Squadron
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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]]