Combat support company
A combat support company (CSC) is a company-echelon unit in some United States Army infantry battalion organizations which consolidates combat support elements of the battalion under a company headquarters.
History
From 1942 - 1957, U.S. Army infantry battalions consisted of a battalion
Combat support companies were eliminated during the development of the Reorganization Objective Army Division (ROAD) structure in 1962, with battalions containing only an HHC and three rifle companies. But CSCs soon returned during the development of the
When the army began to expand for Vietnam with the organization of the 196th Infantry Brigade at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, the brigade's three infantry battalions were organized under a special "light" structure for counterinsurgency warfare. Like the airmobile infantry battalions, these battalions CSC had mortar, reconnaissance and antitank platoons. Although battalions deployed to Vietnam as infantry and airborne infantry (without CSCs) or light and airmobile infantry (with CSCs), U.S. Army, Vietnam reorganized 70 of its 72 non-mechanized infantry battalions under a modified TOE with an HHC, four rifle companies, and a CSC.[1][2]
In the early 1970s, CSCs were added to the infantry, mechanized infantry, and armor battalions, retaining a single company headquarters for reconnaissance, mortar, and antitank platoons, as well as air defense and ground surveillance radar sections. However, the Army of Excellence (AOE) organization implemented in the mid-1980s eliminated CSCs in favor of antiarmor companies, with the mortar and reconnaissance platoons returning to the battalion's HHC. The Army National Guard (ARNG) retained the older organization longer than the active army, but CSCs were eliminated from ARNG units by the mid-1990s.[1][2][3]
Although eliminated from most standard organizations, a few unique organizations retained CSCs. When the
Currently, standard battalions do not have CSCs. Infantry, Stryker infantry and combined arms battalions have their reconnaissance (scout) and mortar platoons in the HHC, and infantry battalions have weapons companies composed of assault platoons that contain the units' heavy machine guns, TOWs and Javelins.
See also
- Company (military unit)
- Headquarters and Headquarters Company
- Combat support
References
- ^ a b c d Wilson, John B. Maneuver and Firepower: The Evolution of Divisions and Separate Brigades. (CMH Pub 60-14-1). Army Lineage Series. Washington: Center of Military History. Web. Accessed 27 November 2015 <http://www.history.army.mil/html/books/060/60-14-1/cmhPub_60-14-1.pdf Archived 2014-03-01 at the Wayback Machine>.
- ^ a b c d Ney, Virgil. "Evoluation of the US Army Infantry Battalion: 1939-1968." Combat Operations Research Group Memorandum 343. October 1968. Web. Accessed 27 November 2015. <http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/690267.pdf>.
- ^ Pattison, Jack E. "The Combat Support Company--Rising from its Own Ashes." 10 January 1989. Web. Accessed 27 November 2015. <need to add the link>.
- ^ Walter, George F. "Operational Leadership Experiences: Interview with MAJ George Walter." Combat Studies Institute. 28 February 2008. Web. Accessed 27 November 2015. <https://server16040.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/p4013coll13&CISOPTR=1123&CISOBOX=1&REC=12>.