer bn MP battalion, medical bn, transportation bn, maintenance battalion, supplies battalion. I think that's all.

There were interesting deviations. For a while, 8ID(M) had an airborne brigade.

I mostly do ground the combat stuff.

3AD is my primary division. It has 6 Armor battalions; 1 M60 bn, 2 M60A1 bns, 2 M60A2 bns, and 1 interim J series M60A3 bn to represent battalions 1960 to 1980, painted accordingly. The M60 bn needs a lot of paint work. The division mech battalions include 1 D TOE bn, 3 H series bns, all in M113s, and one interim J series bn mounted in M113A2s. There is a cavalry squadron, DIVARTY, air defense battalion, and engineers.

4AD is not as complete. It has 6 tank battalions -A1s, A2s, A3s. The mech bns include 2 M59 bns and 3 M113A1 bns. Only one 155SP bn right now. And a cavalry squadron.

7th AD has two XM803 bns, a US Marder bn, a YPR765 bn, 2 M1A1 bns, 2 M2 bns, an Armor heavy CAB bn (4tank, 1mech) (to be reorganized), and a reinforced cavalry squadron. Divarty only has 1 155 bn and the MLRS bn at the mo. 7AD may be reorganized into two separate armored brigades. The CAB may be broken up and used to form pure battalions, if additional equipment becomes available. A second US Marder battalion is projected. YPR765s and Marders were procured when the XM723 was delayed and an IFV was required to pair with XM803.

There are two attack helicopter squadrons, 1 AH56, the other AH67.

See above for the separate Infantry brigade for Stryker and Marine LARB.

My ACR has one USAREUR-TOE H squadron, plus two reconnaissance battalions using M551. There are two H series divisional squadrons and one reinforced J series divisional squadron of 3 troops each of 3 platoons plus tank company.

There are two companies of heavy tanks (M103A2) hanging around unassigned.

The Brit brigade has 5 squadrons, 2 Chally 2, 2 Chally 1, 1 Chieftain, a Warrior armored infantry bn, an independent Warrior company, an FV432 company, a Boxer company, a cavalry squadron, a 4-battery AS90 regiment and a small contingent of engineers. The tanks could form two short regiments. A third Chally 2 or Chally 3 squadron and two more Boxer companies will likely be added in the future.

The Germans have a Puma battalion, 2 tank companies, and 2 Panzerhaubitz batteries.

The French have a LeClerc squadron, supporting infantry platoon, scouts, and an artillery battery of 155mm GCTs.

There is some abandoned Canadian equipment languishing at the back of the motor pool. Nothing worthwhile.

I have an extensive "pending" motor pool, and I'm trying to get a bunch of stuff out of packages and organized. Assembly and painting with the tremor in my hand is a fresh level of hell, but I managed two REBs for the Stryker battalion this morning.

That's wut I got. Can't compare to Chris, but MINE is ORGANIZED!

It had been a while since I went through everything and I did some rummaging the last few days.

And I REALLY LIKE the BRIGHTROOM plexi trays from Target for battalions. I'm converting all my containers to those. I put sandpaper in the bottom to keep things from sliding around. No lids, but they stack securely.

You can study all you want, Chris. It will not help you if you decide to "visit."

[panzergator]

Revision.

The Infantry Brigade artillery support will consist of 4 batteries M119 105mm towed guns, one Marine battery of M198 guns, and one battery of 6 HIMARS. The towed artillery is not ideal, however it is the best choice available for this type unit.

One Marine infantry battalion mounted in ACV will be added when the vehicle becomes available. Ospreys will be obtained sufficient to transport one Marine company.

[redleg]

PG, that is AWESOME! That's a fantastic force, well organized and it has a variety of equipment and TO&Es! I hope to build a collection like that someday. I do have a division in my long term plan, and a pipe dream plan beyond that of a bigger force, but I always thought it was just wishful thinking. 3D printing is making me think that it may happen though - still a very long term goal.

What is the difference between the D and H series M113 battalions? Did one of them have a ITV company and not the other, or is there another organizational difference?

[panzergator]

There isn't that much difference, but I have to get out the reference. ITV company... For most of the H series, the TOW vehicle allocation was two per company in the weapons platoon and twelve in the anti-tank platoon of the combat support company of the mech battalion. Since every Bradley carried a TOW launcher, the new J TOE removed ITVs. However, in the transition to J, many battalions got M113A2 until M2 production caught up. The M113A2 didn't have a TOW launcher. The companies retained two M901s, and the twelve-vehicle anti-tank platoon was retained as the E anti-tank company. Combat Support Company was deleted and a fourth line company was added. For a time, the anti-tank company was retained even after the battalion received their M2s. This condition remained for about 10 years, up through First Gulf. First Gulf clearly demonstrated that the M901 could not keep up with Bradleys and reminded folks that the company was supposed to go away once Bradleys were issued, anyway.

Prior to ITVs, the anti-tank vehicle was the M150. The TOW was mounted on a post inside the M113 and in order to shoot, the cargo hatch was opened and the TOW elevated on the post to clear the top of the vehicle. The open top soon got a Kevlar hood to provide some overhead cover.

Before TOW, it was the 90mm and 106mm (actually 105mm)recoilless rifle,, mounted on M113 or jeep. There was a three-vehicle anti-tank platoon with the ENTAC guided missile, mounted on the back of a jeep. It was of French design and marginally effective, in that the missile had to be flown into the target.

The D series TOE was the organization of mechanized infantry as we emerged from the Pentomic structure and became ROAD. Rifle companies dropped to 3 rifle platoons from 4, added a weapons platoon. The battalion included an assault gun platoon whose brave souls manned two M56 Scorpions mounting a 90mm gun protected by a rather insufficient gun shield. The combat support company was created and the mortar company became a platoon of 4 4.2 mortars assigned to it. Scout platoons were mounted in jeeps but might be joined by 2 M41 light tanks. I'll try to be more specific once I've got the manuals out. Have to do that anyway to sort out some issues.

[panzergator]

After writing all that stuff out, I think I will break up 7AD into separate armored brigades. Not ABCTs, the old separate brigade. Kinda like those. I like fiddling with organization. So one separate brigade for M1A1s and M2s, and another for the XM803s and Marder/YPRs. And I'll eventually add a second US Marder bn. Each will have an arty bn of M109SPs, plus a six-piece MLRS battery, ADA battery, engineer company, and cavalry troop. I have a lot of work to do getting all this up to speed!

[redleg]

Are the Marders in your US division the same Marders that the Germans use? Or is it a different vehicle called Marder? I'm not familiar with US equipment by that name, but then I'm not familiar with much from the Cold War timeframe. I like your ideas for separate brigades.

I also agree with you on the current state of towed artillery. he units I am trying to build are generally for a specific timeframe so I will have a lot of towed artillery still, but I should still give it some thought when building modern artillery units.

Oh and thanks for the tip on the Target Brightroom trays! I'm going to get a couple to try out. I feel like I am always struggling to find a good way to store my collection!

[panzergator]

We acquired German Marders because the XM723 was still becoming the Bradley and not available when our M803s went into service. Some modifications were necessary for integration into US service, but the advantage of the Marder at the time was that it was available and could keep up with the 803s. That's my rationale and I'm sticking to it. I really like the Marder, although I'd prefer the 25mm chain gun to the 20mm. Maybe I'll change that. Or get some Dragoon turrets for them.

I looked for YEARS to find a satisfactory container for battalion units. YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS. The ones from BRIGHTROOM are clear, solid, and stack tightly and securely. They easily hold a battalion. I glue sandpaper in the bottom to keep vehicles from sliding around. I try to get light tan sandpaper to simulate motor pool concrete, but I have red and green, as well, because that we what I could get. I'm converting my whole collection to these trays. These are the best containers I've found and my basement is strange with failed containers.

I may increase the Infantry Brigade artillery to four M119 batteries to facilitate leapfrogging batteries so they can move quicker. And I might consider the Boxer RCH for this brigade, IF GHQ will issue it. I'd consider at least three battalions of RCH, maybe more. I foresee one for theACV, fantry Brigade, one for the Brits, and one for the Germans, although, since I have a four-battery regiment for the Brits, I'll have to make a second Brit brigade to justify it.. Don't care for Caesar or Archer.

If we get RCH, then I'll create an airborne brigade and move the M119s to support that.

If we get ACV, I'm going to have to reconfigure again... 2 ACV battalions, V150s brigade's with them, since they are all amphibious, and there is my bridgeheads team. M551s in support, since they swim, too. Oh, this is going to be money! If my wife reads about all these plans, she'll remove me from the bank accounts!


All this is what is fun for me rather than wargaming.

[redleg]

Speaking of wheeled artillery, this pic was posted on a Field Artillery page on FaceBook. Apparently this pic was taken at Fort Sill at the Fires Symposium this week. I will be there later this week so I will snoop around a little bit and see if I can find it!

[panzergator]

Just finished watching a YouTube on it. My opinion is that it will fail. Automation reduces crew to 3. If some small part breaks, it will not be automated and the crew is not sufficient to make it work manually. It is big and wheeled and will not be able to operate on anything like a combat environment. It is just too damned big. It is not simple enough to do the job in combat.

[redleg]

Definitely big. The turret reminds me of those portable MRI trailers you used to see outside hospitals!

[panzergator]

I think Boxer RCH will work, but we need a similar tracked system. The Germans are already examining one. I will take the RCH turret and put it on M109, AS90, and Panzerhaubitz chassis. We WILL regret trying to save money by putting critical systems on wheels. Sooner or later, the tougher systems prevail or we lose. Thoroughbreds are not the best horse for combat, no matter how fast they are.

[panzergator]

For most of us, I think, 3D is almost required to have the kind of collection we want, especially if we want support vehicles. That's why my support vehicles are so limited. I kept to combat vehicles, with some support, like M88s, M578s, M561s. Since H series tank battalions had 2 bridges and each company had blade tanks, I bought those packs. My initial intention was a brigade; 3rd Brigade, 3AD, H series, 1977. Stuff just grew. But I started in '78, so I've spent some time at it. Ambitions grow with acquisition. It was almost an accident.

With 3D resin printing, I can print a 54- or 58-tank battalion in two hours. And a $35 bottle of resin is good for three, I think. Haven't printed anything for a few years because my son moved out and hasn't had time of late. I have to learn, myself, I guess.