How a World War II Infantry Division Was Organized
Then explain it from largest to smallest:
Level Typical WWII organization What it was
Division ~14,000–15,000 soldiers The major combat formation
Regiment ~3,000 soldiers Usually 3 infantry battalions
Battalion ~800–1,000 soldiers Usually 4 companies
Company ~180–200 soldiers Usually 3 rifle platoons + headquarters
Platoon ~40–50 soldiers Usually 3–4 squads
Squad ~10–12 soldiers Smallest basic infantry unit
Army Unit Terminology
- Infantry — Regiment → Battalion → Company → Platoon → Squad
- Artillery — Regiment → Group → Battalion → Battery → Platoon → Section
- Cavalry — Regiment → Squadron → Troop
- Engineers — Battalion → Company
- Medical — Battalion → Company → Detachment
For each division that trained at Camp Adair, such as the 70th Infantry Division, 91st Infantry Division, 96th Infantry Division, and 104th Infantry Division, this would have been the organization.
70th Infantry Division
- Division headquarters
- 274th Infantry Regiment
- Company B
- Company C
- 2nd Battalion
- 3rd Battalion
- Cannon Company
- Anti-tank Company
- Service Company
- 275th Infantry Regiment
- 276th Infantry Regiment
- Division artillery
- 725th Field Artillery Battalion
- 882nd Field Artillery Battalion
- 883rd Field Artillery Battalion
- 884th Field Artillery Battalion
- 270th Engineer battalion
- 70th Reconnaissance troop
- 70th Quartermaster units
- 570th Signal Company
- 770th Ordnance Company
- Military Police Platoon
- Other attached/support units
Table of Organization for World War 2 from wikipedia