75th Infantry Regiment (Ranger)
| 75th Infantry Regiment (Ranger) | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1969–86 |
| Country |
 United States |
| Branch | US Army |
| Type | Light infantry |
| Role |
Vietnam War: Post-Vietnam: |
| Size |
15 companies (1969–74) 3 battalions (1974–86) |
| Garrison/HQ | Fort Benning, Georgia (1984–86) |
| Engagements |
Vietnam War Operation Eagle Claw Invasion of Grenada |
The 75th Infantry Regiment (Ranger) (officially 75th Infantry Regiment or 75th Infantry) was initially a parent regiment for all the US Army Ranger units during the Vietnam War and the early 1980s and then the headquarters for the Ranger battalions.
History
On 1 February 1969, as part of the U.S. Army Combat Arms Regimental System (CARS), all U.S. Army Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (or "Lrrp") units were reorganized as the 75th Infantry Regiment (Ranger).[1] Fifteen Ranger companies were formed from reconnaissance units in Europe and Vietnam with lineage to Merrill's Marauders, the 5307th Composite Unit,[2] The companies were designated C through I and K through P. There was no "J" Ranger Company; this is so there would be no confusion with the similar "I" (or India) designation on typed paperwork. Companies A and B were kept stateside as a strategic reserve in case they were needed overseas in Europe or the Americas.
The Ranger companies were composed of small, heavily armed long range reconnaissance teams that patrolled deep in enemy-held territory. Each independent company was attached to a division or separate brigade and acted as the eyes and ears of those units. Rangers collected intelligence, discovered enemy troop locations, surveilled trails and enemy hot spots, directed artillery and air strikes, did bombing damage assessment, performed ambushes, and sniper attacks. Additionally, Rangers attempted recovering prisoners of war, captured enemy soldiers for interrogation, tapped the wire communications of the North Vietnam Army and the National Liberation Front for South Vietnam (Vietcong) on the Ho Chi Minh Trail, and mined enemy trails and roads.
Lineage
- Organized as 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional) on 3 October 1943
- Consolidated with the 475th Infantry and unit designated as 475th Infantry on 10 August 1944
- Inactivated on 1 July 1945
- Redesignated as 75th Infantry on 21 June 1954
- Allotted to the Regular Army on 26 October 1954
- Activated on 20 November 1954
- Inactivated on 21 March 1956
- Reorganized as a parent regiment under the Combat Arms Regimental System on 1 January 1969
- Reorganized with Headquarters on 1 July 1984
- Consolidated with the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th Ranger Battalions, unit designated as 75th Ranger Regiment and reorganized under the Regimental System on 3 February 1986
Organization
Vietnam War
When they were redesignated on February 1, 1969, the average TOE strength of a Ranger company was of 3 officers and 115 enlisted men, bringing the total to 118 men divided into a company headquarters, operations section, communications platoon and two patrol platoons.
There were some exceptions though; Company C, 75th Infantry (Ranger) had a strength of 230 men divided into a company HQ, operations section, communications platoon and four patrol platoons.
Companies D and H had each 198 men and Companies M, N, O and P had each 61 men, since these four units were created from LRP detachments assigned to brigades.
Companies
| Ranger company | Activated on | Inactivated on | Previous LRP company/detachment | Subordinate to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Company A, 75th Infantry (Ranger) | 1 February 1969 | 19 December 1974 | Company D (LRP), 17th Infantry | V Corps (Germany) |
| Company B, 75th Infantry (Ranger) | 1 February 1969 | 1 November 1974 | Company C (LRP), 58th Infantry | VII Corps (Germany) |
| Company C, 75th Infantry (Ranger) | 1 February 1969 | 25 October 1971 | Company E (LRP), 20th Infantry | I Field Force (Vietnam) |
| Company D (Ranger), 151st Infantry Company D, 75th Infantry (Ranger) | 1 February 1969 20 November 1969 | 20 November 1969 10 April 1970 | Company F (LRP), 51st Infantry | II Field Force (Vietnam) |
| Company E, 75th Infantry (Ranger) | 1 February 1969 1 October 1969 | 23 August 1969 12 October 1970 | Company E (LRP), 50th Infantry | 9th Inf. Div. (Vietnam) |
| Company F, 75th Infantry (Ranger) | 1 February 1969 | 15 March 1971 | Company F (LRP), 50th Infantry | 25th Inf. Div. (Vietnam) |
| Company G, 75th Infantry (Ranger) | 1 February 1969 | 1 October 1971 | Company E (LRP), 51st Infantry | 23rd Inf. Div. (Vietnam) |
| Company H, 75th Infantry (Ranger) | 1 February 1969 | 15 August 1972 | Company E (LRP), 52nd Infantry which came from the Cav Div LRRPs | 1st Cav. Div. (Vietnam) |
| Company I, 75th Infantry (Ranger) | 1 February 1969 | 7 April 1970 | Company F (LRP), 52nd Infantry | 1st Inf. Div. (Vietnam) |
| Company K, 75th Infantry (Ranger) | 1 February 1969 | 10 December 1970 | Company E (LRP), 58th Infantry | 4th Inf. Div. (Vietnam) |
| Company L, 75th Infantry (Ranger) | 1 February 1969 | 25 December 1971 | Company F (LRP), 58th Infantry | 101st Abn. Div. (Vietnam) |
| Company M, 75th Infantry (Ranger) | 1 February 1969 | 12 October 1970 | 71st Infantry Detachment (LRP) | 199th Inf. Bde. (Light) (Vietnam) |
| Company N, 75th Infantry (Ranger) | 1 February 1969 | 25 August 1971 | 74th Infantry Detachment (LRP) | 173rd Abn. Bde. (Vietnam) |
| Company O, 75th Infantry (Ranger) Company O (Arctic Ranger), 75th Infantry (Ranger) | 1 February 1969 4 August 1970 | 20 November 1969 29 September 1972 | 78th Infantry Detachment (LRP) | 3rd Bde., 82nd Abn. Div. (Vietnam) US Army Alaska |
| Company P, 75th Infantry (Ranger) | 1 February 1969 | 31 August 1971 | 79th Infantry Detachment (LRP) | 1st Bde., 5th Inf. Div. (Mech.) (Vietnam) |
References
External links
See also
- Company F, 425th Infantry (Ranger)
- Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol
- 75th Infantry Regiment (United States)
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