US Army Order of Battle 1919–1941 - Combined Arms Center

586 Pages·2010·7.67 MB·English

Volume 1. The Arms:
About The Author U.S. Army Order of Battle, 1919–1941
Major Commands and
Lieutenant Colonel Steven E. Clay Unlike the name implies, this order of
retired from the US Army in 2006 after Infantry Organizations battle is rather more than a simple listing
more than 27 years in military service. In of units and the headquarters to which
his last tour of service he served as the they wereassigned.After almost20years
ExecutiveOfficer,Chief of the Staff Ride of research conducted in numerous
Team, and Chief of the Research and archives throughout the United States,
U.S. Army Order of Battle

Publications Team, of the Combat Lieutenant Colonel Clay has assembled
Studies Institute at Fort Leavenworth, an encyclopedia of Army tactical
Kansas. He is currently employed as an organizations in existence during what
author/historian by Military Professional 1919–1941
has commonly become known as the
Resources, Inc., and serves as the Lead “interwar” period. This four-volume set
Author for the Contemporary Operations was written to fill a distinct void in the
Study Team at the Combat Studies history of Army tactical units, especially
Institute. those of the Organized Reserve (now
Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Steven E. Cla

known as the US Army Reserve) about
which very little has been written and
almost nothing about the history of the
many Reserve units of the period. This
comprehensive work details the history
of every tactical organization from
separate battalion to field army, as well
as certain other major commands
important to the administration and
support of the Army in the 1920s and
30s.It includesthe variousunits’changes
Combat Studies Institute
of station, commanding officers, training
camps, accomplishments, and key events
The Combat Studies Institute (CSI) is an
such as major maneuvers and, for
organization that produces timely and
National Guard units, activeduty periods
relevant military history publications and
for state emergencies. Also included are
contemporary operational history for the
the organizations’ distinctive unit
US Army. The institute’s publications insignia, as well as many maps showing
aim to address historical topics pertinent command boundaries and charts
to the current doctrinal concerns of the illustrating the assortment of tables of
Army. CSI also develops and conducts US Army Combined Arms Center organization germane to the organiza-
battlefield staff rides for US Army units
tions of the time. In short, this order of
Fort Leavenworth, KS
and schools,works with Army schoolsto battle is the definitive reference for the
develop militaryhistory curriculums, and historian that wishes to understand the
assists in the preparation of military history and organization of Army units
historyinstructors. The Past isPrologue! betweentheWorldWars.
Foreword by
STUDIES General (Ret.) Gordon R. Sullivan STUDIES
COMBAT INSTITUTE COMBAT INSTITUTE
AD 1979 AD 1979
Combat Studies Institute Press
Fort Leavenworth, KS
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US Army

Order of Battle

1919–1941

Volume 1

The Arms: Major Commands and

Infantry Organizations, 1919–41
by

Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Steven E. Clay

Combat Studies Institute Press
US Army Combined Arms Center
Fort Leavenworth, KS
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Clay, Steven E., 1957­
US Army order of battle, 1919-1941 / Steven E. Clay.
p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references.

1. United States. Army--Organization--History--20th century--Encyclopedias. I. Title. II. Title: United States Army
order of battle, 1919-1941.
UA25.C59 2010

355.30973'09041--dc22

2010022326

CSI Press publications cover a variety of military history topics. The views expressed
in this CSI Press publication are those of the author and not necessarily those of
the Department of the Army or the Department of Defense. A full list of CSI Press
publications, many of them available for downloading, can be found at http://usacac.
army.mil/CAC2/CSI/.
The seal of the Combat Studies Institute authenticates this document as an official publication of the

CSI. It is prohibited to use CSI’s official seal on any republication of this material without the written

permission of the Director of CSI.
Dedication
Specialist Fourth Class Ival Lawhon
11C (Mortarman)

2d Battalion, 22d Infantry, 25th Infantry Division

Lai Khe, Vietnam

1968–69

A good friend, a good soldier, and a good man.

Contents
Page
Foreword .................................................................................................................................................... vii

Acknowledgments ........................................................................................................................................ix

The Author ...................................................................................................................................................xi

Author’s Note ............................................................................................................................................ xiii

Explanatory Notes .......................................................................................................................................xv

Key to Abbreviations .............................................................................................................................. xxiii

Military Map and Illustration Symbols .................................................................................................. xxvii

Part I. Organization of the US Army, 1919–41

Chapter 1. Genesis of the Modern American Army ........................................................................1

Chapter 2. Geographical Organization and Tactical Commands of the US Army,

1898–1920 .........................................................................................................................7

Chapter 3. Corps Areas and Departments .....................................................................................11

Chapter 4. General Headquarters and Field Armies ....................................................................95

Chapter 5. Corps ............................................................................................................................137

Chapter 6. Corps Area Training Centers .....................................................................................187

Part II. Infantry Organizations

Chapter 7. Infantry Divisions ........................................................................................................193

Chapter 8. Infantry Brigades ........................................................................................................291

Chapter 9. Infantry Regiments .....................................................................................................351

Chapter 10. Infantry Battalions ......................................................................................................519

Chapter 11. Tank Organizations .....................................................................................................539

Follow-on volumes include—
Volume 2. The Arms: Cavalry, Field Artillery, and Coast Artillery, 1919–41
Part III. Cavalry Organizations
Chapter 12. Cavalry Divisions
Chapter 13. Cavalry Brigades
Chapter 14. Cavalry Regiments
Chapter 15. Cavalry Squadrons
Chapter 16. Machine Gun Squadrons
Chapter 17. Armored Car Squadrons
Part IV. Field Artillery Organizations
Chapter 18. Field Artillery Major Commands
Chapter 19. Field Artillery Brigades
Chapter 20. Field Artillery Regiments
Chapter 21. Field Artillery Battalions
Chapter 22. Field Artillery Observation Battalions
Chapter 23. Ammunition Trains
Part V. Coast Artillery Organizations
Chapter 24. Coast Artillery Major Commands
Chapter 25. Coast Artillery Brigades
Chapter 26. Coast Artillery Regiments and Battalions
Chapter 27. Army Mine Planters
v
Volume 3. The Services: Air Service, Engineers, and Special Troops, 1919–41
Part VI. Air Service and Air Corps Organizations
Chapter 28. Air Service and Air Corps Major Commands
Chapter 29. Headquarters, Air Service
Chapter 30. Groups
Chapter 31. Squadrons, Heavier Than Air
Chapter 32. Squadrons, Lighter Than Air
Chapter 33. Squadrons, Non-Flying
Part VII. Engineer Organizations
Chapter 34. Engineer Major Commands
Chapter 35. Engineer Regiments
Chapter 36. Engineer Battalions/Squadrons
Part VIII. Special Troops Organizations
Chapter 37. Special Troops
Volume 4. The Services: Quartermaster, Medical, Military Police, Signal Corps, Chemical Warfare, and
Miscellaneous Organizations, 1919–41
Part IX. Quartermaster Corps Organizations
Chapter 38. Quartermaster Trains
Chapter 39. Field Remount Depots
Chapter 40. Motor Repair Battalions, Quartermaster Corps
Chapter 41. Service Battalions, Quartermaster Corps
Chapter 42. Wagon Trains
Chapter 43. Quartermaster Regiments and Squadrons
Chapter 44. Port and Embarkation Units
Chapter 45. US Army Transport Service
Part X. Medical Corps Organizations
Chapter 46. Medical Headquarters
Chapter 47. Medical Regiments, Battalions, and Squadrons
Chapter 48. Hospitals, Hospital Centers, and Surgical Groups
Part XI. Military Police Organizations
Chapter 49. Military Police Battalions
Part XII. Signal Corps Organizations
Chapter 50. Signal Corps Battalions
Part XIII. Chemical Warfare Service Organizations
Chapter 51. Chemical Regiments/Battalions
Part XIV. Miscellaneous Organizations
Chapter 52. Border Commands
Chapter 53. ROTC Units
Appendixes
Appendix A. Glossary of Terms

Appendix B. Major Events of the US Army, 1919–41

Appendix C. US Army Statistics, 1919–41

Appendix D. Civilian Conservation Corps Organization, 1933–41

Appendix E. Branch and Department Chiefs, 1917–41

Appendix F. Annual Summer Training Camp Locations

vi
Foreword
Steve Clay’s massive work, US Army Order of Battle, 1919–1941, is, in many respects, the story of
the American Army, its units, and its soldiers, during a period of neglect by a parsimonious Congress and
others who perhaps believed in the notion that a “War to End All Wars” had actually been fought. Indirectly,
it tells the story of a diminutive Regular Army that continued to watch faithfully over the ramparts of
freedom in far-flung outposts like Panama, Alaska, the Philippines, and China, as well as the many small
and isolated garrisons throughout the United States; a National Guard that was called on frequently by
various governors to prevent labor troubles, fight forest fires, and provide disaster relief to their state’s
citizens; and an Organized Reserve whose members attended monthly drills without pay and for 20 years
creatively and conscientiously prepared themselves for another major war.
The US Army Order of Battle, 1919–1941 is an important addition to the library of all Army historians,
professional and amateur. More than a simple listing of units and the headquarters to which they were
assigned, this book is an encyclopedia of information on Army tactical organizations in existence during
the interwar period. This four-volume work, based on almost 20 years of research, fills a distinct void in the
history of Army units, especially those of the Organized Reserve (now known as the US Army Reserve).
Clay’s comprehensive work details the history of every tactical organization from separate battalion to
field army, as well as certain other major commands important to the Army in the 1920s and 1930s. It also
includes the various units’ changes of station, commanding officers, accomplishments, and key events such
as major maneuvers and, for National Guard units, active duty periods for state emergencies. Also included
are the organizations’ distinctive unit insignia, as well as maps showing command boundaries and charts
illustrating the assortment of tables of organization germane to the organizations of the time. In short, this
Order of Battle is the “go to” reference for the historian who wishes to understand the history, organization,
and evolution of Army units between the World Wars.
Gordon R. Sullivan
General, US Army (Retired)
vii