Organisations for the Modern Back to Basics
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Organisations for The Modern Back to Basics. 1.0 Introduction This covers organisations for the major armies, and major conflicts from 1958 to 1997, so some strange armies appear, because they have been in action. Even so I have left out such marvellous military organisations as the U.A.E, whose entire armoured force stared in a news bulletin in January 1991, and also the Iranians, for the same reason. The organisations given can be used in conjunction with “Rapid Fire” as well as Back to Basics, but you would have to amend the rules to allow them to be used for modern warfare. The lists do not include the first line supply vehicles, except in artillery units, these should be added if using the supply rules. Although not noted in the rules, Infantry can be resupplied by helicopter flights. In these rules infantry have been given soft transport where appropriate, if no lorries are noted then the infantry don’t have them, and walk. Assault and lift helicopters are listed separately under the battalion which can use them. 2 American Units. There are three sets of organisation for the US army, Pentomic, Road and Division 86. The lists in this section cover all three, but I have simplified the situation somewhat, to avoid too long a document. ROAD and Division 86 units practised cross attachment, so Tank and Mechanised Companies may be fielded with companies form the opposite. Similarly the Brigades are very flexible, and can command from 2 to 5 battalions in these units. 2 A American Pentomic Brigade group. 1958 (Note very short lived, Infantry have SAR) HQ Company 1 Jeep(3) carrying CO, 1 Man with Radio. 1 Jeep(1) carrying AOP, and 1 Man Radio 1 Jeep(3) carrying 2 men with 3.5” RCL, 2 Men. Scout Plt 1 Jeep with HMG(4), 1 M41 Lt Tank(2) AA Plt 1 2 1/2 Tonne Lorry(4) towing M55 Quad HMG(4) with 3 Crew. A/T Platoon 2 Jeep with 106mm RCL(4) Engineer Plt 1 M37 3/4 Tonne(2) carrying 4 Men with engineer stores. 5 Infantry Companies 1 2 1/2 Tonne Lorry(3) carrying 2 Men with LMG, 8 Men 1 M37(3) carrying 1 81 mm Mortar(3) with 3 Crew. 1 Jeep with 106 mm RCL(2) 1 Tank Company 3 M48(5) or M47(5) 1 Battery 1 Jeep(3) carrying Officer, 1 Man Radio, 1 Jeep(1) carrying AOP, and 1 Man Radio 2 2 1/2 tonne Lorries(3) towing M101 105 mm Howitzers(3), 1 2 1/2 Tonne Lorry(4). Note : A Cavalry Company from the ROAD cavalry Squadron could be added. Also one in 5 battalions had M59 APC’s, these replace the CO’s Jeep and the Infantry Company 2 1/2 Tonne lorries. 2 B American Road Brigade HQ 1958 to 1982. (May command 4 Battalions + 1 Artillery Battalion) HQ 1 3/4 Tonne(4) or M577(4) carrying CO, 2 Officers, 4 Men. (Lt Infantry have 2 Jeeps(4) ) 1 Engineer Company 1 M59(4) or M113(4) carrying 1 man 90 mm RCL, 6 Engineer Figures. 1 AVLB(2) [M48 or M60] 1 M728 CEV(1) (from 1965) Note All carry SAR until 1970 unless in S.E. Asia, in which case Assault rifle may be used from 1967. M577 replaced soft transport in the mid - 1960’s. Lt infantry Engineers delete the AVLB and CEV, replacing its APC with a 2 1/2 tonne lorry, from 1967 may add M72 LAW to each group. 2 C American Road Mechanised Infantry Battalion 1958 to 1970. (SAR to 1967 or 70, AR from 1967/70) HQ 1 M59(3) or M577(3) carrying CO, 1 Officer, 4 Men with Radios. 1 M37 3/4 Tonne(3) carrying 81 mm Mortar(3) with 3 crew or 1 M125(3) 1 Jeep(1) carrying MOP, 1 Man Radio. 2 M113/106(3) [M113 units only] 3 Infantry Companies 1 M59(5) or M113(5) carrying 1 Man 90 mm RCL, 1 Man LMG, 8 Men. 1 Jeep/106(2) or M113/106(2) 1 Scout Platoon 2 Jeep/HMG(4), 1 M41(2) [With M59 units] or with M113 units 3 M114(2) or 3 M113 ACAV(2) each carrying 2 Men. M114 were replaced by 1973. 1 Mortar Battery 1 Jeep(1) carrying MOP, 1 Man radio, 1 M84(4) or M106(4) [M106 in M113 units] Note All European units have SAR, rather than AR, which can only be used in SE Asia. M72 was available from 1963, to any unit. All APC’s should be of the same type. 2 D American Road Mechanised Infantry Battalion 1971 to 1984. (Infantry have AR and M72 LAW) HQ 1 M577(3) carrying CO, 1 Officer, 4 Men with Radios. 1 M125(3), 1 Jeep(1) carrying MOP, 1 Man Radio. 2 M113/106(3) or M150(3) [From 1973] or M901(3) [From 1979] 1 Jeep(4) with GSR(4) 1 Jeep(4) carrying 1 Man with Redeye Lt AAGW, 1 Man 3 Infantry Companies 1 M113(4) carrying 1 Man 90 mm RCL or Dragon ATGW, 1 Man LMG, 6 Men. 1 M113/106(2) or M150(2) or M901(2) 1 Scout Platoon 1 M113 ACAV(3) carrying 2 Men, 1 M150(3) or M901(3). 1 Mortar Battery 1 Jeep(1) carrying MOP, 1 Man radio, 1 M84(4) or M106(4) [M106 in M113 units] Note M150 was first used in 1973, Dragon in 1975, and M901 in 1979. 90 mm RCL may not be mixed with Dragon, nor may M113/106 with M150, there are no other restrictions. 2 E American Road Tank Battalion 1958 to 1965 (Infantry have SAR) HQ 1 M59(3) carrying CO, 1 Officer, 4 Men with Radios, 1 M32(3) ARV . 1 M48 A2(4) or M48 A1(4), or M48(4) or M103(4) [May be CO] 1 M48 A2(5) or M48 A1(5) or M48(5) or M103(5) 1 Scout Platoon 2 Jeep/HMG(4), 1 M41(2) 1 Mortar Battery 1 Jeep(1) carrying MOP, 1 Man radio, 1 M84(4) or M106(4) [From 1963] 3 Companies 3 M48A2(5) or M48A1(5) or M48(5) or M103(5) Note All tanks must be of the same type, no more than 1 Battalion of M103 may be used. 2 F American Road Tank Battalion 1966 to 1980 (Infantry have AR and M72) HQ 1 M577(3) carrying CO, 1 Officer, 4 Men with Radios, 1 M88(3) ARV . 1 M48 A3(4) or M60 A1(4), or M60A2 (4) or M48A5(4) [May be CO] 1 M48 A3(5) or M60 A1(5) or M60A2(5) or M48A5(5), 1 AVLB(2) 1 Scout Platoon 3 M114(2) or 3 M113 ACAV(2) each carrying 2 Men. M114 were replaced by 1973. 1 Mortar Battery 1 Jeep(1) carrying MOP, 1 Man radio, 1 M106(4) 3 Companies 3 M48 A3(5) or M60 A1(5) or M60A2(5) or M48A5(5) Note Only one type of tank may be used, only 1 Battalion of M60 A2 may be used. Dates are as follows: M48 A3 to 1972, SE Asia. M60 A1 at any time M60A2 from 1975. M48 A5 from 1976. One Battalion can have M551 Sheridan. 2 G American Road Tank Battalion 1978 to 1985 (Infantry have AR and M72) HQ 1 M577(3) carrying CO, 1 Officer, 4 Men with Radios, 1 M88(3) ARV . 1 Jeep(4) carrying GSR 1 Jeep(4) carrying 1 Man with Redeye, 1 Man. 1 M60 A1(4), or M60A3 (4) or M48A5(4) [May be CO] 1 M60 A1(5), or M60A3 (5) or M48A5(5), 1 AVLB(2) 1 Scout Platoon 1 M113 (3) carrying 2 Men. 1 M150(3), or M901(3). 1 Mortar Battery 1 Jeep(1) carrying MOP, 1 Man radio, 1 M106(4) 3 Companies 3 M60 A1(5) or M60A3(5) or M48A5(5) Note Only one type of tank may be used, dates are as follows: M60 A1 at any time M60A3 from 1981. M48 A5 from 1976. One battalion can have M551 Sheridan. 2 H American ROAD Field Artillery Battalion 1958 to 1985 (Infantry have SAR to 1970, AR from then on) HQ 1 3/4 Tonne(4) or M577(4) carrying CO, 1 Officer, 2 Men with radios. 3 Jeeps(1) or M113(1) carrying FOO and 1 Man with radio. 3 Batteries 2 M52 SP 105 mm(3) , or 2 M108 SP 105 mm(3) or 2 M109 SP 155 mm(3) 1 2 1/2 Tonne Lorry(4) or M548(4) or 2 2 1/2 tonne Lorries(3) towing M101 105 mm(3) or M102 105 mm(3), or M119 105 mm(3), 1 2 1/2 Tonne Lorry(4). or 2 5 Tonne lorries towing M114 155 mm(3) or M198 155 mm(3) 1 2 1/2 Tonne Lorry(4) or 1 M53 203 mm SP(4) or M110 203 mm SP(4), 1 2 1/2 Tonne Lorry(4) Note SP battalions are for Armoured/Mechanised Divisions. They can have : M52 to 1964, M108 from 1962 to 1968. M109 form 1964 onwards. M548 is used with M108 and M109. Towed battalions are for Light Infantry and Airborne Divisions. Airborne units have 105 mm, and Light units have 3 105 mm + 1 155 mm until 1985. They can have M101 to 1973 M102 to 1986 M119 from 1983 M114 to 1980 M198 form 1976 203 mm Battalions are Divisional heavy or corp.