The United States Marine Battalion, early 1943 to mid 1944
Following the conclusion of its first campaign, the USMC reviewed its Battalion organisation based on experience. The new 'E' Series organisation was approved in April 1943, ahead of the next major deployment in the Pacific.
The 'E' Series Marine Battalion, circa 1943 to 1944
Headquarters Company (12 Officers, 125 men)
Battalion Headquarters Section (9 Officers, 22 men)
US Navy Medical Detachment (2 Officers, 32 men)
Intelligence Section (12 men)
Supply Section (6 men)
Communication Platoon (1 Officer, 39 men)
Company Headquarters (14 men)
Weapons Company (8 Officers, 220 men)
Company Headquarters (3 Officers, 38 men)
Mortar Platoon (2 Officers, 56 men)
Three Machine Gun Platoons, each (1 Officer, 42 men)
Three Rifle Companies (6 Officers, 190 men) each comprised of;
Company HQ (2 Officers, 26 men)
Weapons Platoon comprised of;
Platoon HQ (1 Officer, 3 men)
Mortar Section (16 men)
Machine Gun Section (19 men)
Three Rifle Platoons, each comprised of;
Platoon HQ (1 Officer, 6 men)
Three Rifle Squads, each comprised of 12 men
Total Strength of 953 all ranks (38 Officers and 915 men)
Points of note
Battalion strength had risen slightly from the previous organisation, and there was also an increase in firepower for the Rifle Companies.
The elements of the Battalion
Weapons Company - underwent the most amendments. The combined Antiaircraft and Antitank Platoon was deleted, though Company Headquarters retained two .50-cal M2 heavy machine guns, designated for antitank use. There were also twelve unallocated M1919A4 light machine guns, replacing the previous issue of spare M1917s, and four Bazookas also held by Company HQ. The previous allocation of four Jeeps was now divided out, with one for HQ and one per Machine Gun Platoon.
Each Machine Gun Platoon still had four M1917 heavy machine guns, and the Mortar Platoon four 81-mm weapons, but both elements were trimmed down as regards personnel strength, most notably the Mortar Platoon.
The Rifle Company - the 'E' Series organisation introduced a new Squad and Platoon structure for the Rifle Company. The former BAR Squad was deleted, and there were now three identical Rifle Squads under a Platoon Headquarters.
The Rifle Squad was now twelve strong, with a Sergeant, Corporal and ten men, which included two automatic riflemen each with a BAR. The remainder of the Squad members carried M1 rifles. The number of rifle grenade launchers is not specified in the table, but I would suggest two based on previous experiments. In 1934 the Marines had considered a thirteen man Rifle Squad, capable of splitting into two equal groups of six, each provided with a BAR and rifle grenade launcher, under the direction of a Sergeant. The 1943 unit came close to this, but had no independent Squad leader, the two NCOs provided each having to lead one group each if the Squad were split.
Platoon HQ remained as in the 'D' Series Platoon, with carbines for the officer and Platoon Sergeant, and M1 rifles for the remainder. The spare BAR was deleted.
The Weapons Platoon increased in strength and firepower, with a third M1919A4 and 60-mm mortar added to its two component Sections. Company HQ was effectively unchanged, though a trailer was added for its single Jeep.
The United States Marine Corps