Battle Order

Video: Inside the Airborne Tank Units that Never Were

New video on the M8 Armored Gun System, which was an airborne light tank that almost entered service with the US Army in the 1990s but was abruptly cancelled after it was type classified.

The video specifically covers the two units that would have received it. 3rd Battalion, 73rd Armor (a light armor battalion under the 82nd Airborne Division) and the 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment (Light), the reconnaissance and security formation working for the XVIII Airborne Corps

This is going t...

Video: Canadian Rifle Section & Ammo Loads

I'm collabing with another channel who is making a video on Canadian Army kit on their channel and this is my contribution. It talks about the basic ammo load of the Canadian Army Rifle Section (to include Riflemen, Grenadiers and Light MGs) and a more detailed look at the light and mechanized infantry section organization than I did in last month's short.

2023 Battle Order Financial Report (Revenue, Expenses, Charity)

Here are is the revenue and expense report for Battle Order in 2023. Revenue sources include ads from battleorder.org itself, ads from Youtube, Patreon, Merch (Shopify), and Sponsorships.

Video Production

From video production, revenue from Youtube AdSense, Patreon, and Sponsorships amounted to $44,265.57. Although note anything paid out from Sponsorships and Youtube was actually earned in 2022. Youtube payouts are generally around the 24th of the month after you earn, and Spons...

Graphics: British Armoured/Mech Infantry in the 1980s, Soviet Motor Rifle Battalion 1945

Some new graphics.

First, the theoretical British Army Armoured Infantry (1988) and Mechanised (1985) Battalions based on the Staff Officers Handbooks from their eras. Armoured Infantry were mounted in FV510 Warrior and Mechanised (Tracked) in FV432 APCs.

Second, the Soviet Motor Rifle Battalion shortly after their mechanized and tank corps were reorganized into mechanized and tank divisions in June 1945: 2024-01-10 18:54:23 +0000 UTC View Post

Video: British Urban Assault Tactics in 1960

New video on British Army urban assault tactics (with a focus on house clearing, section task organization, and general challenges of the urban environment) based on the 1960 infantry platoon manual

Shorts: Russian Airborne Squad & Canadian Light Infantry Section

The last shorts in this 3-short batch. The one embedded is on the Russian VDV Airborne Squad before the 2022 invasion. 

This one is on the Canadian Light Infantry Section, both the doctrine and what's done in practice: https://youtube.com/shorts/i7c-yi0XyOg?feature=share 

After Effects Animation Video Guides

Not sure if any of you are interested in video editing but I'm helping someone with advice on how to make their first Youtube video and put together a couple video guides for basic starter animations in After Effects

Another one here about how to make a simple staggered cascade animation and easy silhouetting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LDY_kBw6DY

Short: Modern US Army Ranger Rifle Squad

I threw together a short that gives a quick overview of the current US Army Ranger Squad to take advantage of the assets I prepared for the main video, and also because only 25% of watchers got to the part that talks about the modern day.

Video: East vs. West German Panzer Units Compared | Hyperwar 1989

New video comparing the tank unit organization of East & West Germany in 1989

Graphic: Current U.S. Army Ranger Squad

New graphic of the current U.S. Army Ranger Squad, available as a poster in the shop: https://battleorder.myshopify.com/products/u-s-army-ranger-rifle-squad-poster-18-24 

Video: How U.S. RANGER Squads Evolved in 80 Years

New video on the complete evolution of 🇺🇸 U.S. Army Ranger squads from their founding World War II, to their time in Korea, Vietnam as long-range reconnaissance patrols, the formation of their current iteration in 1974, and today. The segment on the present-day Rangers also spends a lot of time on the platoon, battalion and regimental levels, including information I haven't seen written online

Video: How U.S. RANGER Squads Evolved from 1942 to 1974 (pt 1)

Hi all, this is part one of a video that looks at the evolution of U.S. Army Ranger squads and their role from 1942 to today. This one covers it from 1942 to 1974.

The whole thing will be posted as one video publicly, but because it's going to be quite long (maybe 25-30 minutes?) and I'm still a week or two out from finishing it I decided to post what I have done so far on Patreon. Thanks for your patience!

Sneak Peek: U.S. Army Ranger Squad 1974

Sneak peek from a video that will cover the complete evolution of US Army Ranger Rifle Squads from WWII to today.

Preliminary Info: U.S. Army helicopter unit changes in Army 2030?

I recently noticed a comment talking about changes to U.S. Army aviation under Army 2030. Aviation is probably the least publicly talked about part of Army 2030, and I don't have enough confirmed info to make a public post/video about it, but here is the preliminary info.
On Transport Helicopters:

1. The current General Support Aviation Battalion (GSAB) is being rebranded as an Assault Helicopter Battalion and both the current GSAB and AHB will be restructured.

Update + Graphics: TF Papa Bear (Desert Storm) & USSR Naval Infantry

Hi all, I've just returned from the U.S. (where I was celebrating my wedding) and will return to regular posting soon. My November vacation is why I posted 5 videos in October (including one Patron-only) as opposed to my normal 2 or 3. The next video will likely be an 80-year evolution of U.S. Army Ranger squads with input from Ranger veterans. Thank you for your patience!

In the meantime, I was commissioned to do a few graphics, possibly for publication in a military journal (we'll see...

Video: The U.S Army’s New Ultralight Jungle Scouts

New video about an ultralight motorized scout concept that one of the 25th Infantry Division's cavalry troops is developing. This was written about in the Fall 2022 issue of Armor, but one of the NCOs from the test platoon reached out to me with updated and more detailed info on how it's been refined since then

Video: The Soviets’ Experimental Light Motor Rifles (1987)

New video on Soviet experiments in 1987 with a Light Motor Rifle Division, which attempted to create a more air transportable division by motorizing with light GAZ-66 trucks and integrating airborne armor platforms used by the VDV

Graphics: 1980s Soviet Naval Infantry Brigade & Separate Air Assault Brigade

New graphics of the Soviet Separate Naval Infantry Brigade and Separate Air Assault Battalion during the late 1980s.

The Sep. Naval Infantry Brigade was an amphibious infantry formation subordinate to the Northern, Baltic and Black Sea Fleets with organic airborne and armor capabilities.

The Sep. Air Assault Battalions were Ground Forces formations (not VDV) that supported Combined Arms Armies and Tank Armies via operational-tactical helicopter/parachute assault operations.

Graphic: USSR 56th Air Assault Bde during Soviet-Afghan War

A follow-up graphic from the earlier one on the Soviet Separate Air Assault Brigade in the 1980s. This one is for the 56th Guards Air Assault Brigade specifically in the late 1980s, which was unique due to its participation in the Soviet-Afghan War. It saw significant rearmament due to the disadvantages of their airborne armor platforms and most of the brigade being a light infantry unit from 1979.

The big changes:

1. The brigade immediately lost its 2nd Parachute Battalion in 198...

Graphic: Soviet Air Assault Brigade Organization 1986

This is a graphic of the USSR Ground Forces' Separate Air Assault Brigade from the late 1980s. The lore dump is in the text box but basically they were army airborne/air assault units existing in parallel with the VDV's Airborne Divisions. While the VDV served the armed forces as a whole and was characterized as a "strategic" airborne force, Separate Air Assault Brigades were "operational-tactical". They supported fronts (army groups) mainly. The Separate Air Assault Battalions served armies,...

Video: V-100 Commando: Cutest Armor of Vietnam?

New video on South Vietnam's Cadillac-Gage V-100 Commando (XM706) units, which were focused mainly on route security, convoy escort, and mobile intervention missions

Sneak Peek: South Vietnamese Cadillac Gage armored car sections

Sneak peek of an upcoming video on South Vietnamese/ARVN armored car units that employed the XM706 / Cadillac Gage Commando V-100.

Video: Little France?: Future of Belgium’s Troubled Army (No Ads)

New video on the Belgium Army's medium infantry mounted on Piranha APCs, as well as their planned modernization and reorganization efforts. This covers their Piranha infantry organization from the squad to battalion level.

This video is going to be sponsored, so I'm uploading it early here without the ad.

Sneak Peek: Belgian Army Infantry Squads

A sneak peek on an upcoming video about the Belgian Army's infantry and their future reforms.

Sneak Peek: British Infantry Regiment Expansion during the Napoleonic Wars

A sneak peek of a future Patreon/Members exclusive (Corporals and up) on how the British Army expanded during the Napoleonic Wars

Video: How to Read Russian Army Battle Maps

New video on how to read the most common symbols Russia uses on its military maps and training manual graphics

Battle Order Financials: Jan to Sep 2023

Here is a summary of my main income sources for 2023 so far. I'm not going to collate my expenses for now because it's sort of spread out but expenses include money spent on books/manuals/ebook subscription sites, music licensing services, monthly Adobe subscription, Shopify subscription for the store, payments to Discord, charitable contributions in Battle Order's name (not an actual business expense) and other misc things.

Overall, I'm going to make quite a bit less money in 2023 than...

Video: Panzergrenadier '66: Germany’s First IFV Infantry

New video on West Germany's Panzergrenadier units in the 1960s, from squad to division

Archive: U.S. Army Tactical/Armored Carrier TO&Es (1959/60)

Someone emailed me 3 original Tables of Organization & Equipment for U.S. Army Tactical Carrier/Armored Carrier units during the Pentomic era (1959/60 specifically). They were essentially external APC transportation to mechanized select Infantry Battle Groups, which were unmotorized light infantry otherwise.

I've attached the pdfs to this post

FOI Document: Vehicles in British Army AH-64 Regiment

A little while ago I filed a FOI request with the British Army asking what vehicle models are in 3 Regiment AAC (an AH-64 regiment) and in what quantity. Their reponse with a table is attached to this post