Organisation

[plan_D]

Of divisions ...

The first is actually a question. A basic infantry division, let's say 1st (not really 1st Infantry ...just using it for example on my simple brain).

Division was split up into three regiments. Which in turn were split up into three battalions. Each battalion was split into four companys. Each company then into three platoons. Right?

So;

1st Infantry Division > 1st Regiment > 1st Battalion > A Company > 1st Platoon.

First, is that correct?

Second, what are the names of the Companys in the U.S?

You've got four per battalion, A-D in 1st (A Company I/1 IR ...I think ..), E-H in 2nd and I - M in 3rd (M being heavy weapons?)

What are the names!? I've got;

Able
Baker
C?
D?
Easy
Fox
G?
H?
Item
K?
L?
M?

 

[Gnomey]

If I remember correctly from Band of Brothers C is Charlie and D is Dog. I don't remember any of the others. I thought it was 3 companies to a battalion anyhow, though I might be wrong.

 

[evangilder]

I get a bit confused as well. I do know that there were several D companies. Ader can probably recite this one off the top of his head, but I am not sure.

The phonetic alphabet changed after WWII, so it is slightly different from today's usage.

 

[Maestro]

You're right, Evan. I've learned the phonetical alphabet during my Private Security course... It doesn't look to be the same. Here is the list. I don't remember all of them, though.

International Phonetical Alphabet :

A - Alpha
B - Bravo
C - Charlie
D - Delta
E - Echo
F - Foxtrot
G - Golf
H - Hotel
I - India
J - Juliet
K - Kilo
L - Lima
M - Mike
N - November
O - Oscar
P - Papa
Q - Quebec
R - Romeo
S - Sierra
T - Tango
U - Uniform
V - Victor
W - Wiskey
X - X-ray
Y - Yankee
Z - Zulu

**EDIT** : I corrected my list after I read Gnomey's post.

 

[Gnomey]

Here is the phonetic alphabet: http://www.dynamoo.com/technical/phonetic.htm

 

[evangilder]

Yes, Gnomey, that's the one that I was trained to use in Radio school in the AF.

 

[Nonskimmer]

That's the one we use too. It's NATO standard.

 

[plan_D]

I know about today's phonetic language but, as we all know that wasn't used in WWII.

On the issue of three or four companies to a battalion, I believe it might have varied. I am pretty sure more would have been four company, as opposed to three.

It's annoying because I have organisation of British, Russian and German Army Groups (Fronts), Armys, Corps, Divisions etc. etc. But no American ones.

 

[Maestro]

Yes, Gnomey, that's the one that I was trained to use in Radio school in the AF.

That's also the one I was trained to... I made some mistakes on my list above (now corrected).

 

[cheddar cheese]

Thats the one we use at ATC. Except its "Lemur" not Lima.

 

[schwarzpanzer]

What about the German one?

I think I asked this before?

A? (Can't beleeive I forgot this one! )

Bertha

Caesar

Dora

Emil

Freidrich

Gustav

H?

I?

J?

Kurfurst

 

[cheddar cheese]

A - Anton I believe.

 

[trackend]

You're right, Evan. I've learned the phonetical alphabet during my Private Security course... It doesn't look to be the same. Here is the list. I don't remember all of them, though.

International Phonetical Alphabet :

A - Alpha
B - Bravo
C - Charlie
D - Delta
E - Echo
F - Foxtrot
G - Golf
H - Hotel
I - India
J - Juliet
K - Kilo
L - Lima
M - Mike
N - November
O - Oscar
P - Papa
Q - Quebec
R - Romeo
S - Sierra
T - Tango
U - Uniform
V - Victor
W - Wiskey
X - X-ray
Y - Yankee
Z - Zulu

**EDIT** : I corrected my list after I read Gnomey's post.

It's the same one I use Maestro

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

It also depends on what kind of unit you are in. In Artillery Companies are called Battaries (I may be wrong with this one a Battary might actually be a platoon). In Cavalry units companies are called Troops. In Aviation units Platoons are called Flights and Squads are called Sections.

An example: I am in the 1st Infantry Divisions, 1st Aviation Regiment, 1st Aviation Battalion, Bravo Company, 2nd Flight, 1st Section.

It would be spelled out like this: B Co. 2-1 Avn Regt.