Discussion

The U.S. Army Rangers were, at least in theory, intended to be a special amphibious raiding force in the same vein as the British Commandos and U.S. Marine Raiders. On the western front, this speciality was rarely exploited after the D-Day landings, although the 6th Rangers were more properly used in the Philippines. This organization applies to a newer cadre of Rangers formed in 1943, taking effect in February 1944 after Darby's Rangers (1st, 3rd and 4th Rangers) were destroyed in Italy.

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The Ranger Company was significantly leaner than the standard infantry Rifle Company at 28% the size (as of mid-1945). The Company Headquarters lacked the mess section, basic duty riflemen and supply/maintenance personnel. Rather, it had perhaps the minimum a Company Headquarters could have: the company commander (with no executive officer), first sergeant, clerk and single messenger. Like in the parachute infantry Rifle Companies, the rangers did not have a dedicated weapons platoon. Rather, weapons like the M1919A4 machine gun, 60mm mortars, Bazooka and, before July 1944, the Boys anti-tank rifle were issued at the platoon level.

The Ranger Platoons had a slightly unconventional 2 Assault Section and 1 Special Weapons Section set up. At a glance this was significantly different from the 3 Rifle Squads of a standard infantry Rifle Platoon. However, the Assault Sections were more or less similar to the standard rifle squads except with the M1919 (like the paratroopers) and dedicated assault (Rifle Squad) and elements (LMG Squad) leaders. This method of command and control was superior to that of the standard rifle squad which, despite also having 1 automatic weapon on paper, was more of a single blob of soldiers rather than 2 distinct teams. Towards the end of the war the Able, Baker, Charley team system came around for the regular infantry, but the 1946 Infantry Conference found that these types of squad subdivisions were not often used and when they were, they were ineffective.

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Albeit heftier than the standard M1918A2 BAR (and with a more awkward means of carrying the ammo supply, if not lighter overall per round) the M1919A4 provided a squad with much more firepower than a BAR which was probably one of the least capable automatic rifles of the war among the major powers. Even so, M1919s were still usually substituted with BARs in the field and there is photographic evidence that this occurred. But, if this was done, the Ranger Company's overall automatic firepower would decrease substantially as it did not have a dedicated weapons platoon with M1919A4s as the regular infantry companies had. At the same time, and this is mostly conjecture on our part, a BAR would probably be easier to sling and hump when scaling the cliffs and buffs on D-Day.

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Like the paratroopers, Ranger Platoons had their own mortar in the Special Weapons Section. However, while the paratroopers held their Bazookas in their platoon headquarters, the Rangers had a Bazooka carried by the assistant section leader as well, in addition to a spare Bazooka. There were additional Bazookas held in the Battalion weapons pool for issue to companies as needed. Prior to July 1944, the Special Weapons Section had 1 Bazooka and 1 Boys Anti-Tank Rifle. After July 1944, the anti-tank rifle was replaced with another Bazooka. One of these 2 anti-tank weapons would have been considered a spare weapon held in reserve.

The assistant section leader of the Special Weapons Section, mortar gunner, assistant mortar gunner, machine gunner, assistant machine gunner, first sergeant, and platoon sergeants were were all armed with pistols. Although not explicitly stated in the TO&E, officers were in practice often armed with pistols, as well as other Rangers in the company.

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Another difference was the presence of a dedicated sniper the platoon and company headquarters of Ranger Platoons and Companies respectively. In standard infantry and the airborne, the Platoon HQ held an M1903A4 (although ideally an M1C) that could be issued out to the best shot in the platoon. In the Rangers, the sniper was a fixed billet.

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The Rangers retained this company organization through the end of the war in Europe shortly before the end of the war in the Pacific. There were minor changes in August 1944, but the basic structure of the company and platoons remained the same. The Ranger Company organization would not change substantially until October 1950 during the Korean War.

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On D-Day

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Each Ranger Battalion had 6 Ranger Companies, compared to standard infantry battalions which had 3 of the much larger rifle companies. On D-Day, Companies D, E and F of the 2nd Rangers came ashore at Point-du-Hoc as part of Task Force A. Company C of the 2nd Rangers came ashore at Charlie Sector of Omaha Beach as Task Force B and was the first unit to break through at Omaha (albeit after taking 50% casualties). Company A and B of the 2nd Rangers and the entirety of the 5th Rangers landed at Omaha Beach later as Task Force C under their contingency plan. Task Force C was intended to land at Point-du-Hoc when they received the codeword "Tilt" from Task Force A. Although this codeword was actually sent, it was not received, and Task Force C landed at Omaha with the intention of proceeding overland to Point-du-Hoc.

One Ranger Company could be carried to shore by 2 Landing Craft Assault (LCAs), each with a capacity of about 36 men. Charlie Company of the 2nd Ranger Battalion came ashore at Charlie Sector on the right flank of Dog Green—where Able Company, 116th Infantry, 29th Infantry Division was destroyed in the first wave—in LCA 418 and LCA 1038.

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Summary of Changes (from Sep. 1942)

• In the Company Headquarters, the Messenger (SMG armed) was rearmed with a rifle. The company clerk was reduced from a Sergeant to a Corporal. The Company Commander and First Sergeant were rearmed with submachine guns.

• In line with the rest of the Army, Section Leaders were increased in rank from Sergeants to Staff Sergeants. Assistant Section Leaders (and Squad Leaders) were increased in rank from Corporal to Sergeant.

• The Mortar Section in the Company Headquarters was dissolved with the mortars being moved to the Special Weapons Sections of the Assault Platoons.

• The Platoon Leaders and Platoon Sergeants were rearmed with submachine guns.

• The M1918A2 BAR in the Light Machine Gun Squad was replaced by an M1919A4 machine gun.

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