3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized)
"Rock of the Marne"

Headquarters: Ft Stewart, GA

History: Formed in 1917 to fight in WWI, the 3rd Infantry Division has a long and illustrious history.  The 3rd earned its "Rock of the Marne" nickname by its bravery and courage in the Third Battle of the Marine as it held out against German units as other units ran.  During WWII, the 3rd was to see plenty of action, fighting in North Africa, Sicily and Italy (including landing at Salerno), Operation Dragoon in Southern France, and later saw action in Southern Germany.  The division is perhaps best known for the hero it produced: Audie Murphy, the most decorated soldier in US history.  The 3rd also saw action in the Korean War, and deployed a brigade for Desert Storm.

Current Status: This particular unit was originally the 24th Infantry Division, a veteran of Desert Storm and longtime CENTCOM assigned unit.  This unit had absorbed the 197th Infantry Brigade during the war with Iraq, and later was re-flagged the 3ID after the latest round of reorganizations.  Like the 1st Cavalry Division, it is expected for this unit to arrive on the Middle East by sealift in 30 days.

Deployment: The 3rd ID has two brigades and division troops at Ft. Stewart GA, with the 3rd Brigade at Ft Benning GA and the Aviation Brigade at Hunter Army Airfield.  As 1st Cavalry Division will relieve the 1st Armored Division in Bosnia in 1998, the 3rd ID will most likely take over the role of supporting forward defenses in Kuwait.

Division Units

1st Brigade
Location: Ft Stewart, GA

Unit ID Unit Type Weapon Systems
2nd Bn, 7th Infantry Mechanized Infantry 58 M2A2
3rd Bn, 7th Infantry Mechanized Infantry 58 M2A2
3rd Bn, 69th Armored Tank 58 M1A1

2nd Brigade
Location: Ft Stewart GA
"Spartans"
 

Unit ID Unit Type Weapon Systems
1st Bn, 64th Armored Tank 58 M1A1
4th Bn, 64th Armored Tank 58 M1A1
3rd Bn, 15th Infantry Mechanized Infantry 58 M2A2

 3rd Brigade
Location: Ft Benning, GA
  Formerly the 197th Infantry Brigade, which was a demonstration unit for the Infantry School at Ft Benning

Unit ID Unit Type Weapon Systems
1st Bn, 15th Infantry Mechanized Infantry 58 M2A2
1st Bn, 30th Infantry Mechanized Infantry 58 M2A2
2nd Bn, 69th Armored Tank 58 M1A1

Division Artillery
Location: Ft Stewart GA & Ft Benning GA

Unit ID Unit Type Weapon Systems
1st Bn, 41st Field Artillery Medium Artillery 18 M109A6 155mm howitzers Direct Support for 1st Brigade
1st Bn, 9th Field Artillery Medium Artillery 18 M109A6 155mm howitzers Direct Support for 2nd Brigade
1st Bn, 10th Field Artillery Medium Artillery 18 M109A6 155mm howitzers Direct Support for 3rd Brigade
A Bat, 13th Field Artillery Rocket Artillery 9 MLRS General Support
A Bat, 39th Field Artillery Target Acquisition   locator radars and other units

Engineer Brigade
Location: Ft Stewart GA & Ft Benning GA

Unit ID Unit Type Weapon Systems
10th Engineer Bn Combat Engineer M2, M728, AVLB, others Supports 1st Brigade
11th Engineer Bn Combat Engineer M2, M728, AVLB, others Supports 2nd Brigade
317th Engineer Bn Combat Engineer M2, M728, AVLB, others Supports 3rd Brigade

Aviation Brigade
Location: Hunter Army Airfield, AL
 

Unit ID Unit Type Weapon Systems
1st Bn, 3rd Avation Attack Helicopter 24 AH-64  
1st Bn, 111th Avation Attack Helicopter 24 AH-64 Florida National Guard
2nd Bn, 3rd Avation Combat Support 15+ UH-60, EH-60, OH-58 assault, support, EW
3rd Sqdn, 7th Cavalry Air & Armored Cavalry 16 OH-58, M1A1, M3A2 two air, two ground troops

K Co, 1-159 Aviation (Support) is also attached to 3rd ID

 Division Assets  

Unit ID Unit Type Weapon Systems
1st Bn, 3rd Air Defense Artillery Forward Air Defense M2 Linebacker, Avenger
103rd Intelligence Bn. Intel & Electronic Warfare  

 
Fast Sealift
The 3rd Infantry Division has a dedicated Fast Sealift squadron in Savannah, GA of 8 RO/RO (Roll On/Roll Off) ships.  This is enough sealift to move over 90% of the division's heavy equipment (the rest being airlifted).  This unit should be able to load all equipment in 4 days and arrive anywhere in the world in 30 days from alert.

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