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Old 01-24-2010, 09:11 PM
Abbott Shaull Abbott Shaull is offline
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: Somewhere in the Eastern U.P. on the edge of Civilization.
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It is one of the sad things that the Armor community didn't learn from WWII. The Armored Cavalry Regiments were probably the best all around formation in that several elements came together. Where Infantry and Armor Companies were kept separate at least at administration level even if the Brigade commander believed and did deploy the Battalions in Task Force concepts.

One of the thing that really held things up was that also at the time when many of these discussions were being held the C-5 was the only aircraft that was able to move M1s, even when the C-17 was introduce, the requirement to maintain a Company were huge to drain off cargo space that could be used for other supplies for the formation.

The sad thing is the M8 or LAV75 wouldn't ever work in their Battalion formation. I know in the 82nd Airborne Division the 3-73rd with it 4 Companies usually had one attached to each of the 3 Combat Brigades while the last Company would be used with the ground element of Divisional Cavalry. The ones with 101st Division would be assigned in similar way. Once a they caught up with their Air Assault Battalion individual Companies would join the Brigade they are to support.

As for the Battalions assigned to the 6th, 7th, and 25th Light Infantry Divisions and the 10th Mountain Division. I see the Divisional Commanders having a lot of leeway in their deployments. One train of thought the entire Battalion would be assigned to Brigade with the 2 Light Motorized Battalions. The 2 Motorized Battalion would mix three companies of 2 Light Motorized and 1 Heavy Motorized Platoons. Then each Battalion would transfer one of these mix companies/teams to the Light Armored Battalion while they received Light Armor Company. The Task Force/Battalion Command would then even redo the mix for some interesting combinations of Platoons. Especially if the AT Companies were dispersed to the line companies.

Or they could be much like how they were used in the 82nd and 101st. Where the Divisional Cavalry and each of the three combat Brigades would each have get one Company. What sucks about this option is it take disperses limited resource too thin for the Division.

This would call into question how the two Light motorized Battalions were used if the they did the later. They could pool resource to help motorized a Light Infantry Battalion to have a highly mobile Brigade. With the Motorized Companies mixed again and two sent to the Light Infantry Battalion while they send Company each one or two Light Armor Companies mixed in and Companies remixed.

Or there could be two Brigade with one Motorized Battalion assigned with two Light Infantry Battalions. Along with one Light Armor Company then mix the Companies into some unique combination. This would dilute mobility of resources, but would be useful if the unit was being used to control large areas of the rear. Or the each Brigade would have Motorized/Light Armor Task Force with two Light Infantry Battalions and the 7th Battalion assigned to rear area service protection. Again dilute mobility, but when keep Brigade Commanders ability to have mobile reserve.....

Then again with the new organization of the US Army. With each Brigade have Cavalry with each Brigade having Light Armor Company would make sense, or have Heavy tank Team would make sense.
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