Continental regiments were supposed to be organized like British regiments, with eight companies. All companies were to have eighty-odd men of all ranks. Two of these were "flank companies", one company of grenadiers, men selected for their large size and strength, and one company of light infantry, smaller, more agile men, selected for the ability to move quickly. The British were fond of the practice of taking these flank companies from all regiments on hand and forming ad hoc battalions. This was what was done to form the column that marched on Lexington and Concord the day the war began. (The relief column was Royal Marines, taken from the ships crews in Boston Harbor and likewise amalgamated into a battalion). In practice few Continental regiments were ever recruited to full strength, and little attention seems to have been paid to creating elite flank companies.
The first Continentals were enlisted for one year, in 1776. This turned out to be a very short-sighted approach. If all the states had provided their complete quota of full-strength regiments, Washington would have had an army of around 88,000 men. Washington never had a quarter of that many on the Continental establishment. Beginning in 1777 men were enlisted for three years. Eventually in many state lines regiments had to be consolidated, due to their tiny size.
Continental regiments were supposed to be organized like British regiments, with eight companies. All companies were to have eighty-odd men of all ranks. Two of these were "flank companies", one company of grenadiers, men selected for their large size and strength, and one company of light infantry, smaller, more agile men, selected for the ability to move quickly. The British were fond of the practice of taking these flank companies from all regiments on hand and forming ad hoc battalions. This was what was done to form the column that marched on Lexington and Concord the day the war began. (The relief column was Royal Marines, taken from the ships crews in Boston Harbor and likewise amalgamated into a battalion). In practice few Continental regiments were ever recruited to full strength, and little attention seems to have been paid to creating elite flank companies.
The first Continentals were enlisted for one year, in 1776. This turned out to be a very short-sighted approach. If all the states had provided their complete quota of full-strength regiments, Washington would have had an army of around 88,000 men. Washington never had a quarter of that many on the Continental establishment. Beginning in 1777 men were enlisted for three years. Eventually in many state lines regiments had to be consolidated, due to their tiny size.
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On paper, an infantry regiment consisted of 10 Companies with 100 men in each for a total of 1000 men. This was a typical size of Union regiments when they were first formed and mustered into service. The Confederate regiments were not quite that size. Many didn't get to be that size as they were rushed into service. After the regiment went off to war, they began to lose men in combat. The regiment was trimmed down even smaller. It was common for a Confederate infantry company to be 40 men. It was common for Confederate regiments to be as small as 250 men during the last 2 years of the war. When the regiment experienced high loss of soldiers and officers, the regiment would be merged or "consolidated" with another regiment. Sometimes it was difficult to know this as they continued to be organized along their old regiment. Thus the 29th Mississippi Regiment and the 30th Mississippi Regiment in General Walthall's Brigade were merged into the 29th/30th Mississippi Regiment soon after the Battle of Missionary Ridge.
I can't tell you.how the 101st division was formed, but I can tell you,it was a great outfit,you could see the, 101st shoulder patch,just about every where (EUROPE and next the Pacific) I was NAVY ,but I saw a lot of the 101st,especially the air born division; I felt very proud of them! Flyboy752 GeorgeI cant tell you how they were formed but I can tell you that they were first used, in great numbers, on D-Day. They were sent by the thousands, they got scrambled on the ground and they went with other divisions or squads and they sometimes formed their own squad. I cant answer the question but I do nknow that the 101'st airborne was very prosperous during WW2, and very helpful during D-Day. Im sorry I cant answer it, I would keep asking.See wingsofliberation.nl for info.See also www.101airborneww2.comSee the official WWII unit history booklet at http://www.lonesentry.com/gi_stories_booklets/101stairborne/index.html for a good summary.The Airborne Division was a light infantry division. Thus it had fewer companies and not as many support units. The typical Infantry Regiment of a DIVISION consisted of 3 battalions that contained 4 companies each, with one being a heavy weapons company. Then in addition, it had a Cannon company and a Anti-Tank Company.The Parachute Infantry Regiment contained 3 battalions of 3 companies each.Here is a order of battle for the 101st Airborne Divsion.502d Parachute Infantry Regiment506th Parachute Infantry Regiment[assigned in 1 Mar 45 reorganization]327th Glider Infantry Regiment401st Glider Infantry Regiment [disbanded in 1 Mar 45 reorganization]SUPPORT units101st Parachute Maintenance Battalion326th Airborne Engineer Battalion326th Airborne Medical Company81st Airborne Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion101st Airborne Division Artillery321st Glider Field Artillery Battalion377th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion463d Parachute Field Artillery Battalion [assigned in 1 Mar 45 reorganization]907th Glider Field Artillery BattalionSpecial Troops801st Ordnance Company426th Quartermaster Company101st Signal CompanyMilitary Police PlatoonHeadquarters CompanyReconnaissance PlatoonBand [assigned in 1 Mar 45 reorganization]Reference Linkhttp://www.ww2-airborne.us/18corps/101abn/101_order_battle.html
26th Infantry Division was named the "Yankee Division" and their shoulder patch was a khaki Diamond with blue letters "Y D". This infantry division served in France and Germany. A typical WW2 infantry division contained about 15,000 men at full strength. It contained 3 Infantry regiments and 4 artillery battalions as well as support units such as Medial, Engineering, QuarterMaster and Signals.
A battalion is a unit of military organization. It has no fixed universal definition as to the size or composition of it. However, it falls in the organizational hierarchy between a company and a regiment/brigade. That is, it is larger than a company (and, is usually composed of at least two companies, plus other elements), but smaller than a regiment or brigade (which may consist of several battalions). In general, the company or equivalent unit is the smallest "managed" combat element of an army - that is, the company is the smallest organization which has a dedicated command section that does not immediately engage in combat. (Platoons and smaller units have command sections, but command is in many ways secondary to these units' combat requirements). In a company, the command section may incidentally engage in combat (as they are in close proximity to the front), but their main function is command and control. In most militaries, companies are commanded by a captain or equivalent rank. Battalions are made up of several companies, and generally are the first unit to have significant heterogeneous makeup (that is, they have several different units which have significantly different equipment and missions). For example, a typical infantry battalion will have several infantry companies (made up of soldiers equipped with light firearms), but it will likely also have several subunits for logistical supply (such as a truck section) and perhaps heavy fire support (a section of mortars or light artillery). Battalions are the first place where the concept of "combined arms" starts to show up. Battalions tend to be commanded by a major, or more rarely, a lieutenant colonel.
By 1776 a typical infantry regiment had a regimental staff and eight companies. Along with three field officers and six staff officers, the regimental staff included four staff NCOs: a sergeant major, a quartermaster sergeant, and two lead musicians (a drum major and a fife major).
How many companies did a typical infantry regiment have in 1776
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By 1776 a typical infantry regiment had a regimental staff and eight companies. Along with three field officers and six staff officers, the regimental staff included four staff NCOs: a sergeant major, a quartermaster sergeant, and two lead musicians (a drum major and a fife major).
By 1776 a typical infantry regiment had a regimental staff and eight companies. Along with three field officers and six staff officers, the regimental staff included four staff NCOs: a sergeant major, a quartermaster sergeant, and two lead musicians (a drum major and a fife major).
How many companies did a typical infantry regiment have in 1776
By 1776 a typical infantry regiment had a regimental staff and eight companies. Along with three field officers and six staff officers, the regimental staff included four staff NCOs: a sergeant major, a quartermaster sergeant, and two lead musicians (a drum major and a fife major).
By 1776 a typical infantry regiment had a regimental staff and eight companies. Along with three field officers and six staff officers, the regimental staff included four staff NCOs: a sergeant major, a quartermaster sergeant, and two lead musicians (a drum major and a fife major).
By 1776 a typical infantry regiment had a regimental staff and eight companies. Along with three field officers and six staff officers, the regimental staff included four staff NCOs: a sergeant major, a quartermaster sergeant, and two lead musicians (a drum major and a fife major).
By 1776 a typical infantry regiment had a regimental staff and eight companies. Along with three field officers and six staff officers, the regimental staff included four staff NCOs: a sergeant major, a quartermaster sergeant, and two lead musicians (a drum major and a fife major).
By 1776 a typical infantry regiment had a regimental staff and eight companies. Along with three field officers and six staff officers, the regimental staff included four staff NCOs: a sergeant major, a quartermaster sergeant, and two lead musicians (a drum major and a fife major).
By 1776 a typical infantry regiment had a regimental staff and eight companies. Along with three field officers and six staff officers, the regimental staff included four staff NCOs: a sergeant major, a quartermaster sergeant, and two lead musicians (a drum major and a fife major).