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Organization: How Armies are Formed for War

Chapter 158: CAVALRY
By Hubert Foster
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History - Warfare

About This Book

The author sets out a systematic account of military organization for war, explaining aims of organization and the chain of command and detailing the roles and typical structures of arms such as cavalry, artillery, engineers, and infantry. He examines unit composition, emergent troop types and combined formations from divisions to armies, and the functions of staff and war establishments. A large section outlines British expeditionary and administrative systems, including transport, supply, medical, veterinary, ordnance, railway, works, postal, and accounting services, plus territorial and colonial forces. Comparative sketches of other national organizations and a concise history complete a pragmatic survey linking organizational principles to command psychology.

CHAPTER XIII
WAR ORGANIZATION OF THE FIGHTING TROOPS

The organization of foreign armies differs considerably from that of the British Army. They are, however, all formed on the German model, with the exception of the Army of the United States. Their organization is therefore to some extent identical, and may be understood from the following table, showing the normal Continental organization, which has been copied also by Japan. The organization of the United States has followed original lines.

Notes are given of the main points in which some foreign armies differ from the normal organization.

Then follow tables showing the war organization of each of the chief armies of the world (1909). That of the German Army, the typical Continental Army, is given in greater detail than the others.

Normal War Organization of Foreign Armies

INFANTRY

Company: 250 men.

Battalion: 4 Companies, or 1,000 men.

Regiment: 3 Battalions (all Russian, and some German, Austrian, and French Regiments have 4).

Brigade: 2 Regiments.

Division: 2 Brigades.

Army Corps: 2 Divisions (3 in France and Austria).

CAVALRY

Squadron: 4 Troops, or 150 men.

Regiment: 4 Squadrons (Russia and Austria 6; Italy and Japan 5; Switzerland and the United States 3, like England).

Brigade: 2 Regiments.

Division: 2 or 3 Brigades.

FIELD ARTILLERY

Battery: 6 guns (4 in France, Switzerland, and the United States, 8 in Russia).

“Group” (our Brigade): 3 Batteries.

Regiment: 2 “Groups.”

Brigade: 2 Regiments.

Rank of the Officers commanding the above Formations

Companies, Squadrons, Batteries Captain.
(The Infantry Captain is a mounted Officer,
except in Japan.)
Infantry Battalions, and Artillery “Groups” Major.
Regiments, of all Arms Colonel.
Brigades, of all Arms Major-General.
Divisions and Army Corps Lieut.-General.

In Russia the Lieutenant-Colonel replaces the Major, as that rank does not exist.

The following tables give the war organization of the formations of fighting troops in the principal armies of the world.

GERMANY

Infantry

Battalion 4 Companies of 270, or 1,080 men.
Regiment 3 Battalions and 1 Company of 6 machine guns.

Fighting strength: 3,000 bayonets, 6 machine guns.

Total strength: 3,300 men, 190 horses, 60 vehicles.

Brigade 2 Regiments.
Division 2 Brigades (a few Divisions have 3).
  1 Cavalry Regiment.
  1 Artillery Brigade of 2 Regiments.
  1 Company of Pioneers (i.e. Engineers).
  1 Light Bridge Train.
  4 Heavy Ammunition Columns.
  2 Infantry Ammunition Columns.
  1 Bearer Company and 4 Field Hospitals.
  3 Supply Columns and 3 Supply Parks.
  1 Horse Depôt.

Fighting strength: 12,000 rifles, 600 sabres, 72 guns, 24 machine guns.

Total strength: 17,000 men, 4,000 horses, 600 vehicles.

Army Corps 2 Divisions (a few Corps have 3).
  1 Rifle Battalion.
  1 Company of Pioneers and 1 Telegraph Company.
  12 Ammunition Columns (4 being for Infantry).
  6 Supply Columns and 6 Supply Parks.
  2 Field Bakery Columns.
  12 Field Hospitals.
  2 Horse Depôts.

Fighting strength: 25,000 rifles, 1,200 sabres, 126 guns, 48 machine guns.

Total strength: 41,000 men, 14,000 horses, 2,400 vehicles.

Cavalry

Squadron 180 men, or 150 sabres.
Regiment 4 Squadrons, or 750 all ranks, 750 horses.
Brigade 2 Regiments (some 3).
Division 3 Brigades.
  1 Horse Artillery Abteilung (2 Batteries) and 1 Light Ammunition Column.
  1 Machine-Gun Section of 6 guns.
  1 Mounted Detachment, of 1 Officer, 33 men.

Fighting strength: 3,600 sabres, 12 guns, 6 machine guns.

Total strength: 5,000 men, 5,300 horses, 200 vehicles.

Artillery

FIELD ARTILLERY
Battery 6 guns and 6 ammunition wagons.
Abteilung (British Brigade):
  3 Batteries (only 2 in Horse Artillery).
Regiment 2 Abteilungen of Artillery and 2 Light Ammunition Columns.
Brigade 2 Regiments, or 2,300 men, 2,000 horses, 70 guns and ammunition wagons, 90 vehicles.

(In one Division of each Army Corps 1 Abteilung is detached for duty with the Reserve Army.)

HEAVY ARTILLERY
Battery 4 Heavy Field Howitzers, or Field Mortars.
Battalion 4 Howitzer (or 2 Mortar) Batteries and 1 Light Ammunition Column.

One Battalion of Heavy Field Howitzers will probably be allotted to each Army Corps. Their function is to support the Field Artillery.

The Heavy Field Howitzer Battery has 4 guns and 8 wagons.

The Field Mortar Battery has 4 mortars, each with 3 carriages—one for travelling, one for firing, and one carrying firing platform. It has no ammunition wagons.

The function of Field Mortars is to attack Barrier Forts, or strongly defended positions. These Batteries will probably be allotted to Armies, not Army Corps.

Ammunition Columns

Field Battery wagons: 130 rounds shrapnel per gun.

Light Ammunition Columns, Field Artillery: 58 shrapnel, 44 high explosive, per gun.

Heavy Ammunition Columns, Field Artillery, 8 per Army Corps, or 1 per Artillery Regiment: 115 shrapnel, 26 high explosive, per gun.

Total with Troops, per Field Gun: 373 rounds, of which 80 per cent. are shrapnel, 20 high explosive.

FRANCE

Infantry

Battalion 4 Companies.
Regiment 3 Battalions.
Brigade 2 Regiments (some 3).
Division 2 Brigades (some 3).
  1 Squadron of Cavalry.
  3 Brigades of Field Artillery, 36 guns.
  1 Company of Engineers.

Fighting strength: 12,000 to 18,000 rifles, 150 sabres, 36 guns.

Army Corps 2 Divisions, and probably a third from the Reserve Army. Battalions of Rifles in some Corps.
  1 Cavalry Brigade.
  4 Brigades of Field Artillery, 48 guns.
  1 Battalion of Heavy Artillery.
  1 Company of Engineers.

Fighting strength: 36,000 to 42,000 rifles, 1,500 sabres, 126 guns.

Cavalry

Regiment 4 Squadrons.
Brigade 2 Regiments.
Division 3 Brigades (some 2).
  2 Batteries of Horse Artillery.

Artillery

FIELD ARTILLERY
Battery 4 guns, 8 wagons.
“Groupe” (British Brigade):
  3 Batteries.
Regiment 2 Brigades.
HEAVY ARTILLERY
Battery 2 guns.
Battalion 3 Batteries (6 guns—6 in.).

RUSSIA

Infantry

Regiment 4 Battalions and 8 machine guns.
Brigade 2 Regiments.
Division 2 Brigades of Infantry.
  1 Brigade of Artillery.
Army Corps 2 Infantry Divisions.
  1 Cavalry Division.
  1 Engineer Battalion and Park.

Fighting strength: 28,000 rifles, 3,600 sabres, 124 guns.

Total strength: 40,000 men, 16,000 horses.

Cavalry

Regiment 6 Squadrons.
Brigade 2 Regiments.
Division 2 Brigades, and 1 Horse Artillery Brigade.

Fighting strength: 3,600 sabres, 12 guns.

Corps 2 Cavalry Divisions.

Artillery

Battery Field, 8 guns.
  Horse and Howitzer, 6 guns.
Division 2 or 3 Batteries and an Ammunition Column.

AUSTRIA-HUNGARY

Infantry

Regiment 3 (or 4) Battalions.
Brigade 2 Regiments.
Division 2 Brigades of Infantry.
  1 Rifle Battalion.
  3 Squadrons.
  1 Artillery Regiment of 2 Divisions, each of 2 Batteries.
  1 Company of Engineers.

Strength: 16,000 rifles, 730 sabres, 24 guns.

Army Corps 3 Divisions of Infantry.
  1 Troop of Cavalry.
  2 Regiments of Field Artillery.
  1 Regiment of Howitzers.
  1 Division of Heavy Artillery.
  1 Company of Engineers.

Strength: 32,000 rifles, 1,500 sabres, 144 guns.

Total strength: 46,000 men, 13,000 horses, 4,000 vehicles.

Cavalry

Squadron 2 Troops.
Regiment 6 Squadrons, 4 machine guns.
Brigade 2 Regiments (12 Squadrons).
Division 2 Brigades.
  1 Machine-Gun Unit (4 guns).
  1 “Division” of Horse Artillery (3 Batteries, 12 guns).

Fighting strength: 3,600 sabres, 12 guns.

Artillery

Battery Horse, 4 guns.
  Field, 6 guns, 6 wagons.
  Howitzer, 6 guns, 12 wagons.
Division (British Brigade):
  Horse, 3 Batteries.
  Field or Howitzer, 2 Batteries.
Regiment 2 Divisions (24 guns) and 4 Ammunition Parks.
HEAVY ARTILLERY
Battery 4 guns, or howitzers, 16 wagons.
Division 4 Batteries.
MOUNTAIN ARTILLERY
Battery 4 guns, or howitzers (mountain).
Regiment 4 Batteries and an Ammunition Park.

ITALY

Infantry

Battalion 4 Companies (3 in Rifle and “Alpine” Battalions).
Regiment 3 Battalions.
Brigade 2 Regiments.
Division 2 Brigades.
  1 Squadron of Cavalry.
  1 Brigade of Artillery.
  1 Company of Engineers.

Fighting strength: 12,000 rifles, 150 sabres, 24 guns.

Army Corps 2 Divisions.
  1 Battalion of Rifles.
  1 Squadron of Cavalry.
  1 Brigade of Artillery.

Fighting strength: 25,000 rifles, 450 sabres, 72 guns.

Cavalry

Regiment 5 Squadrons.
Brigade 2 Regiments.
Division 2 Brigades.
  1 Brigade of Horse Artillery.

Artillery

Battery Field or Horse, 6 guns.
  Heavy, 4 guns.
  Mountain, 4 guns.
Brigade Field, 4 Batteries and an Ammunition Column.
  Horse, 2 Batteries and an Ammunition Column.

JAPAN

Infantry

Regiment 3 Battalions, 6 machine guns.
Brigade 2 Regiments.
Division 2 Brigades.
  1 Cavalry Regiment of 3 Squadrons.
  1 Artillery Regiment.
  1 Engineer Battalion of 3 Companies.
  1 Bridge Train.

Cavalry

Regiment 5 Squadrons.
Brigade 2 Regiments of 5 Squadrons each.
  1 Machine-Gun Unit of 8 guns.
  1 Horse Artillery Battery.

Field Artillery

Battery 6 guns, 6 ammunition wagons.
Battalion 3 Batteries.
Regiment 2 Battalions.
Brigade 2 Regiments.

SWITZERLAND

Future war organization by Divisions, which will, in 1912, replace the present organization in 4 Army Corps.

Infantry

Regiment 3 Battalions.
Brigade 2 Regiments.
  1 Battalion of Rifles.
  1 Squadron of Mounted “Guides.”
Mountain Brigade:
  5 Battalions.
  1 Machine-Gun Unit.
  2 Mountain Batteries.
  1 Engineer Company.
  1 Signalling Unit.
Division 3 Infantry Brigades.
  1 Mountain Brigade.
  2 Squadrons of Mounted “Guides.”
  1 Brigade of Field Artillery.
  1 Battalion of Engineers.
  1 Light Bridge Train.
  1 Telegraph Company.

Of the 18 Infantry Brigades, 4 will be “Mountain Brigades.”

Cavalry

Regiment (Cavalry and “Guides”) 3 Squadrons.
Brigade 2 Regiments.
  1 Machine-Gun Unit of 8 guns.

Artillery

Battery 4 guns.
Regiment 6 Batteries.
  1 Ammunition Column.
Brigade 2 Regiments.

UNITED STATES

The organization of the army of the United States is on different lines from that of other armies.

No higher formation than the Regiment exists in peace, but it is understood that the following is the organization contemplated in war.

Infantry

Company 3 Officers, 128 men (in 2 Platoons).
Battalion 4 Companies, under a Major.
Regiment 3 Battalions, or 1,600 men, under a Colonel.
Brigade 3 Regiments, or 4,800 men.
Division 3 Brigades.
Army Corps 3 Divisions.

Cavalry

Troop 3 Officers, 100 men (in 4 Platoons).
Squadron 4 Troops, 400 men, under a Major.
Regiment 3 Squadrons, or 1,200 men, under a Colonel.

Artillery

Battery 4 guns, 4 Officers, 160 men.
Battalion 3 Batteries, under a Major.
Regiment 2 Battalions, under a Colonel.