Squadron 166448 216114988 2008-05-31T03:44:56Z TransUtopian 354375 change cat A '''squadron''' is a small [[military unit|unit]] or formation of [[cavalry]], [[aircraft]] (including [[balloons]]), or [[warship]]s. ==Army and Marines== A [[cavalry]] squadron ([[horse]] or [[armoured fighting vehicle|armoured]]), typically consists of three to five [[troop]]s. ===USA=== In the [[United States Army]], a squadron is the Cavalry equivalent of an [[infantry]] [[battalion]] or [[artillery]] [[battalion]]; it is used for [[Armored Cavalry]] and [[Air Cavalry]] units. ===UK and Commonwealth=== In the [[British Army]] and many [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] armies, it is the counterpart of an infantry [[company (military unit)|company]] or [[artillery battery]]. The designation is also used for company-sized units in the [[Special Air Service]], [[Honourable Artillery Company]], [[Royal Engineers]], [[Royal Corps of Signals]], [[Royal Army Medical Corps]] and [[Royal Logistic Corps]], and formerly of the now defunct [[Royal Corps of Transport]], as well as the [[Royal Marines]]. Squadrons are commonly designated using letters or numbers (e.g. No. 1 Squadron or A Squadron). In some [[British Army]] units it is a tradition for squadrons to also be named after an important historical battle in which the regiment has taken part. In some special cases, squadrons can also be named after a unique honour which has been bestowed on the unit (e.g. The [[Queen's Colour Squadron]] of the Royal Air Force's [[RAF Regiment]]). ===France=== An ''escadron'' (the French word for squadron) is another word for a cavalry [[division (military)|division]]. For a long time, an escadron corresponded to a batallion, uniting several [[company (military)|companies]]. Since the mid 20th century, an escadron has been the equivalent of a single company. In the cavalry (now called the "mounted arm") a [[captain]] (3 galons, or braids) commands an escadron (what would be a "company" in the infantry) and is thus called a ''[[chef d'escadron]]'' (with escadron in the singular). However, his superior in the hierarchy (4 galons) commands 2 escadrons and is thus called ''chef d'escadrons'' (with escadron in the plural). There are 2 exceptions - in the Gendarmerie and Artillerie (both accounted mounted arms), such a commander (again with 4 galons) is a ''chef d'escadron'' (singular). ==Aviation==<!-- This section is linked from [[United States Marine Corps]] --> {{Air force units}} An [[air force]], [[army aviation]] or [[naval aviation]] squadron typically consists of three or four [[flight (military unit)|flight]]s, with a total of 12 to 24 aircraft, depending on aircraft type and air force. In the [[Imperial Japanese Army]] in the [[Second World War]], three air squadrons were assigned to each air [[regiment]]. Some air forces (including the [[Royal Air Force]] and [[United States Air Force]]) also use the term for air force ground units. Multiple squadrons (typically three to ten) make up a [[Wing (air force unit)|wing]]. An escadron is the equivalent unit in France's [[French Air Force|Armée de l'Air]] (with an [[fr:Escadrille|escadrille]] as a subsection of an escadron) and Canada's [[Royal Canadian Air Force|air force]].<br /> In the [[Air Training Corps]] of the [[UK]], a Squadron is a group of [[cadet]]s who parade regularly. In the [[Civil Air Patrol]], a squadron is the basic administrative unit. ==Navy== {{main|Squadron (naval)}} A naval squadron can be either a permanent battle formation or an ''ad hoc'' grouping of warships, typically [[capital ships]] ([[battleship]]s, [[battlecruiser]]s, [[cruiser]]s, or [[aircraft carrier]]s). In the [[United States Navy]], several ships of a similar type, such as submarines and destroyers, are administered as squadrons. == See also == *[[Aerial warfare]] *[[Military science]] *[[Military unit]] {{army units}} ==Source== *{{Equivalent|French}} [[Category:Military units and formations by size]] [[Category:Squadrons| ]] [[Category:Cavalry]] [[Category:Air force units and formations]] [[bn:স্কোয়াড্রন]] [[da:Eskadre]] [[de:Schwadron]] <!-- Redirect, yes, but better this way! (Geschwader=Wing) --> [[de:Eskadron]] [[el:Μοίρα (αεροπορική)]] [[es:Escuadrón]] [[fi:Eskadroona]] [[fr:Escadron]] [[he:טייסת]] [[it:Squadriglia]] [[ja:戦隊]] [[ms:Skuadron]] [[nl:Eskader]] [[no:Eskadron]] [[pl:Eskadra]] [[ru:Эскадрон]] [[sl:Eskadron]] [[uk:Ескадрон]] [[uk:Ескадрилья]]