The gist of this thread seems to be:
There were always times when two manuever elements were enough. There were always times when four were needed. Three manuever elements seems to be the common sense starting point to task organize up or down from.
Lot's differences about details but the general consensus seems to be three manuever battalions, cavalry squadron, artillery battalion, and support battalion.
Arguments about wheeled vehicles and IFVs aside, is this the starting point for a brigade whether heavy, medium or light?
Devilishly simple solution...
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Pete
How did we ever make it through World Wars I and II, Korea, and Vietnam with thin-skinned wheeled vehicles? All of a sudden in 2003 and 2004 unarmored vehicles became a big deal, a major case of negligence on the part of the U.S. Army. Rumsfeld was right on that one, you go to war with the Army you have.
Probably because today (or at least recently) we tend to drive up and down the same roads day in, day out. Took these clowns awhile to take advantage of the situation but now it is a headache. It is natural to want to protect your soldiers from such a treat (in the case of Afghanistan also on foot). Rhodesia and South Africa achieved much in Taming the Landmine but note that the project process time followed by the procurement process time make it all but impossible for the western armies to keep up with the innovations being used against them. There should be a fabrication works right there in Afghanistan turning out and modifying vehicles on the fly. As the threat changes so you recall the vehicles on rotation to carryout the necessary mod.
Its not about beating the enemy... its about beating the bureaucracy.
On yes and when the war is over... leave the vehicle there.
As good as place as any to start
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Rifleman
There were always times when two manuever elements were enough. There were always times when four were needed. Three manuever elements seems to be the common sense starting point to task organize up or down from.
Lot's differences about details but the general consensus seems to be three manuever battalions, cavalry squadron, artillery battalion, and support battalion.
Arguments about wheeled vehicles and IFVs aside, is this the starting point for a brigade whether heavy, medium or light?
Pretty much what the current SBCT in the macro.
Have to be careful about straight unit/echelon comparisons.
Back in the 80s a US Tank Company had 17 tanks, three companies and 54 in the Bn.
Under Div-86, company size dropped to 14, added a fourth company and total tanks in the Bn rose to 58.
The Army-of-Excellence :rolleyes: (AoE) dropped the fourth company and the Bn went to 44 or 45.
The total tanks in a Hvy CAB is back to 58 spread across the two Bn (No more Tank Bns in the US Army of today).
Three maneuver Bns of three companies of three platoons + CAV sqdrn of 3 or 4 Troops of 3 or 4 platoons works for me. In a perfect non-Bill Payer world (nod to Ken).
Really believe that fewer, bigger BCTs is the real answer.