Pattern 1898 Tables of Organization and Equipment

[The Rock Doctor]

...well, organization, anyway.

Gran Colombia implemented the 1895 techs for infantry and cavalry in 1898, at which time the units were re-organized.  Three TO&Es exist, one for infantry, one for the "wilderness" corps which include jungle and cordilleran units, and one for the cavalry. 

Prior to implementation of Pattern 1898, cavalry and artillery were grouped in regiments/squadrons/troops and brigades/batteries respectively.  This was done away with, at the behest of the civilian bureaucracy, which found it all dreadfully confusing.  The simple organizational hierarchy is now: 

Platoon -> Company -> Battalion -> Brigade -> Division -> Corps

Armies are generally theatre-level commands based on geographic location.  They have no fixed composition, and vary in strength according to the situation they face.  In 1904, for example, the Army of the Amazon had seven or more corps under its command at times; in 1908, it is down to three corps, and may be reduced to two in the near future.

The experiences of the war on El Dorado have led to some new thinking on organization even as new weapons become available; thus a new round of changes is expected to begin next year - at least with respect to the infantry and wilderness troops, which will adopt Pattern 1909.

[The Rock Doctor]

The standard 1897 Pattern Infantry Corps consists of ~47,000 officers and men. 



Units with this TO&E:

-Capital Guard

-I Infantry (Note:  divisional artillery battalions are allocated to various island garrisons at the brigade level)

-II Infantry

-III Infantry

-IV Infantry

-V Infantry (Note:  the infantry brigade at the Galapagos Islands has an artillery battalion attached to it from the divisional artillery brigade)

-VI Infantry

-VII Infantry (Note:  the infantry brigade at the Cayman Islands has an artillery battalion attached to it from the divisional artillery brigade)

-VIII Infantry

-IX Infantry

-X Infantry

-XI Infantry

[The Rock Doctor]

The Wilderness Corps template is used for both Cordilleran and Jungle Corps.  Its differences, compared to the Infantry Corps template, are based on the assumption (and experience) that these units operate in areas with minimal infrastructure and limited lines of communication.  Brigades, not divisions, end up being the primary manuevering formation.

The artillery is lighter, generally man-portable ordnance so that it may be packed up mountainsides or through jungle paths.  Artillery is attached in battalion-sized units to each brigade headquarters, and the division headquarters has none of its own.  This did prove a problem at times in the El Dorado campaign, so the expected 1909 reorganization may well add heavier artillery at the divisional level.

The other primary difference, compared to the Infantry Corps, is the removal of the two cavalry battalions from the corps command, which would be of limited use in mountainous or densely forested terrain.  Instead, a dedicated supply brigade is attached to ensure that the more limited infrastructure and more extreme terrain do not prevent ammunition, food, water, and other materials from reaching the front.

Consequently, Gran Colombia's Jungle and Cordilleran corps have a strength of 49,000 officers and men.



Units with this TO&E are:

I, II, III, IV, V Cordilleran Corps
I, II, III, IV, V, VI Jungle Corps

[The Rock Doctor]

The Cavalry Corps, like the Infantry Corps, retains its artillery at the divisional level; there just happens to be less of it as the emphasis is on manuever warfare and not static slobberknockers.

A supply battalion is present at the corps level to ensure the unit has adequate amounts of forage - no lean feat considering that a corps has more horses than its 41,000 officers and men.



Units with this TO&E are:

I, II, III, IV Cavalry Corps