Size of a Standard SLDF Infantry Division?

[Croix129]

Hello all, I'm trying to figure out the exact size of the various SLDF military units (ie Divisions, Brigades, Regiments, ex ex) and reconcile it with the stated number of over 100 million SLDF soldiers at the start of the Star League Civil war, but am running into some trouble. While the Wikia sources are quite though in the sizes of the 'Mech units (ie four 'Mechs to a lance, so one can use that to figure out the sizes of the larger 'Mech units), there's no real details on the regular infantry forces that would make up the bulk of the SLDF ground forces.

Even going with the largest standard size of current military divisions (25,000 according to Wikipedia) and multiplying it by the total number of divisions (486), I only get to 12,150,000; very far away from around 100 million. So either the bulk of the SLDF forces weren't organized in divisions or their divisions were much larger than modern/historical military divisions. So are there any existing sources on the size of SLDF infantry divisions, or any other infantry units?

[dgorsman]

6804 (5103 for jump) per FM:SLDF and LoT 1.  Keep in mind "soldier" may include reserves and non-combat (e.g. logistics, recruitment offices) as well.  Don't forget the ground aero wings, artillery, and such attached at the division level.  And the armor formations which are almost entirely unlisted.

[Sharpnel]

Also there is the Navy to consider, as well, The non-combatant servicemen/women will make up the largest share of the SLDF.

[Robroy]

I agree with the support personal. I have head that for ever soldier in the field their is ten in support positions.

[Hellraiser]

Tooth to tail as they say (Combat MOS to Support MOS) is often 3-9 / Line Soldier.


Infantry Divisions would have 2 Brigades of 3 Regiments which is over 4500 infantry soldiers.

Not counting command units, the 3 Line Mech Regiments, the 3 Mech Battalions (Attached to Division Command & Each Infantry Division), the combat vehicles, artillery, the GAW Ground Aero Wing....

At that point we are easily up over 7000 Combat Troops.   Now tack on the support personnel at 9-1.  So 70K.

And as mentioned the SLDF has the Fleet & also had loads of ground units besides its "Divisions".   Plenty of independent Regiments as well as full Brigades of Infantry/Armor that isn't listed.

[Croix129]

6804 (5103 for jump) per FM:SLDF and LoT 1.  Keep in mind "soldier" may include reserves and non-combat (e.g. logistics, recruitment offices) as well.  Don't forget the ground aero wings, artillery, and such attached at the division level.  And the armor formations which are almost entirely unlisted.

Doing the math though, that's only 3.3 million active soldiers (ie 6804 x the 486 divisions mentioned at the start of the Civil war). That's an INCREDIBLY small army, especially in a time where humanity numbers in the trillions. Even if there's double the number of support staff around them, that's what, 9 or 10 million. Still very small.

[Hellraiser]

That isn't the entire military.

And Support Staff isn't 2-1 in any military.   Traditionally its 9-1.   Sometimes it is cut back to 3-1.   But more likely higher than that.

Also, as was mentioned, 486 Divisions is NOT the total # of line troops in the SLDF by a long shot.

That is the Divisions that had Mechs attached to them.

You've got loads of Tank & Infantry brigades not included in that figure that are deployed as Garrison troops.

Even then the 100 Million is just the SLDF.  Not House or Planetary level troops.

That doesn't include Planetary Militia units that are created by the Nobles/Government of individual planets.

These can range from a Single Regiment of Grunts to multiple Divisions of Infantry/Tanks with small #s of Mechs as well.

Even someone as lowly as a Baron of XYZ continent might have a Regiment of Infantry, Battalion of Light Armor/APCs, & a Mech Lance as part of his personal guard.

[Arkansas Warrior]

Also, the Star League era is basically the most peaceful time in the history of man.  Militaries never make up as big a % of the population in peacetime as they do in wartime.  For reference, the US military was something like 11% of the US population during the height of WWII (IIRC, it's been a while since I looked at the relevant numbers), whereas today it's circa .66%.