Combat Command make-up.

[Donan]

I've been looking around for about a week and can't seem to get a clear definition of the make-up of these that were used in the Ardennes Offensive. It seem's there were a CCA, CCB, and a CCR for each division. Mostly armour, but also mechanized infantry...right?

Anyway, to go along with this, what was the typical size of a tank platoon, company etc.?

Thanks!

Donald

[Bullethead]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>It seem's there were a CCA, CCB, and a CCR for each division. Mostly armour, but also mechanized infantry...right<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

The Combat Commands were all-arms tactical groupings of the component units of the armored division. They were the basic divisional combat units, analogous to regiments in grunt divisions. Typically, CCA and CCB were the same and contained 1 tank battalion, 1 armored grunt (halftrack-mounted) battalion, 1 SP arty battalion, and 1 armored engineer company. CCR was the same but also usually contained other stuff as well, such as the division's tank destroyer and AAA battalions, at least for admin purposes. However, battalions and companies were often cross-attached between commands depending on needs. Also, the commands themselves were often broken up into task forces consisting of various companies from the command's battalions. Thus, the paper strength of a combat command and what it actually had on hand for a given operation were often very different things.

As I understand the doctrine, CCA and CCB were supposed to be the line units. When their battalions got shot up, they'd be assigned to CCR to absorb replacements while units in CCR would go into CCA or CCB to take their place. The TD and AAA units would be in CCR under the division CO's control, to be assigned as needed to support CCA or CCB. Of course, sometimes CCR found itself in the line in emergencies because it constituted a highly mobile reserve that corps and army commanders could send to hot spots in a hurry. This happened once or twice in early the Bulge, for example.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>what was the typical size of a tank platoon, company etc.?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

A tank platoon had a paper strength of 5 tanks. A company was 3 platoons plus 2 more tanks for the HQ. If it was a Sherman company, sometimes there'd be an M4(105) in the company HQ as well. M5 companies were orginized the same way but without the M4(105). Both types of company had some light vehicles for various command, admin, and supply purposes.

At battalion level and above, things get a little fuzzy due to conflicting sources . But as best as I can figure out, the "heavy" 2nd and 3rd Armored had separate medium and light tank battalions consisting of 3 companies each. These were grouped into 2 regiments consisting of 1 light and 2 medium battalions. These divisions also contained 1 armored infantry regiment of 3 battalions. In other divisions, however, all tank battalions were the same and were made up of 3 medium and 1 light tank companies. IOW, the regular armored divisions were more symmetrical and easier to break up into thirds, but had 1 less M4 battalion.

-Bullethead

[Donan]

Thanks!

Donald