Editing Inner Sphere military structure

{{Cleanup|reason=Citations, consistency with current use}}
Every military unit in the [[BattleTech]] universe, whether regular or [[Mercenaries|mercenary]], is divided into subunits to facilitate organization, deployment, and combat operations. Mercenary units are extremely varied; some, like [[Carlyle's Commandos]] were a single lance while others, like [[Eridani Light Horse]], [[Wolf's Dragoons]], and the [[12th Star Guards]], consist of several regiments.

There is some common terminology for these organizational structures, and there are also differences between [[BattleMech]], [[infantry]], and [[aerospace fighter]] units. There are also disparities between the five [[Great Houses]] and especially between entities in the [[Periphery]]. [[Clan military structure]] and that of [[ComStar military structure|ComStar]] and the [[Word of Blake]]'s military forces are substantially different from any [[Inner Sphere]] unit organizations.

== Unit Organization ==

Each unit is organized differently in practice, but many follow a basic organizational structure that enables them to integrate with other units easily and effectively.

=== Lance ===
[[Image:MechLance.jpg|An attacking lance consisting of a ''[[Cicada]]'', ''[[Quickdraw]]'', ''[[Grasshopper]]'' and a ''[[Catapult]]''|thumb|right|250px]]
The [[lance]] is the smallest organizational unit, equivalent to an infantry platoon. A 'Mech lance consists of four separate BattleMechs and are categorized based upon the average weight of the 'Mechs that comprise it (''i.e.'', light, medium, heavy or assault). A lance commander is usually either a noncommissioned officer (NCO) or a low grade officer ([[lieutenant]] or equivalent). Lance commanders are directly engaged in combat operations and are responsible for the 'Mechs under their command.

At one point during the Succession Wars, a standard lance consisted of one light, one medium, and two heavy BattleMechs.<ref name="BT2E">''BattleTech, Second Edition'', p. 26</ref>

In addition to four [[MechWarrior (pilot)|'Mech pilots]], there are normally four to six additional support personnel, making a lance roughly ten individuals.

Many smaller mercenary commands are typically one to two lances and their support staff; exact organization can depend on what a given command has available to it.

==== Demi-Company/Reinforced Lance ====
A demi-company, sometimes also called a reinforced lance, is an ''ad hoc'' formation of six units working together that a small number of mercenary commands use as permanent formations, with two demi-companies or reinforced lances comprising one company.<ref name=CMMp94>''Combat Manual: Mercenaries'', p. 94: "Demi-Company"</ref>

==== Augmented Lance ====
After learning of the [[Nova (Formation)|Novas]] used by the Clans, the [[Capellan Confederation Armed Forces]] began to experiment with mixing unit types. Their first successful experiment created an augmented 'Mech lance that combined four [[BattleMechs]] with two combat vehicles. This became the "standard" augmented 'Mech lance. A "secondary" augmented 'Mech lance was created by combining four BattleMechs with two squads of [[battle armor]]ed infantry. The CCAF then turned their attention to armor lances. The "standard" augmented armor lance combines four combat vehicles with two BattleMechs; the "secondary" augmented armor lance combines four combat vehicles with four squads of battle armor-equipped infantry.<ref name="FM:CCp36">''Field Manual: Capellan Confederation'', p. 36: "Mixed Unit Organization and Command Doctrine"</ref>

==== Errant Force ====
The errant force was a concept defined by [[General]] [[Belle Lee]] for special [[RAF]] forces. The idea was to create quick response forces able to engage in combat without direct support from allied assets of any kind.

The three requisites of which candidate units to be evaluated were:
* A minimum of five years of active duty experience in the [[Jihad]] for all individual members
* A minimum of one year of active duty experience by the lance as an organized unit
* A minimum of two documented instances where the lance engaged in combat without direct support from allied assets of any kind

A sufficiently documented technical expertise in supporting the force in the field with no additional technical personnel was considered as a notable advantage.

By [[3085]], at least five lances meeting this designation had been identified by Dr. [[Elaine McCrosby]].<ref>''BattleTech Dossiers: Lamenkov's Liability'', p. 1</ref>

==== Air Lance ====
An [[air lance]] consists of four BattleMechs (usually a ''standard lance'') with a [[flight]] of aerospace fighters.<ref name="BT2E"/>
:''Note: The term "air lance" has not been used since ''[[BattleTech, Second Edition]]'' and now more commonly refers to a grouping of two air assets, ''i.e.'', a flight.

=== Company ===
A company consists of three lances and may have some auxiliary lances, scouts, armor, or artillery.{{cn}} A company commander is normally either a [[major]] or [[captain]] (or equivalent). The company commander is usually the leader of the command lance of a company and is directly involved in combat operations. Companies are more self-sufficient than lances and consist of the combat troops and support personnel, including medical, technical, and planetary transport vehicles ([[DropShip|DropShips]]).

In addition to twelve 'Mech pilots and the eighteen support personnel, there are usually additional support or specialist personnel, making a company roughly sixty individuals. Three companies comprise a battalion. Mercenary units commonly do not exceed the size of a company.

==== Augmented Company ====
This formation is used only by the CCAF. It has the twelve combat units of a typical company, but these are organized into two augmented lances of any type.<ref name="FM:CCp36"/>

==== Company Task Force ====
A combined arms formation based around a parent company that is made up of eighteen to twenty-four combat units.<ref>''Strategic Operations'', p. 337</ref>

=== Battalion ===
A battalion consists of three companies and is a large organization. It is normally composed of at least thirty-six 'Mechs plus aerospace, artillery, reconnaissance, medical, and numerous other support staff and personnel. Overall, a battalion may consist of over two or three hundred individuals. Battalions are commanded by either a lieutenant colonel (or equivalent). Battalion commanders normally do not participate directly in combat operations, but personal preference dictates this. Most battalion commanders direct operations rather than engage enemy forces.

Battalions are extremely self-sufficient and capable fighting forces. They are capable of traveling over the surface of a planet and deploying significant firepower anywhere within a short period of time. Many mercenary units never achieve a size comparable to that of a battalion.

==== Augmented Battalion ====
This formation is used by the CCAF and consisted of four companies of two augmented lances each and a command lance.

The most commonly used augmented lance in these battalions consisted of four 'Mechs and a pair of conventional tanks. The four companies provided thirty-two 'Mechs and the command lance added four more. This gave the augmented battalion the same firepower as a standard battalion, but included sixteen armored vehicles for additional fire support.<ref name="FM:3085p19+">''Field Manual: 3085'', pp. 19–20: "The Augmented Regiment"</ref>

==== Reinforced Battalion ====
Sometimes called a "square battalion"{{cn}}, this variant of a battalion consist of four companies, and may also have a [[Dictionary#C|command lance]], totaling 48 BattleMechs/aerospace fighters. This organizational structure came about when the [[Inner Sphere]] militaries repurposed the air lance that would support each company.

==== Star League Reinforced Battalion ====
An old [[Star League]] configuration organized the battalion with four companies of four lances each.<ref name=FM:Mp39>''Field Manual: Mercenaries'', p. 39: "Blackstone Highlanders"</ref>

=== Regiment ===
Regiments are very large organizations and the great houses normally organize their regular units into this structure level; these are the largest formations in common use. This is traditionally the lowest level of organization that a house's high command will direct (outside of mercenary units). Regiments are commanded by colonels or their equivalent. Regimental commanders rarely engage in combat operations personally; the ability to organize a regiment-sized group is usually not possible on the field of battle. The size of the unit in personnel is not just based upon the combat forces, but it also includes the technical, transportation, scout, and other support personnel and matériel. Regiments are self-sufficient units and usually have their own dedicated DropShips and, possibly, even [[JumpShip]]s.

Regiments consist of three to five battalions, commanded by a [[colonel]] or [[general]], for a total of one hundred and eight to one hundred and eighty 'Mechs or combat vehicles. Additional support battalions, such as [[infantry]], are often attached to the regiment as well.<ref name="TWp34+"/>

=== Reinforced Regiment ===
Regiments with four or five battalions are referred to as "reinforced".<ref name="TWp34+"/>

==== Augmented Regiment ====
In [[3081]], the Capellan Confederation began organizing augmented regiments, expanding the use of their augmented lance and company formations. Each 'Mech regiment of the CCAF was reorganized to include at least one [[augmented battalion]].<ref name="FM:3085p19+"/>

Though rare, augmented regiments composed entirely of conventional vehicles and infantry also exist.

==== Forward ARC ====
The "average regimental composition" scheme, also known as "forward ARC", was commonly used by the [[Draconis Combine]]. Front-line 'Mech regiments were typically assigned an armor battalion, an infantry regiment, and an aerospace wing, all of which answered to the 'Mech regiment's commanding officer.<ref name="FM:DCp17">''Field Manual: Draconis Combine'', p. 17: "Unit Organization"</ref>

==== Regimental Combat Team ====
First developed by the [[Star League Defense Force]], a regimental combat team was originally composed of four combat regiments and a support and transport element.  The most experienced regimental commander was put in charge of the RCT, and the four combat elements trained together to improve unit cohesion.  These RCTs tended to be permanently assigned to a location in order to better understand and exploit the local terrain. A surviving example of the SLDF's RCT concept is the [[Eridani Light Horse]].<ref name="MHp68">''Mercenary's Handbook'', p. 68: "The Eridani Light Horse"</ref>

The [[Federated Suns]] would develop their own regimental combat teams thanks to [[First Prince]] [[Melissa Davion]], after she came to power in [[2876]].<ref name="HD(TFS)p81">''House Davion (The Federated Suns)'', p. 81: "Prince Joseph the Second"</ref> The [[Armed Forces of the Federated Suns]]' version of an RCT is a large multiregimental formation that consists of a regiment of [[BattleMech]]s, three regiments of combat vehicles, five regiments of infantry, two aerospace fighter wings, and a battalion of artillery.<ref name="HD(TFS)p126">''House Davion (The Federated Suns)'', p. 126: "Aerospace Units/Armored Units/Infantry Units"</ref>  Most will also include one or more battalions of engineers and may be assigned other units as needed, such as special forces or marines.<ref>''Field Manual: Federated Suns'', p. 22: "Infantry Units"</ref>

Unlike the task forces that had been used previously, these regiments are permanently assigned to work together. These RCTs are usually named for the BattleMech regiment, though the individual components retain their own names.  Composition varied between different RCTs, but typically two of the armor regiments were medium and the third heavy, while two of the infantry regiments were foot infantry, two were mechanized and the fifth [[jump infantry]].  Following the [[Fourth Succession War]] and formation of the [[Federated Commonwealth]], RCTs began converting their foot regiments to mechanized, although this was only partially complete by the time of the [[Clan Invasion]].  Afterwards, many began converting one of the infantry regiments into an armored infantry battalion.<ref name="FM:FSp18">''Field Manual: Federated Suns'', p. 18: "Force Structure"</ref> Many RCTs also began to include at least a company of battle armor suits, with some assigned an entire battalion of them.<ref name="FM:FSp22">''Field Manual: Federated Suns'', p. 22: "Battle-Armor Units"</ref>  After the sundering of the Federated Commonwealth, the [[Lyran Alliance]] also adopted the RCT model, although given chronic shortages and less emphasis on aerospace forces many lacked assigned fighter wings.<ref name="FM:LAp21">''Field Manual: Lyran Alliance'', p. 21: "Types of Units"</ref>

==== Light Combat Team ====
After the widespread destruction of the [[Jihad]], the AFFS shifted over to a defensive mindset. Though it still had several RCTs on the rolls, the majority of the units were rebuilt as light combat teams. A smaller version of the AFFS' traditional RCT, the LCT was a reinforced battalion of 'Mechs (typically three companies plus a two-to-three lance command company), two to three battalions of heavy and assault armor, an equal number of cavalry battalions, and an artillery company.  Additionally the LCT includes a regiment-sized battle armor formation (though in most cases the size is much smaller) and VTOL assets to provide transportation for the battle armor as well as reconnaissance for the LCT.  The large conventional infantry forces of the RCT have been reduced to those troops needed to provide engineering, security, and other support roles.<ref name="FR:AFFSp5">''Field Report: AFFS'', p. 5: "The Light Combat Teams"</ref>

An added benefit of the LCT is that the majority of the formation can be carried on a single ''[[Star Lord (JumpShip class)|Star Lord]]'' [[JumpShip]], using ''[[Overlord]]s'' and other battalion-scale transport [[DropShip]]s.<ref name="FR:AFFSp5"/>

=== Larger Formations ===
Though no longer in common use, there are several larger formations that military planners accept as common terms.

==== Brigade ====
A [[brigade]] is a military formation typically consisting of three or more [[regiment]]s, usually of similar weight classes and capabilities.<ref name="TWp34+">''Total Warfare'', pp. 34–35: "Military Organization"</ref> This formation was used extensively by the [[SLDF]], but is no longer used by most Inner Sphere militaries. Brigades were usually commanded by a [[lieutenant general]] and limited to being no more than five regiments in size for administrative purposes. Some [[regimental combat team]]s were also categorized as brigades. Some Inner Sphere militaries would also use the brigade term to refer to major commands with a shared heritage and naming scheme.<ref name="TSLp133">''The Star League'', p. 133: "Unit Composition"</ref>

Examples of BattleMech brigades include the [[Eridani Light Horse]], [[Northwind Highlanders]], [[Deneb Light Cavalry]], or the [[Sword of Light]]. The armor and infantry units of the Federated Suns' regimental combat teams are also referred to as brigades.

==== Division ====
A [[division]] is a grouping of three brigades,<ref name="TWp34+"/> as well as reserves, support units, and an ASF [[Wing (Military Unit)|wing]]. They were commanded by a [[major general]] or [[general]]. The division was the heart of the SLDF and was typically assigned to protect a group of star systems within one jump radius of each other, or a particularly important planet. SLDF 'Mech divisions were modeled after the German ''panzer'' divisions of the [[twentieth century]].<ref name="TSLp138">''The Star League'', p. 138: "Regular Army 'Mech Division"</ref> There are no division-sized formations known to exist in the Inner Sphere.<ref name="TSLp133"/>

The [[Com Guards]] use the term division to refer to their [[Level IV]] units, which consist of 216 combat units. In reality, these units are approximately the size of two mixed regiments of 'Mechs, conventional armor, and infantry.

==== Corps ====
Used only by the SLDF, a [[corps]] was a group of military forces that defended 30 to 100 worlds.<ref name="TSLp133"/> Unlike regiments, brigades, and divisions, there was no "standard" or "typical" corps. They typically consisted of one to three BattleMech divisions, two to seven infantry divisions, several independent regiments, and enough [[WarShip]]s and transport JumpShips to move the entire unit. Each Star League member state hosted one to four corps-sized units.

Later military planners would consider a corps a group of five to ten divisions, but didn't organize them by type (infantry, BattleMech, etc.).<ref name="TWp34+"/>

==== Army ====
During the [[Reunification War]], the [[army]] replaced the corps as the main organizational unit of the SLDF. Each army consisted of the corps-level units hosted by the Star League member state.<ref name="TSLp133"/>

As units of this size became impossible due to the damage of the [[Succession Wars]], the term fell out of common military parlance until the Com Guards reactivated it to describe their [[Level V]] units. These units, like the SLDF corps and armies that preceded them, covered large parts of each of the Successor States, each of the then-twelve armies covering an "hour" on the "[[Inner Sphere Clock]]". Unlike the SLDF, a Com Guard army is mostly an administrative term. The [[Battle of Tukayyid (3052)|Battle of Tukayyid]] and [[Operation SCOUR]] were the only times ComStar deployed army-sized formations in combat.

Typically an army consisted of three to five corps.<ref name="TWp34+"/>

== Variations ==
While the BattleMech organizational structure is common, there are two other unit types that engage in combat operations both in space and on the ground.

=== Aerospace ===
{{seealso|Inner Sphere Aerospace Organization}}
As mentioned earlier, aerospace units are half the size of BattleMech units (a lance has two fighters as opposed to four 'Mechs). DropShips and JumpShips are normally not grouped together, but are treated as independent support troops.

;<span id="Flight">[[Flight]]</span>
Typical Inner Sphere formation consisting of 2 aerospace fighters or conventional fighters.<ref name=TW34>''Total Warfare'', p. 34: "Military Organization: Lance/Platoon/Squad"</ref> In the Capellan Confederation, a flight is made up of two [[squadron|squadrons]], while the 2-3 fighter formation is known as an element (three-fighter formations are also referred to as "triples").<ref name="FM:CCp33">''Field Manual: Capellan Confederation'', p. 33: "Standard CCAF Aerospace Organization"</ref>

;<span id="Command Element">[[Command Element]]</span>
A formation used by CCAF aerospace fighter groups. It is composed of three aerospace fighters that serves as the command unit and focuses on defense.<ref name="FM:CCp33"/>

;<span id="Squadron">[[Squadron]]</span>
Typical Inner Sphere formation consisting of six units or airborne vehicles, subordinated into two or three flights.

;<span id="Wing">[[Wing (Military Unit)|Wing]]</span>
Typically battalion-size formation, consisting of 18 airborne vehicles and a command flight of two additional aerospace vehicles.

;<span id="Regiment">[[Regiment]]</span>
Consisting of two to three wings of airborne vehicles, including a command flight.

=== Infantry ===
{{seealso|Inner Sphere Infantry Organization}}
Infantry is divided into slightly different organizational units that can be integrated into traditional BattleMech units. The structure of an infantry unit is shown below:
* [[Fire team]] - consists of three to five individuals
* [[Squad]] - comprised of two fire teams and a squad leader (seven to twelve individuals)
* [[Platoon]] - comprised of two or more squads plus support personnel (twenty-five to fifty individuals). In the 3025 time period, the standard platoon had three line squads and one support weapons squad.
* [[Company]] - comprised of two or more platoons (seventy to over two hundred individuals)
* [[Battalion]] - comprised of two to six companies (three hundred to one thousand individuals)

Combat in the thirty-first and thirty-second centuries has placed far less emphasis on infantry than previous conflicts, so it is unusual to see infantry units larger than a company in size. It is common for squads and platoons to support BattleMech operations and to perform general patrol and scout duties.

=== Battle Armor ===
{{seealso|Inner Sphere Battle Armor Organization}}
Infantry units equipped with battle armor are organized differently from their conventional counterparts, due to their increased combat performance. Organized similarly to BattleMech units, battle armor units use the following structure.<ref name="TWp214">''Total Warfare'', p. 214: "Battle Armor Organization"</ref>

* [[Squad]] - consists of four battle armored infantry.
* [[Platoon]] - consists of three to five squads and support elements.
* [[Company]] - consists of three platoons and support elements.
* [[Battalion]] - consists of three companies and support elements.

== References ==
<references/>

== Bibliography ==
<div class="desktop-3-col">
* ''[[BattleTech, 2nd Edition]]''
* ''[[Combat Manual: Mercenaries]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: 3085]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Capellan Confederation]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Draconis Combine]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Federated Suns]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Lyran Alliance]]''
* ''[[Field Manual: Mercenaries]]''
* ''[[Field Report: AFFS]]''
* ''[[House Davion (The Federated Suns)]]''
* ''[[Mercenary's Handbook]]''
* ''[[The Star League]]''
* ''[[Total Warfare]]''
</div>


[[Category:Tables of organization and equipment]]