Locksley Posted August 15, 2004 Share Posted August 15, 2004 Hey What are the name of companies according to their letter. For example A = Able? B=Baker? C D E F G H I Also was it the same for the all the allies, eg would a British or Canadian B company be called Baker like an American? Thanks Tom 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flamingknives Posted August 15, 2004 Share Posted August 15, 2004 The phonetic alphabet was changed at points during the war, at least in British Service. British companies were known by letter (A,B,C and D, typically), so they would be referred to over the radio by phonetics. However, most written histories for British units refer to the companies as A, B, C etc. not than Able, Baker... Also, due to the nature of Commonwealth organisations, Battalions of a given regiment would not usually be assigned to the same Brigade, so companies were only referred to as A to D rather than continuing to E, F and G in the second battalion. Phonetics, late war: A Able B Baker C Charlie D Dog Phonetics, early war: A Ack B Beer C Charlie D Don 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Dorosh Posted August 16, 2004 Share Posted August 16, 2004 Originally posted by flamingknives: The phonetic alphabet was changed at points during the war, at least in British Service. British companies were known by letter (A,B,C and D, typically), so they would be referred to over the radio by phonetics. However, most written histories for British units refer to the companies as A, B, C etc. not than Able, Baker... Also, due to the nature of Commonwealth organisations, Battalions of a given regiment would not usually be assigned to the same Brigade, so companies were only referred to as A to D rather than continuing to E, F and G in the second battalion. Phonetics, late war: A Able B Baker C Charlie D Dog Phonetics, early war: A Ack B Beer C Charlie D Don There were some regimental exceptions in the CW armies. The Scots Guards had Right Flank Company, No. 2 Company No. 3 Company, and Left Flank Company, for example. The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders at some point (perhaps after WW II) dispensed with C Company and had A, B and D, so the story goes. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonS Posted August 16, 2004 Share Posted August 16, 2004 2nd KSLI (185 Bde, 3rd UK Inf Div) used W, X, Y, & Z Coys. 27(MG)Bn in 2(NZ)Div had 1, 2, 3, & 4 Coys. UK inf bns in Italy went to a three coy org late-ish in the war (approx mid-late 1944-onwards). I imagine there was a fair bit of variation in how that was handled (A,B,C or B,C,D or A,B,D, or ... etc) 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Rock Posted August 16, 2004 Share Posted August 16, 2004 US Army companies 1st bn able baker charlie dog (heavy weapons) 2nd bn easy fox george how (HW) 3rd bn Item King I think Lima Mike There is no Company J--it looks like an I and on the radio sounds like a K Nowadays the US Army dropped the whole idea and uses Alpha Bravo Charlie Delta While the USMC still uses the whole alphabet in their regiments 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John D Salt Posted August 16, 2004 Share Posted August 16, 2004 Originally posted by Charlie Rock: [snips] I think Lima Love. John. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FM Paul Heinrik Posted August 16, 2004 Share Posted August 16, 2004 Originally posted by Charlie Rock: US Army companies 1st bn able baker charlie dog (heavy weapons) 2nd bn easy fox george how (HW) 3rd bn Item King I think Lima Mike There is no Company J--it looks like an I and on the radio sounds like a K Nowadays the US Army dropped the whole idea and uses Alpha Bravo Charlie Delta While the USMC still uses the whole alphabet in their regiments US WW2 H = not hotel? I = not indigo? Was there a standard for which companies saw action first? I have read many accounts of able, baker, charlie, easy, and fox companies but rarely hear about the exploits of the others and very rarely hear about the coys from 3 btn. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Dorosh Posted August 16, 2004 Share Posted August 16, 2004 Originally posted by FM Paul Heinrik: US WW2 H = not hotel? I = not indigo? Was there a standard for which companies saw action first? I have read many accounts of able, baker, charlie, easy, and fox companies but rarely hear about the exploits of the others and very rarely hear about the coys from 3 btn. http://www.canadiansoldiers.com/phonetics.htm Phonetic Alphabets - the US Army's in WW II is shown. Also the British phonetic from the early war period. Luckily the CW didn't name their companies like the US regiments did - who would want to command a battalion with Monkey Company and Nuts Company in it? "We'll send London up forward and keep Monkey, Nuts in reserve..." [ August 16, 2004, 11:43 AM: Message edited by: Michael Dorosh ] 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FM Paul Heinrik Posted August 16, 2004 Share Posted August 16, 2004 hehehe....nice link. thanks. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tar Posted August 26, 2004 Share Posted August 26, 2004 And if you want the German phonetic alphabet as well, here it is: German Phonetic Alphabet Contains names like Anton, Berta, Cäsar, Dora, usw. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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