Triangular division: Difference between revisions

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A '''triangular division''' is a designation given to the way [[division (military)|divisions]] are organized. In a triangular organization, the division's main body is composed of three regimental 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 regimentsbrigades of two brigadesregiments. 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, and regiments were replaced by [[combined arms]] battlegroups.

United States Army divisions were square divisions until the beginning of [[World War II]]. During that war, infantry divisions were typically triangular, with the division controlling three infantry regiments. Armored divisions were also triangular, but typically organized into [[combined arms]] "combat commands" (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.