WesWorld

Structure and Equipment of the US Army

The US Army

A few notes on how I'm developing the WW US Army.

1 - Since the US Army did not participate in the Great War, it did not adopt French guns and bore sizes during the period, nor did it produce large numbers of FT-17 tanks. The US will remain on the inch standard for bore sizes, so rather than a 75 or 76mm howitzer or gun, you'll see a 3" howitzer or gun, instead of a 60mm mortar, you'll see a 2.2" mortar, etc. This is mostly a flavor effect, the results at the target won't be much different.

2 - With the US Army not gearing up for the Great War, there is not a mountain of .30-06 ammunition available for use. This helps lead to #3....

3 - In February, 1933, a year after the procurement of semi-auto rifles in .276 Pedersen (the 7 x 51mm Pedersen cartridge tested in the German cartridge trials of 1931) was put on hold while development of a .30-06 version of the same rifle was worked on, US Army Chief of Staff Douglas MacArthur reversed his decision and put the M1 Garand in .276 Pedersen forward as the Army's new rifle, to replace the M1903 and M1903A1 Springfield. Tooling and manufacturing efforts will delay introduction into 1935, but the US Army will start replacing bolt-action Springfields with semi-auto Garands beginning in the spring of 1935.

4 - The US Army began looking into tanks seriously again in the early 1930s, purchasing a number of Christie designs and beginning low-rate production of the M2 light tank for the infantry in 1933. By the summer of 1935, it's in small-scale service in 3 models (the M2A1, M2A2, and the latest M2A4). Medium tanks are under development, but none have been accepted for service yet.

5 - Given the presence of a-historical major powers (Iberia, Atlantis) in the Western Hemisphere, the US Army of the 1930s would not have been as small as it historical was (~125,000 men scattered in mostly battalion strength all over the map). The Congressionally authorized number, as of January 1, 1935, is 300,000, plus another 45,000 for the US Army Air Corps. As of September 1, 1935, this number was increased to 900,000, plus the USAAC.

6 - In 1935, US Army doctrine has the tank subordinated to the infantry, tanks are a supporting arm, intended to defeat strongpoints, trenches, etc and allow the infantry to operate more freely. They are not anti-tank weapons, and they are not, conceptually, an arm on par with the infantry or the artillery.

7 - In 1935, the US Army's doctrine says that enemy tanks should be engaged by specialist tank destroyers (none of which exist) or by anti-tank guns (which are just now being standardized).

US Infantry - 1933 pattern

Infantry Platoon - (40 men, 1 officer, 3 BAR)
3 squads - 13 men, 1 BAR
Command - 1 CO, 1 man

Weapons Platoon - (24 men, 1 officer, 3 MMGs, 3 mortars)
3 MG teams - 4 men, 1 MMG
3 mortar teams - 4 men, 1 2.2" mortar

Infantry Company - (151 men, 6 officers)
3 platoons (40 men, 1 officer)
Weapons Platoon (24 men, 1 officer)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 1 NCO, 6 men)

Weapons Company - (88 men, 3 officers)
MG Platoon (32 men, 1 officer, 8 MMGs)
Mortar Platoon (28 men, 1 officer, 4 3.2" mortar)
HMG Platoon (28 men, 1 officer, 4 0.50" HMGs)

Regimental Gun Battery (68 men, 2 officers)
3 Sections (16 men, 2 3" field guns)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 20 men, 2 MMGs)

Chemical Battery (164 men, 6 officers)
4 platoons (36 men, 1 officer, 3 4.2" chemical mortars)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 20 men, 2 MMGs)

Field Artillery Battery (68 men, 2 officers)
3 Sections (16 men, 2 4" howitzers)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 20 men, 2 MMGs)

Heavy Field Artillery Battery (80 men, 2 officers)
3 Sections (20 men, 2 6"howitzers)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 20 men, 2 MMGs)

Light AA Battery - (60 men, 2 officers)
3 AA Sections (18 men, 2 37mm guns)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 6 men)

Heavy AA Battery (78 men, 5 officers)
3 AA Sections (18 men, 1 officer, 2 3" AA guns)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 24 men, 2 MMGs)

Infantry Battalion - (561 men, 25 officers)
3 Infantry Companies (151 men, 6 officers)
Weapons Company (88 men, 3 officers)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 2 Staff, 20 men)

Field Artillery Battalion (320 men, 10 officers)
4 Field Artillery Batteries (68 men, 2 officers)
Observer Section (18 men)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 2 Staff, 30 men)

Heavy Field Artillery Battalion (288 men, 8 officers)
3 Heavy Field Artillery Batteries (80 men, 2 officers)
Observer Section (18 men)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 2 Staff, 30 men)

Anti-Aircaft Battalion (450 men, 18 officers)
2 Batteries Heavy AA (75 men, 5 officers)
2 Batteries Light AA (60 men, 2 officers)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 2 Staff, 30 men)

Infantry Regiment - (2871 men, 118 officers)
4 Infantry Battalions (561 men, 23 officers)
1 Regimental Gun Battery (68 men, 2 officers)
1 Chemical Battery (164 men, 6 officers)
1 Light AA Battery (60 men, 2 officers)
1 Support Company (135 men, 4 officers)
1 Signals Company (126 men, 4 officers)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 6 staff, 74 men)

Artillery Regiment - (1646 men, 60 officers)
4 Field Artillery Battalion (320 men, 10 officers)
1 Light AA Battery (60 men, 2 officers)
1 Support Company (135 men, 4 officers)
1 Signals Company (126 men, 4 officers)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 8 staff, 45 men)

Infantry Division (15644 men, 644 officers)
4 Infantry Regiments (2871 men, 118 officers)
1 Artillery Regiment (1646 men, 60 officers)
1 Anti-Aircraft Battalion (450 men, 18 officers)
1 Engineering Battalion (626 men, 22 officers)
1 Signals Battalion (482 men, 16 officers)
1 Support Battalion (400 men, 14 officers)
1 Transport Battalion (410 men, 18 officers)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 22 staff, 146 men)

US Horse Cavalry - 1926 pattern

Cavalry Platoon - (35 men, 1 officer)
3 squads - 10 men
Command - 1 CO, 1 NCO, 4 men

Cavalry Company - (112 men, 6 officers)
3 platoons (35 men, 1 officer)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 1 NCO, 6 men)

Cavalry Squadron - (348 men, 22 officers)
3 Cavalry Companies (112 men, 6 officers)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 2 Staff, 12 men)

Cavalry Gun Battery (68 men, 2 officers)
3 Sections (16 men, 2 3" howitzer)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 20 men)

Cavalry MG Company (99 men, 5 officers)
2 MG Platoons (30 men, 1 officer, 6 MMGs)
HMG Platoon (27 men, 1 officer, 3 0.50" HMGs)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 12 men)

Cavalry Regiment (1875 men, 113 officers)
4 Cavalry Squadron - (348 men, 22 officers)
1 Cavalry Gun Battery (68 men, 2 officers)
1 Cavalry MG Company (99 men, 5 officers)
1 Support Company (180 men, 6 officers)
1 Signals Company (88 men, 4 officers)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 6 staff, 48 men)

The current (1935) structure for US armor units. Note: as of 1935, there are no armor units larger than a battalion in the US Army, though there is agitation within the Army to form some.

US Tank Battalion - 1935

Tank Platoon (19 men, 1 officer)
4 tanks (4 men)
Command (1 CO, 1 NCO, 2 men), 1 tank

Tank Company (67 men, 5 officers)
3 platoons (19 men, 1 officer)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 1 NCO, 9 men), 3 tanks

Tank Battalion (217 men, 19 officers)
3 tank companies (67 men, 5 officers)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 2 staff, 16 men)

The 1936 Provisional Mechanized Cavalry Brigade - A new type of unit is being formed by the US Army in 1936, the mechanized cavalry brigade. Not only is it the first unit of it's type in the US Army, it also contains the first armored unit of larger than battalion strength in the Army.


Armored Regiment (904 men, 84 officers)
4 tank battalion (217 men, 19 officers)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 6 staff, 36 men)


Mechanized Brigade (5314 men, 339 men)
Armored Regiment (904 men, 84 officers)
2 Cavalry Regiment (2172 men, 118 officers)
Cavalry Gun Battery (68 men, 2 officers)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 15 staff, 66 men)

The planned structure for the US Cavalry post-1936. There are issues, of course: there aren't enough scout cars to go around, and there are no suitable armored cars type-classified as of Q3 1935. The motorcycle units are also a bit of an experiment, they may well end up being replaced with additional scout-car equipped units. But it's a plan, anyway.


US Cavalry - 1936 pattern

Scout Car Platoon - (34 men, 1 officer)
4 squads - 7 men, 1 M2 Scout Car
Command - 1 CO, 1 NCO, 5 men, 1 M2 Scout Car

Scout Car Troop- (107 men, 5 officers)
3 scout car platoons (34 men, 1 officer)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 1 NCO, 4 men), 1 M2 Scout Car


Armored Car Platoon - (19 men, 1 officer)
4 vehicles - 4 men, 1 armored car
Command - 1 CO, 1 NCO, 2 men, 1 armored car

Armored Car Troop- (63 men, 5 officers)
3 armored car platoons (19 men, 1 officer)
Command - (1 CO, 1 XO, 6 men), 2 armored cars


Motorcycle Platoon - (45 men, 1 officer)
4 squads - 10 men
Command - 1 CO, 1 NCO, 4 men

Motorcycle Troop- (142 men, 5 officers)
3 platoons (45 men, 1 officer)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 1 NCO, 6 men)


Cavalry Squadron - (431 men, 24 officers)
2 Scout Car Company - (107 men, 5 officers)
Armored Car Company - (63 men, 5 officers)
Motorcycle Company - (142 men, 5 officers)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 2 Staff, 12 men, 4 M2 Scout Car)

Cavalry Gun Battery (68 men, 2 officers)
3 Sections (16 men, 2 3" field guns)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 20 men)

Cavalry Mortar Battery (64 men, 2 officers)
3 Sections (16 men, 2 3.2" mortars)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 12 men)


Cavalry Regiment (2172 men, 118 officers)
4 Cavalry Squadron - (431 men, 24 officers)
Cavalry Gun Battery (68 men, 2 officers)
Cavalry Mortar Battery (64 men, 2 officers)
Support Company (180 men, 6 officers)
Signals Company (88 men, 4 officers)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 6 staff, 48 men)

The 1936 pattern US infantry division moved the chemical batteries to a chemical battalion attached at the division level (instead of having the batteries attached to individual regiments), added anti-tank batteries at regimental level equipped with the new 1.5" AT gun, and (in theory) added a tank battalion attached to the division. In practice, tank battalions were few and far between, most divisions having only a company (and often a short company at that) of M2 or M3 light tanks.


US Infantry - 1936 pattern

Infantry Platoon - (40 men, 1 officer, 3 BAR)
3 squads - 13 men, 1 BAR
Command - 1 CO, 1 man

Weapons Platoon - (24 men, 1 officer, 3 MMGs, 3 mortars)
3 MG teams - 4 men, 1 MMG
3 mortar teams - 4 men, 1 2.2" mortar

Infantry Company - (151 men, 6 officers)
3 platoons (40 men, 1 officer)
Weapons Platoon (24 men, 1 officer)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 1 NCO, 6 men)

Weapons Company - (88 men, 3 officers)
MG Platoon (32 men, 1 officer, 8 MMGs)
Mortar Platoon (28 men, 1 officer, 4 3.2" mortar)
HMG Platoon (28 men, 1 officer, 4 0.50" HMGs)

Regimental Gun Battery (68 men, 2 officers)
3 Sections (16 men, 2 3" field guns)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 20 men, 2 MMGs)

Antitank Battery (60 men, 2 officers)
3 Sections (16 men, 2 1.5" AT guns, 2 MMGs)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 12 men)

Chemical Battery (164 men, 6 officers)
4 platoons (36 men, 1 officer, 3 4.2" chemical mortars)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 20 men, 2 MMGs)

Field Artillery Battery (68 men, 2 officers)
3 Sections (16 men, 2 4" howitzers)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 20 men, 2 MMGs)

Heavy Field Artillery Battery (80 men, 2 officers)
3 Sections (20 men, 2 6"howitzers)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 20 men, 2 MMGs)

Light AA Battery - (60 men, 2 officers)
3 AA Sections (18 men, 2 1.5" AA guns)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 6 men)

Heavy AA Battery (78 men, 5 officers)
3 AA Sections (18 men, 1 officer, 2 3" AA guns)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 24 men, 2 MMGs)

Infantry Battalion - (561 men, 25 officers)
3 Infantry Companies (151 men, 6 officers)
Weapons Company (88 men, 3 officers)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 2 Staff, 20 men)

Field Artillery Battalion (320 men, 10 officers)
4 Field Artillery Batteries (68 men, 2 officers)
Observer Section (18 men)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 2 Staff, 30 men)

Heavy Field Artillery Battalion (288 men, 8 officers)
3 Heavy Field Artillery Batteries (80 men, 2 officers)
Observer Section (18 men)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 2 Staff, 30 men)

Anti-Aircaft Battalion (450 men, 18 officers)
2 Batteries Heavy AA (75 men, 5 officers)
2 Batteries Light AA (60 men, 2 officers)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 2 Staff, 30 men)

Chemical Battalion (710 men, 28 officers)
4 Chemical Battery (164 men, 6 officers)
Observer Section (24 men)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 2 Staff, 30 men)

Infantry Regiment - (2767 men, 118 officers)
4 Infantry Battalions (561 men, 23 officers)
1 Regimental Gun Battery (68 men, 2 officers)
1 Antitank Battery (60 men, 2 officers)
1 Light AA Battery (60 men, 2 officers)
1 Support Company (135 men, 4 officers)
1 Signals Company (126 men, 4 officers)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 6 staff, 74 men)

Artillery Regiment - (1646 men, 60 officers)
4 Field Artillery Battalions (320 men, 10 officers)
1 Light AA Battery (60 men, 2 officers)
1 Support Company (135 men, 4 officers)
1 Signals Company (126 men, 4 officers)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 8 staff, 45 men)

Infantry Division (16155 men, 691 officers)
4 Infantry Regiments (2767 men, 118 officers)
1 Artillery Regiment (1646 men, 60 officers)
1 Tank Battalion (217 men, 19 officers)
1 Chemical Battalion (710 men, 28 officers)
1 Anti-Aircraft Battalion (450 men, 18 officers)
1 Engineering Battalion (626 men, 22 officers)
1 Signals Battalion (482 men, 16 officers)
1 Support Battalion (400 men, 14 officers)
1 Transport Battalion (410 men, 18 officers)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 22 staff, 146 men)

US Tank Destroyer Command, 1937

The US Tank Destroyer Corps formed it's first combat units in early 1937 after taking delivery of M-8 tank destroyers from the US Wheel Track Laying Corp in 1936. The structure of the organization is relatively straightforward, with unit titles taken from the US Cavalry. As a support organization, the Tank Destroyer Combat Command is not expected to fight as a unit, the expectation is that the largest unit to fight as such is likely to be the tank destroyer troop or squadron, so no supporting arms are assigned. The Combat Command does, however, include the signals unit necessary to coordinate operations across the unit's likely area of responsibility, given that the intent is to assign 1 Combat Command to each Corps.


US Tank Destroyer Corps - 1937

Tank Destroyer Platoon (19 men, 1 officer)
4 tank destroyers (4 men)
Command (1 CO, 1 NCO, 2 men), 1 tank destroyer

Tank Destroyer Troop (67 men, 5 officers)
3 tank destroyer platoons (19 men, 1 officer)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 1 NCO, 9 men), 3 tank destroyers

Tank Destroyer Squadron (217 men, 19 officers)
3 tank destroyer troops (67 men, 5 officers)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 2 staff, 16 men)

Tank Destroyer Combat Command
4 tank destroyer squadrons (217 men, 19 officers)
Support troop (180 men, 6 officers)
Signals troop (88 men, 4 officers)
Command (1 CO, 1 XO, 6 staff, 48 men)