Unit Profile
The US Army Rangers were originally raised as a Special Forces unit. Nowadays they are the US Army elite light infantry. The regiment is used as a Rapid Deployment Force.
The name Ranger had been used during earlier conflicts with the United States. The first famous Ranger unit was Rogers Rangers. Captain Robert Rogers organised a total of nine companies during French Indian War of 1754 - 1763. The unit was disbanded after the conflict. The next time the name Ranger was used again was during the War of King Philip with the Indians of 1670- 1675, during this period Captain Benjamin Church raised a company of Rangers in 1670.
Also during the American Revolution (1775 - 1983) and the Civil War of (1861 - 1865) companies of Rangers were raised. After the conflicts the units were again disbanded. All early Ranger units had one thing in common. They all participated in unconventional warfare. It would take until World War II before a new and more permanent version of the Rangers would emerge.
On the Western Frontier they were activated on June 19th 1942 during World War II after the British Commandos. A total of seven Ranger battalions were founded during the cause of the war. Ranger units 1 to 5 fought in Africa, Sicily, Italy and France. On the Pacific front Ranger unit 6 fought in New Guinea and the Philippines. During that same period of time in the pacific Merrill's Marauders fought in Burma. Although not designated as a Ranger Unit, the certainly fought like one in Burma. All were disbanded after the had ended.
During the Korean War a total of eight Ranger companies were raised. The units performed well during the conflict and in 1954 they were embedded within the 75th Infantry Regiment. The unit grew to 13 companies and was active during the Vietnam War (1959 - 1975).
In January 1974 members of this unit formed the nucleus of the 1st battalion, 75th Infantry Regiment (Rangers). A second Battalion was activated within months. These units were first used during operation Eagle Claw in Iran in 1975. They were also active during Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada in 1983. This resulted in the activation of another battalion and a Ranger Regimental Headquarters. In 1986 the unit was renamed to the 75th Ranger Regiment. The operational size of the unit was headquarters and three battalions. Each Battalion rotates for a month as the Ranger Ready Force. They must be able to deploy anywhere in the world within eighteen hours.
During Operation Just Cause in Panama in December 1989 and Operation Desert Storm 1991 the Rangers played an essential role. In 1993 they were part of Task Force Ranger in Somalia. In 2002 they participated in the War against Afghanistan end two years later during the War against Iraq.
Remarkable is the high number of NCO's and that it has the highest percentage of NCO's who later become Officers in the Army.
Mission
- Direct Action
Raised and Disbanded
- Raised: June 19th 1942
- Disbanded: December 1945
- Raised: October 1950
- Renamed: 1954, 75th Infantry Regiment (Ranger)
- enamed: January 25th 1989, 75th Ranger Regiment
Units
- 1st Ranger Battalion (June 19th 1942)
- 2nd Ranger Battalion (April 1st 1943 - October 23rd 1945)
- 3rd Ranger Battalion (April 19th 1943)
- 4th Ranger Battalion (April 19th 1943)
- 5th Ranger Battalion (September 14th 1943 - October 2nd 1945)
- 6th Ranger Battalion (September 25th 1943 - December 20th 1945)
- 29th Provisional Ranger Battalion (December 20th 1943)
- 1st Ranger Company (Airborne) (October 1950)
- 2nd Ranger Company (Airborne) (October 1950)
- 3rd Ranger Company (Airborne) (October 1950)
- 4th Ranger Company (Airborne)
- 5th Ranger Company (Airborne)
- 6th Ranger Company (Airborne)
- 7th Ranger Company (Airborne)
- 8th Ranger Company (Airborne)
- 75th Infantry Regiment (Ranger) (1954)
- 13 Ranger Companies
- 75th Ranger Regiment (January 25th 1974)
- Three Battalions
Headquarters
- Fort Benning, Georgia, United States