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Saber Squadron Size
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In the US Army, the tank company (which is analogous to your squadron) commander fights the company from his tank turret. The company executive officer is also in a tank. In the armored cavalry troop, the troop commander fights from a tank and the XO is in the TOC in an M577 command post carrier.
George Wallace
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Red 6
We are pretty much the same in the 'Tanks', with the OC and BC fighting in tanks, but the 2 i/c is in charge of the echelons. Should the OC be 'removed' from combat for any reason, the 2 i/c moves up into his slot, and the BC becomes 2 i/c and rotates back to command the echelons. It keeps the two most experience pers separated so as not to loose both in a 'tragic event', and develops the Junior Officers progressing up the Chain.
In 'Recce' the OC is usually commanding from his vehicle, with the 2 i/c and OPs WO both commanding CPs in different Locs. There is always one Hot CP and one on the move, maintaining continuity.
We are pretty much the same in the 'Tanks', with the OC and BC fighting in tanks, but the 2 i/c is in charge of the echelons. Should the OC be 'removed' from combat for any reason, the 2 i/c moves up into his slot, and the BC becomes 2 i/c and rotates back to command the echelons. It keeps the two most experience pers separated so as not to loose both in a 'tragic event', and develops the Junior Officers progressing up the Chain.
In 'Recce' the OC is usually commanding from his vehicle, with the 2 i/c and OPs WO both commanding CPs in different Locs. There is always one Hot CP and one on the move, maintaining continuity.
TangoTwoBravo
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Red 6,
Just to add to George's post, we have two Captains in the Squadron in additon to the OC (a major), whereas US companies have the XO. The more junior of the two captains is the Battle Captain (BC) while the more senior is the Squadron 2IC. In general, the BC looks after operations, training and fighting effectiveness (maintenance) while the 2IC deals with administration and CSS. There can also be an LO (a Lt) although he is normally only found in Recce Sqn these days if at all.
The BC acts as the link to Regimental or Battle Group HQ (battalion equivalent), much like the XO in US organizations. He passes SITREPs to higher and generally speaks for the OC on higher nets, freeing the OC to focus on the Sqn command net. That being said, the OC also monitors the higher net and will talk on that net as appropriate. In a tank squadron he does it from a tank and he is usually moving either with the OC or with the rear-most Troop. He usually commands the firebase. In a reconnaissance squadron he does this from a command post along with the Ops WO as George mentioned (two CPs by doctrine and an RRB). The Recce Sqn works for Brigade and is a callsign on the brigade command net. The Recce Sqn SHQ can function as an alternate Brigade CP if disaster strikes.
The Sqn 2IC is a more senior Captain, and he was usually the BC for the previous year and may be Kingston-qualified. In garrison he looks after paperwork for the OC. In the field he commands the Sqn A2 echelon. Our armoured squadrons are suppposed to have an A1 and A2 echelon. The SSM commands the A1 echelon. The two echelons are pretty much matched sets in that they have the same number of POL and Ammo resupply vehicles (M548s in the good old days/ HLVWs these days). They both have maintainers, although the A1 echelon has the Maint Sgt and the ARV. They each have an armoured ambulance. The A1 echelon resupplies the F echelon and the A2 resupplies the A1. The A2 shuttles between the B echelon (fairly well back) and the A1 echelon. The 2IC attends CSS coord conferences at HQ Sqn and links up with Transport Troop resupply convoys. The Sqn thus carries two days of supplies, which is handy when you have to work for some other organization who is not set-up to resupply tanks. Having all the techs in the Sqn echelon is also handy when you go to work for some other organization (although SPSS will often still be a problem). Both the tank squadrons and recce squadrons have these echelons. The recce sqn is supposed to be resupplied by the Service Battalion, but this sometimes falls to the sqn's parent armoured regiment.
There is also a B echelon which consists of the SQ and his shop. The SQ is a senior WO and he looks after stores (including the vehicles and kit). The OC might be charge but the SQ owns the squadron! If the troops in the field need stuff like consumables or clothing he is the one that looks after that.
A full-up tank or recce sqn is a big beast that is fairly self-contained.
Just to add to George's post, we have two Captains in the Squadron in additon to the OC (a major), whereas US companies have the XO. The more junior of the two captains is the Battle Captain (BC) while the more senior is the Squadron 2IC. In general, the BC looks after operations, training and fighting effectiveness (maintenance) while the 2IC deals with administration and CSS. There can also be an LO (a Lt) although he is normally only found in Recce Sqn these days if at all.
The BC acts as the link to Regimental or Battle Group HQ (battalion equivalent), much like the XO in US organizations. He passes SITREPs to higher and generally speaks for the OC on higher nets, freeing the OC to focus on the Sqn command net. That being said, the OC also monitors the higher net and will talk on that net as appropriate. In a tank squadron he does it from a tank and he is usually moving either with the OC or with the rear-most Troop. He usually commands the firebase. In a reconnaissance squadron he does this from a command post along with the Ops WO as George mentioned (two CPs by doctrine and an RRB). The Recce Sqn works for Brigade and is a callsign on the brigade command net. The Recce Sqn SHQ can function as an alternate Brigade CP if disaster strikes.
The Sqn 2IC is a more senior Captain, and he was usually the BC for the previous year and may be Kingston-qualified. In garrison he looks after paperwork for the OC. In the field he commands the Sqn A2 echelon. Our armoured squadrons are suppposed to have an A1 and A2 echelon. The SSM commands the A1 echelon. The two echelons are pretty much matched sets in that they have the same number of POL and Ammo resupply vehicles (M548s in the good old days/ HLVWs these days). They both have maintainers, although the A1 echelon has the Maint Sgt and the ARV. They each have an armoured ambulance. The A1 echelon resupplies the F echelon and the A2 resupplies the A1. The A2 shuttles between the B echelon (fairly well back) and the A1 echelon. The 2IC attends CSS coord conferences at HQ Sqn and links up with Transport Troop resupply convoys. The Sqn thus carries two days of supplies, which is handy when you have to work for some other organization who is not set-up to resupply tanks. Having all the techs in the Sqn echelon is also handy when you go to work for some other organization (although SPSS will often still be a problem). Both the tank squadrons and recce squadrons have these echelons. The recce sqn is supposed to be resupplied by the Service Battalion, but this sometimes falls to the sqn's parent armoured regiment.
There is also a B echelon which consists of the SQ and his shop. The SQ is a senior WO and he looks after stores (including the vehicles and kit). The OC might be charge but the SQ owns the squadron! If the troops in the field need stuff like consumables or clothing he is the one that looks after that.
A full-up tank or recce sqn is a big beast that is fairly self-contained.
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Red_Five said:
Why not complete the evolution and make the Squadron into a FULLY self-contained small unit, as I thought it was, rather than a sub-unit? Lance suggested a Force of 6 Squadrons (2 per regiment). Suppose you were to forego the notion of the Regimental Battle and instead concentrate on creating deployable Squadrons. Perhaps establish the Squadron with either 19 tanks with the knowledge that at least one troop will be removed for intimate support of infantry operations, leaving 11 to 15 to operate as a tactical entity. Or if that is too small, increase the Squadron size to 23 tanks (add a troop). 6x23=138 tanks plus whatever you need for schools, training and warstocks.
TangoTwoBravo
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We can get lost in terminology. A tank squadron or recce squadron is not really meant to be broken down into smaller bits. Now, they can be independent squadrons, with the OC having the powers of a CO (the old C Sqn in Gagetown), but on operations they would belong to a BG as a sub-unit.
A square combat team could be seen as a demi-battlegroup in terms of size, but it is still relying on the BG for command and sustainment. The brigade recce squadron is a funny beast in that it operates on the brigade net. I suppose one could call it a "unit", but I'm not sure what they gives us.
Given our recent operations it is unlikely that a tank or recce Regiment would deploy as such, but grouping them together gives you training and administrative advantages.
A square combat team could be seen as a demi-battlegroup in terms of size, but it is still relying on the BG for command and sustainment. The brigade recce squadron is a funny beast in that it operates on the brigade net. I suppose one could call it a "unit", but I'm not sure what they gives us.
Given our recent operations it is unlikely that a tank or recce Regiment would deploy as such, but grouping them together gives you training and administrative advantages.
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Red_Five said:
I guess what I am getting at is that rather than focusing on the number or bars or ex's above the rectangles, or the rank of the officer in charge in order to define a unit perhaps a unit should be seen as a deployable unit, whether that be a section, troop, company, squadron or whatever. Take the smallest entity that is likely to be deployed independently of others of its same kind to an operational theater and ensure that it has within its own structure the necessary command, liaison and support functions.
I see the square combat team and understand it. In fact I see the merit in the argument put by those that think the LAVs and the Tanks should be permanently married as a unit, preferably under cavalry command.
However the infantry battle, the foot battle, will still demand intimate support from tanks, in penny-packets and the Square Combat Team makes for a pretty big sledge hammer. If "surplus" tanks aren't included in the deployable orbat then it seems likely that you will always get the struggle between the armoured commander's need to keep his/her force intact for greater shock effect vs the infantry commander's need for local support in the streets.
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