Origins
Ranger units have been defending America before United States became an independent nation. During the French and Indian War (1754-1763), British army units relied on American frontiersmen to scout and guard their large units. The undeveloped lands of colonial America were hard on conventional forces. There were few roads and most of the land was covered in thick, impenetrable woods. From these woods, French soldiers and their Native American allies would ambush British columns with devastating effect. The British needed a force that was at home in the woods and fight their enemy on their ground.
The answer was the American Ranger. Rugged frontiersmen and woodsmen volunteered to fight the French forces. They brought a unique expertise in moving, fighting, and living in the dense woodlands. Units of Rangers provided security along the vulnerable sides of marching British columns and would scout ahead gathering important intelligence. Without Ranger protection British armies were unable to combat the French. The British Army commander, Lord Loudoun, stated in 1756, "It is impossible for an Army to Act in this Country, without Rangers; and there ought to be a considerable body of them" 9 Ranger forces were a necessary addition to the British army and facilitated their victory over France.
Artistic rendering of Major Robert Rogers,
commanding officer of Rogers' Rangers
during the French and Indian War.
Image from wikipedia.en
( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Old_robertrogers.jpg )
The most famous of the Ranger unit, Rogers' Rangers, hailed from New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Their commander, Robert Rogers, personally created his volunteer unit. Relying on their frontier experience, they altered their uniforms and equipment to facilitate their mission. Gone were the traditional red jackets of the British army, along with coat tails and any clothing or equipment that would catch on underbrush.10 Modifications were made to their weapons as well. Their long muskets were sawed down into carbines, and they adopted the Native American tomahawk as their own. 11 Their tactics revolved around the new weapons. They were a light and mobile force who relied on firepower and surprise to succeed. They perfected the Native American style of ambushes, a volley of musket fire at point-blank range and closing in for the kill with the tomahawk. Rogers established the 28 Rules of Ranging, a guideline for his men to follow. The original rules were known as the Plan of Discipline and were recorded in Rogers' diary. These standing orders continue to be taught to current Army Rangers.
The Rangers allowed the British army to maneuver and combat the French forces. The unique and difficult environment was completely foreign to the Europeans and they could only operate effectively through the use of local forces. The Rangers, in turn, were successful by adopting the insurgent tactics and weapons of their enemies and abandoning the formalities of the conventional army they were attached to. They allowed greater personal initiative and adaptability. The decentralized units maximized their mobility and effectiveness. The key to victory lay in understanding the French and Native American enemy and then adapting to overcome them.
Many Ranger units were officially disbanded after the war and their Ranger returned home but many colonies utilized Ranger forces to secure their vulnerable frontier settlements. When the Revolutionary War broke out in 1776, American Rangers returned to the battlefield. Ranger units were formed among colonists on both sides, Loyalists and Patriots. After the British defeat, they one more returned to defending the frontier lands. Although they were never a permanent component of the US Army, Rangers were called into action for every major American conflict, the Civil War, WWII, Korea, and Vietnam.
The answer was the American Ranger. Rugged frontiersmen and woodsmen volunteered to fight the French forces. They brought a unique expertise in moving, fighting, and living in the dense woodlands. Units of Rangers provided security along the vulnerable sides of marching British columns and would scout ahead gathering important intelligence. Without Ranger protection British armies were unable to combat the French. The British Army commander, Lord Loudoun, stated in 1756, "It is impossible for an Army to Act in this Country, without Rangers; and there ought to be a considerable body of them" 9 Ranger forces were a necessary addition to the British army and facilitated their victory over France.
Artistic rendering of Major Robert Rogers,
commanding officer of Rogers' Rangers
during the French and Indian War.
Image from wikipedia.en
( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Old_robertrogers.jpg )
The most famous of the Ranger unit, Rogers' Rangers, hailed from New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Their commander, Robert Rogers, personally created his volunteer unit. Relying on their frontier experience, they altered their uniforms and equipment to facilitate their mission. Gone were the traditional red jackets of the British army, along with coat tails and any clothing or equipment that would catch on underbrush.10 Modifications were made to their weapons as well. Their long muskets were sawed down into carbines, and they adopted the Native American tomahawk as their own. 11 Their tactics revolved around the new weapons. They were a light and mobile force who relied on firepower and surprise to succeed. They perfected the Native American style of ambushes, a volley of musket fire at point-blank range and closing in for the kill with the tomahawk. Rogers established the 28 Rules of Ranging, a guideline for his men to follow. The original rules were known as the Plan of Discipline and were recorded in Rogers' diary. These standing orders continue to be taught to current Army Rangers.
- "All Rangers are to be subject to the rules and articles of war; to appear at roll-call every evening, on their own parade, equipped, each with a Firelock, sixty rounds of powder and ball, and a hatchet, at which time an officer from each company is to inspect the same, to see they are in order, so as to be ready on any emergency to march at a minute's warning; and before they are dismissed, the necessary guards are to be draughted, and scouts for the next day appointed.
- Whenever you are ordered out to the enemies forts or frontiers for discoveries, if your number be small, march in a single file, keeping at such a distance from each other as to prevent one shot from killing two men, sending one man, or more, forward, and the like on each side, at the distance of twenty yards from the main body, if the ground you march over will admit of it, to give the signal to the officer of the approach of an enemy, and of their number, &c.
- If you march over marshes or soft ground, change your position, and march abreast of each other to prevent the enemy from tracking you (as they would do if you marched in a single file) till you get over such ground, and then resume your former order, and march till it is quite dark before you encamp, which do, if possible, on a piece of ground which that may afford your sentries the advantage of seeing or hearing the enemy some considerable distance, keeping one half of your whole party awake alternately through the night.
- Some time before you come to the place you would reconnoitre, make a stand, and send one or two men in whom you can confide, to look out the best ground for making your observations.
- If you have the good fortune to take any prisoners, keep them separate, till they are examined, and in your return take a different route from that in which you went out, that you may the better discover any party in your rear, and have an opportunity, if their strength be superior to yours, to alter your course, or disperse, as circumstances may require.
- If you march in a large body of three or four hundred, with a design to attack the enemy, divide your party into three columns, each headed by a proper officer, and let those columns march in single files, the columns to the right and left keeping at twenty yards distance or more from that of the center, if the ground will admit, and let proper guards be kept in the front and rear, and suitable flanking parties at a due distance as before directed, with orders to halt on all eminences, to take a view of the surrounding ground, to prevent your being ambuscaded, and to notify the approach or retreat of the enemy, that proper dispositions may be made for attacking, defending, &c. And if the enemy approach in your front on level ground, form a front of your three columns or main body with the advanced guard, keeping out your flanking parties, as if you were marching under the command of trusty officers, to prevent the enemy from pressing hard on either of your wings, or surrounding you, which is the usual method of the savages, if their number will admit of it, and be careful likewise to support and strengthen your rear-guard.
- If you are obliged to receive the enemy's fire, fall, or squat down, till it is over; then rise and discharge at them. If their main body is equal to yours, extend yourselves occasionally; but if superior, be careful to support and strengthen your flanking parties, to make them equal to theirs, that if possible you may repulse them to their main body, in which case push upon them with the greatest resolution with equal force in each flank and in the center, observing to keep at a due distance from each other, and advance from tree to tree, with one half of the party before the other ten or twelve yards. If the enemy push upon you, let your front fire and fall down, and then let your rear advance thro' them and do the like, by which time those who before were in front will be ready to discharge again, and repeat the same alternately, as occasion shall require; by this means you will keep up such a constant fire, that the enemy will not be able easily to break your order, or gain your ground.
- If you oblige the enemy to retreat, be careful, in your pursuit of them, to keep out your flanking parties, and prevent them from gaining eminences, or rising grounds, in which case they would perhaps be able to rally and repulse you in their turn.
- If you are obliged to retreat, let the front of your whole party fire and fall back, till the rear hath done the same, making for the best ground you can; by this means you will oblige the enemy to pursue you, if they do it at all, in the face of a constant fire.
- If the enemy is so superior that you are in danger of being surrounded by them, let the whole body disperse, and every one take a different road to the place of rendezvous appointed for that evening, which must every morning be altered and fixed for the evening ensuing, in order to bring the whole party, or as many of them as possible, together, after any separation that may happen in the day; but if you should happen to be actually surrounded, form yourselves into a square, or if in the woods, a circle is best, and, if possible, make a stand till the darkness of the night favours your escape.
- If your rear is attacked, the main body and flankers must face about to the right or left, as occasion shall require, and form themselves to oppose the enemy, as before directed; and the same method must be observed, if attacked in either of your flanks, by which means you will always make a rear of one of your flank-guards.
- If you determine to rally after a retreat, in order to make a fresh stand against the enemy, by all means endeavour to do it on the most rising ground you come at, which will give you greatly the advantage in point of situation, and enable you to repulse superior numbers.
- In general, when pushed upon by the enemy, reserve your fire till they approach very near, which will then put them into the greatest surprise and consternation, and give you an opportunity of rushing upon them with your hatchets and cutlasses to the better advantage.
- When you encamp at night, fix your sentries in such a manner as not to be relieved from the main body till morning, profound secrecy and silence being often of the last importance in these cases. Each sentry therefore should consist of six men, two of whom must be constantly alert, and when relieved by their fellows, it should be done without noise; and in case those on duty see or hear any thing, which alarms them, they are not to speak, but one of them is silently to retreat, and acquaint the commanding officer thereof, that proper dispositions may be made; and all occasional sentries should be fixed in like manner.
- At the first dawn of day, awake your whole detachment; that being the time when the savages choose to fall upon their enemies, you should by all means be in readiness to receive them.
- If the enemy should be discovered by your detachments in the morning, and their numbers are superior to yours, and a victory doubtful, you should not attack them till the evening, as then they will not know your numbers, and if you are repulsed, your retreat will be favoured by the darkness of the night.
- Before you leave your encampment, send out small parties to scout round it, to see if there be any appearance or track of an enemy that might have been near you during the night.
- When you stop for refreshment, choose some spring or rivulet if you can, and dispose your party so as not to be surprised, posting proper guards and sentries at a due distance, and let a small party waylay the path you came in, lest the enemy should be pursuing.
- If, in your return, you have to cross rivers, avoid the usual fords as much as possible, lest the enemy should have discovered, and be there expecting you.
- If you have to pass by lakes, keep at some distance from the edge of the water, lest, in case of an ambuscade or an attack from the enemy, when in that situation, your retreat should be cut off.
- If the enemy pursue your rear, take a circle till you come to your own tracks, and there form an ambush to receive them, and give them the first fire.
- When you return from a scout, and come near our forts, avoid the usual roads, and avenues thereto, lest the enemy should have headed you, and lay in ambush to receive you, when almost exhausted with fatigues.
- When you pursue any party that has been near our forts or encampments, follow not directly in their tracks, lest they should be discovered by their rear guards, who, at such a time, would be most alert; but endeavour, by a different route, to head and meet them in some narrow pass, or lay in ambush to receive them when and where they least expect it.
- If you are to embark in canoes, battoes, or otherwise, by water, choose the evening for the time of your embarkation, as you will then have the whole night before you, to pass undiscovered by any parties of the enemy, on hills, or other places, which command a prospect of the lake or river you are upon.
- In paddling or rowing, give orders that the boat or canoe next the sternmost, wait for her, and the third for the second, and the fourth for the third, and so on, to prevent separation, and that you may be ready to assist each other on any emergency.
- Appoint one man in each boat to look out for fires, on the adjacent shores, from the numbers and size of which you may form some judgment of the number that kindled them, and whether you are able to attack them or not.
- If you find the enemy encamped near the banks of a river or lake, which you imagine they will attempt to cross for their security upon being attacked, leave a detachment of your party on the opposite shore to receive them, while, with the remainder, you surprise them, having them between you and the lake or river.
- If you cannot satisfy yourself as to the enemy's number and strength, from their fire, &c. conceal your boats at some distance, and ascertain their number by a reconnoitering party, when they embark, or march, in the morning, marking the course they steer, &c. when you may pursue, ambush, and attack them, or let them pass, as prudence shall direct you. In general, however, that you may not be discovered by the enemy upon the lakes and rivers at a great distance, it is safest to lay by, with your boats and party concealed all day, without noise or shew; and to pursue your intended route by night; and whether you go by land or water, give out parole and countersigns, in order to know one another in the dark, and likewise appoint a station every man to repair to, in case of any accident that may separate you."
The Rangers allowed the British army to maneuver and combat the French forces. The unique and difficult environment was completely foreign to the Europeans and they could only operate effectively through the use of local forces. The Rangers, in turn, were successful by adopting the insurgent tactics and weapons of their enemies and abandoning the formalities of the conventional army they were attached to. They allowed greater personal initiative and adaptability. The decentralized units maximized their mobility and effectiveness. The key to victory lay in understanding the French and Native American enemy and then adapting to overcome them.
Many Ranger units were officially disbanded after the war and their Ranger returned home but many colonies utilized Ranger forces to secure their vulnerable frontier settlements. When the Revolutionary War broke out in 1776, American Rangers returned to the battlefield. Ranger units were formed among colonists on both sides, Loyalists and Patriots. After the British defeat, they one more returned to defending the frontier lands. Although they were never a permanent component of the US Army, Rangers were called into action for every major American conflict, the Civil War, WWII, Korea, and Vietnam.
World War II
After the Evacuation of Dunkirk, the British army was left on the defensive, waiting for Hitler's inevitable invasion. The German attack from the sea never came and Britain needed a way to fight back. The army created light Commando units who could sneak into German held France and destroy targets and disappear into the night. When America entered the war, they followed suit. The highly mobile fighting of World War II required a light and fast reconnaissance unit. Battlefield commanders needed immediate intelligence to make the best decisions possible.
Allied commander authorized the creation of an American commando style unit. Gen. Eisenhower and Gen. Truscott chose the name Ranger for their new unit. The name and unit would capture the essence of the first American special forces.
Men from the 2nd Ranger Battalion, WWII
Image from US Army Ranger Heritage (http://www.goarmy.com/ranger/heritage/second-ranger-battalion.html)
Under the guidance of veteran British commandos, the 1st Ranger Battalion was formed in 1942. They were quickly deployed to North Africa and assisted in the American landings in occupied Morocco. Following their success, the Army created the 3rd and 4th Ranger Battalions who were also deployed to North Africa. These three units, 1st, 3rd, and 4th, invaded Sicily and Italy. They were eventually destroyed in horrific fighting defending the flanking Anzio beach landing.
The newly formed 2nd and 5th Ranger Battalions were specifically trained for use in the D-Day invasions of June 6th, 1944. Three companies, Dog, Easy, and Fox, from the 2nd Rangers under the command of Col James E. Rudder, assaulted the German artillery position on Pointe du Hoc. This location housed 6 155mm howitzers that would fire upon the American forces landing at Utah and Omaha. Destroying these guns was crucial to the success of D-Day and the Rangers did not fail. 12 The remainder of the 2nd Rangers and the 5th Ranger Battalion landed at "Bloody Omaha." In the horror and death, the highly trained Ranger were instrumental in breaking the German defenses. General Norman Cota approached a group of Rangers hiding from German machine-gun fire behind the sea wall. His orders to the men became immortalized in their official motto, "Rangers lead the way." 13 Under the inspiration of Gen. Cota, the Rangers moved out and broke through the German defenses.
Rangers also fought in the Pacific Theater. The 6th Ranger Battalion landed in the Philippines and were tasked with raiding Japanese prisoner of war camps. The POW camps were deep inside Japanese territory and the Rangers had to infiltrate to assault and then return with hundreds of rescued US prisoners. The other unit was known as Merrill's Marauders. They deployed to Burma and operated long range patrols against the Japanese forces. In coordination with Chinese army forces, the Marauders raided Japanese supply lines and gained important intelligence. The unit succeeded in an unconventional capacity against the Japanese but supply issues wore the troops out. After several months of combat, food shortages destroyed the Marauders as an effective fighting force.
Ranger units followed their predecessors success and fulfilled the reconnaissance and raiding role the US military lacked. When they were tasked correctly, Rangers made the difference between victory and defeat but they were commonly thrown into the conventional meat grinder. Allied command was always short of fighting men and the Rangers were thrown in to fill the gaps in the line. This hole in the dam policy wasted the superior training of Rangers and inflicted high casualties upon the elite forces. While Rangers had helped win the war, after victory the units were disbanded. The expertise was ignored and the needed role was left open.
Allied commander authorized the creation of an American commando style unit. Gen. Eisenhower and Gen. Truscott chose the name Ranger for their new unit. The name and unit would capture the essence of the first American special forces.
Men from the 2nd Ranger Battalion, WWII
Image from US Army Ranger Heritage (http://www.goarmy.com/ranger/heritage/second-ranger-battalion.html)
Under the guidance of veteran British commandos, the 1st Ranger Battalion was formed in 1942. They were quickly deployed to North Africa and assisted in the American landings in occupied Morocco. Following their success, the Army created the 3rd and 4th Ranger Battalions who were also deployed to North Africa. These three units, 1st, 3rd, and 4th, invaded Sicily and Italy. They were eventually destroyed in horrific fighting defending the flanking Anzio beach landing.
The newly formed 2nd and 5th Ranger Battalions were specifically trained for use in the D-Day invasions of June 6th, 1944. Three companies, Dog, Easy, and Fox, from the 2nd Rangers under the command of Col James E. Rudder, assaulted the German artillery position on Pointe du Hoc. This location housed 6 155mm howitzers that would fire upon the American forces landing at Utah and Omaha. Destroying these guns was crucial to the success of D-Day and the Rangers did not fail. 12 The remainder of the 2nd Rangers and the 5th Ranger Battalion landed at "Bloody Omaha." In the horror and death, the highly trained Ranger were instrumental in breaking the German defenses. General Norman Cota approached a group of Rangers hiding from German machine-gun fire behind the sea wall. His orders to the men became immortalized in their official motto, "Rangers lead the way." 13 Under the inspiration of Gen. Cota, the Rangers moved out and broke through the German defenses.
Rangers also fought in the Pacific Theater. The 6th Ranger Battalion landed in the Philippines and were tasked with raiding Japanese prisoner of war camps. The POW camps were deep inside Japanese territory and the Rangers had to infiltrate to assault and then return with hundreds of rescued US prisoners. The other unit was known as Merrill's Marauders. They deployed to Burma and operated long range patrols against the Japanese forces. In coordination with Chinese army forces, the Marauders raided Japanese supply lines and gained important intelligence. The unit succeeded in an unconventional capacity against the Japanese but supply issues wore the troops out. After several months of combat, food shortages destroyed the Marauders as an effective fighting force.
Ranger units followed their predecessors success and fulfilled the reconnaissance and raiding role the US military lacked. When they were tasked correctly, Rangers made the difference between victory and defeat but they were commonly thrown into the conventional meat grinder. Allied command was always short of fighting men and the Rangers were thrown in to fill the gaps in the line. This hole in the dam policy wasted the superior training of Rangers and inflicted high casualties upon the elite forces. While Rangers had helped win the war, after victory the units were disbanded. The expertise was ignored and the needed role was left open.
Modern Army Rangers
When American involvement in Vietnam increased unofficial units called Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols operated alongside the conventional divisions. These LRRP groups would leave US bases and move through the countryside scouting and gathering intelligence on the Viet Cong in the region. These units would then return after several days to report their findings. In true Ranger fashion, they utilized the ambush tactics of their enemy. Units would operate for several days without assistance or contact from the conventional forces around them. These men were highly mobile and very independent. in 1969, the Department of the Army recognized the Ranger traits in the LRRP groups and designated them as Ranger companies in the 75th Infantry Regiment. 14
Long Range Reconnaissance Partol, Vietnam.
Image from Military Photos (http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?125381-Vietnam-war-era-pics-of-special-units-LRRPS-MACV-SOG-AATV-SEALS-FFL-GREEN-BERETS/page34)
Long Range Reconnaissance Partol, Vietnam.
Image from Military Photos (http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?125381-Vietnam-war-era-pics-of-special-units-LRRPS-MACV-SOG-AATV-SEALS-FFL-GREEN-BERETS/page34)
The end of the Vietnam War brought a change in the perception of the Rangers. As warfare shifted to hot spots around the globe, the US Army needed a highly mobile force that could be deployed anywhere at anytime. The 75th Infantry Regiment was re-designated as the 75th Ranger Regiment with the 1st and 2nd Battalions in operation. The goal of this unit was to deploy a battalion to any potential combat zone with 18 hours. America needed to exert its influence and the Rangers were the ones to make it happen.
The first test of the new regiment came in 1983 with the Invasion of Grenada. In what would become a typical Ranger mission, both battalions were ordered to secure the airport at Salines. 15 After multiple mission setbacks, the regiment parachuted onto the airfield. The Rangers encountered some light resistance but they were able to complete their objectives and secure the airfields for reinforcements and resupply. The next mission for the regiment was the Task Force Ranger, Somalia, 1993. invasion of Panama in 1989. 16 The entire regiment, featuring the newly formed 3rd Battalion, conducted a
Image from 75th Ranger Regiment Facebook parachute assault onto the Rio Hata airfield. Resistance was heavier than in Grenada but the planning and preparation (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid= had improved giving the operation greater success. The first experience of the regiment against a 4th 520681794614183&set=a.229376993744666. generational combatant came in Somalia in 1993. The Rangers and Delta Force were order to capture the Somali 80502.190158030999896&&theater) warlord, Mohammed Farah Aidid who was destabilizing the country after a genocidal civil war. While conducting a raid, two of their Black Hawk helicopters were shot down and a desperate and intense firefight ensued leaving 19 US soldiers and hundreds of Somalis dead. This Battle of Mogadishu has become known as the Black Hawk Down incident after the book and movie depiction.
The first test of the new regiment came in 1983 with the Invasion of Grenada. In what would become a typical Ranger mission, both battalions were ordered to secure the airport at Salines. 15 After multiple mission setbacks, the regiment parachuted onto the airfield. The Rangers encountered some light resistance but they were able to complete their objectives and secure the airfields for reinforcements and resupply. The next mission for the regiment was the Task Force Ranger, Somalia, 1993. invasion of Panama in 1989. 16 The entire regiment, featuring the newly formed 3rd Battalion, conducted a
Image from 75th Ranger Regiment Facebook parachute assault onto the Rio Hata airfield. Resistance was heavier than in Grenada but the planning and preparation (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid= had improved giving the operation greater success. The first experience of the regiment against a 4th 520681794614183&set=a.229376993744666. generational combatant came in Somalia in 1993. The Rangers and Delta Force were order to capture the Somali 80502.190158030999896&&theater) warlord, Mohammed Farah Aidid who was destabilizing the country after a genocidal civil war. While conducting a raid, two of their Black Hawk helicopters were shot down and a desperate and intense firefight ensued leaving 19 US soldiers and hundreds of Somalis dead. This Battle of Mogadishu has become known as the Black Hawk Down incident after the book and movie depiction.
Iraq and Afghanistan
The terrorist attacks of September 11th brought a new mission to the 75th Ranger Regiment. Instead of securing stationary targets like buildings, cities, or airfields, Rangers would now be sent after organizations and individuals. While in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Rangers were still tasked with an airborne or parachute assault against the Iraqi H2 airfield and then moved against the Haditha Dam to prevent its destruction. Most operations resemble the manhunt in Somalia with the Rangers raiding locations of known Al Qaeda or Taliban fighters. In many areas, Rangers provide a Quick Reaction Force in support of Delta Force or Navy SEAL teams. In response to the counterinsurgency campaigns, the regiment has shifted from large scale airborne assaults to small raids against personnel.
US Army Rangers in Afghanistan. Image from 75th Ranger Regiment Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=383073135041717&set=a.190439150971784.57360.190158030999896&type=3&theater)
US Army Rangers in Afghanistan. Image from 75th Ranger Regiment Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=383073135041717&set=a.190439150971784.57360.190158030999896&type=3&theater)