Division Piece-By-Piece: US Infantry Div., '42 to Mid-'43

Diamondback · Division Piece-By-Piece: US Infantry Div., '42 to Mid-'43

For the rest of the hardcore types here (i.e., large battles, at the Battalion or higher level), I'm starting a series that looks at each division-type for each army from the bottom up, IE we're starting at the front line rather than at highest HQ as for a typical TO&E.

If anyone cares to add refinements, please feel free to chime in. This is based on the write-ups at http://bayonetstrength.150m.com , but there are still some bits I'm not sure about the composition of.

Diamondback · The Rifle Platoon

At the frontline:

Platoon HQ:
->1 Lieutenant w/ carbine
->Platoon Sergeant
->Sergeant Guide
->2 Messengers
->5 Riflemen
INGAME MODEL:
->1 Allied Lieutenant of choice
->1 any Allied Sergeant or other NCO of choice
->1x Eagle-Eyed NCO
->(messengers are included in below)
->1x M1 Garand Rifle

2 Rifle Squads, each containing:
->Squad NCOIC, 1 Sergeant w/Garand
->Assistant NCOIC, 1 Corporal w/M1903 & grenade-launcher
->7 Riflemen
->1 BAR Team (Gunner w/BAR, Assistant w/Garand, Ammo Carrier w/Garand)
INGAME MODEL:
->1x Allied Sergeant or other NCO of choice
->???
->1x M1 Garand Rifle
->1x BAR Gunner

Diamondback · The Rifle Company

It should be noted that this information is being laid out for large, all-day slugfests, not the "reduced" numbers of the "official platoons". Or, for a smaller battle, take out a company or platoon, man-for-man and gun-for-gun.

Now we introduce some administrative and support complications. It must be noted that at this level and back, the BARs issued to various drivers are intended as AA weapons. At higher levels, we encounter a soldier called the "Basic"--his role is usually as an attrition reserve, a pinch-hitter on HQ defense, or in a full-strength unit someone to man the bazookas. Suggested units would be to use a mix of Untested Recruits and Bazookas, with only the number of Bazookas I edit in for the TO&E later.

3x Rifle Platoons, as described above

1x Weapons Platoon
->Platoon HQ
-->1 officer, 7 EM (details unknown)
-->1x 3/4-ton truck & driver w/BAR
-->1x 1/2-ton truck & driver w/BAR
->INGAME MODEL:
-->??? (need more info)
-->???, add BAR Gunner's AI/AV stats (or deploy 1 extra BAR Gunner when truck doesn't move)
-->ditto for now until we get some light trucks

->Mortar Section
-->Section NCOIC
-->3 Mortar Squads, each with 1 60mm mortar and 6 EM
->INGAME MODEL:
-->1x Allied NCO of choice
-->each squad: 1x BS.24 Mortar M2 (has this been reissued yet?)

->Machine-Gun Section
-->Section NCOIC
-->2 MG Squads, each with 6 EM and 1 M1919 LMG
->INGAME MODEL:
-->1x Allied NCO of choice
-->each squad: 1x NA M1919 MG Team

Company Headquarters
->Officers: CO=Captain, XO=1st Lieutenant
->18 EM
->Further details: ???

Diamondback · The Infantry Battalion

Continuing back toward REMFville...

3x Rifle Company, as described above

1x Heavy Weapons Company
->2x Machine-Gun Platoon, each containing 1 officer and 44 EM:
-->Platoon HQ, composition unknown
-->INGAME MODEL: Obviously 1 Allied Lieutenant of choice, but further data required
-->2x MG Section, each containing
--->Section NCOIC
--->Heavy Squad
---->1x M1917 HMG
---->1x 3/4-ton truck & driver w/BAR
--->Light Squad
---->1x M1917 HMG
---->1x 3/4-ton truck & driver
-->INGAME MODEL:
--->1x Allied NCO of choice
--->each squad: 1 MG, 1 truck (add a BAR Gunner to 1 squad if truck's parked)
->1x Mortar Platoon
-->Platoon HQ: unknown, but platoon total's 1 Lieutenant and 61 NCO's/EM
-->3x Mortar Section, each containing:
--->Section NCOIC
--->Heavy Squad
---->1x 81mm mortar
---->1x 3/4-ton truck & driver w/BAR
--->Light Squad
---->1x 81mm mortar
---->1x 3/4-ton truck & driver
-->INGAME MODEL:
--->1x Allied NCO of choice
--->Ea. squad: 1x DD.21 M1 81mm Mortar, 1 truck (add a BAR to 1 squad if truck's parked)
->Company Headquarters
->Officers: CO=Captain, XO=1st Lieutenant
->29 EM
->Further details: ???

Battalion Headquarters
->HQ: CO=Lt. Colonel, XO=Major, Adjutant=Captain, Intel Officer=Lieutenant
->1x Headquarters Company
-->Company HQ: 2 officers, 22 cooks/supply/specialist EM
-->Battalion HQ Section: 16 EM (scouts and drivers)
-->Communications Platoon: 1 officer, 28 EM
-->Ammo & Pioneer Platoon
--->PLT HQ: 1x 2LT, 1x Sgt., 1 rifleman, 2x 3/4-ton truck (1 driver w/ M1903GL, other w/BAR)
--->3x A&P squad, each containing 1 Corporal and 7 other EM
-->Antitank Platoon
--->Platoon HQ: 1 Lieutenant, 1x BAR Jeep, further details unknown
--->INGAME MODEL: 1 Allied Lt. of choice, 1 Jeep (add BAR Gunner stats and SA's)
--->2x Antitank Gun Sections, each containing:
---->Section NCOIC
---->2 Gun Crews of 1 Jeep w/towed 37mm, 1 Gun Commander w/M1903GL, several EM

Diamondback · The Infantry Regiment

At this point, we're almost as far up as you can go and still have something near the frontline.

3x Infantry Battalion, as described above

Regimental Headquarters

->Headquarters Company, composition unknown
->Service Company, details unknown
->Cannon Co.: 6x 75mm GMCs or towed guns+Jeeps, 2x 105mm GMCs or towed guns+jeeps, rest unk.
->Antitank Company
-->Company HQ
-->3x Antitank Platoon, each containing:
--->Platoon HQ: 1x Lieutenant, 1x BAR Jeep, further details unknown
--->2 Gun Sections, each containing:
---->Section NCOIC
---->2 Gun Crews of 1 Jeep w/towed 37mm, 1 Gun Commander w/M1903GL, several EM

Diamondback · The Infantry Division

Welcome to REMFville, population: you, the brass, assorted clerks 'n' jerks and other noncombat Chairborne Soldiers. The only higher levels are Corps, Army, and Theater Command...

3x Infantry Regiment

Divisional Headquarters
->Headquarters Company
-->Company HQ
-->Antitank Platoon
--->Platoon HQ: 1x Lieutenant, 1x BAR Jeep, further details unknown
--->2 Gun Sections, each containing:
---->Section NCOIC
---->2 Gun Crews of 1 Jeep w/towed 37mm, 1 Gun Commander w/M1903GL, several EM
->Service Company
->Signal Company
->Recon Troop
->MP Platoon

Division Piece-By-Piece: US Infantry Div., '42 to Mid-'43

The Rifle Platoon

The Rifle Company

The Infantry Battalion

The Infantry Regiment

The Infantry Division