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i read some where that the us army rangers were first brought into being in the middle of the 2nd ww after american top brass saw the effectiveness of our commando units, correct me if im wrong but to me a commando unit (excluding the rm's) is supposed to be small in size with light weapons and equipment so they can do the type of shoot and scoot missions that the sf are so well known for, although it seeme that the us top brass didnt get the hang of this idea and used them as special infantry giving them heavy weapons which made it hard for them to do these specific requirements of a sf mission... so what is ther role are they an infantry unit or sf unit, are they the same as our RMC'S and lastly are they any good ???

replys welomed

lew

I know absolutely bugger all about ranger history, so I cant help you there. These days I think their role is as commandos (but I have heard they are mainly used to attack hard targets), and are comparible to our Royal Marines in terms of role. The quality is also reputedly on par with the RM, and they perform a similar role with similar equipment. They are however more directly invovled with SF operations, providing backup and firepower to the SF themselves. The only complaints I've heard about them is a very gung-ho and arrogant attitude, and a lack of cross training (so a rifleman may not be instructed on machine guns for instance).

Thanks voodoo sprout, that’s helped a little, I guess the gun ho attitude runs right the way up into the more specialized and better trained troops of the us army oh well…

I know someone who was formaly a ranger. From what i gathered from him they seem to be as voodoo said a force for taking on fortified targets fast. They are some 'quality' troops from what i gather and will yomp till there told to stop.

From http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline ... h/rangers/

The 75th Ranger Regiment, composed of three Ranger battalions (1st, 2nd and 3rd), is the premier light-infantry unit of the United States Army, part of the army's Special Operations Command.
Considered the masters of special light infantry operations the Rangers' expertise is in attack missions to temporarily seize and secure key objectives and other operations requiring unique capabilities. They are trained to infiltrate by land, sea, or air.

Headquartered at Fort Benning, Georgia, the Rangers' history dates back to World War II, when the 1st Ranger Battalion (Darby's Rangers) fought throughout Western Europe and achieved its greatest fame when it scaled the cliffs of Normandy as part of the D-Day invasion. After the war, the Rangers had an irregular, often interrupted, role in the Army. They were deactivated in 1945, but were recommissioned in 1950 when seven companies saw action in the Korean War. They remained out of action for the rest of the 50s and much of the 60s until they were reactivated under the 75th Infantry Regiment. Ranger companies were sent to Vietnam, where they fought mainly as Long-Range Reconnaissance Patrols (LRRPs).

In addition to Task Force Ranger's mission in Somalia, the Rangers have played major roles in a number of operations throughout the '80s and '90s.


In 1983, Rangers led the assault on Grenada, jumping 500 feet to capture the Point Salinas airstrip.

In Panama, they stormed the main airfield at Tocumen in the dark, paving the way for the airborne operations of the 82nd Airborne Division.

At Rio Hato, they jumped 400 feet into enemy gunfire to neutralize Panamanian forces based at the airfield.

And a Ranger battalion performed a number of missions in the Persian Gulf that are still classified.

Today, the army maintains the Regiment at a constant state of readiness. Each battalion can deploy anywhere in the world within 11 hours of notice. To maintain readiness, Rangers are constantly training. Their training encompasses arctic, jungle, desert, and mountain operations, as well as amphibious instruction. The training philosophy emphasizes tough standards and focuses on realism and live-fire exercises. Rangers are also required to train at night, during adverse weather, and on difficult terrain in order to be prepared for a variety of situations. Throughout their training, Rangers are taught to expect the unexpected.
All officers and enlisted soldiers in the Regiment are volunteers. Those volunteers selected for the Regiment must meet tough physical, mental and moral criteria. Upon assignment to the Regiment, both officers and senior NCOs attend the Ranger Orientation Program (ROP) in order to familiarize themselves with Ranger policies and operating procedures. Enlisted soldiers assigned to the Regiment go through the Ranger Indoctrination Program (RIP) where their physical capabilities are assessed and they are indoctrinated in basic Ranger standards and philosophy. Soldiers who do not pass ROP or RIP are transferred from the Regiment.

Each Ranger battalion has 580 personnel assigned to three rifle companies and a headquarters company. The rifle companies consist of 152 Rangers each, while the headquarters company comprises the remaining Rangers. Ranger battalions are light infantry and have only a few vehicles and crew-served weapons systems.

Had them stay with us in the Shot, better than your average US grunt more on a par with Para Regt or RM in their all round attitude, far more orientated towards our way of doing things than the 82nd or USMC.

Most units send people on the Ranger course but only so many serve in the Ranger Battalions the remainder go back to thier parent unit and pass on the skills learnt. (well thats the theory)

Yea the Rangers are trained to attack and hold hard targets and strategic positions. Infamously the Navy SEALs lobbied to attack the airstrip in Grenada which resulted in 3 fatalities. It was widely recognised that that was the job for the rangers, who are trained for that exact objective and that the Navy brass had hijacked control and Central Command.

The American Rangers date back to the British days in America and were a frontier fighting unit. The American Rangers are one of the oldest units in
the States. They are mainly a light mobile fighting force that will is a cross between the Commandos and the Para's, and has a great tradition.

from specialoperations.com


WORLD WAR TWO RANGER BATTALIONS

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th

With America's entry into the Second World War, Rangers came forth to add to the pages of history. Major General Lucian K. Truscott, U.S. Army Liaison with the British General Staff, submitted proposals to General George Marshal that "we undertake immediately an American unit along the lines of the British Commandos" on May 26, 1942. A cable from the War Department quickly followed to Truscott and Major General Russell P. Hartle, commanding all Army Forces in Northern Ireland, authorizing the activation of the First U.S. Army Ranger Battalion. The name RANGER was selected by General Truscott "because the name Commandos rightfully belonged to the British, and we sought a name more typically American. It was therefore fit that the organization that was destined to be the first of the American Ground Forces to battle Germans on the European continent should be called Rangers in compliment to those in American history who exemplified the high standards of courage, initiative, determination and ruggedness, fighting ability and achievement."

After much deliberation, General Hartle decided that his own aid-de-camp Captain William Orlando Darby, a graduate of West Point with amphibious training was the ideal choice. This decision was highly approved by General Truscott who rated Darby as "outstanding in appearance, possessed of a most attractive personality....and filled with enthusiasm."

Promoted to Major, Darby performed a near miracle in organizing the unit within a few weeks after receiving his challenging assignment. Thousands of applicants from the 1st Armored Division and the 34th Infantry Division and other units in Northern Ireland were interviewed by his hand-picked officers, and after a strenuous weeding-out program at Carrickfergus, the First Ranger Battalion was officially activated there on June 19, 1942.

But more rugged and realistic training with live ammunition was in store for the Rangers at the famed Commando Training Center at Achnacarry, Scotland. Coached, prodded and challenged by the battle-seasoned Commando instructors, commanded by Colonel Charles Vaughan, the Rangers learned the rudiments of Commando warfare. Five hundred of the six hundred volunteers that Darby brought with him to Achnacarry survived the Commando training with flying colors, although one Ranger was killed and several wounded by live fire.


and from global security.org:


The 75th Ranger Regiment, composed of three Ranger battalions, is the premier light-infantry unit of the United States Army. The 75th Ranger Regiment is a flexible, highly trained and rapidly deployable light infantry force with specialized skills that enable it to be employed against a variety of conventional and Special Operations targets.

Headquartered at Fort Benning, GA, the 75th Ranger Regiment’s mission is to plan and conduct special missions in support of U.S. policy and objectives. The three Ranger battalions that comprise the 75th Ranger Regiment are geographically dispersed.

The mission of the ranger regiment is to plan and conduct special military operations. These operations are conducted by specially trained, equipped, and organized forces against strategic or tactical targets in pursuit of national military, political, economic, or psychological objectives. They may support conventional military operations or they may be performed independently when conventional forces cannot be used.

The flexibility of the Ranger Force requires it to perform under various command structures. The force can work unilaterally under a Corps, as a part of JSOTF, as an ARSOTF, or as an Army component in a JTF. Historically, it is common for the Ranger Force to conduct forced entry operations as part of a JSOTF, then become OPCON to a JTF to afford them the capability to conduct special operations/direct action missions.

Special military operations conducted by the ranger regiment include strike operations, usually deep penetration, and special light infantry operations. Strike operations include raids, interdiction, and recovery operations. Special light infantry operations include many of the light infantry missions assigned to airborne, air assault, or light infantry battalions and brigades. These operations are conducted in support of the AirLand Battle at all levels of intensity.

Midshipman786, the name Commando does not belong to the British, they took from the Boers who used out there for light horsemen that played such havoc with the British during the boer Wars.

Yeah that's bloody right we Suid-Afrikaners though of the Kommando way before you souties ever came around to it.

Good to see some are paying attention.

As for jumping 500ft in that Panama fiasco, Isn't that just freaking suicidal I'm sure it was more like 5000ft or something.

Not really Famewolf, 400 ft. is the operational jumping height for Para's etc. in this country. That becomes 800 ft. for training jumps.
5000 ft. becomes free fall territory and isn't really suitable for Para's or Rangers as they need to get on the ground ASAP to secure their objectives.
Sneaky Beaky

Thanks for the heads-up sneaky.

500ft is damn low though.

That's 166 meters, not much space for error when your plummeting towards the ground at 80+kph