Battalion headquarters composition

[Tom Anderson]

Hi,

I'm trying to find out what the composition of a battalion headquarters
is. Both in terms of what functions it provides, and the exact counts of
men and materials and donkeys and what not. I'm looking mostly at infantry
(which i suppose is implied by the word 'battalion'!), but am interested
generally, in regimental HQs in the armour, artillery, etc. Information on
the rifle companies of an infantry battalion is easy enough to find, but
the headquarters, less so.

This page:

http://www.armedforces.co.uk/army/listings/l0033.html

Lists two things: the HQ proper, which apparently fits in one Warrior, and
so i assume is the CO, second in command, and some kind of small staff,
and the HQ company, which is just described as "A1 echelon, A2 echelon, B
echelon". Helpful! As far as i can find out, all three of those are
logistics groups of increasing separation from the front line.

Wikipedia says:

"The HQ company contains signals, quartermaster, catering, intelligence,
administration, pay, training, operations and medical elements. "

Anyone care to expand on that?

How much of this actually goes with a battalion when it goes on
operations? How much makes it to a base in Ethnikklashistan or wherever,
how much makes it out of the base to go fighting, etc?

How much of this is men organic to the battalion, and how much is units
from other corps attached to it?

Thanks,
tom

[Andrew Chaplin]

Post by Tom Anderson
I'm trying to find out what the composition of a battalion headquarters
is. Both in terms of what functions it provides, and the exact counts of
men and materials and donkeys and what not. I'm looking mostly at infantry
(which i suppose is implied by the word 'battalion'!), but am interested
generally, in regimental HQs in the armour, artillery, etc. Information on
the rifle companies of an infantry battalion is easy enough to find, but
the headquarters, less so.
http://www.armedforces.co.uk/army/listings/l0033.html
Lists two things: the HQ proper, which apparently fits in one Warrior, and
so i assume is the CO, second in command, and some kind of small staff,
and the HQ company, which is just described as "A1 echelon, A2 echelon, B
echelon". Helpful! As far as i can find out, all three of those are
logistics groups of increasing separation from the front line.
"The HQ company contains signals, quartermaster, catering, intelligence,
administration, pay, training, operations and medical elements. "
Anyone care to expand on that?
How much of this actually goes with a battalion when it goes on
operations? How much makes it to a base in Ethnikklashistan or wherever,
how much makes it out of the base to go fighting, etc?
How much of this is men organic to the battalion, and how much is units
from other corps attached to it?

From memory, the CO's Tactical HQ (his Warrior) will never, when
deployed, carry the 2iC -- those are two eggs you do not want cooked
in the same basket (sorry about the mixed mentaphor). The RSM is part
of the Command Group, but, as MANHOLE MINOR, has a job to do getting
ammunition and replacements to the rifle companies, and operates
fairly independently of the Tac and the Alternate HQ, only coming
together with the rest of the Command Group to participate as part of
the CO's Recce Group or Orders Group ("R" Gp and "O" Gp). The 2iC,
when not on task (probably in the Brigade Ech trying to scare up
whatever the battle group is short) is usually in the Main CP
following ops, ready to take the place of C/S Niner should he buy the
farm.
--
Andrew Chaplin
SIT MIHI GLADIUS SICUT SANCTO MARTINO

[Tom Anderson]

Post by Andrew Chaplin

Post by Tom Anderson
I'm trying to find out what the composition of a battalion headquarters
is.

From memory, the CO's Tactical HQ (his Warrior) will never, when
deployed, carry the 2iC -- those are two eggs you do not want cooked in
the same basket (sorry about the mixed mentaphor).

Good point!

Post by Andrew Chaplin
The RSM is part of the Command Group, but, as MANHOLE MINOR, has a job
to do getting ammunition and replacements to the rifle companies, and
operates fairly independently of the Tac and the Alternate HQ, only
coming together with the rest of the Command Group to participate as
part of the CO's Recce Group or Orders Group ("R" Gp and "O" Gp). The
2iC, when not on task (probably in the Brigade Ech trying to scare up
whatever the battle group is short) is usually in the Main CP following
ops, ready to take the place of C/S Niner should he buy the farm.

Well that all makes perfect sense, thanks.

tom