Brigade
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- This is about military units at a specific level in the hierarchy of unit. For other uses, see Brigade (disambiguation).
In military science a brigade is a military unit that is part of a division and includes regiments (where that level exists), or (in modern armies) is composed of several battalions (typically two to four) and directly attached supporting units. (Such supporting units normally include at least an artillery battery and additional logistic support). A typical traditional brigade's commanding officer was a brigadier general; a modern brigade is usually commanded by a brigadier or a (full) colonel, or occasionally by a brigadier general.
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[edit] Origin
The brigade was invented as a tactical unit, by the Swedish king and conqueror Gustavus Adolphus. It was introduced during the Thirty Years' War to overcome the normal army structure, consisting of regiments. The term derives from Italian brigata or Old French brigare, meaning "company", which in turn derives from a Celtic root briga, which means "strife".
The so-called "brigada" was a mixed unit, comprising infantry, cavalry and normally artillery too, designated for a special task. The size of such "brigada" was a reinforced company up to two regiments. The "brigada" was the ancient form of the nowadays "task force". This was copied in France by general Turenne, who made it a permanent unit, requiring the creation in 1667 of a permanent rank of brigadier des armées du roi, who took over the brigade command from the Colonel or the Mestre du camp, under the command of the Maréchal de camp (the original Field Marshal), who would in time be rebaptised Général de brigade.
[edit] Other armies
In the British Army, the brigade has been the smallest tactical formation for more than two centuries, since regiments are either administrative groupings of battalions (in the infantry) or battalion-sized units (in the cavalry).
In the United States Army, a brigade is smaller than a division and roughly equal to or a little larger than a regiment. Strength typically ranges from 1,500 to 3,500 personnel. Army brigades formerly contained two or more regiments, particularly during the American Civil War, but this structure is now considered obsolete.
In the United States Marine Corps, brigades are only formed for certain missions. Unlike the United States Army, the Marines have intact regimental structures. A Marine brigade is formed only for special expeditionary duty, for which it is outfitted like a smaller Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF). For example, TF TARAWA (2d MEB) during the Operation Iraqi Freedom campaign.
In the armies of colonial powers, such as the British Empire, brigades frequently garrisoned isolated colonial posts, and their commanders had substantial discretion and local authority.
The brigade is traditionally the smallest formation able to operate independently on a battlefield without external logistical tactical support. Also called in modern times a Task Force in the US Army or Battle Group in the British Army, although either of these terms can be applied to larger units.
[edit] Sources and references
- Nouveau Larousse illustré (undated, early 20th century; in French)
