Order of Battle

Organizational tool used by military leaders to analyze the composition of enemy units. An order of battle describes the kind of forces one might encounter in an engagement with any particular enemy. This information is used in planning U.S. military strategy and tactics with regard to different potential foes.

The U.S. Army breaks down enemy orders of battle according to several different factors, including numerical strength, level of training and technology employed, combat tactics, and combat effectiveness. Order-of-battle analysis also examines enemy force composition, that is, the command structure and organization of enemy headquarters units and subunits. It also considers the locations of enemy units and other factors including the personalities of opposing commanders and the battle history of individual units.

American military intelligence calls for each U.S. combat unit to maintain an order of battle for enemy units two echelons down. In other words, a U.S. division should monitor enemy battalions, a U.S. brigade should monitor opposing companies, and a U.S. battalion should monitor enemy platoons. This intelligence practice has been in place since first recommended by General George S. Patton during World War II.