Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!ucsd!pacbell.com!att!cbnews!cbnews!military
From: bcstec!shuksan!major@uunet.UU.NET (Mike Schmitt)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: U.S. Army Division TO&Es (LONG)
Message-ID: <1990Nov14.010537.15007@cbnews.att.com>
Date: 14 Nov 90 01:05:37 GMT
References: <1990Oct24.115039.4212@cbnews.att.com> <1990Nov4.210449.4182@cbnews.att.com>
Sender: military@cbnews.att.com (William B. Thacker)
Organization: The Boeing Co., MMST, Seattle, Wa.
Lines: 44
Approved: military@att.att.com



From: bcstec!shuksan!major@uunet.UU.NET (Mike Schmitt)

In article <1990Nov4.210449.4182@cbnews.att.com>, geoffm@EBay.Sun.COM (Geoff Miller) writes:
> 
> 
> From: geoffm@EBay.Sun.COM (Geoff Miller)
> 
> 
> A couple of questions:
> 
> 
> (1)  What exactly is "mechanized infantry?"  Is it the same as standard
>      infantry, except for the fact that that the troops get to ride to 
>      the battle in armored personnel carriers?  Or are there tanks and/or
>      artillery that are integral with the infantry unit?


       "Mechanized" usually refers to 'tracked vehicle'.  Therefore,
       "Mechanized Infantry Divisions" have Bradleys', M113s, Tanks, and
       Self-Propelled Artillery.  Integral?  Depends.  In 'garrison' the
       units are 'pure' - all infantry, all armor, all artillery, etc.
       For operations they are/can be 'tasked organized for combat' - meaning
       cross-attached for combat teams/task forces.   
> 
> (2)  I've noticed that the U.S. has "mechanized infantry" divisions and the
>      USSR has "motorized rifle" divisions.  Are these simply different names
>      for the same thing, or are there substantial differences between the
>      two?

       "Motorized" usually means 'wheeled vehicles'.  Soviet 'motorized
       rifle battalions/regiments etc' meant that their APCs were usually
       'wheeled' eg BTR60PB wheeled APC.  With the introduction of the
       full-tracked BMP - the Soviet Motorized Rifle Division (MRD) would
       consist of two Motorized Rifle Regiments (BTR60), one Mechanized
       Rifle Regiment (BMP) and one Tank Regiment (T64).  

       BTW: Any Soviet Army unit with the "Guards" title means that, that 
       unit can trace it's lineage to the "Great Patriotic War" (WWII).
       eg, 8th Guards Army, 57th Guards Tank Division, etc...............


       mike schmitt