Brigade 166673 223398491 2008-07-03T22:22:42Z Betterusername 6677551 {{Refimprove|date=April 2008}} {{this|a type of military unit}} [[Image:Brigade Nato.PNG|thumb|right|200px|Standard NATO symbol for an infantry brigade.]] A '''brigade''' is a [[military unit]] <!--"echelon" is too obscure a term to be used here without an explanatory lk -- but not to the Dab [[echelon]]: is military echelon --> that is typically composed of two to five [[regiment]]s or [[battalion]]s, depending on the era and nationality of a given [[army]]. Usually, a brigade is a sub-component of a [[Division (military)|division]], a larger unit consisting of two or more brigades; however, some brigades are classified as a separate brigade and operate independently from the traditional [[Division (military)|division]] structure. The typical [[NATO]] standard brigade consists of approximately 4,000 to 5,000 troops. A brigade's [[commanding officer]] is commonly a [[brigadier general]], [[brigadier]] or [[colonel]]. In Imperial or Commonwealth forces, the [[brigadier]] was assisted by a [[brigade major]] who was [[Chief of staff (military)|chief of staff]] of the brigade. 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. ==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 (language)|Italian]] ''brigata'' or [[Old French]] ''brigare'', meaning "company", which in turn derives from a [[Celtic language|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 modern "[[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'' (literally translating to ''brigadier of the armies of the king''). The role of brigadier took over 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.'' ==Individual armies== ===United Kingdom=== In the [[British Army]], the brigade has been the smallest tactical [[Formation (military)|formation]] for more than two centuries, since [[regiment]]s are either administrative groupings of battalions (in the [[infantry]]) or battalion-sized units (in the [[cavalry]]). A typical brigade may consist of approximately 5,500 personnel between two mechanised infantry battalions, an armored regiment, an armored artillery regiment, and other logistic and engineering units. The brigade is usually commanded by an officer holding the rank of Brigadier, who is referred to as the "Brigade Commander" (never the "commanding officer", which in the British Army is reserved for battalion-sized units). In the [[Royal Artillery]], "brigade" was also the term used for a battalion-sized unit until 1938, when "regiment" was adopted. This was because, unlike infantry battalions and cavalry regiments, which were organic, artillery units consisted of individually numbered [[artillery battery|batteries]] which were "brigaded" together. The commander of such a brigade was a [[Lieutenant-Colonel]], who was referred to as the "commanding officer". ===Canada=== The [[Canadian Forces Land Force Command|Canadian Forces]] currently has 3 Regular Force Brigade Groups, known as Canadian Mechanized Brigade Groups: [[1 CMBG]], [[2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group|2 CMBG]], and [[5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group|5e GBMC]], the primarily French Canadian Brigade Group. These CMBGs are each composed of two mechanized infantry battalions, one light infantry battalion, one armoured regiment, one mechanized artillery regiment, one engineer regiment, one combat service and support (CSS) battalion, and one Military Police platoon. Co-located with each CMBG is a Field Ambulance, a General Service Battalion, and a Tactical Helicopter Squadron. Regular Force CMBG strengths are 5,000 personnel<ref>http://www.parl.gc.ca/37/1/parlbus/commbus/senate/com-e/defe-e/01evc-e.htm?Language=E&Parl=37&Ses=1&comm_id=76</ref>.Canada also has 10 Primary Reserve Brigades (Canadian Brigade Group), 31 CBG through 39 CBG, and 41 CBG. The CBG formations are for administrative purposes and, as such, are not deployable ===United States=== In the [[United States Army]], a brigade is smaller than a [[division (military)|division]] and roughly equal to or a little larger than a [[regiment]]. Strength typically ranges from 1,500 to 4,000 personnel. Army brigades formerly contained two or more and typically five regiments, during the [[American Civil War]], but this structure is now considered obsolete. U.S. Army Combat Brigades are formed into [[Brigade Combat Team (United States)|Brigade Combat Teams]] which contain combat elements and their support units. 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, [[task force|TF]] TARAWA (2d MEB) during the [[Iraq Conflict|Operation Iraqi Freedom]] campaign. The Brigade Commander is usually a colonel, although a [[lieutenant colonel]] can be selected for brigade command in lieu of an available colonel. A typical tour of duty for this assignment is twenty four to thirty six months. A brigade commander enjoys an appreciably sized headquarters and staff to assist him or her in commanding the brigade and its subordinate battalion units. The typical staff includes: * a brigade [[executive officer]], usually a lieutenant colonel * a brigade [[Sergeant_major#United_States_Army|command sergeant major]] * a personnel officer ([[S1 (military)|S1]]), usually a [[major]] * an intelligence officer ([[S2 (military)|S2]]), usually a major * an operations officer ([[S3 (military)|S3]]), usually a lieutenant colonel * a logistics officer ([[S4 (military)|S4]]), usually a major * a communications officer ([[S6 (military)|S6]]), usually a major * a medical officer, usually a major * a [[Judge Advocate General's Corps|Judge Advocate General]] (legal) officer, usually a major * a brigade [[chaplain]], usually a major In addition, the headquarters will include additional junior staff officers, [[non-commissioned officer]]s, and [[enlisted]] support personnel in the occupational specialities of the staff sections; these personnel will ordinarily be assigned to the brigade's [[headquarters and headquarters company]]. ==Sources and references== {{Reflist}} *''Nouveau Larousse illustré'' (undated, early 20th century; in French) ==See also== * [[Artillery brigade]] * [[Military organization]] * [[Brigade Combat Team (United States)]] {{army units}} [[Category:Military units and formations by size]] [[ar:لواء (وحدة عسكرية)]] [[bn:ব্রিগেড]] [[bg:Бригада]] [[ca:Brigada]] [[cs:Brigáda (jednotka)]] [[da:Brigade]] [[de:Brigade]] [[et:Brigaad]] [[es:Brigada]] [[fr:Brigade]] [[hr:Brigada]] [[id:Brigade]] [[it:Brigata]] [[he:חטיבה]] [[jv:Brigade]] [[lt:Brigada (karyba)]] [[hu:Dandár]] [[ms:Briged]] [[nl:Brigade]] [[ja:旅団]] [[no:Brigade]] [[nds:Brigaad (Militär)]] [[pl:Brygada]] [[ru:Бригада]] [[sl:Brigada]] [[sh:Brigada]] [[fi:Prikaati]] [[sv:Brigad]] [[ta:பிரிகேட்]] [[vi:Lữ đoàn]] [[tg:Бригада]] [[tr:Tugay]] [[uk:Бригада]] [[zh:旅]]