order of battle
Military unit disposition
An order of battle is a detailed inventory of military forces—their units, commanders, equipment, and disposition—used for planning operations or analyzing an enemy's strength.
Intelligence officers compile the enemy's order of battle; commanders issue their own before engagements.
The term appears in military history and strategy games: We've identified three divisions in their order of battle.
Formal authority hierarchy
- rankPosition in hierarchy
- commanderPerson with authority over others
- officerAuthority figure in uniform
- enlistedSigned up formally
general · admiral · colonel · captain · lieutenant · sergeant · corporal · private
Number of soldiers available
- dispositionInherent character or arrangement
- reconnaissanceInformation-gathering before action
- assessmentFormal evaluation of worth
- identificationEstablishing who someone is
location · capability · composition · deployment · estimate · surveillance · analysis · readiness
Organized distribution of resources
- mobilizationOrganizing for action
- coordinationOrganized cooperative movement
- logisticsCoordination of complex activities
- allocationDistribution of shares
preparation · arrangement · staging · positioning · assembly · concentration · dispersal · reinforcement
chain of command
Formal authority hierarchy
- rankPosition in hierarchy
- commanderPerson with authority over others
- officerAuthority figure in uniform
enlisted · general · admiral · colonel · captain · lieutenant · sergeant · corporal · private · staff
troop strength
Number of soldiers available
- dispositionInherent character or arrangement
- reconnaissanceInformation-gathering before action
- assessmentFormal evaluation of worth
identification · location · capability · composition · deployment · estimate · surveillance · analysis · readiness · equipment
deployment
Organized distribution of resources
- mobilizationOrganizing for action
- coordinationOrganized cooperative movement
- logisticsCoordination of complex activities
allocation · preparation · arrangement · staging · positioning · assembly · concentration · dispersal · reinforcement · sequencing
division
Splitting into parts
company · platoon · squad · squadron · flotilla · fleet · wing · detachment · formation · unit
order of battledisarray
Lack of order
chaos · disorder · rout · disorganization · fragmentation
order of battlebattle plan
Scheme for combat
strategy · war aims · grand strategy · rules of engagement · mission objectives
order, orders, ordered, ordering, orderly, orderliness, disorder, disordered, disorderly