Basic Military Organization

Military organization varies a great deal from army to army, and even from unit to unit, thanks to differing circumstances and traditions. This is a basic guide to military regimentation, with the caveat that they are rules so often deviated from that they might as well not be rules at all.

Squadron ("Squad") - The smallest standard infantry unit, generally of around 9 to 11 men led by a noncommissioned officer (NCO).

Platoon, Infantry - Usually consists of 4 squads led by a lieutenant with a senior NCO as a platoon section leader (42 men total).

Platoon, Vehicle - Usually the smallest standard vehcile unit, consisting of three to six vehicles (three in case of tanks).

Company - Three or more platoons led by a captain (at least about 130 fighting men or nine tanks).

Battalion - Three or four companies usually led by a major or a lieutenant colonel (at least about 400 fighting men or 27 tanks).

Regiment - Three to five battalions, commanded by a colonel (at least about 1200 fighting men or 81 tanks).

Brigade - Three to six battalions, commanded by a colonel or a brigadier general (at least about 3600 fighting men or 243 tanks).

Division - Several brigades or regiments plus support (maybe 10800 fighting men or 729 tanks). Arguably the largest standard tank unit.

Army or Army Group - Several corps plus support led by a general or a field commander (maybe 97200 fighting men).

German Panzer Battalion
Combat Arm	Reconnaissance Arm
Three Medium Tank Companies of three tanks each. Panzer III Panzer IV Pz 38(t)	One Reconnaissance Light Tank Company of three tanks each Panzer I Panzer II One Motorcycle Company of four Zundapp motorcycles w/ sidecars
Command and Support Arm
One Panzerbehfelwagen Command Tank One Hanomag 251/6 Command Halftrack Two Sd Kfz 18 Prime Movers

Soviet Tank Battalion (Stalingrad or Counteroffensive)
Combat Arm	Command and Support Arm
Three Medium Tank Companies of three tanks each. T-34/76 T-34/75	One T-34 Command Tank Three SMG BN Armored Personnel Carriers (NKVD) or Three M3A1 Halftracks Two jeeps. One SU-85 Tank Recovery Vehicle
NOTE: Soviet battalions usually operated in two waves--a first wave of Red Army regulars followed by a wave of NKVD tanks. The NKVD operated tanks with blue rings around the barrels and were intended as a guarantee that the Red Army wave would not retreat; if it did, it was fired upon by the NKVD tanks. Red Army units early in the war could be easily routed by destroying the rear-line NKVD first, thus giving the front lines an opportunity to surrender or retreat.

American Armored Battalion
Combat Arm	Reconnaissance Arm
Three Medium Tank Companies of three tanks each. M3 Lee (early 1941, esp. North Africa) M4 Sherman	One Reconnaissance Light Tank Company of three tanks each M3/M5 Stuart M22 Locust M24 Chaffee (rare, late 1944)
Command and Support Arm
One M4 Sherman Command Tank One GMC M35 Lab Truck Command Vehicle One GMC M35 Covered Truck One M-36 Sherman Tank Recovery Vehicle Three Jeeps

British Armored Regiment
Combat Arm	Reconnaissance Arm
Three Tank Squadrons of three tanks each. Cromwell Cruiser Churchill Matilda Sherman Firefly Valentine	One Reconnaissance Light Tank Company of three tanks each M3 Honey OR One Reconnaissance Armored Car Company of three cars each Humber Scout Car Saladin Scout Car
Command and Support Arm
Two Command Tanks One Tank Recovery Vehicle One Land Rover One Motorcycle One Bren Scout Car Two Trucks