Organization of the

5th Mechanized Infantry Division

At Fort Polk, LA

 

 

1984-1992

The division is attached to III Corps and shares its Allied Forces Central Europe reinforcment mission. According to the U.S. Army doctrine of this time, it is organized with two Brigades and is rounded out by a brigade from ARNG.
It was reorganized late 1984, early 1985, under the new Heavy Division (Div 86) TOEs, the J Series.
But it was not issued with the new equipment (M1 Abrams, M2 Bradley, Apache, etc) before 1988.

 

5TH INFANTRY DIVISION (Mechanized)

 

HEADQUARTERS &HEADQUARTERS COMPANY, 5th INFANTRY DIVISION (MECH)

1st BRIGADE
Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade

1st Battalion/ 61st Infantry (reflagged 5th Battalion/ 6th Infantry)
1st Battalion/ 40th Armor (reflagged 3rd Battalion/67th Armor)
3rd Battalion/ 77th Armor (reflagged 4th Battalion/35th Armor)

2nd BRIGADE
Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade

3rd Battalion/10th Infantry (Mech) (reflagged 4th Battalion/6th Infantry)
3rd Battalion/11th Infantry (Mech) (reflagged 3rd Battalion/6th Infantry)
3rd Battalion/70th Armor
4th Squadron/12th Cavalry

256th INFANTRY BRIGADE (Louisiana National Guard)
Roundout in 1983, Headquarters in Lafayette, LA.

3rd SQUADRON, 1st CAVALRY

Headquarters & Headquarters Troop (HHT) (3 M3, 1 UH60A)
"A" Armored Cavalry Troop
- Troop Headquarters (1 M3 CFV)
- 3 Scout Platoons (6 M3)
- 1 Mortar Section (3 Improved 81mm mortars M125)
"B" Armored Cavalry Troop (idem)
- Troop Headquarters (1 M3 CFV)
- 3 Scout Platoons (6 M3)
- 1 Mortar Section (3 Improved 81mm mortars M125)
"C" Air Cavalry Troop
- Scout Platoon (6 OH-58)
- Attack Helicopters Platoon (4 AH-1S)
"D" Air Cavalry Troop
- Scout Platoon (6 OH-58)
- Attack Helicopters Platoon (4 AH-1S)

MANEUVERS BATTALIONS

3rd BATTALION, 6th INFANTRY (Mech) (former 3/11th Infantry)

Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3/6th Inf
- Battalion Headquarters Platoon (2 M113A1)
- Company Headquarters (1 M113A1)
- Support Platoon
- Maintenance Platoon
- Scout Platoon (6 M113A1)
- Heavy Mortar Platoon (6 81mm mortars M125A1 or 4 M106A1)
- Communication Platoon
- Medical Platoon
"A" Company
- Headquarters Section (1 M113A1)
- 3 Rifle Platoons
----- Platoon Headquarters (1 M113A1)
----- 3 Rifle Squads (1 M113A1 and 1 Dragon each)
- AT Section (2 M901 ITV) (see note 1)
"B" Company
- (idem)
"C" Company
- (idem)
"D" Company
- (idem)
"E" Antitank Company
- Headquarters Section
- 3 AT Platoons
---- Platoon Headquarters
---- 2 AT Sections (2 ITV M901 each) (see note 1)

The following information was provided by Craig A. Snook.
The 3/11th Inf was retired in 1985, making Fort Polk the new home for the 6th Infantry Regiment. When the 3rd Bn 6th Inf Reg was formed at Fort Polk, the Battalion now consisted of HHC, companies A-D, and added Company E. Companies A-D were combat companies, Company E , was an exclusive TOW missile company, while the scout and mortar platoons were moved to HHC.
Note 1: In a mechanized infantry battalion organized under J series TOEs, but keeping old M113, an AT Section with 3 M901 was added to each company in order to compensate the lack of AT means.
 
4th BATTALION, 6th INFANTRY (Mech) (idem 3/6th Infantry) (former 3/10th Infantry)
 
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4/6th Inf
"A" Company
"B" Company
"C" Company
"D" Company
"E" Antitank Company
 
5th BATTALION, 6th INFANTRY (Mech) (idem 3/6th Infantry) (former 1/61st Infantry)
 
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 5/6th Inf
"A" Company
"B" Company
"C" Company
"D" Company
"E" Antitank Company
 
4th BATTALION, 35th ARMOR (former 3/77th Armor, reflagged at the end of 1988)
 
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4/35th Armor
- Battalion Headquarters Platoon (1 M577)
- Company Headquarters (1 M113A1)
- Support Platoon (3 M60)
- Maintenance Platoon
- Scout Platoon (6 M113A1)
- Heavy Mortar Platoon (6 81mm mortars M125A1 or 4 M106A1 previously issued)
- Communication Platoon
- Medical Platoon
"A" Company (14 M1 tanks)
- Headquarters Section (2 M60A1 or A3)
- 3 Tank Platoons (4 M60)
"B" Company
- (idem)
"C" Company
- (idem)
"D" Company
- (idem)
 
  3rd BATTALION, 67th ARMOR (idem 4/35th Armor) (former 1st Bn, 40th Armor reflagged at th end of 1988, when the unit received its M1 Abrams, and Hummers to replace the M60 and M151).
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1/70th Armor
"A" Company
"B" Company
"C" Company
"D" Company
3rd BATTALION, 70th ARMOR (idem 4/35th Armor)
 
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3/70th Armor
"A" Company
"B" Company
"C" Company
"D" Company
 
DIVISION ARTILLERY


HEADQUARTERS &HEADQUARTERS BATTERY, DIVISION ARTILLERY
 
3rd BATTALION, 19th ARTILLERY (155 How SP)
 
Headquarters and Headquarters Battery
"A" Battery
- (6 155mm How, SP, M109A1)
"B" Battery
- (idem)
"C" Battery
- (idem)
Service Battery
 
2nd BATTALION, 21st ARTILLERY (155 How SP)
 
Headquarters and Headquarters Battery
"A" Battery
- (6 155mm How, SP, M109A1)
"B" Battery
- (idem)
"C" Battery
- (idem)
Service Battery
 
C Battery, 21st ARTILLERY (MLRS)
 - 9 MLRS
 
H Battery, 25th ARTILLERY (Target Acquisition)
6 Officers, 29 Warrant Officers, 144 EM
- Battery Headquarters
- Processor Section
- Survey Platoon
- Sound/Flash Ranging Platoon
- Radar Platoon

45th CHEMICAL COMPANY (TOE 3-87H) (NBC Defense)

Headquarters Platoon
Decontaminating Platoon
Decontaminating Platoon
Smoke Platoon
Maintenance Platoon

 

DIVISION COMBAT SUPPORT
 
7th ENGINEER BATTALION
 
Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 7th Engineers
"A" Combat Engineer Company (5 Officers, 154 EM)
- Company Headquarters
- 3 Engineer Platoons (M113A1)
"B" Combat Engineer Company
- (idem)
"C" Combat Engineer Company
- (idem)
"D" Combat Engineer Company
- (idem)
"E" Bridge Company (5 Officers, 146 EM)
- Company headquarters
- Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge Platoon
- 2 M4T6 Bridge Platoons (or Mobile Assault Bridge)
 
3rd BATTALION, 3rd AIR DEFENSE ARTILLERY
Headquarters and Headquarters Battery
"A" ADA Battery
(12 Vulcans, SP- 18 Redeyes/Stingers)
"B" ADA Battery
(12 Vulcans, SP- 18 Redeyes/Stingers)
"C" ADA Battery
(12 Chaparrals, SP- 18 Redeyes/Stingers)
"D" ADA Battery
(12 Chaparrals, SP- 18 Redeyes/Stingers)
 
5TH ATTACK HELICOPTER BATTALION
(Reorganized from the 214th AHB, in July 1986)
Headquarters and Service Company
- Battalion Headquarters Section
- Company Headquarters
- Supply Section
- Maintenance Section
- Mess Section
- Battalion Communication Section
- Medical Section
- Class III/IV supply Platoon
"A" Attack Helicopters Company
- Company Headquarters
- Attack Helicopters Platoon (6 AH-1S Cobra)
- Scout Helicopters Platoon (4 OH-58C Kiowa)
"B" Attack Helicopters Company
- (idem)
"C" Attack Helicopters Company
- (idem)
"D" Aviation Unit Maintenance Company
- Company Headquarters
- Aircraft Maintenance Section
- Aircraft Components Repair Section
 
MILITARY INTELLIGENCE BATTALION (CEWI)
Headquarters and Headquarters and Operations Company
"A" Communications and Surveillance Company
"B" Ground Surveillance Company
"C" Service Support Company
DIVISION SUPPORT COMMAND
(Organization in 1984)

 

 

HEADQUARTERS & HEADQUARTERS COMPANY, SUPPORT COMMAND

5th MEDICAL BATTALION

Headquarters and Support Company, Medical Battalion
"A" Medical Company
"B" Medical Company
"C" Medical Company
 

705th MAINTENANCE BATTALION

Headquarters and Company A (Light Maintenance Company), Maintenance Battalion
"B" Forward Support Company (Supporting the 1st Brigade)
"C" Forward Support Company (Supporting the 2nd Brigade)
"D" *
"E" Missile Maintenance Company
"F" Heavy Maintenance Company
* Theoretically was a Forward Support Company, but since there was not an active 3d Brigade, its role was fulfilled by the 415th Forward Support Company of the Louisiana National Guard supporting the 256th Brigade of the Louisiana National Guard, which was the round out brigade for the 5th Division (LTC (Ret) Frank Ferguson).
 

105th SUPPLY & TRANSPORT BATTALION

Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Supply & Transport Battalion
"A" Supply & Service Company
"B" Transportation Company
 

ADJUTANT GENERAL COMPANY

FINANCE COMPANY

DIVISION SUPPORT COMMAND
(Reorganization in 1985)

HEADQUARTERS & HEADQUARTERS COMPANY, SUPPORT COMMAND

1st FORWARD SUPPORT BATTALION
105th FORWARD SUPPORT BATTALION (renamed in 1986)

Headquarters & Headquarters Detachment
"A" Supply Company
"B" Maintenance Company
"C" Medical Company

2nd FORWARD SUPPORT BATTALION
5th FORWARD SUPPORT BATTALION (renamed in 1986)

Headquarters & Headquarters Detachment
"A" Supply Company
"B" Maintenance Company
"C" Medical Company

3rd FORWARD SUPPORT BATTALION(Theoretically)

MAIN SUPPORT BATTALION
705th MAIN SUPPORT BATTALION (renamed in 1986)

Headquarters & Headquarters Detachment
Light Mainrtenance Company
Heavy Maintenance Company
Missile Maintenance Company
Medical Company
Supply Company
Transportation Company

 

 

Thanks to the following members of the Fifth Infantry Division for their help to build this page:
Eric Black, SGT 3/77 Armor, 1985-1987
Robert Stefanowicz for information about the reorganization under Division 86 and Tank battalion.
Randall Jennings, 7th Engineers, 1988-1991
Ivan Feliciano, D/1/61st Inf in the 1980's
CPT Greg Venvertloh, 214th and 5th AHB, then 45th Chemical Company, June 1986-May 1988.
LTC (Ret) Frank R. Ferguson (Ordnance Maintenance Captain in 1984-86) provided information about DISCOM and the 705th Maintenance Battalion.
Sean Debrun Brown for information about the 1/40th Armor and 1/70th Armor in 1988.
LTC William L. Demalade, SIGO 3/77th Armor in 1988, for the reflagging of the 3/77th and 1/40th Armor.

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Created in May 1997

Updated August 28, 2009