Unit (military)
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A unit in the context of a military organization is a group of soldiers, with specified equipment, under a specific chain of command. A unit generally has one commander, the Commanding Officer, and is composed of sub-units.
All but the very smallest have a headquarters organization, which will contain both staff for planning and controlling operations, and often combat support and combat service support sub-units to support the main role. Some units may have specialized combat arms units under the direct control of the commander, such as artillery.
Units in land forces
| Name | Personnel | NATO command rank | U.S. command rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| fire team | 3-5 | OR-4 to OR-5 | E-4 to E-5 |
| squad (land forces) | 10-13 | OR-4 to OR-6 | E-7 |
| platoon (land forces) | 20-40 | OF-1 | O-1 |
| company (land forces)/troop/battery (military unit) | 100-200 | OF-3 to OF-4 | O-3 to O-4 |
| battalion/squadron (land forces)/squadron (air forces) | 500-1000 | OF-5 | O-5 |
| regiment/group (land forces)/group (air forces)/brigade | 3000-5000 | OF-6 to OF-7 | O-6 |
| division | 10000-25000 | OF-8 | O-7 |
| corps | 30000-75000 | OF-8 | O-8 to O-9 |
| field army | 100000-300000 | OF-9 | O-9 to O-10 |
Due to variation in ship sizes and types, it is more difficult to assign numbers.
Administrative
- Division (naval forces)
- Squadron (naval forces)
- Flotilla
- Fleet
Tactical
- Task unit
- Task group
- Task force
Air Forces
- Section
- Flight
- Squadron (air forces)
- Group (air forces)/Wing (some nations' wings contain groups, and other nations groups are larger than wings)
- Air Division
- Numbered Air Force