During
World War II, the British Army formed a total of 43 infantry divisions.
At the start of the war, the division's staff numbered approximately
13,800 officers and soldiers, while in 1944 this number increased to
approximately 18,300 people. This significant change in the number of
employees resulted primarily from the increase in various types of
support units, and not the increase in the number of infantrymen
themselves. In 1944, the British infantry division consisted of three
infantry brigades, each with its own headquarters, a staff platoon, 3
infantry battalions, and engineering divisions. It is worth adding that a
single infantry battalion had approx. 780 officers and soldiers and had
numerous support units (e.g. a mortar platoon or a reconnaissance
platoon). The division also included a de facto artillery brigade with
five artillery regiments (including one anti-tank and one AA), a
battalion of machine guns and mortars, as well as reconnaissance,
communication and sapper units. An important element increasing the
mobility of the British infantry division was its full motorization. The
British infantryman's primary rifle was the Lee Enfield No.1 or No.4
rifle. As machine weapons, among others, Sten submachine guns, Bren
manual machine guns and Vickers machine guns were used. The most
commonly used anti-tank weapons were the 40 and 57 mm 2- and 6-pounder
cannons, and later also the 76-mm 17-pounder cannons. In turn, the main
armament of the field artillery was a very successful howitzer Ordnance QF 25-pounder.
Already
after the first experiences of fighting in North Africa at the turn of
1942-1943, the US Army changed the position of the American armored
division. From 1943, the full-time armored division consisted of three
armored battalions, three mechanized infantry battalions, three
artillery battalions and many support units. The exception was the 2nd
and 3rd Panzer Divisions, which retained the structure with two armored
regiments, three armored battalions each. For this reason, they were
often called heavy armored divisions. The armored battalion of other
divisions than the 2nd and 3rd consisted of three armored companies -
three of medium tanks (M4 Sherman) and one of light tanks (M3 / M5
Stuart). In turn, the mechanized infantry battalion consisted of three
infantry companies, a service company and a staff sub-unit. The American
armored division also had, like the infantry division, a very strong
artillery component, consisting of self-propelled artillery - most often
M7 Priest howitzers, of which there were 54 full-time units in the
division. In total, the American armored division consisted of, among
others: approx. 11,000 men, approx. 250 tanks and approx. 500 M2 / M3
armored personnel carriers.
FI / Finland
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