The United States Marine Division, mid 1944 to mid 1945
Headquarters Battalion
Divisional Headquarters Company
Signal Company
Military Police Company
Reconnaissance Company
(Note - 'G' Series Division added a Rocket Detachment with twelve Jeep mounted 4.5-inch launchers, in three Sections of four launchers each, and a War Dog Platoon with 36 canines used as scouts or messengers).
Three Marine Infantry Regiments, each comprised of;
Headquarters and Service Company
Weapons Company - with twelve 37-mm antitank guns in three Platoons of four guns each, plus a fourth Platoon with four halftrack mounted 75-mm guns.
(Note - In the 'G' Series Regiment the halftrack mounted 75-mm guns were replaced by four 105-mm M7 self-propelled guns and the third Antitank Platoon was deleted).
Three Marine Infantry Battalions - click on The United States Marine Battalion mid 1944 to 1945 link for more detail.
Tank Battalion
Headquarters and Service Company
Three Tank Companies - each with fifteen medium tanks.
Divisional Artillery Regiment
Headquarters and Service Battery
Two Pack Battalions - each with twelve 75-mm pack howitzers, divided into three Batteries with four guns per Battery.
Two Howitzer Battalions - each with twelve 105-mm howitzers, divided into three Batteries with four guns per Battery.
(Note - by 1945 'most' Marine Divisions had four Battalions of 105-mm howitzers, however at least one Battalion of 75-mm pack howitzers was in action on Okinawa).
Engineer Battalion
Headquarters Company
Three Engineer Companies
Pioneer Battalion
Headquarters Company
Three Pioneer Companies
Service Battalion
Headquarters Company
Service and Supply Company
Ordnance Company
(Note - 'G' Series Division split the Service and Supply elements into two separate Companies)
Motor Transport Battalion
Headquarters and Service Company
Three Transport Companies
(Note - 'G' Series Division added a fourth Transport Company, an Automotive Repair Company and an Amphibian Truck company).
Medical Battalion
Headquarters and Service Company
Five Medical Companies
Points of note
The above 'F' Series organisation was introduced from May 1944. The former Special Weapons Battalion was deleted, the Naval Construction Battalion returned to US Navy control, leading to the abolition of the Engineer Regiment Headquarters, and the Amphibian Tractor Battalions were assigned to Corps level. Amendments for the final 'G' Series Division are given in the relevant Notes above.
The Tank Battalion was to be fully equipped with M4 Sherman medium tanks, however some units continued to operate one or two Light Companies into 1945 while the new vehicles were awaited. Its former Scout Company was removed and placed under Divisional control as a Reconnaissance Company. Another development for the Tank Battalion was the issue of flamethrower conversion kits, designed to replace the bow machine gun.
The United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Divisional Organisations