United States Army Rangers SVG is a U.S. Army deep reconnaissance unit designed to conduct operational intelligence and sabotage operations in the enemy’s rear. Consisting of graduates from the U.S. Army Ranger School. The term “ranger” is officially and unofficially used by the U.S. Army since the 17th century. Initially, this was the name of the English soldiers who fought in the War of King Philip (1675-1676), and later in the wars against the French and Indians. Ranger companies have been in the U.S. Army since the War of Independence.
Today, the backbone of the Rangers is the 75th Ranger Regiment, an elite airborne light infantry unit subordinate to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command. Six battalions of modern rangers participated in the wars in Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq, invaded Panama and Grenada. The Ranger Regiment is the successor to three of the six World War II Ranger battalions and the 5307th Merrill Marauders, which later became the 475th (75th) Infantry Regiment. The Ranger Training Brigade is located in Fort Benning and is subordinate to the U.S. Army Training Command and Doctrine without being part of the 75th Regiment. She runs the Ranger School, which is a competition for the right to become a regiment fighter and get the U.S. Army Ranger Patch.
Rangers SVG Colonial period
In the 17th and 18th centuries, Rangers participated in British colonist wars against the Indians. The regular British troops were not adapted to the fighting in these territories, so companies of professional soldiers hired by the colonial government were formed. In the course of defense, the Rangers patrolled the area between the fortifications on the border and warned of the impending Indian attacks. In the attack, they played the role of scouts, who discovered villages and other objects suitable for capture by militia or colonial forces.
Colonel Benjamin Church (c.1639-1718) is considered the “founding father” of American rangers. He was captain of the first Ranger units in America (1676):33. Church received an order from the governor of the Plymouth Colony, Josiah Winslow, to create the first company of rangers to participate in the war of King Philip. Later he led the company during the raid on Acadia in the wars of King William and Queen Anne. Church taught his soldiers to follow Indian laws of warfare and inspired them to fight the way the Indians fight:35 The first American Rangers recognized Indians not only as opponents, but also as teachers and sometimes allies:34-35. Church created mixed groups of colonists and Indians, where the latter took part in battles in areas where colonists and militia could not cope. In 1716 Church published his memoirs “Entertaining Passages relating to Philip’s War”, the first work on American military affairs.
The father and grandfather of two of the greatest rangers of the 18th century fought in the Church’s squadron. The first was John Lowell, who lived in the Nashua settlement and participated in the Dammer war as a commander of the colonial militia, leading three raids against the Abenaca tribe. The second was John Gorem, who formed the “Rangers of Gorem” squad, who participated in King George’s war. This squad fought in Acadia and Nova Scotia on the border of the colonies. Grief had the title of captain of regular British troops and became one of the most prominent American rangers (along with younger brother Joseph and Robert Rogers), who received such a high rank in the British army, which was not even awarded by George Washington.
In 1751, the Rogers Ranger Squadron was formed, commanded by Major Robert Rogers. He formed nine light infantry companies that participated in the Seven Years’ War. They were called the “Rangers” and are considered the first serious predecessors of the Rangers of the modern U.S. Army. Rogers developed 28 rules of the Ranger, which are used by army rangers to this day and made the first guide to asymmetric warfare. His subordinates wore blue jackets and trousers of Indian cut, wide leather belts, loafers and hats that resembled modern pilots. Their weapons consisted of a long bayonetless carbine, two pistols, a dagger and an axe. The history goes back to the campaign of four Rangers’ companies under the command of Rogers in 1759, when they went into battle all over the territory of French Canada, defeating many French garrisons and destroying many settlements of the tribe of Hurons.
Rangers SVG The war of independence
After the American Revolution, Colonel Robert Rogers offered his services to George Washington, but he suspected Rogers of espionage and rejected his proposal. Insulted Roger went to fight for the British: he became famous for being able to capture the American spy Nathan Hale. Nevertheless, some of Rogers’ subordinates have taken the side of the colonists, including the future General Israel Putnam. During the war, Washington ordered Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Knowlton to create an elite reconnaissance unit called the Knowlton Rangers. He was the first official United States Ranger unit, but he did more reconnaissance than he did battle. At the same time, Rangers Knowlton are not considered to be the predecessors of the Rangers of the U.S. Army, and the U.S. Army Intelligence Agency.
Another Ranger theorist in the U.S. military was Francis Marion, nicknamed “The Swamp Fox,” a rebel commander in South Carolina. He developed non-traditional methods of warfare against the British – what is now called guerrilla warfare. Marion commanded a squad of his own guerrillas and for his merits in the war was included in the official list of Rangers of the U.S. Army. Brigadier General George Rogers Clark, commander of the Kentucky and Virginia militias, is also considered to be a co-founder of the American Rangers: British Forts Vincennes (Indiana) and Cascasia (Illinois) were taken under his leadership.
The first half of the 19th century
In January 1812, to protect the western borders of the states were mobilized six companies Rangers of the U.S. Army – mountain shooters. Five companies were mobilized in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky, and the sixth in Midtown Tennessee. Captain David Mason commanded them. A year later, 10 more mouths were mobilized, and by December 1813 there were 12 more. The companies participated in the Anglo-American war and were disbanded in June 1815.
The Blackhawk war involved the United States Mounted Ranger Battalion, a cavalry unit made up of border guards who served for one year and were supplied with their own rifles and horses. The battalion consisted of six companies of 100 men each and was commanded by Major Henry Dodge. Later, the 1st Cavalry Regiment was formed on the basis of this battalion.