Triangular division: Difference between revisions

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A '''triangular division''' is a designation given to the way military [[division (military)|divisions]] are organized. In a triangular organization, the division's main body is composed of three [[regiment]]al [[Maneuver warfare|maneuver]] elements. These regiments may be controlled by a [[brigade]] headquarters (more typical in [[World War I]]) or directly subordinated to the division commander. By contrast, in a [[square division]], there were typically two brigades of two regiments.<ref name=House>{{cite web |first=Jonathan M. |last=House |url=http://www-cgsc.army.mil/carl/resources/csi/House/House.asp |title=Toward Combined Arms Warfare: a Survey of 20th-Century Tactics, Doctrine, and Organization |date=30 December 2009 |publisher=U.S. Army Command and General Staff College |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091230072014/http://www-cgsc.army.mil/carl/resources/csi/House/House.asp |archive-date=30 December 2009 }}</ref> Other structures are possible, such as a [[pentomic]] division, where the division commander controls five maneuver elements, which was used in the [[United States Army]] in the late 1950s, with the regiments replaced by [[combined arms]] [[Battlegroup (army)|battlegroups]].<ref name=Maneuver>http://www.history.army.mil/html/books/060/60-14-1/cmhPub_60-14-1.pdf ''Wilson, John B. Maneuver and Firepower: The Evolution of Divisions and Separate Brigades'' (CMH Pub 60-14-1). Army Lineage Series. Washington: Center of Military History: 272-276.</ref>

== Asia ==

United States Army divisions were square divisions until the beginning of [[World War II]]; reorganization as triangular divisions occurred in 1940 through early 1942.<ref name=Maneuver />{{rp|135}} During that war, infantry divisions were typically triangular, with the division controlling three infantry regiments.<ref name=House /> Armored divisions were also triangular, but typically organized into [[combined arms]] "[[combat command]]s" (denoted Combat Command A, Combat Command B, and Combat Command Reserve). After World War II, this structure was retained until the "Pentomic Era" described above. In the 1960s, United States Army divisions were reorganized as triangular divisions, but with the division controlling three combined arms brigades. Combined arms doctrine has all but eliminated regimental purpose, and regiments generally exist only as traditional designations. In the first decade of the 21st century, the United States Army began another reorganization, giving the division four brigades and placing more emphasis on the brigade as the main tactical element, with the division acting more like a corps headquarters, parceling out support units to the brigades.

[[Imperial Japanese Army]] and [[National Revolutionary Army]] Divisions were organized as [[square division]]s prior to 1938 when they began to form triangular divisions during the [[Second Sino-Japanese War]].<ref>{{cite web|urllast=http://wwwNiehorster|first=Dr.niehorster.org/014_japan/41-12-08_army/ija_divs/_div_4-rgt-a.html Leo|title=Regular Infantry Division (square), Imperial Japanese Army, 8.12.1941|firsturl=Drhttp://www. Leo|last=Niehorsterniehorster.org/014_japan/41-12-08_army/ija_divs/_div_4-rgt-a.html|website=www.niehorster.org}}</ref>

== Europe ==

[[File:United_States_World_War_II_(Square)_Infantry_Division_1940_Structure.png|thumb|right|Square Division example: 1940 US Infantry Division. On the far left can be seen two Brigades of two Regiments each]]

Most European armies reorganized their divisions as triangular divisions during World War I, and retained that structure since.<ref name="House" /> Many European armies now place greater emphasis on the brigade and in some cases, such as the [[Portuguese Army|Portuguese]] and the [[Belgian Army|Belgian]] armies, have eliminated the division entirely as a tactical unit.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}}

[[File:United_States_World_War_II_Infantry_Division_1942_Structure.png|thumb|right|Triangular Division example: 1942 US Infantry Division. The Brigades of the Square division have been removed, and there are three Regiments directly under Divisional control|left]][[File:United_States_World_War_II_(Square)_Infantry_Division_1940_Structure.png|thumb|right|Square Division example: 1940 US Infantry Division. On the far left can be seen two Brigades of two Regiments each]]

Most European armies reorganized their divisions as triangular divisions during World War I, and retained that structure since.<ref name=House /> Many European armies now place greater emphasis on the brigade and in some cases, such as the [[Portuguese Army|Portuguese]] and the [[Belgian Army|Belgian]] armies, have eliminated the division entirely as a tactical unit.

== United States ==

[[Red Army|Soviet Army]] divisions during World War II were generally triangular, with three subordinate regiments. Post-war reforms led to a four-regiment division, with three regiments of one arm (tank or [[motorized infantry]]) and the fourth of the other arm. In combat operations, however, the fourth regiment could be divided among the other three to create three combined arms formations essentially the same as a brigade. This structure has for the most part been retained in the [[Russian Ground Forces|Russian Army]]. See, for example, the organization of the [[2nd Guards Tamanskaya Motor Rifle Division]].

United States Army divisions were square divisions until the beginning of [[World War II]]; reorganization as triangular divisions occurred in 1940 through early 1942.<ref name=Maneuver />{{rp|135}} During that war, infantry divisions were typically triangular, with the division controlling three infantry regiments.<ref name=House /> Armored divisions were also triangular, but typically organized into [[combined arms]] "[[combat command]]s" (denoted Combat Command A, Combat Command B, and Combat Command Reserve). After World War II, this structure was retained until the "Pentomic Era" described above. In the 1960s, United States Army divisions were reorganized as triangular divisions, but with the division controlling three combined arms brigades. Combined arms doctrine has all but eliminated regimental purpose, and regiments generally exist only as traditional designations. In the first decade of the 21st century, the United States Army began another reorganization, giving the division four brigades and placing more emphasis on the brigade as the main tactical element, with the division acting more like a corps headquarters, parceling out support units to the brigades.

== Soviet Union and Russia ==

[[Imperial Japanese Army]] and [[National Revolutionary Army]] Divisions were organized as [[square division]]s prior to 1938 when they began to form triangular divisions during the [[Second Sino-Japanese War]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.niehorster.org/014_japan/41-12-08_army/ija_divs/_div_4-rgt-a.html|title=Regular Infantry Division (square), Imperial Japanese Army, 8.12.1941|first=Dr. Leo|last=Niehorster|website=www.niehorster.org}}</ref>

[[Red Army|Soviet Army]] divisions during World War II were generally triangular, with three subordinate regiments. Post-war reforms led to a four-regiment division, with three regiments of one arm (tank or [[motorized infantry]]) and the fourth of the other arm. In combat operations, however, the fourth regiment could be divided among the other three to create three combined arms formations essentially the same as a brigade. This structure has for the most part been retained in the [[Russian Ground Forces|Russian Army]]. See, for example, the organization of the [[2nd Guards Tamanskaya Motor Rifle Division]].

==See also==