Ghurkha Legion.

This is coolbert:

This is going to be a thought experiment.

I have previously blogged on how a solution to the lack of "boots on the ground" could be quickly resolved by creating an American Ghurkha Legion.


Three brigades of Ghurkhas to be recruited, organized into units for combat anywhere in the world. I had suggested that one brigade be Stryker vehicle equipped, another airmobile, and the third very light infantry.

My druthers now would be to equip one brigade with Super-Gavins, M113 APC [armored personnel carrier] rather than the Stryker vehicle. M113's such as now are seeing service in Iraq with distinction, from all that I read

Such a brigade could be more easily transported to any place in the world, and be effective in combat obstensibly QUICKER than a Stryker brigade.

And a brigade whose equipment can be configured it what would seem to be a myriad of ways. Task tailored according to the mission.

But still possessing a standard TO&E. [Table of Organization and Equipment]

That TO&E is the subject of what will be a continuing blog entry.

I will be the General Staff officer in charge of determining such a brigade's TO&E. A mind experiment.

Using for the beginning the model of one of the separate brigades that comprise the U.S. Army First Infantry Division [1st ID].

This brigade [the 48th enhanced Separate Brigade] consists of:

* HHC, 48th ESB [a headquarters company]

* 1-121 IN [a mechanized infantry battalion]

* 2-121 IN [a mechanized infantry battalion]

* E/108 CAV TRP [a cavalry troop [recon]]

* 1-108 AR [an armor [tanks] battalion]

* 1-118 FA [a field artillery battalion]

* E/179 ADA [an air defense battery [company]]

* 648th EN BN [an engineer battalion]

* 148th SUP BN [a support battalion]

* 248 MI BN [a military intelligence battalion]

For combat arms we see two infantry battalions, a combat recon troop, an armor [tank] battalion, a field artillery battalion, and an air defense battery.

This is a good starting point. Tells you what the current thinking is as to how a separate brigade must be configured. A brigade that CAN if necessary, be deployed and operate on it's own with a combat mission quite distinct from the 1st ID.

Such would also be the case with a Gavin Ghurkha brigade.

coolbert.