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• What is an army?

  An army is a that portion of a nation's military charged with land operations. An army can incorporate standing elements, which are composed of full-time soldiers, and augment its size and breadth with reserve elements that have been trained beforehand and that can be activated during time of war or national emergency.

• Top 5 Decisive Battles in Early History

  1. Battle of Marathon, 490 B.C. http://www.standin.se/fifteen.htm
  2. First Battle of Syracuse, 413 B.C. http://www.standin.se/fifteen.htm
  3. Battle of Arbela, 331 B.C. http://www.standin.se/fifteen.htm
  4. Battle of the Metaurus, 207 B.C. http://www.standin.se/fifteen.htm
  5. Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, 9 A.D. http://www.standin.se/fifteen.htm

• Armies in History

  Organized field armies, combining trained soldiers and technology date back to the Hittite civilization and pre-Ptolemaic Egyptian civilization of the 15th century B.C., during the Iron age.http://www.armchairgeneral.com/shock-tactics-on-the-ancient-battlefield.htm

  It was at this time that the first shock weapon was brought into the fray in the form of the chariot. The chariot would remain a key shock weapon, coming out of and back into favor into the classical period of history with the armies of Ancient Greece, Persia and Rome.http://www.armchairgeneral.com/shock-tactics-on-the-ancient-battlefield.htm

  In the third century B.C., Greek armies began to develop equine units for their field armies. From this base, cavalry units were developed, which were brought and used to great efficiency in later centuries by the Roman Empire. Cavalry became the newest weapon for decisive power and speed.http://www.armchairgeneral.com/shock-tactics-on-the-ancient-battlefield.htm

  Roman discipline in their legions brought about many victories, often against overwhelming numbers. Many military protocols now common with armies around the world trace back their roots to the old Roman legions.http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/intro/legion.htm

  Specialized branches for the army, precursors to general staffs, the salute, standard bearers for field units, specialized field communications all trace their initial successful fruition to the Roman legions.http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/intro/legion.htm

  During the Medieval period, the use of gun powder and artillery was introduced to armies, as well as pikes, and heavy armored cavalry (exemplified by the mounted knight). In spite of this infusion of technology, army command and organization development remained fairly stagnant in the West since the demise of the Roman Empire.http://www.nipissingu.ca/department/history/muhlberger/orb/OVC5S4.HTM

  From the Seven Years War (1756-1763) onward, in which Prussia was able to withstand repeated military efforts against her from a coalition of countries which included France, Russia and Sweden, the Prussian king Frederick II spurred the rediscovery of precision drilling in military tactical movements. This spawned a movement through efficiency and speed of maneuver on the field, which would later come to full fruition with Napoleon Bonaparte four decades later.

  Napoleon built his 'Grand Armee' around the cor ideas of Frederick II of speed, size and maneuver. Napoleon went further and developed a command and staff structure suitable for this kind of army. With strategy, tactics and command leadership all coalescing in one given point, huge armies of over 500,000 could now take to the field.http://www.napoleon-series.org/military/organization/c_rma.html

  Out of this also came the organization of a hierarchical structure in army units, that have been in use to this day, with slight variations along the way.

  
  

  
  

• Modern Miltary Unit Hierarchy

  • From highest to Lowest http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_organization#Commands.2C_formations.2C_and_units
    
  • Army Group (250,000+ men)
  • Army (60,000–100,000+ men)
  • Corps (30,000–80,000 men)
  • Division (10,000–20,000 men)
  • Brigade (2000–5000 men)
  • Battalion (300–1000 men)
  • Company (70–250 men)
  • Platoon (25–60 men)
  • Squad (8–16 men)
  • Team (2–5 men)

• 5 Largest Armies Today

  China:

  Total Land-Based Weapons: 31,300
  Tanks: 8,200
  Armored Personnel Carriers: 5,000
  Towed Artillery: 14,000
  Self-Propelled Guns: 1,700
  Multiple Rocket Launch Systems: 2,400
  Mortars: 16,000
  Anti-Tank Guided Weapons: 6,500
  Anti-Aircraft Weapons: 7,700
  

  United States:

  Total Land-Based Weapons: 29,920
  Towed Artillery: 5,178

  India:

  Total Land-Based Weapons: 10,340
  Tanks: 3,898
  Armored Personnel Carriers: 317
  Towed Artillery: 4,175
  Self-Propelled Guns: 200
  Multiple Rocket Launch Systems: 150
  Anti-Aircraft Weapons: 2,424

  Russia:

  Total Land-Based Weapons: 79,985
  Tanks: 22,800
  Armored Personnel Carriers: 9,900
  Towed Artillery: 13,585
  Self-Propelled Guns: 6,010
  Multiple Rocket Launch Systems: 4,350
  Mortars: 6,100
  

  North Koreahttp://www.globalfirepower.com/country-military-strength-detail.asp?country_id=North-Korea:

  Total Land-Based Weapons: 16,400
  Tanks: 3,500
  Armored Personnel Carriers: 2,500
  Towed Artillery: 3,500
  Self-Propelled Guns: 4,400
  Multiple Rocket Launch Systems: 2,500
  Mortars: 7,500
  Anti-Aircraft Weapons: 11,000

• Related Mahalo Pages

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