US Marine Corps

1943 Marine Division E Series

by Loren Wiseman and Greg Novak

The lessons of the Pacific War were quickly heeded by the Marine Corps, and in 1943 a revised TO&E was issued, which was designed to better reflect the conditions under which the Marines fought. In addition, the firstMarine "Amphibious Corps" were organized, so that some units were redesignated to serve as "Corps" assets, ie both the Parachute Battalion and the 155mm Howitzer Battalion were moved from division to corps, and a Corps Medium Tank (Sherman) Battalion was organized as well.

Among the new Amphibious Corps elements organized was an Antitank Battalion, of which little is known save that it only existed for several months in 1943.

With the exception of changes noted below, the E-Series Battalion followed the D series rather closely.

1943 MARINE DIVISION (E-SERIES)


Troop Quality: Experienced, 1st Division Veteran
Morale: 9

Divisions existing were the 1st to 4th

    Divisional Headquarters
    3 Infantry Regiments
      Weapons Company
      3 Infantry Battalions

    Artillery Regiment,
      3 75mm Pack Howitzer Battalions
      2 105mm Howitzer Battalion

    Engineer Regiment
      Engineer Battalion
      Pioneer Battalion
      Naval Construction Battalion

    Tank Battalion
    Amphibian Tractor Battalion
    Special Weapons Battalion

CHANGES

Infantry Regiment

1. Marine Corps Infantry Regiments organized under this TOE were the 1st to 3rd, 5th to 9th, and 21st to 25th Marine Regiments. The 3rd, 9th, and 21st Regiments were assigned to the 3rd Marine Division, while the 23rd, 24th and 25th were assigned to the 4th Marine Division.

2. The Army 37mm officially replaced the 20mm AA/AT Gun as the regimental AT Weapon

3. All command and weapons stands have integral bazookas.

4. The four existing Parachute Battalions were organized into the 1st Parachute Regiment. Battalion organization remained the same, but companies were relettered. consecutively throughout the regiment.

Artillery Regiment

1. The 1st to 3rd Battalions were to remain as 75mm Pack Howitzer Battalions, while the 4th and 5th were to be 105mm howitzer battalions.

2. The four Marine Regiments organized under dus TO&E were the 10th Marines (2nd Division), the 11th Marines (1st Division), 12th Marines (3rd Division), 14th Marines (4th Division)

Engineer Regiment

1. The Marine Regiments organized under this TX)&E were the 17th Marines(1st Division),the 18thN4arines(2ndDivision),andthe 19th Marines (3rd Division), 20th Mmines, (4th Division). 2. All command and engineer stands have integral bazookas.

Tank Battalion

1. The Tank Battalion was given a new TO&E with:

Headquarters and Service Company: with

    1 command M3 light Link
    1 staff radio light truck
    1 M3 Recovery Tank
    2 support Stands
    2 Medium Trucks

Scout Company: with

    1 command stand
    3 Recon Jeeps with MG
    3 Recon Jeeps with AAMG
    3 recon infantry stands

3 Light Tank Companies, each with:

    1 command M3 light tank
    2 M3 light tanks

Amphibian Tractor Battalion

1. The Amphibious Tractor Battalion was also given a new TO&E with:

Headquarters and Service Company: with

    1 command LVT-2
    2 support Stands
    2 Medium Trucks

3 Amphibian Tractor Companies: each with

    1 command LVT-2
    5 LVT-2s

Special Weapons Battalion

1. The 90mm AA Battery was deleted.
2. Each AT Battery has the following:

    1 command stand
    1 jeep
    2 37mm AT Guns
    2 Gun Crew stands
    2 Light Trucks

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© Copyright 1992 by Greg Novak.

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