Battalion

In military terminology, a battalion consists of two to six companies typically commanded by a lieutenant colonel. The nomenclature varies by nationality and by branch of arms, e.g. some armies organize their infantry into battalions, but call battalion-sized cavalry, reconnaissance, or tank units a squadron or a regiment instead. There may even be subtle distinctions within a nation's branches of arms, such a distinction between a tank battalion and an armored squadron, depending on how the unit's operational role is perceived to fit into the army's historical organization.

British Army

The term battalion is used in the infantry, Royal Army Medical Corps and Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers only. It was formerly used in the Royal Engineers (occasionally) and the now defunct Royal Army Ordnance Corps and Royal Pioneer Corps. Other corps usually use the term regiment.

Related Topics:
Infantry - Royal Army Medical Corps - Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers - Royal Engineers - Royal Army Ordnance Corps - Royal Pioneer Corps - Regiment

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An infantry battalion usually has a Headquarters Company, Support Company and three Rifle Companies (usually, but not always, A, B and C). Each company is commanded by a major, the officer commanding (OC), with a captain as second-in-command (2i/c). The HQ company contains signals, quartermaster, catering, intelligence, administration, pay, training, operations and medical elements. The support company usually contains anti-tank, machine gun, mortar, pioneer and reconnaissance platoons. Mechanised units will usually have an attached Light Aid Detachment (LAD) of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) to perform field repairs on vehicles and equipment.

Related Topics:
Major - Officer commanding - Signals - Quartermaster - Intelligence - Anti-tank - Machine gun - Mortar - Pioneer - Reconnaissance - Light Aid Detachment

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Important figures in a battalion headquarters include:

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• Commanding Officer (CO) (invariably a lieutenant colonel)
• Second-in-Command (2i/c) (usually a major)
• Adjutant (captain or major)
• Quartermaster (QM) (captain or major)
• Regimental Medical Officer (RMO) (Royal Army Medical Corps captain or major)
• Regimental Administrative Officer (RAO) (Adjutant General's Corps captain or major)
• Padre (Royal Army Chaplains Department Chaplain 4th or 3rd Class)
• Regimental Intelligence Officer (RIO) (lieutenant or captain)
• Regimental Signals Officer (RSO) (lieutenant or captain)
• Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) (warrant officer class 1)
• Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant (RQMS) (warrant officer class 2)
• Chief Clerk
• Drum Major (or Bugle Major in light infantry battalions)
• Pipe Major (in Scots and Irish regiments only)