75th Infantry Regiment (Ranger)

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.

75th Infantry Regiment (Ranger)
Active1969–present
Country United States
BranchUS Army
TypeLight infantry
RoleVietnam War:

Post-Vietnam:

Size15 companies (1969–74)
3 battalions (1974–86)
Garrison/HQFort Benning, Georgia (1984–86)
EngagementsVietnam War
Operation Eagle Claw
Invasion of Grenada

History

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On 1 February 1969, as part of the U.S. Army Combat Arms Regimental System (CARS), all U.S. Army Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (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 (5307th Composite Unit). The firms were given the letters C through I and K through P. To avoid confusion with the similar "I" (or India) designation on typed documents, there was no "J" Ranger Company. 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 separate division or 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, performed bomb damage assessments, and conducted ambushes. Additionally, Rangers attempted to recover prisoners of war, capture enemy soldiers for interrogation, tap the wire communications of the North Vietnam Army and the National Liberation Front for South Vietnam (Vietcong) on the Ho Chi Minh trail, and mine enemy trails and roads.

Lineage

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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 with Headquarters on 1 July 1984

Organization

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Vietnam War

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When they were redesignated on 1 February 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 Headquarters, operations section, communications platoon, and four patrol platoons.

Companies D and H each had 198 men and Companies M, N, O, and P each had 61 men, since these four units were created from LRP detachments assigned to brigades.

Ranger Companies

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75th Infantry Regiment (Ranger)
Infantry (Ranger) Company Activated on Inactivated on Previous LRP company 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 Infantry Division (Vietnam)
Company F, 75th Infantry (Ranger) 1 February 1969 15 March 1971 Company F (LRP), 50th Infantry 25th Infantry Division (Vietnam)
Company G, 75th Infantry (Ranger) 1 February 1969 1 October 1971 Company E (LRP), 51st Infantry 23rd Infantry Division (Vietnam)
Company H, 75th Infantry (Ranger) 1 February 1969 15 August 1972 Company E (LRP), 52nd Infantry Regiment (drawn from the Cavalry Division LRRPs) 1st Cavalry Division (Vietnam)
Company I, 75th Infantry (Ranger) 1 February 1969 7 April 1970 Company F (LRP), 52nd Infantry 1st Infantry Division (Vietnam)
Company K, 75th Infantry (Ranger) 1 February 1969 10 December 1970 Company E (LRP), 58th Infantry 4th Infantry Division (Vietnam)
Company L, 75th Infantry (Ranger) 1 February 1969 25 December 1971 Company F (LRP), 58th Infantry 101st Airborne Division (Vietnam)
Company M, 75th Infantry (Ranger) 1 February 1969 12 October 1970 71st Infantry Detachment (LRP) 199th Infantry Brigade (Light) (Vietnam)
Company N, 75th Infantry (Ranger) 1 February 1969 25 August 1971 74th Infantry Detachment (LRP) 173rd Airborne Brigade (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 Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division (Vietnam)
US Army Alaska
Company P, 75th Infantry (Ranger) 1 February 1969 31 August 1971 79th Infantry Detachment (LRP) 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division (Mech.) (Vietnam)

Post-Vietnam reorganization

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Battalions

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National Guard Ranger Companies

 
Ranger company scroll worn as shoulder sleeve insignia (SSI) by D co 151st Infantry (Ranger)
 
Ranger company scrolls worn as shoulder sleeve insignia (SSI) by G co 143rd Infantry (Ranger)
 
Ranger company scroll worn as shoulder sleeve insignia (SSI) by F co. 425th Infantry (Ranger)
Army National Guard Ranger Companies[6][7]
Infantry (Ranger) Company State Activated on Inactivated on
D Co, 151st Infantry (Ranger)[8] Indiana 1 December 1967 1 March 1977
E Co, 65th Infantry (Ranger) Puerto Rico 1 April 1971 1 February 1980
F Co, 425th Infantry (Ranger) Michigan 1 September 1972 1988
G Co, 143rd Infantry (Ranger)[9][10] Texas 1 April 1980 1 September 1987
H Co, 175th Infantry (Ranger) Maryland

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Vietnam Rangers page". SuaSponte.com. Archived from the original on 4 February 2005. Retrieved 10 September 2007.
  2. ^ "Lineage and Honors 75th RANGER REGIMENT". United States Army Center of Military History. 27 April 2017. Archived from the original on 21 July 2022. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  3. ^ "Lineage and Honors 1st BATTALION, 75th RANGER REGIMENT". United States Army Center of Military History. 27 April 2017. Archived from the original on 21 July 2022. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  4. ^ "Lineage and Honors 2d BATTALION, 75th RANGER REGIMENT". United States Army Center of Military History. 27 April 2017. Archived from the original on 21 July 2022. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  5. ^ "Lineage and Honors 3D BATTALION, 75TH RANGER REGIMENT". United States Army Center of Military History. 28 January 2015. Archived from the original on 12 August 2022. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  6. ^ Bahmanyar, Mir (27 April 2004). "Airborne Ranger Companies (Army National Guard)". suasponte.com. Archived from the original on 27 April 2004. Retrieved 27 April 2004.
  7. ^ Rottman, Gordon; Volstad, Ron (1987). US ARMY RANGERS & LRRP UNITS 1942-87. UK: Osprey Publishing. pp. 39, 44–46, 49. ISBN 0850457955.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  8. ^ "Company D (Ranger), 151st Infantry". ranger151.com. Archived from the original on 23 September 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  9. ^ Olson, Bruce (1 February 1995). "Houston Light Guards". Texas State Historical Association (TSHA). Archived from the original on 30 June 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  10. ^ Lemmer, Paul (18 August 2001). "The Houston Light Guard, A Narrative". Company G 143d Infantry. Archived from the original on 22 October 2002. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
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