ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY.

The following organization is a simple summary of that given in Field Service Regulations, 1914, (F. S. R.), as amended by the Act of June 3, 1916.

A typical army corps consists of:

Headquarters

2 or more infantry divisions

1 or more cavalry brigades or a cavalry division

1 field artillery brigade

1 telegraph battalion

1 field signal battalion

There will be included such ammunition, supply, engineer and sanitary trains as the President may deem necessary. A corps is the appropriate command of a Lieutenant General.

A typical infantry division consists of:

Headquarters

3 infantry brigades

1 regiment of cavalry

1 brigade of field artillery

1 regiment of engineers

1 field signal battalion

1 aero squadron

1 ammunition train

1 supply train

1 engineer train

1 sanitary train

A division is the appropriate command of a Major General.

A typical cavalry brigade consists of the headquarters and three cavalry regiments. When the brigade acts independently, horse artillery may be attached.

A typical cavalry division consists of:

Headquarters

3 cavalry brigades

1 regiment of field artillery (horse)

1 battalion of engineers (mounted)

1 field signal battalion (mounted)

1 aero squadron

1 ammunition train

1 supply train

1 engineer train

1 sanitary train

A light bridge train and 1 or more pack trains

are attached when necessary.

A brigade consists of 3 regiments (inf. or cav.) When operating alone or independently it usually has auxiliary troops attached. A brigade is the appropriate command of a Brigadier General.

Line of communications. For each army corps or important expeditionary force about to take the field, a base is selected and equipped and a service of the line of communications established, both under the control of the commander of the army corps or expeditionary force.

The staffs of brigades and higher units shall be as prescribed by the President of the United States. Typical staffs are as follows:

Brigade, including cavalry brigade

1 brigade adjutant, major (1 civilian clerk)

2 aides, lieutenants

Division, including cavalry division

1 chief of staff, colonel

2 assistant chiefs of staff, majors or captains

1 division adjutant, major

1 division inspector, major

1 judge advocate, major

(for above, 6 civilian clerks)

1 chief quartermaster, lieut. colonel

1 chief surgeon, lieutenant colonel

3 aides, captains or lieutenants

When necessary the commanders of the engineers and signal troops may be directed, in addition to their other duties, to act, respectively, as chief engineer and chief signal officer. When a division acts independently, a chief engineer, (lieutenant colonel) may be detailed on the staff of the division commander.

Corps.

1 chief of staff, brigadier general

1 adjutant general, colonel

1 inspector general, colonel

1 judge advocate, colonel or lieutenant colonel

1 chief quartermaster, colonel

1 chief surgeon, colonel

1 chief engineer, colonel

1 chief ordnance officer, colonel, or lieutenant colonel

1 chief signal officer, colonel or lieutenant colonel

3 aides, with the rank of lieutenant colonel

(each of the above is assisted by one or more

subordinates and the necessary clerical force)

Details of organization.

Infantry.

A company:

1 captain

1 1st lieutenant

1 2d lieutenant

100 enlisted men

Provided: That the President may increase each company

by 50 enlisted men

A machine gun company:

1 captain (mounted)

1 1st lieutenant (mounted)

2 2d lieutenants (mounted)

53 enlisted men

4 guns (2 platoons)

A battalion:

1 major (mounted)

1 adjutant (mounted)

4 companies

A regiment:

1 colonel (mounted)

1 lieutenant colonel (mounted)

headquarters company, 1 captain, 58 enlisted men (8 mounted);

includes part of the noncommissioned staff of regiment and

battalions band, mounted orderlies, etc.

supply company, 2 officers, 10 enlisted men, and one wagoner

for each authorized wagon of field and combat trains

3 battalions

1 machine gun company

Cavalry.

A troop:

1 captain

2 lieutenants

70 enlisted men (4 platoons)

Provided: That the President may increase each troop

by 35 enlisted men

A machine gun troop:

4 officers

70 enlisted men

4 guns (2 platoons)

A squadron:

1 major

1 adjutant

4 troops

A regiment:

1 colonel

1 lieutenant colonel

2 veterinarians

headquarters troop, 1 captain, 54 enlisted men;

includes part of the non-commissioned staff of regiment

and squadrons, band, orderlies, etc.

supply troop, 3 officers, 10 enlisted men and one wagoner for

each authorized wagon of field and combat trains

3 squadrons

1 machine gun troop

Field artillery.⁠[1]

A battery:

1 captain

4 lieutenants

126 enlisted men

4 guns

12 caissons

(A mountain battery includes also 1 packmaster,

1 assistant packmaster and 3 cargadores)

Provided: That the President may increase each battery

by 64 enlisted men

A battalion:

1 major

1 captain

3 batteries for light or mountain artillery,

2 batteries for horse or heavy field

A regiment of 2 battalions:

1 colonel

1 lieutenant colonel

1 captain

2 veterinarians

headquarters company, 2 officers, 67 enlisted men;

includes part of the non-commissioned staffs of

regiment and battalions, band, orderlies, etc.

supply company, 2 officers, 10 enlisted men and 1 wagoner for each

authorized wagon of field and combat trains.

2 battalions. The number of battalions may be increased

with corresponding changes in the headquarters and

supply companies.

The organization of horse artillery is similar to that of light artillery. Most of the men are individually mounted. (See also “Artillery tactics,” Chapter VIII.)

Engineers.

A company:

1 captain (mounted)

3 lieutenants (mounted)

109 enlisted men (24 mounted)

Provided: That the President may increase each company

by 55 enlisted men.

A mounted company:

1 captain

3 lieutenants

74 enlisted men

Provided: That the President may increase each mounted

company by 37 enlisted men

A battalion:

1 major (mounted)

1 captain (mounted)

1 battalion sergeant major

3 master engineers, junior grade

3 companies

A mounted battalion:

1 major

2 captains

1 1st lieutenant

1 veterinarian

1 master engineer, senior grade

3 master engineers, junior grade

non-commissioned staff

3 mounted companies

A regiment:

1 colonel (mounted)

1 lieutenant colonel (mounted)

non-commissioned staff

2 master engineers, senior grade

1 wagoner for each authorized wagon of field and combat trains

2 battalions

Note.—Mounted engineers have no regimental organization.

A company with bridge equipage usually has 3 divisions of bridge equipage. A battalion has therefore 9 divisions of bridge equipage, 3 light and 6 heavy. One division of the heavy equipage (225 ft. of bridge) has 16 wagons and 84 mules. One division of the light equipage (186 ft. of bridge) has 14 wagons and 56 mules.

Signal Corps.

The President is authorized to organize such numbers of companies, battalions and aero squadrons of the Signal corps as the necessities of the service may demand. Typical organizations are as follows:

Wire company: (all mounted)

1 captain

2 lieutenants

75 enlisted men

6 wire carts

1 instrument wagon

Radio company: (all mounted)

1 captain

2 lieutenants

75 enlisted men; 2 platoons of 2 radio sections each

(2 wheel and 2 pack)

3 combat wagons (2 radio, 1 instrument)

6 pack mules

Field battalion:

1 major

1 adjutant

n. c. staff

4 mounted orderlies

4 field wagons

1 shop wagon

2 companies, 1 wire and 1 radio

A wire company of signal troops has two platoons of two wire sections each. The wire section has 5 miles of wire (single conductor, ground return) and instruments (telegraph and telephone) for 4 stations. Each radio section can set up one station, having a radius of about 200 miles for wheel sections and 30 miles for pack sections. The distances are subject to great variations. (See also F. S. R. 1914.)

Transportation.

Wagon company:

36 enlisted personnel

112 draft mules

6 saddle mules

27 wagons

Auto truck company:

37 enlisted personnel

27 auto trucks, freight

1 auto truck, supply

Pack train:

14 enlisted personnel

50 pack mules

14 saddle mules

Note:—The tables of organization are subject to change from time to time. The latest tables of organization issued by the War Dept. should be consulted for details.

WAR STRENGTH, IN ROUND NUMBERS, ROAD SPACE, AND DIMENSIONS OF CAMPS. —(F. S. R., 1914.)

Units. War strength, in round numbers Vehicles, guns.

Men. (horses mules).

Divisions:

Infantry 22,000 7,500 900

Calvary 10,000 12,000 500

Brigades:

Infantry 5,500 520 67

Cavalry 2,500 2,900 53

Artillery 2,300 2,300 257

Smaller units (including

attached sanitary troops):

Infantry regiment 1,860 170 22

Cavalry regiment 1,250 1,430 26

Field artillery, light, regiment 1,150 1,150 128

Field artillery, horse, regiment 1,150 1,150 131

Field artillery, heavy, regiment 1,240 1,340 131

Field artillery, mountain, regiment 1,100 1,160

Engineers, pioneer battalion 490 160 12

Engineers, pioneer battalion (mounted) 270 370 11

Engineers, ponton battalion 500 820 145

Signal troops, field battalion 160 200 15

Signal troops, field cavalry battalion 170 200 11

Signal troops, aero squadron

(including landing place

150 yards by 350 yards) 90 16

Trains:

Infantry division—

Ammunition 260 750 162

Supply 190 630 126

Sanitary⁠[2] 530 500 90

Engineer 10 40 9

Cavalry division—

Ammunition 60 140 33

Supply 220 860 75

Sanitary 300 300 53

Units. Length of columns.

Organizations, including combat trains. + Field tains without distance Ammunition supply, sanitary, and engineer trains.

Divisions:

Infantry 9.5 mi. 11.0 mi. 3.5 mi.

Calvary 8.0 mi. 9.5 mi. 1.5 mi.

Brigades:

Infantry 1.7 mi. 2.0 mi.

Cavalry 1.5 mi 1.9 mi.

Artillery ⁠[3]2.6 mi. 2.9 mi.

Smaller units (including

attached sanitary troops): Yards. Yards. Yards.

Infantry regiment 970 1,150

Cavalry regiment 1,310 1,640

Field artillery, light, regiment ⁠[4]1,720 2,800

Field artillery, horse, regiment 1,960 3,160

Field artillery, heavy, regiment 2,240 3,660

Field artillery, mountain, regiment 1,520 2,540

Engineers, pioneer battalion 410 470

Engineers, pioneer battalion (mounted) 350 440

Engineers, ponton battalion 3,360 3,480

Signal troops, field battalion 310 370

Signal troops, field cavalry battalion 240 300

Signal troops, aero squadron

(including landing place

150 yards by 350 yards) 140 200

Trains:

Infantry division—

Ammunition 2,440

Supply 2,000

Sanitary 1.530

Engineer 150

Cavalry division—

Ammunition 500

Supply 1,200

Sanitary 890

Units. Contracted camping space (troops and trains).

Yards. Approximate number of acres.

Divisions:

Infantry 180

Calvary 150

Brigades:

Infantry 19

Calvary 18

Artillery 30

Smaller units (including

attached sanitary troops):

Infantry regiment 160 by 180 6.2

Cavalry regiment 200 by 200 8.2

Field artillery, horse, light 240 by 300 14.7

Field artillery, horse, regiment 240 by 400 19.6

Field artillery, heavy, regiment 260 by 300 16.0

Field artillery, mountain, regiment 80 by 380 6.2

Engineers, pioneer battalion 50 by 200 2.0

Engineers, pioneer battalion (mounted) 50 by 260 2.6

Engineers, ponton battalion 160 by 315 10.0

Signal troops, field battalion 30 by 240 1.7

Signal troops, field cavalry battalion 30 by 210 1.3

Signal troops, aero squadron

(including landing place

150 yards by 350 yards) 175 by 350 12.5

Trains:

Infantry division—

Ammunition 75 by 380 5.8

Supply 80 by 380 6.2

Sanitary⁠[5] 100 by 260 5.3

Engineer 20 by 140 .6

Cavalry division—

Ammunition 30 by 200 1.2

Supply 80 by 280 4.6

Sanitary 50 by 260 2.7

PRINCIPLES GOVERNING THE SOLUTION OF TERRAIN EXERCISES, MAP MANEUVERS, AND MAP PROBLEMS.

ESTIMATE OF SITUATION

Mission Do you understand it clearly?

Has it changed at time considered?

In order to accomplish it must you temporarily adopt

another mission?

Enemy Strength (Is he deficient in any particular arm?)

Position (Has he probably moved or is he likely to?)

Probable intentions?

Is he likely to be reinforced?

Is he deficient in training or morale or other quality?

Your Own Forces Strength (Are you deficient in any arm?)

Position of your troops (Are they in hand or scattered?)

Are you likely to be reinforced?

Can you send for help?

(Do not ask for help unless you need it.)

Are your troops deficient in morale or training or

other quality?

Conditions Favorable and unfavorable.

Terrain Condition of roads In good weather.

When covered with snow.

When frozen.

When muddy and rainy (slippery).

When thawing.

Bridges.

Rivers—depth—fordable.

Hills.

Mountains.

Forests.

Is soil difficult to entrench?

What is your line of retreat? (Have you more than one?)

What is enemy’s line of retreat? (Has he more than one?)

Where is your base?

If enemy is in position which is his weak flank?

Which will endanger his retreat?

Comparison of Plans for Accomplishing Your Mission Different courses open;

Roads by which you may advance (retreat).

Roads by which enemy may advance (retreat).

Defensive positions, if mission requires it.

Positions in readiness, if mission requires it.

Best plan for attack, if mission requires it.

Make your plan simple.

Weather Rain and its effects.

Drouth—is water for drinking scarce?

Effect of floods.

Dust—Will it disclose your movements?

Snow and its effects.

Are roads frozen?

Are roads thawing?

What is phase of moon? Does it favor night movements?

Are fogs or high winds likely to occur?

Decision Clear and concise statement of what you propose to do.

Clear and concise statement of how you propose to do it.

Plan for Carrying Out Your Decision Make it simple.

Avoid dispersion.

Send away no detachments unless considered absolutely necessary.

Look out for your flanks.

Provide for ample reserves properly distributed.

Do not commit too many men at the start until situation is sized up.

Take advantage of ground.

Do not neglect your reconnaissance.

Beware of half measures.

You must obtain fire superiority to win.

You can obtain fire superiority easier by an enveloping

attack, other things being equal.

Give each element of your command a task.