Question re: Supplies

[Pepper]

This isn't a SPMBT question as much as it is a question for those of you who've been in the military.
How long can a typical battalion operate without resupply? I assume its different for armored or mech or motor, and obviously it changes based on how active they are ... but is there a general guideline of days worth of supply? I've seen 2 weeks and 30 days for a USMC MEU, just wondering what it is (roughly) for most other battalion sized forces...

Thanks.

[Pepper]

Well, a USMC MEU apparently is self-sufficient for 30 days. A Ranger battalion, 5 days (which was impliedly short).

No one knows for armor or mech battalions???

[Marek_Tucan]

Pepper said:
Well, a USMC MEU apparently is self-sufficient for 30 days. A Ranger battalion, 5 days (which was impliedly short).

No one knows for armor or mech battalions???

The data for the MEU are WITH the ship present, yes? Otherwise it seems strange to me that a force with massive mechanisation (Abrams, LVTP's, helos, trucks, hummers, LAV's etc.) can be more self-sufficient than a special light infantry.

[Pepper]

Yes -- I think the idea is that the MEU always travels with a PHIBRON that can provide forward supplies. So, an MEU at sea can get called into an engagement and can sustain itself for 30 days without further supply.

The Ranger info. implied that the 5 days was short (maybe it said "only 5 days" or something like that). Again, I assume that this means if a Ranger Battalion is called in for an airdrop, on an airport capture mission, for example, that the Ranger Battalion can sustain itself from the airdrop for 5 days only.

If you stick a Mechanized Battalion on a RO RO and send it overseas ... how long can it hold out once it disembarks? I assume their must be some standard associated with the services & supply companies ... some amount that they pack in as part of the battalion. No former FSCs around?

[Cameronius]

There are three supplies which are basic to a mechanized force;
1.Ammo
2.Fuel
3.Food (includes H2O)
These are listed in order of priority.
Ammo and fuel are difficult to predict without knowing the units assigned tasks or mission, but food is reliably the same. A Canadian forces mech infantry bn carries a supply of rations to last 4-7 days. Every vehicle should have a full battle load of ammo and fuel and QM stores should have another full battle load for every vehicle. This can be used up very quickly in a high intensity battle. Redistribution of ammo after or during a battle is possible because a battalion sized force should not all be engaged at the same time, If so something has gone wrong. A mech battalion forced to fight a full engagment, high intensity battle before being cut of from resupply is in a very precarious position indeed. Worst of all, the most important munitions are used up the quickest. Tank rounds, ATGMs and auto cannon ammo are also most difficult to resupply. A mech formation is quickly made ineffective when cut off from is supply lines. This is one of its vulnerabilites.

[Pepper]

cameronmurdoch said:
A Canadian forces mech infantry bn carries a supply of rations to last 4-7 days. Every vehicle should have a full battle load of ammo and fuel and QM stores should have another full battle load for every vehicle.

Thank you sir! This is exactly what I was looking for.

[Mobhack]

Not actual time-related, but I saw something to the effect that the WW2 UK supply organisaton used a rule of thumb that the supply ration in tons for a rifle batallion in combat was 30 times what it would be if it was being held in reserve.

That would be mainly leg at the sharp end with truck supply etc, so probably the supply ratio ratio for a mech inf or armoured unit would be worse than 30 to 1 between combat and reserve postures?.

Cheers
Andy