The armies of the second world war were among
the largest in history. Given their staggering size and complexity, we often have trouble
wrapping our heads around them. This chaos is given some sense by abstracted diagrams and tables
of organization. However in doing so we lose the relatable and the human side of these organisms
of war. From their breakout in the parade ground… to their march in the fields… their attack
formations… and their defensive emplacements. So today let us begin to build
our understanding with the True Size of an American Rifle Company in 1944. you can join another major branch of the Armed
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and both commanders Cheshire and Azuma enjoy The United States military of the Second World
War was an enormous, complicated organization. Between 1940 and 1945, the United States Army
alone fielded 91 divisions. Of these the vast majority, 68 divisions, were infantry
divisions made up of over 14,000 men a piece. It is these which will be the focus
of our study. But in order to understand such larger units, let us build up our understanding
of the army organization from the ground up. At the base of the pyramid
would be your regular soldier. Between 1940 and 1945 11.26 million
personnel would serve wearing Army green. Contrary to military propaganda these were not
all eager volunteers, 70% were conscripted. From 1940-1942 most officers were reservists who had been called up to provide command
and control for this newborn behemoth. At the same time the pre-existing US National
Guard, which acted as the military arm of local state government, was levied and sent overseas
to join the war effort, first for 12 months but later their service was extended as the United
States found itself stretched thin on two fronts. By February of 1942 the Army
stopped allowing volunteers, because volunteers could choose their
branch, and the Army wanted more control over where manpower went, because most
men did not want to go into the infantry. The Infantry was a dangerous and unpopular branch. Up until 1942, only about five percent
of volunteers chose the Infantry. As a result, most enlisted infantrymen in any
division were not there by choice. Well into 1944, Army Ground Forces got a disproportionate share of
lower-quality conscripts. At about 5’7” and under 140 pounds, the average infantryman was even
smaller and lighter than the average soldier! This would change somewhat in late 1944 and early
1945. As thousands of infantrymen were maimed, killed, or mentally broken, the Army desperately
needed replacements. New riflemen could be former anti-aircraft gunners, former Air
Cadets, or skilled civilian professionals. No matter how he got there, an infantryman
was there for the duration of the war. Only death or a serious injury could send a
man home early. Yet despite these risks such servicemen were poorly compensated in terms
of both salary, bonus, and life insurance. On the march with a fully loaded pack,
an infantryman usually had to lug about 50 pounds of equipment. But before going
into the attack, he usually left his pack, shelter half, and other items in
the rear. When going into combat, a soldier wore 10 to 20 pounds of clothing and
carried about 20 to 30 pounds of field equipment. For a hasty meal, he had D-ration chocolate
bars, bland K-rations, and two canteens of water. The M1 Rifle carried by most infantrymen
weighed nearly 11 pounds fully loaded. It was effective out to about 500 yards.
The bayonet added another pound-and-a-half. One man in every squad carried the
Browning Automatic Rifle, or BAR, which weighed nearly 21 pounds. Most riflemen also
carried the 1.3 pound Mark 2 ‘Pineapple’ Grenade which could optimistically
be thrown about 30 yards. In his cartridge belt, an infantryman carried 80
rounds in 10 clips. Combat veterans often carried additional ammunition in 2 cloth bandoliers
with 48 rounds in each bandolier. With a fully loaded belt and two bandoliers, a rifleman
carried 176 rounds, over 13 pounds of ammo. With the basic soldier thus defined, let us now see how they come together to fight
according to the 1944 Table of Organization. The smallest unit was the Rifle Squad,
composed of 10 privates led by a Staff Sergeant and his assistant Sergeant. Within
the squad, we have divided the general roles given by the infantryman’s field manual
into 4 teams plus their commanders. The first team was composed of the BAR man, the
assistant BAR man, and the BAR ammunition bearer. Teams such as this only existed at the beginning
of the second world war, due to mounting deaths and a chronic manpower shortage. The BAR ‘team’
was more often a single man. The next ‘team’ we’ve identified is the grenadiers. They were armed
with M1 Garands and the M7 Grenade launcher which was capable of launching smoke grenades,
fragmentation grenades, and anti-tank grenades. Due to the ongoing manpower shortage the third
team, the scouts, often didn’t exist at all. Riflemen who showed skill or drew the short
straw were assigned scouting duties if and when the squad needed them, otherwise
these men acted as standard riflemen. Compared to other western powers,
Americans had unusual rifle squads. A German gruppe usually had 9-10
men and a belt-fed machine gun. A Commonwealth rifle section
had 10 men and a Bren gun. US Army rifle squads had a dozen men armed with
semi-automatic rifles and one automatic rifle. This was because the Army's Infantry Branch had
a strong preference for tactics based on the rifleman’s “mobility and morale.” So, rather
than "burden" men with a hefty machine gun, the Infantry Branch opted to keep the
WWI-era BAR and give soldiers the M1 Garand, a semi-automatic rifle which
doubled their firepower. Of course, while the rifle was the most numerous weapon in a
rifle company, it was seldom the most effective. However one major drawback of the American system
was that the large squads had a command and control problem, as some squad leaders struggled
to manage eleven other men in the chaos of combat. During the reforms of 1947, the
Army cut it back to a 9-man squad. Rifle squads rarely acted alone. On the move,
the squad watched and secured its part of the formation. On the defense, a squad held its sector
of the line or was held back in reserve. On the attack, they used fire and maneuver--supported
by (and supporting) their sister squads. One of the few solo actions for a squad was
patrolling, since a squad or half-squad was relatively handy and stealthy. Patrols might
be done to investigate suspicious activity in front of the lines or to snatch a prisoner for
interrogation. Patrolling was often done at night, with soldiers carrying little more than
small arms, bayonets, and grenades. Next up would be the Rifle Platoon
composed of 3 Rifle Squads. Their Platoon HQ would be composed of a
Platoon Commander, a Platoon Sergeant and a Platoon Guide who were supported by two
messengers. An aid man was attached from the battalion medical section to act as
a combat medic. The platoon also had one scoped M1903A3 Springfield sniper rifle, which
could be given to the platoon’s best shot. As the platoon’s only officer, the Lieutenant
had ultimate responsibility for it. His binoculars, radio, and helmet rank insignia made him a prime target for snipers,
so savvy officers hid these markers. If the platoon leader fell, his
Platoon Sergeant had to step up. As the most senior and most
experienced soldier in the platoon, the Platoon Sergeant was a crucial
advisor and mentor to the Platoon Leader. His assistant, the Platoon Guide, prevented
straggling and handled ammunition resupply. Infantry officers could come from West Point,
the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), battlefield commissions, or they could
be transferred from another branch. But by 1944, the majority of infantry Platoon Leaders were graduates of Infantry Officer
Candidate School (OCS) in Fort Benning, Georgia. This OCS produced nearly
63,000 lieutenants during the war. Only about 65-75 percent of a typical
Infantry OCS class would graduate. A second lieutenant fresh out of OCS had
to convince his men that he wasn't an incompetent "90-Day Wonder" who was going
to get them killed. To do his job well, a Platoon Leader had to take extra risks. He
had to expose himself to spot for mortar fire. He had to creep from foxhole to foxhole every
night to check on his men. On the attack, he had to embody the Infantry's motto–"Follow me!"--and
put himself at the decisive point of action. These young officers paid the price. In the
last half of 1944, 30% of the platoon leaders in some divisions were killed or wounded. And
in other units, the losses had been even worse. The next important building block of the US
Army Infantry Battalion was the Weapons platoon. It was composed of 1 Light Machine Gun
Section, 1 Mortar Section, and a Platoon HQ. Let’s take a closer look at each of these. The basic unit of the Mortar
section is its Mortar squad. It is composed of 4 privates first class
or privates who are led by a sergeant. Unlike the heavy weapons company the
mortar squads of the heavy weapons platoon were armed with 60mm ‘light’
mortars which weighed 42 pounds. Each mortar shell weighed 3lbs and a squad could
carry 36 to 48 rounds in special 12-round vests. The M2 60mm mortar fired explosive,
white phosphorous and flare shells. The maximum range with a 3 pound explosive
shell was 1,985 yards. The sustained rate of fire was 18 rounds per minute, with
a max rate of 30-35 rounds per minute. Supplying the mortars with
shells was a constant problem, since a squad could fire off all its
ammunition in less than two minutes. Three Mortar squads together form
a Mortar section for a total of 15 men commanded by a Staff Sergeant
who was assisted by a messenger. The basic unit of the Light Machine Gun section
was a squad of 5 men. It was composed of 3 privates led by a Sergeant. The 31 pound M1919A4
and its 14 pound tripod were just light enough to be quickly redeployed. The air-cooled Browning
lacked a quick-change barrel and had to be fired in short bursts, limiting its effective rate
of fire to about 40 to 150 rounds per minute, although the gun could be fired faster in
emergencies. A fully loaded squad carried about 1250 rounds in 250-round belts,
with another 3500 rounds on their jeeps. The gunner, or Number 1, carried the tripod
and deployed it so the gun could be mounted for him to fire. The assistant gunner, or Number
2, carried the gun on the move and helped load it during action. The No. 3 and the other ammunition
bearer carried ammunition and passed it forward. Two LMG squads together formed a Light
Machine Gun section for a total of 10 men commanded by a Staff Sergeant
who was assisted by a messenger. The light machine squad was vital
for maintaining fire superiority. On the attack, gunners suppressed enemy positions. On the defense, machine guns engaged the
largest or most dangerous concentrations of enemy troops. Whenever possible, both guns
were used on the same target to maximize results. In combat, the section leader selected
and assigned locations for the squads, assigned sectors of fire, and ensured
that the machine guns remained resupplied. The squad leader selected the exact firing
position, observed and adjusted fire, enforced fire discipline, and ensured his ammunition
bearers kept his crew resupplied with ammunition. These two sections were rolled up into
a Weapons Platoon whose HQ was led by a Platoon Commander and a Platoon Sergeant who
were assisted by two messengers and two drivers. The drivers drove two Jeeps towing trailers. The Weapons Platoon was the only platoon in
the rifle company with organic motor transport. The two jeeps and trailers could carry ammunition
or rapidly move mortars and machine guns to a critical point on the battlefield. One
Jeep mounted a 50-caliber machine gun. Rifle Company - Definition (Ready to Narrate) The weapons platoon and 3 rifle platoons
would be joined into a Rifle company. Each had a preselected name from Able to
Love based on their parent battalion. The Company HQ would be rather large given its
administrative role and boasted around 35 men. The Company HQ had a pool of five
bazookas that could be issued at the company commander’s discretion. At the
end of June 1944, the Army applied the hard lessons of battles like Saipan and Normandy
and added automatic firepower to this pool: six M3 “grease guns” or six Thompson submachine
guns and six B-A-Rs. Company commanders typically gave a bazooka to each platoon and kept one at
HQ.The automatic weapons were given evenly to each rifle platoon or saved and given
to fighting patrols or assault teams. As for the HQ itself, the CO held the rank
of captain and was likely an officer in the National Guard or the Reserves before he was
called up to active duty. He was supported by the Company Executive Officer, who was typically a
first lieutenant, and the Company First Sergeant. The command element also contained
a communications section, a supply section, a mess section, and
a collection of basic duty privates who acted as general laborers and
replacements for frontline troops. The company commander had a heavy burden to bear.
He might have been still in his 20s or 30s, but he was still the "Old Man." His task was to execute
the missions given to him by battalion. He might be ordered to take ground or to hold it against
enemies trying to take it. He had to position his platoons effectively. He had to destroy the enemy
with his company's weapons and his fire support. And he had to keep over 190 soldiers
armed, fed, motivated, and alive. Thankfully, he had help. The captain might have
commanded the company, but the First Sergeant ran it. As the most experienced enlisted soldier, the
first sergeant was a key advisor, disciplinarian, and assistant. To allow the company commander to
focus on command, the XO helped manage logistics and admin. In the worst case, he could temporarily
replace a fallen platoon or company commander. Every company commander issued orders. These could
be spoken, written, or simply sketched on a map. Ideally, a company commander could
speak face-to-face to his subordinates, but this obviously was not
possible in many combat situations. It was at the company level where a crucial
American advantage in communication technology came into play. Like most armies, US Army rifle
company commanders could use his runners or field telephones to pass messages. Most rifle
companies had two field telephones and enough wire to connect an observation post and the
60mm mortar section to the company command post. Unlike most contemporary armies, the US
Army also had a company-wide radio network. The Company commander had six SCR-536 Handie
Talky radios, enough to give one to each platoon leader and have two for himself. Although these
temperamental radios had a range of just one mile, they still saved seconds and lives. To pass
messages to battalion or his sister companies, the company commander was usually
given an SCR-300 backpack radio. Now that we have rather exhaustively
defined the elements of a Rifle Company, let’s now put it into action with
a few of its common formations. In this section, we’ll look at the formations
of a rifle company. In this case, Baker Company, 311th Infantry Regiment, 78th Infantry Division,
better known as the “Lightning Division.” The first formation is a
classic parade ground formation: Baker Company would have assembled like this for
a roll call, a review, or an award presentation. At full strength, Baker Company could muster 193
soldiers, with six officers and 187 enlisted men.
For illustrative purposes, we’ve placed most of
the company HQ personnel in a separate formation. Doctrinally, they would have assembled
with the weapons platoon or stood with other platoons to fill in for any
men missing from the platoons. The second formation we’ll consider is the march
formation. When marching in open order in columns of threes, Baker company stretched for about
120 yards. American infantry divisions seldom had enough trucks to move all their infantry,
so most infantrymen marched while on campaign. Ordinary rifleman were expected to
march at a pace of 3 miles an hour, with a 10 minute break every hour.
In practice, this meant Baker Company could move about 2.5 miles per hour and
could cover about 12-15 miles per day. The company commander, the first sergeant, and
some communications personnel lead the formation. The company’s executive officer, other HQ
personnel, and any vehicles brought up the rear, to avoid throwing up dust in
the faces of the marching men. Now, let’s apply real formations
to a fictional attack scenario. In combat, rifle companies
used a variety of formations. As the 78th Division advances into Germany,
it must secure high ground in its path. The task of taking it falls to Baker Company.
Baker leaves the road and switches from column formation into an approach march formation .
It will move to its assembly area near Hill 45. It will then prepare to cross the Line
of Departure or LoD, an imaginary line typically placed between friendly and
enemy lines. This will start the attack. In anticipation of the attack, the company
commander has decided to use the classic “two up, one back” formation and put his firepower up
front. 1st Platoon and 2nd Platoon take the lead. The captain has spread his heavy
weapons and attached a 60 millimeter mortar squad to each of the leading rifle
platoons. The Company HQ, 3rd Platoon, and the remainder of the weapons platoon
follow in support. One messenger from each platoon remains with the Company HQ to
carry messages back to their parent platoons. After reaching the assembly area,
Baker Company deploys for its attack. 3rd Platoon and the Weapons Platoon
would deploy on Hill 45 and provide a reserve force and a base of fire with
heavy weapons within about 1,000 yards. The company command post oversees the
action as his troops begin to cross the LoD. When approaching or crossing
the Line of Departure, platoon leaders usually choose one of four
formations: platoon column, line of squads, or one forward-two back, or two-forward one
back. Let’s zoom in to look at a platoon. 2nd Platoon’s commander has also chosen
to use a “two up, one back” formation. If he makes contact, he’ll have enough
firepower up front to respond to a threat, while also having an uncommitted force
he can use for a flanking attack. In this formation, the platoon is about 100-150
yards long and has a frontage of about 100 yards. At this point, each squad is still in column,
since columns are easier to lead and control. Each squad stays 50-75 yards from the others
to stop them getting tangled with each other. The Platoon leader and a messenger lead
most of the platoon. The Platoon Sergeant and the aid man choose a convenient
position in the middle of the formation. The Platoon Guide follows the platoon
and pushes forward any stragglers. The scouts from each squad have been
detached to move ahead of the platoon. Each scout stands 10-30 yards from his
buddy, close enough to hear each other, but not close enough to get caught by the
same grenade or burst of machine gun fire. Scouts could range up to 500
yards ahead of their platoon. The attack starts with supporting
fire. 1st Battalion’s Heavy Weapons Company walks 81mm mortar rounds along
the length of the German position. Baker Company’s own 60mm mortars and machine
guns focus on suspected German machine gun nests. This suppressing fire keeps the German’s heads
down while 1st and 2nd Platoon advance across the Line of Departure. 1st Platoon deploys into a
skirmish line about 150 yards long as it crosses the LoD and makes a frontal assault. 2nd Platoon
makes a flanking assault. As the supporting fire lifts, 1st and 2nd Platoon attack and clear
out the Germans with bullets and grenades. With both of Baker Company’s initial objectives
under control, the company commander wants to keep his momentum. He quickly moves up 3rd
Platoon, the Weapons Platoon, and his command post. Through his binoculars, he’s able to see
a dug-in German-platoon on Hill 73. He calls in fire support from the battalion’s 81mm mortars
and directs his own weapons platoon to target the most dangerous German positions. On his order, all
three platoons attack. While 1st and 2nd Platoons fix the Germans with frontal attacks, 3rd Platoon
is able to maneuver around the flank. As they draw closer, the support fire lifts and the attacking
platoons clear the hill with rifles and grenades. The Germans will likely counterattack, so Baker
Company needs to quickly prepare a defense. The dead and wounded are moved to the rear.
Casualties are replaced by the basic duty privates from company HQ. Ammunition is
brought up by the battalion. The company commander now prepares to establish a line of
defense to consolidate his gains for the day. Two rifle platoons and the machine gun
squads hold the first line of defenses. In this lightly wooded terrain, each rifle
platoon occupies a frontage of about 150 yards. But considering the range of their weapons, each
rifle platoon can actually defend a frontage of 300 yards or wider. Accounting for the gaps
between platoons, Baker Company occupies a frontage of roughly 450 yards, but controls almost
700 yards of the front. The other rifle platoon and the mortars are sited further back. They
remain within effective rifle range, 500 yards, to provide fire support, act as a reserve, and
prepare a potential fallback position. Riflemen dig two-man foxholes deep enough to crouch or
stand in. The Weapons Platoon digs positions large enough for a heavy weapon and its crew. For now
this will be sufficient as the sun begins to set. In this way the US Army Rifle Company would
slowly grind its way across the European theater. Stay tuned for more episodes in our True Size
series where we seek to better visualize aspects of military history in 3D. Let us know
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