Organisation of US Forces in Vietnam

The US Army and US Marine Corps (USMC) ground forces in Vietnam were organised very differently. Apart from historical developments, the tactical doctrine of the two also differed greatly as did their overall mission.

US Cavalry is, in effect, a sub-category of both Army and Marines since both forces had armored units in their Order of Battle. However, the organizations I have detailed here are those of a US Army Divisional Armored Cavalry Squadron (which includes an Air Cavalry Troop). I have plans to detail 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment and an Armor Battalion as well as USMC Armored units at a later date.

The US Riverine force was a separate organisation under the control of the US Navy but which used US Army Infantry and Helicopter assets.

Information relating to US Military Police is taken directly from an original US Army Military Police School reference text supplied to me by Delta Mike 2.

I have detailed the organizations which I personally use in my gaming. The two main organizations, Army and USMC, were originally based on those suggested in the Charlie Company set of rules but wherever possible these have been substantiated or improved upon by reference to official tables of organisation and equipment. I have, where possible, listed and acknowledged sources as appropriate.

It should be remembered that in most cases these are essentially full strength Tables of Organisation and were practically never realised in the field. Also, Vietnam produced a plethora of modified tables of organisation and equipment (MTOEs) which resulted in very few units fielding the same organisational structure.