United States Army

The Army is the branch of the United States armed forces which has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. As of fiscal year 2004 (FY04), it consisted of 485,500 soldiers (including 71,400 women) on active duty and 591,000 in reserve (325,000 in the Army National Guard (ARNG) and 246,000 in the United States Army Reserve (USAR)). The Continental Army was formed on June 14, 1775, before the establishment of the United States, to meet the demands of the American Revolutionary War. Congress created the United States Army on June 3, 1784 after the end of the American Revolutionary War, to replace the disbanded Continental Army.

Equipment

Infantry equipment

According to internal doctrine, the US Army relies on the best equipped and trained individual soldier as possible as the basic element, and aims to multiply his effectivivity with the most advanced tactics possible. This has indeed made the US Army the most advanced land force in the world, but has also caused new problems. Since this doctrine causes high expenses on each soldier, it has made warfare very expensive, which coming closer to a financial limit to leading a war more and more probable.

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Infantry weapons

• Bayonet
• M16 rifle
• M4
• M9
• M1911
• M40 Hand grenade
• M203 grenade launcher
• M240 machine gun
• M249 Squad Automatic Weapon
• M60 machine gun
• M224 mortar
• M252 mortar
• Molle West

Anti-armor

• TOW
• Javelin launcher

Other personal equipment

• Global Positioning System
• Joint Service Lightweight Integrated Suit Technology - provides protection from attacks with weapons of mass destruction
• M40 gas mask
• M256 Chemical Agent Detector

Vehicles

The US Army is highly focussed on mobility, thus, it holds many vehicles.

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Armered vehicles

• M1 Abrams
• M2 Bradley
• M113
• MLRS
• M6 Linebacker
• M120

Artillery

• M102
• M109
• M109
• M198

Anti-air

• MIM-104
• M1097

Transport & Supply Vehicles

• HMMV
• HEMMT
• Jeep
• Dodge W 200
• 5-tonner
• CUCV
• M1070
• PLS