Graebarde's 5th Mech Reorganization document.

[kato13]

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This has been very useful to me so I thought I would post the whole thing so to make it searchable.
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REORGANIZATION

In the fall of 1999, Fifth Infantry Division (Mechanized) was ordered into containment early. The division was no longer really a division other than in name only, nor was it really mechanized. The total division strength was below 25%, and Armored vehicle strength was below 20%, with availability lower than that. Replacements in men, equipment, parts, and supplies were nonexistent or at such a trickle they might as well have been. Brigadier General Ramon G. Rodriguez, commanding general of 5 ID, recognizing this decided it was time to do something about the organization. BG Rodriguez was recently given command of the division when the previous CG succumbed to the devastating Carpathian flue, so named because it seems to come from the Carpathian Mountains of southern Poland. The division, already depleted by combat, was left with 40% of the survivors of the war dead from the Carpathian flue,

He ordered his staff to develop a reorganization plan for the division to be implemented over the winter containment. He wanted a fighting organization, combat ready by spring. The staff, under the guidance of Colonel Walter A. Matthews, a hardcore infantry officer, set about the task, and delivered the draft plan within 48 hours. Rodriguez was pleased with the plan and impressed with the speed at which it was delivered. Matthews told his boss he actually dusted off and made some minor changes to plans he had drafted a year ago, but the old CG wasn't interested at the time. Well Rodriguez was, and told Matthews to run with the plan.

THE PLAN

The former CG of 5ID had left the structure of the division untouched, resulting in the units being reduced to squads in some case, or even nonexistent, but still shown on paper. There was some clustering of troops, though not official, done to try and maintain combat efficiency. Matthews plan would change all that.

His first order was the establishment of an Infantry training center, co-located with the MSB. Here, a cadre of veteran infantry troops from line battalions would give a 'refresher' course to all the REMFs no longer needed in the rear to perform defunct missions. While engineers prepared the TC, the reorganization orders were sent out.

The new improved 5 ID would be composed of the following with 'authorized' strengths as listed.

Division Headquarters and Headquarters Company 350
105 CEWI Battalion 180
105 Signal Battalion 215
705 Military Police Battalion 245
4/12 Cavalry Squadron 200
11 Engineer Brigade 375
{Consisting of three 'battalions': 11, 811, and 721}
5 Division Artillery 550
{40th Field Artillery Regiment}}
5 Aviation Brigade 50
{Aviation detachment}
275 Cavalry Squadron (Provisional) 135
5 Division Support Command 700
{Consisting of: 705 MSB, 5 FSB, 65 FSB}
105 Chemical Company 35

Maneuver battalions:
3 Heavy battalions {1/61, 2/61, and 1/256} 1200
5 Light battalions {1/10, 2/10, 1/11, 2/11, 1/143} 2400


Command

Division Headquarters took on a Spartan look, with officers taking over the functions of enlisted, to allow enlisted to move to 'productive' work elsewhere. Only a cadre of NCOs remained to show the officers how it was done, but then they were often stumped themselves as NOTHING was as it used to be. Improvisation was the key to success. The division HQ also provides thee local 'governors' to the AO, the criminal court officers, chaplain's services, and command/staff for maneuver brigades.

Division Headquarters Company [350]
Command 5
Chief of Staff 10
Brigade Headquarters 30 (3x ten-man command-staff elements)
Adjutant 35
Intelligence 35
Operations 50
Logistics 25
Civil Government 40 (headquarters, 15x two-man teams)
Judge Advocate 10
Chaplain 15 (6x two-man teams)
Security 30 (3x eight-man squads)
Commandant 65 (headquarters, maintenance, supply, administration)

Intelligence

105th CEWI Battalion still had its original mission, but due to lack of electronic replacements was greatly hindered, yet they managed to do the best they could with what they had. One unit of the battalion was largely unaffected by the reorganization, except to increase in size and importance. This was E Company (Long Range Surveillance), which is stripped from the MI battalion and allocated to the cavalry squadron. The GSR's that remained in service were farmed out to the forward outposts along lines of likely approach.

105th CEWI Battalion [180]
Headquarters 15
EW technicians 35 (8x four-man teams jammers, listeners, etc)
GSR units 25 (6x four-man GSR teams)
Counter Intelligence 25 (12x two-man teams)
Security Intelligence 25 (6x four-man teams)
Intelligence Analysts 35
Special Operations 20 (4x six-man teams)

Signal

105th Signal Battalion had a serious problem with radio communications. Batteries were the major problem, along with parts for electronic components. Messenger services and wire communications were the main means of communications within the containment area, and wire teams were constantly repairing broken wires. Messengers traveled on foot, motorcycle, bicycles, and occasionally in four wheeled vehicles.

105th Signal Battalion [215]
Headquarters 25
Division COMELO 10
Crypto 10
Radio Teletype 20 (6x RATT units)
Comm Centers 45 (3x comm. center, switchboards)
Messenger Service 32 (8x motorcycle, 10x bicycle, 4x CUCV)
Land Lines Service 48 (8x six-man wire/cable teams)
Long Range Radio 25 (5x radio sections)
Military Police

705th Military Police Battalion's mission was largely unchanged, but made more difficult as time went along due to desertions and bandit attacks. Black-marketing and misappropriation of military goods was also rampant, and the new CG wanted it stopped. A labor camp was established to 'house' the worst offenders, and 'hard labor' took on a new meaning in the American sector.

705th Military Police [245]
Provost Marshal 10
Criminal Investigations 8
Headquarters 17
4x Military Police 35 (15 two-man patrols, HQ-operations)
1x Security Platoon 45 (4 ten-man squads, HQ-ops)
1x Confinement 25



Aviation

The 5th Aviation Brigade, which no longer had operations due to lack of parts and fuel, maintained only one flight of serviceable aircraft in hopes of getting some fuel. The Aviation 'detachment' of the division has two OH58 Kiowa Warriors and one UH60 Black Hawk that are still flyable, but again fuel is the limiting factor, hence they remain grounded.

5th Aviation [50]
Headquarters 10
Maintenance 15
Ground Support 10
Flight Operations 15 (2x OH58D, 1x UH60)

Reconnaissance

Horse cavalry returned in the form of the 4/12 Cavalry. They skimmed the division for combat veterans with horse experience, and were constantly scheming to gain replacements of horses, equipment, and men. They tried to maintain eight 8-man patrols, but in actuality never succeed to do so. Company E, 105th MI Battalion (LRSU) managed to maintain six 8-man teams. They skimmed the cream of the crop within the division also and had priority of 'operators'. They operate on horse as well as foot and operate much further ahead than the main force cavalry. The formation is very loose as the patrols are often gone from the HQ elements. Cavalry Troops are lettered A-H, whereas E Company's patrols are numbered 1-6.

4/12 Cavalry Squadron [200]
Command 3 (CO, XO, CSM)
Squadron Staff 20 (admin/logistics and operations/intelligence)
Communications 10 (comm. Center and radio operators)
Medical 10
Logistics 30 (field kitchen, transport and remount services)
Headquarters 15
A-H
8x Troops 64 (each troop of 8 horse-mounted dragoons)

E Company 105th MI (LRSU) [48]
6x Patrols 48 (each patrol forms two four-man teams with HQ consolidated)


Division Support

The Division Support Command is formed into two forward support battalions and one main support battalion. The 705th Main Support Battalion operates the main base of the division. They operate a field hospital, bakery, fuel distillation center, ammo renovation, storage and issue facility, cannibalization and repair facility, textile repair facility, boot repair, general supply storage and issue, as well as the labor battalion for the fields around the MSB. They also have transportation units to move supplies, including fuel to the forward support battalions. Most of the transport is by horse drawn wagons made of truck chassis, but there are still several motor vehicles used. These are primarily for heavy equipment and bulk items. Land trains, of multiple trailers pulled by one tractor are the normal for motorized transport of supplies. Forward support battalions provide area support to the 'brigade' sectors. They maintain a combat support hospital, supply, maintenance and transport, at a much-reduced size from prewar levels. 105th Chemical company mission was very difficult, largely due to the losses of significant numbers of trained specialists, and the lack of decontamination and monitoring equipment. They did the best they could with what they had, and were co-located with the MSB.


705th Mains Support Battalion [470]
Command 3
Support Command Staff 25
Rear Area Operations Center 15
Commandant 12
Field Kitchens 25 (operates 3x kitchens)
Field Hospital 75 (40 bed hospital ICU)
Bakery 20 (15 bakers)
Textile Repair 20 (clothing and canvas repair)
Boot Repair 10 (boot repair)
Cannibalization and Repair 35 (cannibalization point, repair depot)
Fuel Distillation 15 (2x large stills)
Ammo Renovation 30 (collect, renovate ammunition)
General Supply 20 (collection, storage and issue)
Motor Transport 35 (4 heavy equipment transporters (HET), 12 'land trains')
Transport (Horse) 30 (25 six-horse hitch heavy wagons (4 ton)
Labor Support 85 (labor pool)
Replacement Administration 15
105th Chemical Co 35 (runs shower point, decontamination, general services)


2x Forward Support Battalion [115]

Commandant 15
Combat support Hospital 35
Supply, Maintenance, Transport 65




Light Battalion

The fighting bulk of the division is in five light battalions. These are formed of a cadre of infantry veterans filled with the 'nonessential' personnel from rear area battalions. It is these persons which attended the training center set up at the MSB during the late fall and winter of 1999. Each battalion sent a cadre of twelve NCOs and three officers to the training center to train the 'replacements'.
The light infantry battalion consisted of the headquarters and Support Company and three line companies with an aggregate strength of 480.

Headquarters and Support Company [180]
Command 3 (CO, XO, CSM)
Battalion Staff 20 (admin and logistics, operations and intelligence)
Communications 29 (com center, 2x wire teams, radio section)
Medical 25 (battalion aid station, medivac , 3x medic teams)
Logistics 34 (field kitchen, transport and maintenance)
Recon 17 (3x four-man recon teams)
Mortar 26 (4x 81mm mortars)
Fire Support 19 (2x HMAW, 4x HMG)
Commandant 7 (company staff, 2 command drivers)

3x Rifle Company [100]
Headquarters 8 (company staff)
Weapons 11 (3x two-man GPMG teams, 2 SMAW gunners)
3x Rifle 27 (3x eight-man rifle squads)


Heavy Battalion

The division still maintains strength of 36 M1's, 48 M2/3's and 60 M113-series vehicles in the maneuver battalions. These combat vehicles, considered operational, are consolidated into three heavy battalions. Their primary constrains are the lack of fuel, spare parts, and ordnance for the main guns. Each of the battalions has 12 M1's, 16 M2/3's, and 20 M113-series in two companies and a headquarters & support company. Each battalion also has four 120mm mortars. Each battalion consists of a Headquarters and Support Company and two Heavy Companies with an aggregate strength of 400. The 256th Armored Battalion is equipped with M60A3s and M113 carriers, where as 61st units are equipped with M1/M2/3 series vehicles.

Headquarters and Support Company [200]
Command 3
Battalion staff 20
Communications 20
Medical 20
Logistics 50
Scouts 36 (6x M2/3 six-man)
Mortars 33 (4x 120mm)
Tank 8 (2x MBT)
Commandant 10

2x Armored Company [100]
Headquarters 16 (staff and maintenance)
Tank 20 (5x MBT)
IFV Infantry 64 (8x IFV/APC eight-man)

Division Artillery

5th Division artillery's face had changed but not its mission. In the summer of 1999, they had received a 'surprise' shipment of 18 'obsolete' M101 105mm howitzers. These pieces were the old split-tail model, and soon caissons were fabricated to allow the pieces to be towed by draft animals due to the shortage of fuel for trucks. The remaining eight M109 Self propelled gun-howitzers of the division were used for general support missions, and received priority among the battalions for fuel. Ammunition for these guns was still a shortage item however. The Division artillery has been designated as the 40th Field Artillery Regiment, with the light batteries as A, B, C batteries, and the heavies as D and E. The fire control of the batteries has reverted to 'stick and chain' survey methods for accuracy, a time consuming and often inaccurate method.

Headquarters and Support battery [165]
Command 3
Battalion staff 20
Fire Support Coordination 15
Target Acquisition & Survey 25
Communications 25
Medical 15
Logistics 55
Commandant 7

3x Light Battery [85]
Battery headquarters 10
Firing battery control 15 (Fire Direction Control, Forward Observers)
Guns 50 (6x M101 105mm howitzer)
Ammunition 10 (8x teams)

2x Heavy Battery [65]
Battery headquarters 16 (admin and maintenance)
Firing battery control 15 (FDC, FO)
Guns 24 (4x M109 155mm Sp gun/howitzer)
Ammunition 10 (5x FAASV)

Engineers

11th Engineer brigade, organized around three combat engineer battalions, had difficult times keeping heavy equipment running, maintaining main supply routes (MSRs), and constructing fortifications. There lack of trained personnel was not a limiting factor, as the cadre base of the brigade was strong. They also did not have a big shortage of heavy construction-type equipment, but the M9 ACE was in short supply. The 'Brigade' has an aggregate strength of 375.

Headquarters and Support Company [190]
Command 3
Battalion staff 20
Division Engineer 10
Communications 25
Medical 15
Logistics 55
Commandant 7
Water Purification 18 (3x water points)
Power Generation 12 (6x 60kw generators)
Heavy Equipment Operators 25
(3x D7 Dozer, 2x Motor grader, 2x 4wd tractor scraper, 2x crane, 3x backhoe loaders, 3x 3-yard loaders, 2x compactor units, 1x dragline, 2x semi-tractor w low-bed trailer, 2x compressor units)

Heavy Combat Support Company [75]
Headquarters & Maintenance 15
Combat Engineer Vehicle 4 (1x CEV)
AVLB 3 (1x AVLB)
Mine Clearing Vehicle 4 (2x Mine clearing)
Mine Laying Vehicle 3 (1x Mine Layer)
Armored Combat Engineer 42 (6x M113)
M9 ACE 4 (2x M9 ACE)

2x Combat Engineer Company [55]
Headquarters 17
SEE vehicle 6 (3x SEE)
Combat Engineer 32 (4x Dump Truck, 4x HMMWV)




275 Cavalry (provisional)
'MAD MAX'

The ADA battalion was in a like situation, due to lack of viable air threat, and missiles to place on target. Matthews, at the urging of the Air Cavalry commander, authorized the formation of what was referred to as the 'Mad Max' Battalion. It consists of highly modified HMMWVs, 5-ton cargo trucks, all converted into gun platforms reminiscent of the Vietnam era gun trucks, and a few home-brewed FAVs. Theses are located in the 275 Cavalry, a provisional unit based on one of the division attack helicopter battalions. These vehicles are 'farmed out' for convoy escort, base security, and fire support for light battalions as needed, or available. The number and types of vehicles in the battalion continues to grow, based on salvaged weapons and platforms, with a current battery of 23 vehicles.

Headquarters 12
Maintenance and Log 18
Vehicle crews 105

Mod 1 5-ton 1x 7.62 minigun crew 4-6 3x
'GRIM REAPER' 'SHOGUN' 'ACE OF SPADES'
Mod 2 5-ton 1x 30mm chaingun crew 5-6 1x
'UNDERTAKER'
Mod 3 5-ton LWB 4x 2.75" rocket pods crew 4-6 1x
'SWOOSHER'
Mod 4 5-ton 1x AGL, 2x GPMG crew 5-7 3x
'REBEL ROUSER' 'BABY CAKES' 'SPIRIT OF AMERICA'
Mod 5 5-ton 1x HMG, 1x AGL, 2x GPMG crew 6-8 1x
'ROAD WARRIOR'
Mod 6 AVENGER 4x HELLFIRE, 1x 25mm chaingun crew 2-3 2x
'HELL'S ANGEL' 'PAUL'S REVENGE'
Mod 7 HMMWV 1x AGL crew 2-3 1x
'SCORPION'
Mod 8 HMMWV 1x HMG, 1x GPMG crew 4-5 2x
'THUNDER' 'BLITZKREIG'
Mod 9 HMMWV 3x GPMG crew 4-5 3x
'SALLY ANN' 'TWISTER' 'BALLS TO THE WALL'
Mod 10 FAV 1x AGL crew 2-3 1x
'LITTLE THUNDER'
Mod 11 FAV 1x HMG crew 2-3 2x
'DAISY CHAIN' 'SLEEPY JOE'
Mod 12 10-ton HEMET 1x 23mm quad, 1x 82mm 'pickle' mortar, 2x 30mm AGL, 2x GPMG
'THE BEAST' crew 10-12 1x
Mod 13 5-ton 2x 7.62 minigun, 1x AGL crew 6-8 1x
'VALKYRIE'
Mod 14 5-ton M165 Vulcan ADA APC chassis crew 4-8 1x
'BUZZ SAW'

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I believe the text below was a work in progress.

XI Corp Rear Area
1984TH Surgical Army Hospital
804 Signal Company
368th MP Batt
368th MI Batt
411th Engineer Batt
17th Area Support Group
505th Quatermaster Batt
35th Supply and Service Batt
78th Aviation Service Bn (Prov)
83rd Ordnance Batt
25th AG Postal Co
548th Transportation Detachment
456th Replacement Detachment
8th State Military Office
305th Military Affairs Detachment
315th Corp Finance Group
251st ADA Batt
1/111th Combat Team
IX Corp Artillery
211 FA Brigade
42 FA Brigade
8th ID
13th Infantry Regiment
Det 13 8th Signal
1/13 Infantry
2/13 Infantry
3/13 Infantry
B/13 Armored
43 Artillery
28 Artillery
1/12 Engineer
13th FSB
A B 8th Recon

28th Infantry Regiment
Det 28 8th Signal
1/28 Infantry
2/28 Infantry
3/28 Infantry
A/28 Armored
A-45 Artillery
56 Artillery
2/12 Engineer
28th FSB
D E 8th Recon

5th Infantry Regiment
Det 5 8th Signal
2/5 Infantry
C/5 Armored
B-45 Artillery
C F 8th Recon

Division Trains
HHC
8 CEWI
8 Signal-
12 Engineer-
DivArty-
8 MSB
8 MP
3/34 Armor
3/5 ADA
G H 8th Recon
8th Aviation at Corp

50th Armored Division
50th Infantry Brigade
Det 150 250 Signal
1/102 Armored
2/102 Armored
1/114 Infantry
A-3/258 Artillery
E-3/258 Artillery
181 Engineer
250 FSB
A B 5/117 Cavalry

3rd Armor Brigade
Det 23 250 Signal
1/127 Armored
1/101 Cavalry
1/69 Infantry (M)
C-3/258 Artillery
D-3/258 Artillery
101 Engineer
342 FSB
D F 5/117 Cavalry

86th Armor Brigade
Det 386 250 Signal
1/172 Armored
2/172 Armored
2/182 Infantry
B-3/258 Artillery
152 Engineer
186 FSB
C E 5/117 Cavalry

Division Trains
HHC
250 CEWI
250 Signal-
42 Engineer-
DivArty-
50 MSB
42 MP
5/117 Cavalry-


2nd MEF

Headquarters Battalion
Headquarters Company
2nd Force Recon Company
2nd MLE Company
2nd SOTG

2nd Intelligence Battalion
Headquarters Company
Company A (P&A)
Company B (CI/HUMINT)

2nd Communications Battalion
Headquarters Company
Company A (DS)
Company B (DS)
Company C (DS)
Company D (GS)
Company E (Service)

2nd Radio Battalion
Headquarters and Support Company
Company A
Company B


2nd Marine Division

Headquarters and Support Battalion
Division Headquarters
Division Headquarters Company
Direct Support Team 22
Direct Support Team 26
Direct support Team 28
Special Communications Team

2nd Military Police Company
2nd Signals Company
2nd Truck Company
2nd Recon Company
2nd Marine Division Band


Headquarters Company, 2nd Marine Regiment

1st Battalion, 2nd Marines
Headquarters Company
Company A
Company B
Company C
Company D (Support)

2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines
Headquarters Company
Company E
Company F
Company G
Company H (Support)

3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines
Headquarters Company
Company I
Company K
Company L
Company M (Support)


Headquarters Company, 6th Marine Regiment

1st Battalion, 6th Marines
Headquarters Company
Company A
Company B
Company C
Company D (Support)

2nd Battalion, 6th Marines
Headquarters Company
Company E
Company F
Company G
Company H (Support)

3rd Battalion, 6th Marines
Headquarters Company
Company I
Company K
Company L
Company M (Support)


Headquarters Company, 8th Marine Regiment

1st Battalion, 8th Marines
Headquarters Company
Company A
Company B
Company C
Company D (Support)

2nd Battalion, 8th Marines
Headquarters Company
Company E
Company F
Company G
Company H (Support)

3rd Battalion, 8th Marines
Headquarters Company
Company I
Company K
Company L
Company M (Support)

Headquarters, 10th Marines (Artillery)

1st Battalion, 10th Marines
Headquarters Company
Battery A
Battery B
Battery C
Service Battery

2nd Battalion, 10th Marines
Headquarters Company
Battery A
Battery B
Battery C
Service Battery

3rd Battalion, 10th Marines
Headquarters Company
Battery A
Battery B
Battery C
Service Battery

5th Battalion, 10th Marines
Headquarters Company
Battery A
Battery B
Battery C
Service Battery

2nd Tank Battalion
Headquarters Company
Company A
Company B
Company C
Company D

2nd Amphibious Assault Battalion
Headquarters Company
Company A
Company B
Company C
Company D

2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion
Headquarters Company
Company A
Company B
Company C
Company D

2nd Engineer Battalion
Headquarters Company
Company A
Company B
Company C
Company D
Company E (Engineer Support)


2nd FSSG

Headquarters and Support Battalion
Headquarters and Support Company
2nd Service Company
8th Signal Company
8th Military Police Company

8th Maintenance Battalion
Headquarters and Support Company
Company A (Ordnance)
Company B (Engineering)
Company C (Electronics)
Company D (Motor Transport)
Company E (General Service)

2nd Logistics Battalion
Headquarters and Support Company
Company A (Logistics)
Company B (Ammunition)
Company C (Medical Logistics)

8th Engineer Support Battalion
Headquarters and Support Company
Company A
Company B
Company C
Company D (Bridge)
Company E (Engineer Support)
Company F (Bulk Fuel)

8th Transportation Battalion
Headquarters and Support Company
Company A (DS)
Company B (DS)
Company C (GS)
Company D (LS)
Company E (B&T)
Company F (Support)

2nd Surgical Battalion
Headquarters and Support Company
Company A
Company B
Company C

2nd Medical Battalion (DS)
Headquarters and Support Company
Company A
Company B
Company C