Moving up the table, Armored Cavalry units can’t use the term “battalion,” because that’s what lame units without horses in their history use. They prefer “Squadron” at that level of organization. Let’s take a look.
- HQ & HQ Troop
- (3) Armored Cavalry Troops
- (1) Tank Company
- (1) Artillery Battery
We’ve already discussed what’s in the Armored Cavalry Troop (circa 1990). Let’s look at the other components.
HQ & HQ Troop
- Squadron HQ
- (4) M998A1 HMMWVs
- (2) M1038A1 Cargo HMMWVs
- (3) M939 cargo trucks with cargo trailers
- (1) M934 Expansible Van with trailer
- (2) M3A2 Bradley CFV
- (1) M113A3 APC
- (3) M577A3 Command Vehicles
- Troop HQ
- (1) M998A1 HMMWV
- (1) M1038A1 Cargo HMMWV
- (1) M939 cargo truck with water trailer
- (1) M934 Expansible Van with trailer
- Battalion Communications Platoon
- (1) M998A1 HMMWV
- (1) M934 Expansible Van with trailer
- (1) M577A3 Command Vehicle
- Fire Support Element
- (1) M998A1 HMMWV
- (1) M577A3 Command Vehicle
- AVLB Section
- (3) M60 AVLBs
- Battalion Medical Platoon
- (1) M1038A1 Cargo HMMWV
- (2) M577A3 Aid Stations
- (8) M113A3 Medevac APC
- (2) M934 Expansible Vans with trailers
- Battalion Support Platoon
- (1) M1038A1 Cargo HMMWV with cargo trailer
- (6) M939 cargo trucks with cargo trailers
- (7) M977 Cargo HEMTTs
- (8) M978 Fuel Tanker HEMTTs
- (2) M49 tankers with tanker trailers
- Battalion Maintenance Platoon
- (2) Cargo HMMWVs
- (1) Cargo HMMWV with cargo trailer
- (2) M934 Expansible Vans with cargo trailers
- (1) M984 HEMTT Wrecker
- (1) M936 Wrecker
- (3) M88A2 Armored Recovery Vehicles
- (5) M939 Cargo Trucks with cargo trailers
Tank Company
- Company HQ
- (2) M1A1 Abrams MBTs
- (1) M113A3 APC
- (1) M998A1 HMMWV
- (1) M1038A1 Cargo HMMWV
- (1) M939 cargo truck with water trailer
- (3) Tank platoons, each with:
- (4) M1A1 Abrams MBTs
- Company Maintenance Section
- (1) M1038A1 Cargo HMMWV
- (1) M113A3 APC
- (2) M934 Expansible Vans with trailers
- (1) M88A2 Armored Recovery Vehicle
Artillery Battery
- Battery HQ
- (1) M998A1 HMMWV
- (1) M1038A1 Cargo HMMWV
- (1) M939 cargo truck with water trailer
- (1) M978 Fuel Tanker HEMTT with M989 HEMAT ammunition trailer
- Communication Section
- (1) M1038A1 Cargo HMMWV with cargo trailer
- Survey Section
- (1) M1038A1 Cargo HMMWV
- (2) Firing Platoons, each with:
- (1) M998A1 HMMWV
- (1) M1038A1 Cargo HMMWV
- (1) M934 Expansible Van with trailer
- (1) M577A3 Command Vehicle
- (4) M109A6 Paladin Self Propelled Howitzers
- (4) FAASVs
- Fire Support Team Section:
- (4) M981 FIST-Vs
- Combat Observation/Lasing Team section:
- (2) M981 FIST-Vs
- Ammunition Section
- (8) M977 Cargo HEMTTs
- Battery Maintenance Section
- (1) M113A3 APC
- (2) M934 Expansible Vans with trailers
- (1) M578 Light Recovery Vehicle
Some things to note. First, it interests me that the 4th company is a tank company. You can’t argue with that armor, I suppose. I’m also really happy to see that the squadron has some organic artillery capability. I rather like this idea. More artillery is always good, and I like having some always available to the squadron commander, on account of being organic to the squadron. My only complaint is a lack of any sort of anti-aircraft capability, but that’s a pretty common failing for US Army TO&Es. It’s also pretty easily fixable.
How is a lack of organic SPAA a failing for the Americans when they (+NATO) have a massive qualitative and quantitative advantage in modern fighters for any theater imaginable?
Probably the same reason the Army bothered with MIM-46, Patriot, Stinger, Roland, Sgt. York, M163, Chaparral, M1097, M6…
Just because you have aerial superiority doesn’t mean the fighters will always be everywhere all of the time to oblige you.
And this is 1990. Soviet air forces are pretty numerous. Local air superiority is not a guarantee.