Inner Sphere military structure

Every military unit in the BattleTech universe, whether regular or mercenary, is divided into sub-units 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 structure, but there are 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 organization is substantially different than 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

The lance is the smallest organizational unit. A 'Mech lance consists of four separate BattleMechs, although occasionally a "light lance" consists of only three 'Mechs. A lance commander is usually either a non-commissioned 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.

In addition to four 'Mech pilots, there are normally four to six additional support personnel, making a lance roughly ten individuals. Three lances comprise a company.

Company

A company consists of three lances and normally some ancillary units, usually scout, armor, or artillery. 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, technician, and planetary transport vehicles (DropShips). Companies may also provide reconnaissance and artillery support lances under its command.

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.

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 fire power anywhere within a short period of time. Many mercenary units never achieve a size comparable to that of a battalion.

Regiment

Regiments are very large organizations and the great houses normally organize their regular units into regiments. 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 regimental-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 materiel. Regiments are self-sufficient units and usually have their own dedicated DropShips and possibly even JumpShip.

Regiments generally consist of three battalions with much of the transportation and support units reporting either to the commander of the regiment or, in some cases, to the senior battalion commander. Overall, a regiment consists of well over one or two thousand personnel, including over one hundred twenty-six BattleMechs and at least one or two DropShips.

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 3 or more regiments, usually of similar weight classes and capabilities. This formation was used extensively by the SLDF (who called them Regimental Combat Teams), but is no longer used by most Inner Sphere militaries. Brigades are usually commanded by a General. Brigades were usually limited to being no more than five regiments in size for administrative purposes.

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 Sun's Regimental Combat Teams are also referred to as brigades.

Division

A Division is a grouping of two or more brigades. They were also commanded by a General. There are no division-sized formations known to exist in the Inner Sphere. An example would be the Eridani Light Horse Brigade and the Northwind Highlander Brigade operating under one commander.

The ComGuards use the term Division to refer to their Level IV units, which consist of 216 combatants. In reality these units are approximately the size of two regiments, which makes them more a Brigade sized formation.

Corps

Used only by the SLDF, a Corps was a group of military forces that defended between 30 and 100 worlds. 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, with enough WarShips and transport JumpShips to move the entire unit. Each Star League Member State hosted between one and four Corps-sized units.

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.

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 ComGuards 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. Unlike the SLDF, a ComGuard Army is mostly an administrative term. The Battle of Tukayyid is the only time ComStar has deployed Army-sized formations in combat.

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

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.

Flight

Typical Inner Sphere formation consisting of 2 - Aerospace Fighters, Coventional, VTOLs, WIGE type craft

Squadron

Typical Inner Sphere formation consisting of 6 units or aireborne vehicles. Consisting of 3 flights. This does not include a Command Flight for the unit's commanding officer.

Wing

Typically Battalion size formation, consisting of 18 airborne vehicles. Not counting a Command Flight of 2 additional aerospace vehicles.

Regiment

Consisting of 2 - 3 Wings of airborne vehicles, including Command Flight.

Infantry

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 four to five individuals
• Squad - comprised of two fire teams (eight to twelve individuals)
• Platoon - comprised of two or more squads plus support personnel (twenty-five to fifty individuals)
• 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.