Historical TO&E?

[Fan]

Could someone please point me in the direction of where I could find typical historical TO&Es of, say, a US Armored Infantry Batt?

Thanks much!

[Michael Dorosh]

If you are interested in a Canadian TO & E for a rifle battalion, I am putting the finishing touches on one for my site; anyone else interested let me know and I'll post when it's completed.

As for US, I am sure someone else will know, but in the meantime - if you live near a war game store, there are miniatures rules out there that have detailed breakdowns that might be appropriate for your use.

Or try www.google.com - the best search engine going. Sorry I can't be of more help.

[Armdchair]

This following site (previously posted by a helpful CM-er) contains variety of TO/E's:

http://www.britwar.co.uk/lists/index.htm

and here's a sample:

American World War 2 Army Lists

Infantry Formations

------------------------------------------------------------------------

INFANTRY BATTALION 1940-45

Comprising:

* BHQ of 30 men, 3-4 jeeps and 4 light trucks.

* 3 Rifle Companies each of.

* 1 CHQ of 16 men (and 3 bazookas)

* 3 Rifle Platoons of 40 men split into 3 sections of 12 men and a HQ element of 4 men.

* 1 Heavy weapons platoon with 3 60mm mortars, 2 MMGs and 1 HMG

* 1 AT platoon with 3 AT guns and motorised tows.

* 1 Combat Support Company with a CHQ of 16 men, 1 Mortar Platoon with 6 81mm Mortars (and 3 bazookas), 1 HMG section with 3 HMGs and 2 MMG platoons each with 4 MMGs.

Notes: Prior to the introduction of the Bazooka AT weapon no AT weapon would be issued. AT guns in the AT platoon would either be 37mm or 57mm depending on the period.

INFANTRY DIVISION 1943-45

Comprising:

* DHQ (Company sized)

* Cavalry Recce. Battalion

* 3 Infantry Rgts. each of

* 1 RHQ (platoon sized)

* 3 Infantry Battalions

* 1 Attached AT Company with 12 57mm AT guns in 3 platoons

* 1 Attached artillery battery of 6 towed 105mm Howitzers

* 1 Artillery Rgt. Of 4 battalions, 3 being 12 gun towed 105mm Howitzer Battalions, 1 being a 12 gun towed 155mm Howitzer Battalion.

Notes: Due to the lack of a properly implemented tactical doctrine at higher levels each division could also have any number of units attached to it either on a ad hoc basis or by more permanent arrangement. The following are typical examples of attachments, 1 (Medium) Tank Battalion, 1 Towed Tank Destroyer Battalion, an AA Battalion and an Armoured Infantry Battalion.

ARMOURED INFANTRY BATTALION 1942

Comprising:

* BHQ of 18 men with 2 M3 halftracks and 4 jeeps.

* 3 Rifle companies each of

* CHQ platoon with 1 jeep, 2 M2, 1 M6/37mm.

* 3 Rifle platoons each of

* PHQ with M2 towing 37mm AT, and 12 men.

* 2 sections each with M2, MMG and 12 men

* 1 section in M2, 60mm Mortar and MMG

* 1 section in M2 with HMG and 2 MMG

* 1 Combat Support company of

* CHQ of 1 jeep, 1 M2 and 12 men

* 1 Recce Platoon of 1 M2 and 6 jeeps with HMG

* 1 Heavy weapons platoon of 1 M2 and 3 M4 SP Mortars (halftracks)

* 1 MG platoon of 3 M2 each with 1 HMG and 2 MMG

ARMOURED INFANTRY BATTALION 1943-45

As 1942 battalion but with M3 (halftracks) replacing M2 (halftracks) and M21 (halftracks) replacing M4 (halftracks).

The rifle companies were each given an AT platoon of 1 jeep 3 M3s each towing a 57mm AT gun and the CS company had an additional platoon of 2 M3 halftracks and 3 M7 HMCs.

[Frenchy]

The TOE of the US Infantry Division is incorrect:

Corrections noted below:

INFANTRY DIVISION 1943-45

Comprising:

* Hqs. for respective units see links below:

* Cavalry Recce. Troop (Company sized)

* 1 Eng. Battalion

* 1 Medical Battalion

* 3 Infantry Rgts. each of

* 1 RHQ (platoon sized)

* 3 Infantry Battalions

* 1 Attached AT Company with 12 57mm AT guns in 3 platoons

* 4 Artillery Battalions, 3 being 12 gun towed 105mm Howitzer Battalions, 1 being a 12 gun towed 155mm Howitzer Battalion.

Special Troops

1 Quartermaster Co., 1 Signal Company, 1 MP Platoon, 1 Ordnance Company (LT)

For a detailed look at a US Infantry Division go here http://www.100thww2.org/100org/100org.html

------------------

Webmaster

http://www.trailblazersww2.org

http://www.vmfa251.org

[jasoncawley@ameritech.net]

Just an addition about U.S armored divisions, since the previous fellow went up to the division level for infantry.

A U.S. armored division had 3 medium tank battalions and 3 armored infantry battalions as its main manuever elements. It also had 3 artillery battalions (105mm), usually self-propelled, and an additional battalion of 155mm in most cases. On top of these basic arms, it had several other attached or organic battalions - 1 armored recce, 1 tank destroyer, 1 engineer, and 1 AAA. Some of these were commonly used in rear areas - engineers on road work e.g., or AAA around supply dumps - but on other occasions they were parcelled out to the troops.

It was organized for combat into three combat commands, a CCA, CCB, and a CCR for "reserve". The practice in most divisions was to fight with the A and B, and use the R as an organizational "pool" to switch assets from team to team.

The tank battalions each had 3 medium tank companies (Shermans), with a light tank platoon added to each (sometimes detached to the armored recce, though). With command sections that amounts to about 50 Stuarts and 150 Shermans at full TOE, plus M8s and tank destroyers in the armored recce and TD battalions, and the SP Arty of course - ~300 armored and gunned vehicles in all, and around 200 halftracks and scout cars without main guns, just MGs.

For comparison, a late-war German Panzer division had 40 Panther and 40 Pz. IV in its full-strength TOE (in two battalions), plus up to 30 TDs and some SP Arty, some towed. Roughly half as many armored vehicles for the same unit designation. The infantry components were more nearly equal, but with 1/2-2/3rds of the Germans truck-mounted only.

When you read in the unit histories about clashes like the 2nd Armored Division, entire, running into the 116th Panzer at the tip of the "Bulge", strung out, depleted by fighting, and low on fuel, you are not reading about a 1:1 armored encounter with one side having half Panthers to boot. More like 3 or 4 to 1, from the size difference of the units and the losses previously for the German division. (So it is not so surprising the 2nd Armored destroyed most of the 116th Panzer in less than 72 hours).

For what it is worth...

[Fan]

Thanks gents for the help. That ought to get me started anyway...