Divisions of the United States Army
Encyclopedia
This list of United States Army Divisions is divided into three eras: 1911–1917, 1917–1941, and 1941–present. These eras represent the major evolutions of army division structure (there have been several minor changes during these times). The 1911–1917 era lists divisions raised during the Army's first attempts at modernizing the division, prior to the authorization of permanent divisions, and the 1917–1941 era lists the first permanent divisions, prior to advent of specialized (armored, airborne, etc.) divisions. The 1941–present era lists all of the divisions organized, raised, or authorized since then.
As much as possible, divisions are only listed in the eras in which they were first created. Some divisions, such as the 1st Cavalry Division, are listed in multiple eras, as their organizations were drastically changed from one era to the next. Many divisions overlap the years listed in the era categories, mainly due to the slow pace in which they were deactivated, inactivated, or otherwise disbanded.
It should also be noted that several divisions have existed under multiple designations, such as the 10th Mountain Division (10th Light Division (Alpine), 10th Infantry Division). Additionally, several divisions with the same numerical designations were completely separate and unrelated divisions (there have been two 5th Divisions, for instance).
when, on 22 July 1775, George Washington
organized three divisions in Boston
, Massachusetts. Early American divisions, up until the American Civil War
, were primarily temporary organizations, with the basis of the United States Army being brigade
s and regiments.
During the Civil War
, the war in which formed the first large true armies
in United States history, divisions were formed primarily to support Army corps
, and were usually numbered as 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Division of the pertaining corps.
The concept of the permanent United States Army division
was formulated and put to the test following the turn of the 20th century. In 1916, the permanent division would finally be authorized by Congress
, resulting in a dramatic change in the Army's force structure. For the first time, the division was the base element of the United States Army and remained as such until the Global War on Terrorism
, when the Army switched its emphasis to brigade
and regimental combat team
s.
Since the authorizations of permanent divisions, the United States Army has raised 128 separate divisions with unique lineages.
divisions were specifically designated; infantry
divisions were simply designated by "Division". Following the advent of the armored
division, infantry divisions became officially designated by "Infantry Division" (with the 25th Infantry Division being the first constituted by the adjutant general
as such). All of the 1917–1941 (non-cavalry) divisions, with the exceptions of the 10th through 20th and 101st Divisions, would be redesignated as Infantry Divisions at some point in the 1941–present era.
Other than the aforementioned Armored, Cavalry, and Infantry, the only official Army division designations are Air Assault
(one test division), Airborne
, Light
(three test divisions in World War II
), Motorized
(briefly authorized from 1942 to 1943), and Mountain
. For lineage purposes, the 101st Airborne Division maintains its designation as an airborne division, though it is currently organized as an air assault division.
Divisions listed with an additional identifier in parentheses ("alpine" or "test", for example) existed only with that identifier. Divisions that have held multiple additional identifiers, such as the 1st Cavalry ("airmobile
", "heavy") and the 9th Infantry ("light", "motorized"), are left unidentified, regardless of their current additional identifier.
An unspecified division today refers to a United States Army Reserve
Training Division.
, then Army Chief of Staff
, mobilized the division primarily to demonstrate to Congress that the United States was not adequately prepared for modern warfare. The division was disbanded on 7 August 1911.
and known as the "Stimson Plan." The continental United States was divided into four geographic departments (Eastern, Central, Western, and Southern) and a regular army division assigned to each, and 12 geographic districts, each with a national guard infantry division assigned. 32 of the 48 state governors committed their national guards to support of the plan.
Regular Army 1913-1916
National Guard 1914-1917
The 61st through 66th Cavalry Divisions existed primarily as officer billets with enlisted cadre; they were dropped from the activation rolls and disbanded in 1942.
Various elements of the 4th through 9th Divisions remained on active duty until those divisions' full activation prior to World War II.
The 76th through 91st and 94th through 104th Divisions existed primarily as officer billets with enlisted cadre; they were not completely reactivated until America's entry into World War II.
The infantry brigades, field artillery brigades, and several other of the subordinate units of the Panama Canal, Hawaiian, and Philippine Divisions were numbered accordingly with what should have been the 10th, 11th, and 12th Divisions.
The 105th and 107th Infantry Divisions were intended to be negro divisions of the Army of the United States; however, due to a shortage of available manpower, their activations were canceled in 1942.
, Wake Island
, and the Philippines
, the United States Army was composed of 37 divisions
, including the Philippine Division. Initially, necessary mobilization was estimated to be as high as 350 divisions, but the Army ultimately settled on a 100-division plan.
This relatively low number (compared to the high estimates) was partially due to the army's policy of assigning many combat units, particularly artillery
and tank destroyer
units, directly to corps
and higher-level commands. These non-divisional units numbered approximately 1.5 million soldiers, enough personnel to man roughly 100 more divisions. The strategic philosophy was that such units could be assigned to divisions on as-needed bases, and would allow divisions to remain as mobile and flexible as possible. By the end of 1943, U.S. Army strength stood at more than 70 divisions.
Allied
gains in 1942 and 1943 resulted in a further contraction of U.S. mobilization, and the last wartime division, the 65th Infantry Division, was activated on 16 August 1943. In all, 91 divisions served in the U.S. Army in World War II
. When the decision was made to halt the increase in divisions, 12 more divisions were still on the rolls, but would not be organized, though several of these would be organized following the war. They were the 15th Airborne Division, the 18th, 21st and 22nd Armored Divisions, the 19th Armored Division, which was in fact activated following the war, the 61st, 62nd, 67th, 68th, 72nd, 73rd, and 74th Infantry Divisions, and the 105th and 107th Infantry Divisions, which were intended to be Negro formations.
Unique among the 14 unorganized divisions, the 15th Airborne Division was not only a victim of the decision to set the size of the Army at 89 divisions (the 2nd Cavalry Division
had been deactivated during the war and the Philippine Division was destroyed as a result of the Japanese victory in the Philippines), but also because it had become evident that the Army Air Forces
lacked enough transport aircraft
to support a sixth airborne
division. The 13th Airborne Division never saw combat for this very reason.
The 105th and 107th Infantry Divisions were to join the 92nd and 93rd Infantry Divisions as Negro
divisions. A shortage of manpower resulted in the activation of the 105th and 107th being cancelled in 1942.
As much as possible, divisions are only listed in the eras in which they were first created. Some divisions, such as the 1st Cavalry Division, are listed in multiple eras, as their organizations were drastically changed from one era to the next. Many divisions overlap the years listed in the era categories, mainly due to the slow pace in which they were deactivated, inactivated, or otherwise disbanded.
It should also be noted that several divisions have existed under multiple designations, such as the 10th Mountain Division (10th Light Division (Alpine), 10th Infantry Division). Additionally, several divisions with the same numerical designations were completely separate and unrelated divisions (there have been two 5th Divisions, for instance).
History
Divisions in the United States Army have existed since the American RevolutionAmerican Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
when, on 22 July 1775, George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
organized three divisions in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts. Early American divisions, up until the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, were primarily temporary organizations, with the basis of the United States Army being brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
s and regiments.
During the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, the war in which formed the first large true armies
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
in United States history, divisions were formed primarily to support Army corps
Corps
A corps is either a large formation, or an administrative grouping of troops within an armed force with a common function such as Artillery or Signals representing an arm of service...
, and were usually numbered as 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Division of the pertaining corps.
The concept of the permanent United States Army division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
was formulated and put to the test following the turn of the 20th century. In 1916, the permanent division would finally be authorized by Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
, resulting in a dramatic change in the Army's force structure. For the first time, the division was the base element of the United States Army and remained as such until the Global War on Terrorism
War on Terrorism
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
, when the Army switched its emphasis to brigade
Brigade combat team
The brigade combat team is the basic deployable unit of maneuver in the US Army. A brigade combat team consists of one combat arms branch maneuver brigade, and its attached support and fire units. A brigade combat team is generally commanded by a colonel , but in rare instances it is commanded by...
and regimental combat team
Regimental combat team
A regimental combat team was a provisional major infantry unit of the United States Army during the World War II and the Korean War, and of the U.S. Marine Corps to the present day...
s.
Since the authorizations of permanent divisions, the United States Army has raised 128 separate divisions with unique lineages.
Designations
Prior to 1941, only cavalryCavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
divisions were specifically designated; infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
divisions were simply designated by "Division". Following the advent of the armored
Armoured warfare
Armoured warfare or tank warfare is the use of armoured fighting vehicles in modern warfare. It is a major component of modern methods of war....
division, infantry divisions became officially designated by "Infantry Division" (with the 25th Infantry Division being the first constituted by the adjutant general
Adjutant general
An Adjutant General is a military chief administrative officer.-Imperial Russia:In Imperial Russia, the General-Adjutant was a Court officer, who was usually an army general. He served as a personal aide to the Tsar and hence was a member of the H. I. M. Retinue...
as such). All of the 1917–1941 (non-cavalry) divisions, with the exceptions of the 10th through 20th and 101st Divisions, would be redesignated as Infantry Divisions at some point in the 1941–present era.
Other than the aforementioned Armored, Cavalry, and Infantry, the only official Army division designations are Air Assault
Air assault
Air assault is the movement of ground-based military forces by vertical take-off and landing aircraft—such as the helicopter—to seize and hold key terrain which has not been fully secured, and to directly engage enemy forces...
(one test division), Airborne
Airborne forces
Airborne forces are military units, usually light infantry, set up to be moved by aircraft and 'dropped' into battle. Thus they can be placed behind enemy lines, and have an ability to deploy almost anywhere with little warning...
, Light
Light infantry
Traditionally light infantry were soldiers whose job was to provide a skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of infantry, harassing and delaying the enemy advance. Light infantry was distinct from medium, heavy or line infantry. Heavy infantry were dedicated primarily to fighting in tight...
(three test divisions in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
), Motorized
Motorised infantry
In NATO and most other western countries, motorised infantry is infantry which is transported by trucks or other motor vehicles. It is distinguished from mechanized infantry, which is carried in armoured personnel carriers, infantry combat vehicles, or infantry fighting vehicles...
(briefly authorized from 1942 to 1943), and Mountain
Mountain warfare
Mountain warfare refers to warfare in the mountains or similarly rough terrain. This type of warfare is also called Alpine warfare, named after the Alps mountains...
. For lineage purposes, the 101st Airborne Division maintains its designation as an airborne division, though it is currently organized as an air assault division.
Divisions listed with an additional identifier in parentheses ("alpine" or "test", for example) existed only with that identifier. Divisions that have held multiple additional identifiers, such as the 1st Cavalry ("airmobile
Air assault
Air assault is the movement of ground-based military forces by vertical take-off and landing aircraft—such as the helicopter—to seize and hold key terrain which has not been fully secured, and to directly engage enemy forces...
", "heavy") and the 9th Infantry ("light", "motorized"), are left unidentified, regardless of their current additional identifier.
An unspecified division today refers to a United States Army Reserve
United States Army Reserve
The United States Army Reserve is the federal reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the reserve components of the United States Army....
Training Division.
- (*) denotes divisions that reorganized under a different division designation while still active
- Bold denotes current United States Army divisions
Maneuver Division (1911)
Constituted in San Antonio, Texas, in March 1911, the Maneuver Division was formed to undertake offensive operations against Mexico during the Mexican Revolution. This was the United States' first attempt at modernizing the division concept. Major General Leonard WoodLeonard Wood
Leonard Wood was a physician who served as the Chief of Staff of the United States Army, Military Governor of Cuba and Governor General of the Philippines. Early in his military career, he received the Medal of Honor. Wood also holds officer service #2 in the Regular Army...
, then Army Chief of Staff
Chief of Staff of the United States Army
The Chief of Staff of the Army is a statutory office held by a four-star general in the United States Army, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Army, and as such is the principal military advisor and a deputy to the Secretary of the Army; and is in...
, mobilized the division primarily to demonstrate to Congress that the United States was not adequately prepared for modern warfare. The division was disbanded on 7 August 1911.
Stimson Plan (1913-1917)
Because of the mobilization difficulties experienced with the Maneuver Division, on 15 February 1913 a standing organization of a "regular army organized in divisions and cavalry brigades ready for immediate use as an expeditionary force or for other purposes..." and "an army of national citizen soldiers organized in peace in complete divisions and prepared to reenforce the Regular Army in time of war" was organized by Secretary of War Henry L. StimsonHenry L. Stimson
Henry Lewis Stimson was an American statesman, lawyer and Republican Party politician and spokesman on foreign policy. He twice served as Secretary of War 1911–1913 under Republican William Howard Taft and 1940–1945, under Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt. In the latter role he was a leading hawk...
and known as the "Stimson Plan." The continental United States was divided into four geographic departments (Eastern, Central, Western, and Southern) and a regular army division assigned to each, and 12 geographic districts, each with a national guard infantry division assigned. 32 of the 48 state governors committed their national guards to support of the plan.
Regular Army 1913-1916
- 1st Division (Eastern Department)
- 2nd Division (Central Department)
- 3rd Division (Western Department)
- Cavalry Division: authorized as the Regular Army division for the Southern Department in 1913; never officially numerically designated.
- Punitive Expedition: (provisional division): 1916–1917
National Guard 1914-1917
- 5th Division
- 6th Division
- 7th Division
- 8th Division
- 9th Division
- 10th Division
- 11th Division
- 12th Division
- 13th Division
- 14th Division
- 15th Division
- 16th Division
National Defense Act of 1916
The National Defense Act of 1916 provided that the "Army of the United States" would consist of the Regular Army, the Volunteer Army, the Officers' Reserve Corps, the Enlisted Reserve Corps, the National Guard in the service of the United States, and such other land forces as were or might be authorized by Congress. The president was to determine both the number and type of National Guard units that each state would maintain. Both the Regular Army and the National Guard were to be organized, insofar as practicable, into permanent brigades and divisions.- 5th Division26th Infantry Division (United States)The 26th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the United States Army. As a major formation of the Massachusetts Army National Guard, it was based in Boston, Massachusetts for most of its history...
: 1917* (26th Division) - 6th Division: 1917* (27th Division)
- 7th Division: 1917* (28th Division)
- 8th Division: 1917* (29th Division)
- 9th Division: 1917* (30th Division)
- 10th Division: 1917* (31st Division)
- 11th Division: 1917* (32nd Division)
- 12th Division: 1917* (33rd Division)
- 13th Division: 1917* (34th Division)
- 14th Division: 1917* (35th Division)
- 15th Division: 1917* (36th Division)
- 16th Division: 1917* (37th Division)
- 17th Division: 1917* (38th Division)
- 18th Division39th Infantry Division (United States)The 39th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the Army National Guard, originally formed as the 18th Division in 1917. The Division consisted of troops from Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. After training at Camp Beauregard, Louisiana, the Division was deployed to France but did not...
: 1917* (39th Division) - 19th Division: 1917* (40th Division)
- 20th Division: 1917* (41st Division)
Cavalry Divisions
In 1940, the National Guard voluntarily withdrew their allotment of the 21st through 24th Cavalry Divisions, partially in response to the Army's decision that the National Guard did not need four Cavalry Divisions and the Army's unwillingness to allot the National Guard armored divisions.The 61st through 66th Cavalry Divisions existed primarily as officer billets with enlisted cadre; they were dropped from the activation rolls and disbanded in 1942.
- 1st Cavalry Division: 1921–present
- 2nd Cavalry Division2nd Cavalry Division (United States)-Heraldry:SHOULDER SLEEVE INSIGNIA*Description: On a yellow Norman shield with a green border, a blue chevron below two eight-pointed blue stars.*Blazon: Or, a chevron azure, in chief 2 mullets of eight points of the second, a bordure vert....
: Unorganized. A 2nd Cavalry Division was constituted in 1921, but would remain organized until World War II. - 3rd Cavalry Division3rd Cavalry Division (United States)The United States Army's 3rd Cavalry Division was created from the perceived need for additional cavalry units in the interwar period.The 3rd Cavalry Division was largely a "paper" formation existing from 1927 to 1940. Its units were never assembled in a single location. The 3rd Cavalry Division...
: Unorganized. The 3rd Cavalry Division was placed on rolls in 1927 to complete an intended Cavalry Corps, but was never organized. - 15th Cavalry Division15th Cavalry Division (United States)The 15th Cavalry Division was created with the 1st & 2nd Cavalry Brigades in February 1917 at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. It numbered in succession of the 1st–14th Divisions, which were not all active at its creation. Originally trained for deployment to Europe, its units were later converted into...
: 1917–1918 - 21st Cavalry Division21st Cavalry Division (United States)The National Guard's 21st Cavalry Division was created from the perceived need for additional cavalry units after the First World War. It numbered in succession of the Regular Army Divisions, which were not all active at its creation...
: 1921–1940 - 22nd Cavalry Division22nd Cavalry Division (United States)The National Guard's 22nd Cavalry Division was created from the perceived need for additional cavalry units. It numbered in succession after the Regular Army Divisions, which were not all active at its creation...
: 1921–1940 - 23rd Cavalry Division23rd Cavalry Division (United States)The National Guard's 23rd Cavalry Division was created from the perceived need for additional cavalry units. It numbered in succession of the Regular Army Divisions, which were not all active at its creation...
: 1921–1940 - 24th Cavalry Division24th Cavalry Division (United States)The United States Army National Guard's 24th Cavalry Division was created from the perceived need for additional cavalry units. It numbered in succession of the Regular Army Divisions, which were not all active at its creation...
: 1921–1940 - 61st Cavalry Division61st Cavalry Division (United States)The Organized Reserve's 61st Cavalry Division was constituted 15 October 1921 from the perceived need for additional cavalry units after World War One. It numbered in succession of the Regular Army Divisions, which were not all active at its creation. The Division was officially disbanded on 30...
: 1921–1942 - 62nd Cavalry Division62nd Cavalry Division (United States)The Army Reserve's 62nd Cavalry Division was created from the perceived need for additional cavalry units. It numbered in succession of the Regular Army Divisions, which were not all active at its creation...
: 1921–1942 - 63rd Cavalry Division63rd Cavalry Division (United States)The US Army's 63rd Cavalry Division, Organized Reserve, was created from the perceived need for additional cavalry units. It numbered in succession of the Regular Army Divisions, which were not all active at its creation....
: 1921–1942 - 64th Cavalry Division64th Cavalry Division (United States)The 64th Cavalry Division of the United States Army Organized Reserve was created from the perceived need for additional cavalry units. It numbered in succession of the Regular Army Divisions, which were not all active at its creation....
: 1921–1942 - 65th Cavalry Division65th Cavalry Division (United States)The Army Reserve's 65th Cavalry Division was created due to the perceived need for additional cavalry units. It was numbered in succession with the Regular Army Divisions, not all of which were active at its creation....
: 1921–1942 - 66th Cavalry Division66th Cavalry Division (United States)The Army Reserve's 66th Cavalry Division was created from the perceived need for additional cavalry units. It numbered in succession of the Regular Army Divisions, which were not all active at its creation. Going into World War II, the U.S...
: 1921–1942
Infantry Divisions
The 76th through 91st and 94th through 104th Divisions existed primarily as officer billets with enlisted cadre; they were not completely reactivated until America's entry into World War II.
The infantry brigades, field artillery brigades, and several other of the subordinate units of the Panama Canal, Hawaiian, and Philippine Divisions were numbered accordingly with what should have been the 10th, 11th, and 12th Divisions.
- 1st Division (later 1st Infantry Division): 1917–present
- 2nd Division (later 2nd Infantry Division): 1917–present
- 3rd Division (later 3rd Infantry Division): 1917–present
- 4th Division: 1917–1921; 1940–1946; 1947–present
- 5th Division: 1917–1921; 1939–1946; 1947–1992
- 6th Division: 1917–1921; 1939–1949; 1986–1994
- 7th Division: 1917–1921; 1940–1971; 1974–1994; 1999–2006
- 8th Division: 1918–1919; 1940–1945; 1950–1992
- 9th Division: 1918–1919; 1940–1947; 1947–1962; 1966–1969; 1972–1991
- 10th Division: 1918–1919 – - Organized in 1918 as a regular army and national army division for World War I, the 10th Division did not go overseas and demobilized in February 1919 at Camp Funston, Kansas.
- 11th Division: 1918–1919
- 12th Division: 1918–1919
- 13th Division: 1918–1919
- 14th Division: 1918–1919 – Organized in 1918 as a regular army and national army division for World War I, the 14th Division did not go overseas and demobilized in February 1919 at Camp Custer, Michigan.
- 15th Division: 1918–1919 – Organized in 1918 as a regular army and national army division for World War I, the 15th Division did not go overseas and demobilized in February 1919 at Camp Logan, Texas
- 16th Division16th Division (United States)The 16th Division was an American Infantry Division in World War I. It was the second formation of that name raised in the United States, the first being renamed to 37th Infantry Division in 1917....
: 1918–1919 – Organized in 1918 as a regular army and national army division for World War I, the 16th Division did not go overseas and demobilized in March 1919 at Camp Kearny, California. - 17th Division: 1918–1919
- 18th Division: 1918–1919
- 19th Division: 1918–1919
- 20th Division20th Division (United States)There have been two 20th Divisions in the history of the United States Army.In early 1917, the 20th Division was established as a National Guard formation consisting of units of the Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming Army National Guards...
: 1918–1919 - 26th Division26th Infantry Division (United States)The 26th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the United States Army. As a major formation of the Massachusetts Army National Guard, it was based in Boston, Massachusetts for most of its history...
: 1917–1919; 1921–1941* (26th Infantry Division) - 27th Division: 1917–1919; 1921–1940* (27th Infantry Division)
- 28th Division: 1917–1919; 1921–1941* (28th Infantry Division)
- 29th Division: 1917–1919; 1921–1941* (29th Infantry Division)
- 30th Division: 1917–1919; 1921–1940* (30th Infantry Division)
- 31st Division: 1917–1919; 1923–1940* (31st Infantry Division)
- 32nd Division: 1917–1919; 1921–1940* (32nd Infantry Division)
- 33rd Division: 1917–1919; 1921–1940* (33rd Infantry Division)
- 34th Division: 1917–1919; 1921–1941* (34th Infantry Division)
- 35th Division: 1917–1919; 1921–1940* (35th Infantry Division)
- 36th Division: 1917–1919; 1921–1940* (36th Infantry Division)
- 37th Division: 1917–1919; 1921–1940* (37th Infantry Division)
- 38th Division: 1917–1919; 1921–1941* (38th Infantry Division)
- 39th Division39th Infantry Division (United States)The 39th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the Army National Guard, originally formed as the 18th Division in 1917. The Division consisted of troops from Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. After training at Camp Beauregard, Louisiana, the Division was deployed to France but did not...
: 1917–1919; 1921–1923 - 40th Division: 1917–1919; 1921–1941* (40th Infantry Division)
- 41st Division: 1917–1919; 1921–1940* (41st Infantry Division)
- 42nd Division: 1917–1919
- 43rd Division: 1921–1941* (43rd Infantry Division)
- 44th Division: 1921–1940* (44th Infantry Division)
- 45th Division: 1921–1940* (45th Infantry Division)
- 76th Division: 1917–1919; 1921–1942* (76th Infantry Division)
- 77th Division: 1917–1919; 1921–1942* (77th Infantry Division)
- 78th Division: 1917–1919; 1921–1942* (78th Infantry Division)
- 79th Division: 1917–1919; 1921–1942* (79th Infantry Division)
- 80th Division: 1917–1919; 1921–1942* (80th Infantry Division)
- 81st Division: 1917–1919; 1921–1942* (81st Infantry Division)
- 82nd Division: 1917–1919; 1921–1942* (82nd Infantry Division)
- 83rd Division: 1917–1919; 1921–1942* (83rd Infantry Division)
- 84th Division: 1917–1919; 1921–1942* (84th Infantry Division)
- 85th Division: 1917–1919; 1921–1942* (85th Infantry Division)
- 86th Division: 1917–1919; 1921–1942* (86th Infantry Division)
- 87th Division: 1917–1919; 1921–1942* (87th Infantry Division)
- 88th Division: 1917–1919; 1921–1942* (88th Infantry Division)
- 89th Division: 1917–1919; 1921–1942* (89th Infantry Division)
- 90th Division: 1917–1919; 1921–1942* (90th Infantry Division)
- 91st Division: 1917–1919; 1921–1942* (91st Infantry Division)
- 92nd Division: 1917–1919
- 93rd Division: 1917–1918—provisional division
- 94th Division: 1921–1942* (94th Infantry Division) A 94th Division was intended as a Spanish-speaking division for World War I, but the assignment was withheld due to political wrangling.
- 95th Division: 1918–1919; 1921–1942* (95th Infantry Division)
- 96th Division: 1918–1919; 1921–1942* (96th Infantry Division)
- 97th Division: 1918; 1921–1943* (97th Infantry Division)
- 98th Division: 1918; 1921–1942* (98th Infantry Division)
- 99th Division: 1918; 1921–1942* (99th Infantry Division)
- 100th Division: 1918; 1921–1942* (100th Infantry Division)
- 101st Division101st Airborne Division (United States)The 101st Airborne Division—the "Screaming Eagles"—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France, Operation Market Garden, the...
: 1918; 1921–1942* (101st Airborne Division) - 102nd Division: 1918; 1921–1942* (102nd Infantry Division)
- 103rd Division: 1921–1942* (103rd Infantry Division)
- 104th Division: 1921–1942* (104th Infantry Division)
- Hawaiian DivisionHawaiian Division (United States)The Hawaiian Division was a division of the United States Army.This division was named rather than numbered, as were the Philippine, Panama Canal Division and Americal Divisions. It was first activated under the peacetime Square Division Table of Organization and Equipment on 25 February 1921 as...
: 1921–1941* (24th Infantry Division; see also 25th Infantry Division) - Panama Canal DivisionPanama Canal Division (United States)Authorized in 1920, the Panama Canal Division of the United States Army was organized in 1921 in order to insure the United States could adequately defend the Canal Zone ....
: 1921–1932 - Philippine Division: 1921–1942 (see 12th Infantry Division)
Air Assault Divisions
- 11th Air Assault Division (Test) (formerly 11th Airborne Division): 1963–1965
Airborne Divisions
- 6th Airborne Division: phantom World War II division
- 9th Airborne Division: phantom World War II division
- 11th Airborne Division: 1943–1957
- 13th Airborne Division: 1943–1946
- 15th Airborne Division: unorganized World War II division
- 17th Airborne Division: 1943–1945; 1948–1949
- 18th Airborne Division: phantom World War II division
- 21st Airborne Division: phantom World War II division
- 80th Airborne Division: 1946–1952* (80th Infantry Division)
- 82nd Airborne Division: 1942–present
- 84th Airborne Division: 1946–1952* (84th Infantry Division)
- 100th Airborne Division: 1946–1952* (100th Infantry Division)
- 101st Airborne Division101st Airborne DivisionThe 101st Airborne Division—the "Screaming Eagles"—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France, Operation Market Garden, the...
: 1942–1945; 1948–1949; 1950–1953; 1954–present - 108th Airborne Division: 1946–1952* (108th Infantry Division)
- 135th Airborne Division: phantom World War II division
Armored Divisions
- 1st Armored Division1st Armored Division (United States)The 1st Armored Division—nicknamed "Old Ironsides"—is a standing armored division of the United States Army with base of operations in Fort Bliss, Texas. It was the first armored division of the U.S...
: 1940–1946; 1951–1957; 1962–present. The 1st Armored Division's Combat Command A remained on active duty between 1957 and 1962. - 2nd Armored Division: 1940–1995
- 3rd Armored Division: 1941–1945; 1947–1992
- 4th Armored Division: 1941–1946; 1954–1971. The 4th Armored Division was effectively organized as the United States ConstabularyUnited States ConstabularyThe United States Constabulary was a United States Army military Constabulary force. From 1946 to 1952, in the aftermath of World War II, it acted as an occupation and security force in the U.S...
from 1946 to 1954. - 5th Armored Division: 1941–1945; 1950–1956
- 6th Armored Division: 1942–1945; 1950–1956
- 7th Armored Division: 1942–1945; 1950–1953
- 8th Armored Division: 1942–1945
- 9th Armored Division: 1942–1945
- 10th Armored Division: 1942–1945
- 11th Armored Division: 1942–1945
- 12th Armored Division: 1942–1945
- 13th Armored Division: 1942–1945; 1947–1952
- 14th Armored Division: 1942–1945
- 15th Armored Division: phantom World War II division
- 16th Armored Division: 1943–1945
- 18th Armored Division: unorganized World War II division
- 19th Armored Division: 1946–1947
- 20th Armored Division: 1943–1946
- 21st Armored Division: 1946–1952
- 22nd Armored Division: 1946–1952
- 25th Armored Division: phantom World War II division
- 27th Armored Division: 1954–1967
- 30th Armored Division: 1954–1973. The 30th Armored Division was organized as the result of an agreement between Tennessee and North Carolina to split the 30th Infantry Division.
- 39th Armored Division: phantom World War II division created as part of Operation FortitudeOperation FortitudeOperation Fortitude was the codename for a World War II military deception employed by the Allied nations as part of an overall deception strategy during the build up to the 1944 Normandy Landings...
- 40th Armored Division: 1954–1967
- 48th Armored Division48th Armored DivisionThe 48th Armored Division was a division of the United States Army National Guard from September 1946 until 1968. Most of its units were located within the Florida Army National Guard and the Georgia Army National Guard.-History:...
: 1954–1968 - 49th Armored Division: 1946–1967; 1973–2004
- 50th Armored Division50th Armored Division (United States)The 50th Armored Division was a division of the Army National Guard from July 1946 until 1993.-History:On 13 October 1945 the War Department published a postwar policy statement for the entire Army, calling for a 27-division Army National Guard structure with 25 infantry divisions and 2 armored...
: 1946–1993
Cavalry Divisions
- 1st Cavalry Division: 1921–present
- 2nd Cavalry Division2nd Cavalry Division (United States)-Heraldry:SHOULDER SLEEVE INSIGNIA*Description: On a yellow Norman shield with a green border, a blue chevron below two eight-pointed blue stars.*Blazon: Or, a chevron azure, in chief 2 mullets of eight points of the second, a bordure vert....
: 1941–1942; 1943–1944
Infantry Divisions
- 1st Infantry Division: 1917–present
- 2nd Infantry Division: 1917–present
- 3rd Infantry Division: 1917–present
- 4th Infantry Division: 1940–1942* (4th Motorized Division); 1943–1946; 1947–present
- 5th Infantry Division: 1939–1950; 1951–1953; 1954–1957; 1962–1992
- 6th Infantry Division: 1939–1942* (6th Motorized Division); 1943–1949; 1950–1956; 1967–1968; 1984–1998. The 6th Infantry Division itself was deactivated in 1994, but the 1st Brigade, 6th Infantry Division remained in the active force under that designation until being reflagged as the 172nd Infantry Brigade in 1998.
- 7th Infantry Division: 1940–1942* (7th Motorized Division); 1943–1971; 1974–1994; 1999–2006
- 8th Infantry Division: 1940–1942* (8th Motorized Division); 1943–1945; 1950–1992
- 9th Infantry Division: 1940–1962; 1966–1969; 1972–1991. The Division experienced a brief period of inactivation in 1947.
- 10th Infantry Division: 1947–1957
- 12th Infantry Division: (formerly Philippine Division): 1946–1947
- 4th Infantry Division: phantom World War II division; see Phantom World War II Divisions (United States)
- 15th Infantry Division: phantom World War II division; see Phantom World War II Divisions (United States)
- 16th Infantry Division: phantom World War II division Phantom World War II Divisions (United States)
- 17th Infantry Division: phantom World War II division
- 19th Infantry Division: phantom World War II division
- 21st Infantry Division: phantom World War II division
- 22nd Infantry Division: phantom World War II division; see Phantom World War II Divisions
- 23rd Infantry Division (formerly Americal Division): 1954–1956; 1967–1971
- 24th Infantry Division (formerly Hawaiian Division): 1941–1996; 1999–2006
- 25th Infantry Division: 1941–present
- 26th Infantry Division26th Infantry Division (United States)The 26th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the United States Army. As a major formation of the Massachusetts Army National Guard, it was based in Boston, Massachusetts for most of its history...
: 1941–1945; 1946–1993 - 27th Infantry Division: 1940–1945; 1946–1954* (27th Armored Division)
- 28th Infantry Division: 1941–1945; 1946–present
- 29th Infantry Division: 1941–1946; 1946–1967; 1985–present
- 30th Infantry Division: 1940–1945; 1946–1973
- 31st Infantry Division: 1940–1945; 1946–1967
- 32nd Infantry Division: 1940–1946; 1946–1967
- 33rd Infantry Division: 1940–1946; 1946–1967
- 34th Infantry Division: 1941–1945; 1946–1963; 1991–present
- 35th Infantry Division: 1940–1945; 1946–1963; 1984–present
- 36th Infantry Division: 1940–1945; 1946–1967; 2004–present
- 37th Infantry Division: 1940–1945; 1946–1967
- 38th Infantry Division: 1941–1945; 1946–present
- 39th Infantry Division39th Infantry Division (United States)The 39th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the Army National Guard, originally formed as the 18th Division in 1917. The Division consisted of troops from Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. After training at Camp Beauregard, Louisiana, the Division was deployed to France but did not...
: 1946–1967 - 40th Infantry Division: 1941–1946; 1946–1954* (40th Armored Division); 1973–present
- 41st Infantry Division: 1940–1945; 1946–1967
- 42nd Infantry Division: 1943–present
- 43rd Infantry Division: 1941–1945; 1946–1963
- 44th Infantry Division: 1940–1945; 1946–1954
- 45th Infantry Division: 1940–1945; 1946–1967
- 46th Infantry Division46th Infantry Division (United States)The 46th Infantry Division was a formation of the Michigan Army National Guard active between 1947 and 1968. It was initially headquartered at Lansing. Many of its units had previously been part of the 32nd Infantry Division. It was converted to the Reorganization Objective Army Division structure...
: 1946–1967 - 47th Infantry Division47th Infantry Division (United States)The 47th Infantry Division was a formation of the Army National Guard active from 1946 to 1991. The Division was created on 10 June 1946 as a National Guard infantry division from the efforts of Minnesota's Adjutant General Ellard Walsh...
: 1946–1991 - 48th Infantry Division: 1946–1954* (48th Armored Division)
- 49th Infantry Division49th Infantry Division (United States)The 49th Infantry Division was a unit of the United States Army formed from the 52nd Infantry Division.The 52nd Infantry Division was activated on 15 August 1946, and was allocated to the State of California as a National Guard division during the post World War II demobilization. The division was...
: 1947–1967 - 50th Infantry Division: phantom World War II division
- 51st Infantry Division51st Infantry Division (United States)Assigned to the Florida and South Carolina National Guards immediately following World War II.Source: Wilson, John B. . Maneuver and Firepower: The Evolution of Divisions and Separate Brigades. Washington, DC: Center of Military History....
: 1946–1963 - 52nd Infantry Division: 1946–1947
- 55th Infantry Division: phantom World War II division
- 59th Infantry Division: phantom World War II division
- 61st Infantry Division: unorganized World War II division
- 62rd Infantry Division: unorganized World War II division
- 63rd Infantry Division: 1943–1945; 1952–1965
- 65th Infantry Division: 1943–1945
- 66th Infantry Division: 1943–1945
- 67th Infantry Division: unorganized World War II division
- 68th Infantry Division: unorganized World War II division
- 69th Infantry Division: 1943–1945; 1954–1956
- 70th Infantry Division: 1943–1945; 1952–1955* (70th Division)
- 71st Infantry Division: 1944–1946; 1954–1956
- 72nd Infantry Division: unorganized World War II division
- 73rd Infantry Division: unorganized World War II division
- 74th Infantry Division: unorganized World War II division
- 75th Infantry Division: 1943–1945; 1952–1957
- 76th Infantry Division: 1942–1945; 1946–1955* (76th Division)
- 77th Infantry Division: 1942–1946; 1946–1965
- 78th Infantry Division: 1942–1946; 1946–1955* (78th Division)
- 79th Infantry Division: 1942–1945; 1946–1963
- 80th Infantry Division: 1942–1946* (80th Airborne Division); 1952–1955* (80th Division)
- 81st Infantry Division: 1942–1946; 1946–1965
- 82nd Infantry Division: 1942* (82nd Airborne Division)
- 83rd Infantry Division: 1942–1946; 1946–1965
- 84th Infantry Division: 1942–1946* (84th Airborne Division); 1952–1955* (84th Division)
- 85th Infantry Division: 1942–1955* (85th Division)
- 86th Infantry Division: 1942–1946
- 87th Infantry Division: 1942–1945; 1946–1957
- 88th Infantry Division: 1942–1947
- 89th Infantry Division: 1942–1943* (89th Light Division); 1944–1945; 1946–1955* (89th Division)
- 90th Infantry Division: 1942–1945; 1946–1965
- 91st Infantry Division: 1942–1945; 1946–1955* (91st Division)
- 92nd Infantry Division: 1942–1945
- 93rd Infantry Division: 1942–1946. Although the 93rd Infantry Division shares the same number designation and patch as the previous 93rd Division, the two divisions are otherwise unrelated and do not share lineal ties.
- 94th Infantry Division: 1942–1946; 1946–1963
- 95th Infantry Division: 1942–1945; 1946–1955* (95th Division)
- 96th Infantry Division: 1942–1946; 1946–1963
- 97th Infantry Division: 1943–1946
- 98th Infantry Division: 1942–1946; 1946–1955* (98th Division)
- 99th Infantry Division: 1942–1945
- 100th Infantry Division: 1942–1946* (100th Airborne Division); 1952–1955* (100th Division)
- 102nd Infantry Division: 1942–1946; 1946–1965
- 103rd Infantry Division: 1942–1945; 1946–1963
- 104th Infantry Division: 1942–1945; 1946–1959* (104th Division)
- 105th Infantry Division: unorganized World War II division
- 106th Infantry Division: 1943–1945; 1946–1950. The 106th Infantry Division was never officially added to the troop list following World War II, despite having been almost completely organized in Puerto Rico by 1948; subsequently, the War Department determined the division was not needed and deactivated the division headquarters in 1950.
- 107th Infantry Division: unorganized World War II division
- 108th Infantry Division: phantom World War II division
- 108th Infantry Division: 1952–1955* (108th Division)
- 109th Infantry Division: phantom World War II division
- 112th Infantry Division: phantom World War II division
- 119th Infantry Division: phantom World War II division
- 125th Infantry Division: phantom World War II division
- 130th Infantry Division: phantom World War II division
- 141st Infantry Division: phantom World War II division
- 157th Infantry Division: phantom World War II division
- Americal Division 1942–1945 (see 23rd Infantry DivisionAmerical DivisionThe 23rd Infantry Division, more commonly known as the Americal Division of the United States Army was formed in May 1942 on the island of New Caledonia. In the immediate emergency following Pearl Harbor, the United States had hurriedly sent three individual regiments to defend New Caledonia...
)
The 105th and 107th Infantry Divisions were intended to be negro divisions of the Army of the United States; however, due to a shortage of available manpower, their activations were canceled in 1942.
Light Divisions
- 10th Light Division (Alpine): 1943–1944* (10th Mountain Division)
- 71st Light Division (Pack): 1943–1944* (71st Infantry Division)
- 89th Light Division (Truck): 1943–1944* (89th Infantry Division)
Motorized Divisions
- 4th Motorized Division: 1942–1943* (4th Infantry Division)
- 5th Motorized Division: phantom World War II division
- 6th Motorized Division: 1942–1943* (6th Infantry Division)
- 7th Motorized Division: 1942–1943* (7th Infantry Division)
- 8th Motorized Division: 1942–1943* (8th Infantry Division)
- 90th Motorized Division: 1942–1943* (90th Infantry Division)
Mountain Divisions
- 10th Mountain Division: 1944–1945; 1984–present
Reserve Training Divisions
In an attempt to maintain its divisions, the Army Reserve transformed several of its combat divisions into training divisions; these divisions were still designated as infantry divisions until authorized as "divisions (training)" by the adjutant general in 1959.- 69th Division: 1954-1956
- 70th Division: 1955–1996
- 75th Division: 1993–2008
- 76th Division: 1955–1996
- 78th Division: 1955–2008
- 80th Division: 1955–2008
- 84th Division: 1955–2004
- 85th Division: 1955–2008
- 87th Division: 1993–2008
- 89th Division: 1955–1975
- 91st Division: 1955–2008
- 95th Division: 1955–present
- 98th Division: 1955–2008
- 100th Division: 1955–present
- 104th Division: 1959–2008
- 108th Division: 1955–2008
- First Army Division East: 2006–present
- First Army Division West: 2006–present
Divisions planned but never actually formed during the Second World War
At the time of the Japanese attacks on Pearl HarborAttack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
, Wake Island
Battle of Wake Island
The Battle of Wake Island began simultaneously with the Attack on Pearl Harbor and ended on 23 December 1941, with the surrender of the American forces to the Empire of Japan...
, and the Philippines
Battle of the Philippines (1941-42)
The Philippines Campaign or the Battle of the Philippines was the invasion of the Philippines by Japan in 1941–1942 and the defense of the islands by Filipino and United States forces....
, the United States Army was composed of 37 divisions
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
, including the Philippine Division. Initially, necessary mobilization was estimated to be as high as 350 divisions, but the Army ultimately settled on a 100-division plan.
This relatively low number (compared to the high estimates) was partially due to the army's policy of assigning many combat units, particularly artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
and tank destroyer
Tank destroyer
A tank destroyer is a type of armored fighting vehicle armed with a gun or missile launcher, and is designed specifically to engage enemy armored vehicles...
units, directly to corps
Corps
A corps is either a large formation, or an administrative grouping of troops within an armed force with a common function such as Artillery or Signals representing an arm of service...
and higher-level commands. These non-divisional units numbered approximately 1.5 million soldiers, enough personnel to man roughly 100 more divisions. The strategic philosophy was that such units could be assigned to divisions on as-needed bases, and would allow divisions to remain as mobile and flexible as possible. By the end of 1943, U.S. Army strength stood at more than 70 divisions.
Allied
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
gains in 1942 and 1943 resulted in a further contraction of U.S. mobilization, and the last wartime division, the 65th Infantry Division, was activated on 16 August 1943. In all, 91 divisions served in the U.S. Army in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. When the decision was made to halt the increase in divisions, 12 more divisions were still on the rolls, but would not be organized, though several of these would be organized following the war. They were the 15th Airborne Division, the 18th, 21st and 22nd Armored Divisions, the 19th Armored Division, which was in fact activated following the war, the 61st, 62nd, 67th, 68th, 72nd, 73rd, and 74th Infantry Divisions, and the 105th and 107th Infantry Divisions, which were intended to be Negro formations.
Unique among the 14 unorganized divisions, the 15th Airborne Division was not only a victim of the decision to set the size of the Army at 89 divisions (the 2nd Cavalry Division
2nd Cavalry Division (United States)
-Heraldry:SHOULDER SLEEVE INSIGNIA*Description: On a yellow Norman shield with a green border, a blue chevron below two eight-pointed blue stars.*Blazon: Or, a chevron azure, in chief 2 mullets of eight points of the second, a bordure vert....
had been deactivated during the war and the Philippine Division was destroyed as a result of the Japanese victory in the Philippines), but also because it had become evident that the Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
lacked enough transport aircraft
Cargo aircraft
A cargo aircraft is a fixed-wing aircraft designed or converted for the carriage of goods, rather than passengers. They are usually devoid of passenger amenities, and generally feature one or more large doors for the loading and unloading of cargo...
to support a sixth airborne
Airborne forces
Airborne forces are military units, usually light infantry, set up to be moved by aircraft and 'dropped' into battle. Thus they can be placed behind enemy lines, and have an ability to deploy almost anywhere with little warning...
division. The 13th Airborne Division never saw combat for this very reason.
The 105th and 107th Infantry Divisions were to join the 92nd and 93rd Infantry Divisions as Negro
Military history of African Americans
The military history of African Americans spans from the arrival of the first black slaves during the colonial history of the United States to the present day...
divisions. A shortage of manpower resulted in the activation of the 105th and 107th being cancelled in 1942.
Further reading
- Dalessandro, Robert J. & Knapp, Michael G. "Organization and Insignia of the American Expeditionary Force, 1917–1923". Schiffer Publishing, 2008.