ARMY UNITS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2273, 6 October 1914, Page 6

ARMY UNITS

EXPLANATION OF TERMS

BRITISH AND FOREIGN TROOPS

~..., ■-,-:, Military terms, having-a precise sig- ;; ■'.''. /• hificaaico, are frequently used in the ■.;■ ,': ;■' ■ cablegrams to describe operations, lossesi ■'■'.. •:.; '.and .captures in the 1 present war, and 1 'V\; often their explanation is necessary to ..V , ' .; /.enable, the lay reader fully to appreciate ,v'.'.' ■ - •;■" the significance of'tJie news. The f01■;;:,.':,';.: ■;;:,.':,';.: lowing explanations apply to , the war V-'''WiYr'-ostablishmentof the British Army, as . - ' . v furnished by the latest War, Office pub- ,/.; 'i-Vlicatiions:— ;-. ■■' ' ■ .'■■:- -'; .' :v-'.;An Infantry Brigade, after concentra- ' .:■■ ■:."vi r, -twn, i -comprises four, battalions, or a ;v .;':■;,, total, personnel of 124 officers and 3988 •'.'[■ p. •> men. > Each battalion contains approxi.vC:^r;.;:mate']y::v;lOoO. men; ..Attached, to. ■.'/,;- i.theibriga.cle are' 53 riding, 142 draught, "■'■'■. i\! -•:'.and-"72ipaok horses, eight machine guns, . a-number of vehicles. ; .'/:. : .',:; : -..: : A'.'Division contains ,598 officers and •;' ' :: ': : ''r- ■ /18,077 rneii, with horses,' giins, and ve- .'.■■';:■;'; hides. •..Included'in its composition are ;'.,v.■.'■'■•-"tliree. infantry brigades (372 officers, •: ;■:,.;' ' 11,964 of otlior ranks) ; ;':three field artil- ;■ .; .'. ! >lery'"brigades .(69 officers and 2298 men '."',': }'i-: yof • other ■Tatks)'.. , '" A field artillery bri-■^':.-i;;;,fiade_;(22'.'officers, 734 other ranks); a .i: ■;;■ ..-'•'divisional; train;' a divisional. entmtmi- :'.' y.itipn.cplumn, and 'several other ;compa.n----i;tises,,-:-.; ,'■;-■;■•' ■: ;■ .; -. .'.- . ":.'. i; -V:. : ■'■-:.'.iA!:Cavalry Division.nas a personnel of >■ : : •■■•-■ißs..officere'-aind 9412 men of "other ranks, .;'!,'-■; ;,; ;■;■■', and•:includes four cavalry, brigades (332 ;;-:". -'J 1 officers,. .;.,..: ; , ... "■ ' 'V■ 83omcers ,i-v\j.; Jaiid 1589 men. of other ranks, ivitn sis ■ ■'■~ : ' < j-..macliine_'2iiiis. y '.". i';' ■!..-'.' '"•'-. ,;-"',v-;,< : ;v;. : A'm6unted-brigade, with two cavalry •;V'« : ■ ''..'Tegiments.'and'a;mounted.infantry bat- .;'., '.;■■'. ■■' -talion,' lias;, a, iotal' personnel of. 2311 ■.'■;; : ;'. ; '. (108 officers);, and a mounted brigade, -.with-a,; cavaky/regiment and.two mount- ;.■';. . ! ;'",-;"ed? infantry•. battalions, Las the same • V". ,-; . ; number;■•.jOiie cavalry, regiment com- ;•;';;: , : prises- 26 officers'and 514 men. A'horse' battery has seven officers and, •:/,■■■' ' -.213 men. .Amounted infantry.battalion ■.;'.,•:!.;; : -f has .26 officers and 513 men.-, V ' ■ i.'-J--'-":-.'j : ..' i ■ ."-'-.The organisation of foreign'armies dif-. , J : :iY;'.\ I "fer3 : considerably ; from tliat of the Bri- .•;., ;'■;■■ tish/anfl is:based mainly^upon.tho Ger-ff.';:-;.'i;".i.inßn system.-' -.•:>'■ •"• - - •■'•■ ; : : --. v"v;. ; -v-:..Normally the war organisation of forVvVi ! : ; .«igH: armies (1909) is as follows:— '. ■;, , .;:i..-:;]ifanti7..—Company, ,250 :men; bat- ;'..',' V.taliqn, 1000 meii (four companies); re:v;v.c'\,;giment,'three battalions (some German i;;V:~i;.. -a-ndjFrench 1 have four); brigade,.two re-'v.'"--■?)',•;''■'-'.gunentsV two brigades; army ';.:.'/•,.:. corps, two divisions (tliree in France ;::;'2>^; i '.ahd Austria). - ; ~: ■•; ; : ; ..!,-/1;;" ,'-.^Cavalry.'-r-Squadron, -four .troops, or .';..;VW'llso. men;, regiment, four ' squadrons .;>;./..(Russia and Austria six); brigade, .two Si:ft :;■;;•regiments; division, two or 'three'-bri-' ■:-,.;;■■ .:■■•■- ; . .'■,.;: . >iv. i; ,' : ''i- r '"' ; ' The composition of various European \-';-v,j/army units is as follows:—;; ' ■'•, ■■-. '; v'!v,';;:'"'.yv: - .T .' :.' Germany.. '■ ■ ' ...'■-.- .•; i: f ■.•'■->:;"■ Infantry.—-Battalion, 4 companies of .men, total of 1080;, Regiment,, 3 ''.■:,, -..,/' battalions and a company of 6 machine .'.:;.::.::■.; guns, with a,fishting strength' of 3000 :■",-';..■!•■'V. 'bayonets.and six machine guns, and a ■.fvv:. , -total strength of 3300 men, 190 horses, ,!/; ;!-^tand ( 60 vehicles; Brigade, 2 regiments; :'ii .;..; .Division,; 2 brigades, v/itli, a cavalry' regiment, an artiDory brigade, .'■' four V' v ."Ilea vy. ammunition columns, two in-' :'->;., ,;fantry ammunition columns, and other j>:;;.-^ytroops, bringing tlio fighting strength ;;;■■•;-':^to-12,000 rifles, 600 sabres, 72 guns, ;-' -v-.iand 24 machine guns, or : a'.- total ; ;- ; V^;'strength of 17,000 men;' 4000 horses, :;-,"-.;/; and 600 vehicles.. Army, Corps, 2'divi-r">;:,'..y-..:sions-'(a few have tliree), a rifle bat- '■;-;;■ talion, 12 anfmunition columns, 6 sup- ;:■-.'.'';:. V.-pl- columns, and 6 supply parks, and G :■>'; other, components to make a fighting ;i r v;' .-strength' of "26,000 rifles, 1200 sabres, ! f'.-,,,.-.-;:-'.l26 guns, and 48 machine guns;-or.'a : }> .;' ■ ■ ■; total , strength ■ of .41,000. men, 14,000 '~y ;,. horses,- and 2400 vehicles. ■■-.-,. ':■ ' •'■' ■ ; • :; ■";.:..; Cavalry.—Squadron, 180 men and 150 ;-,-,;•.;.;■ sabres; Regiment,.4 squadrons,;7so all ■ . ... ranks, 750 horses; Brigade, 2 regiments '■■'■''-. ;'■".(some: three); Division, 3 brigades, '1 ; !'v--. horse artillery Abteilung (2,batteries), I /'.' '■]?■ ..and 1 light ammunition column, 1 ma- \! •:■• ..'■■ ihine gun section, and 1 mounted def .'■; ; .:'tacnment'of 33 men, with a fighting. of 3600 sabres; 12 guns, and ...:'.' '■':'■■ 3 machine guns, or a total strength of :-- -:-5000 men,. 5300 horses, and 200 ve- •'■.;■: f. Nicies. ,--..'..• .;. ■ i';/::/"■.. Artirjery.-J'ieid:; Battery, 6 gune, 6 ' wagons; Abteilung (British 'f, brigade), 3 batteries (only two in iorse ..'': artillery); Regiment, 2 Abteilungen of '■-.';:■ artillery and 2 light'ammunition col-V-'-umns; Brigade, 2 regiments, or 2300 J men,_ 2000 horses, 70 guns, and arn^ • . . munition wagons; 90 vehicles; Heavy r. ..Battery, 4 heavy field Howitzersi or r-f.:--;.';.'-.field mortars; Battalion, 4 Howitzers -:"■■., (or 2 mortar) batteries -and the light: ■•'.;■■; : .;■ ammunition vcolumn. The heavy field : :; : .Howitzer battery has '4 guns and 8 '■; ■.c .: jvagons. . : ■-•' : . ■■ ■ - ''■' : .'- '! : ->-'v-'.;' . .. ■ France. ■' : - - Infantry.—Battalion, 4 companies; i, Regiment, 3 battalions; Brigade, 2 (:'-'Regiments (some 3); "Division, 2 bri- | ; - gades (some 3), 1 squadron of cavalry, jf--. ; 3 brigades of field artillery (36 guns), ; 1 company cf engineersj giving a fight- /■■ ing strength, of. 1.2,000 to 18,000 rifles, 150 snbros, and 36 guns; ' Army Corps, .: Si.division&and.oFten a third from the reserve army, 1 cavalry brigade,' i\bri- , ;,: gades "of-field artillery (48 guns), 1 bati;,<-. ./talion of heavy- artillery, and- 1 comV- •■■■-.' pany of engineers, with a fighting :-^;-" , .;strength, of 36.000 to 42,000 rifles, 1500 !-■"■ r . '■■ sabres, , and 126 guns. ' ,'■; : Cavalry Regiment,.four squadrons; :'-;':-./ Brigade,-two regimonts; Division, .3 &:'; brigades (some 2), 2,batteries .of horse '-:;-.■'[ artillery,. , , . . ; . .. V,. , j.. Artillery .—Field, Battery, 4.guris, 8 '?; ■';.': ■ wagons; Regiment..2 brigades. • Heavy: Battery, 2 guns;, Battalion, 3 batteries ;'■■; ;(6 guns, 6in.). ' : .; . ,; '•0- -. ' Russia.. ... . ./' ;-V Infantry.—'•Regiment, 4 battalions and :■// B_macliine guns; Brigade, 2 regiments; V. 1 ;' ';• ''Division,-' 2 brigades of -infantry and one J':.;; "of artillery; Army Corps, 2 infantry ':'.•■'.: . divisions, 1 infantry division, one en- {'■'."' giiieor battalion, 'and park, with a fc.'/ .fighting.'strength of 28,000 rifles,'3ooo. if.; eabres, and 124 guns, or a total H.;-: '■~ strength of 40,000 men and 16,000 ■'A ;.'■,.-'horses.. -.'.■. , . ,i ' ?$■ ; Cavalry.—Regiment, 6 -squadrons'; :'& 2 regiments; Division, 2 liri- '£'', -. gades and tho horse artiUery brigado, "f ".:' with a fighting strength of 3600 sabres and 12 guns; Corps, 2 cavalry divieions. Artillery.—Batfery, Field, 8 guns; Division, 2 or 3 batterios and an am- •■■ ' munition column. Austria-Hungary. ■' ' ' Infantry.—Regiment, 3 or 4 battalions ; Brigade, 2 regiments; Division, 2 brigades of infantry, 1 rule battalion, i; squadrons, 1 artillery regiment of 2 1 divisions, 1 company or engineers, with [\ a strength of 16,000 rifles, 730 sabres, tj and 24 guns; Army Corps, 3 divisions i; of infantry, 1 troop of cavalry, 2 field I'i artillerj' regiments, 1 howitzer regiment, \f 1* heavy artillery regiment, 1 company jij of engineers, with a strength of 32,000 ( ' lifles, 1500 sabres, and 144 guns, cr ' ' total strength, 46,000 men, 13,000 : horses, and 4000 vehicles. ■ Cavalry.—Squadron, 2 troops; Regiment, -6 squadrons, • 4 machine guns; : 'Brigade/ 2 regiments (12 sauadrons); ' DivTsion, 2 brigades, 1 machine gun ■ ■■' -unit (4 guns), I division of horse artil- ' lery 3 batteries, 12 guns, with a'fightj ing strength of 3600 sabres and 12 gune. h" Artillery.—Battery, horse, 4 guns; $'■■ field, 6 guns, 6 wagons; howitzer, 6 & Bims, 12 wagons; Division , (British U Brigade), horse, 3 batteries; field, 2 ff- batterios; Regiment, 2 divisions (24 imns and 4 ammunition parks). W.> ■ h Heavy Artillery.—Battery, 4 guns or liiji liowitzors, 16 wagons; Division, 4 baU U- te Sntiiin Artillery. Battery, 4 guns '6-:? or howitzers; Regiment, 4 batteries and ijH''- an ammunition . ■