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Military & Defence vocabulary · Units & Organisation

Battalion

Meaning in military & defence, with examples

/bəˈtæliən/nounCore term

In military & defence, battalion means: A unit of several hundred soldiers, made up of three to five companies and usually commanded by a lieutenant colonel.

In Turkish: tabur

How it is used

The basic building block for many tasks, with its own headquarters. Common phrases: infantry battalion, logistics battalion, battalion commander. Written 'Bn' in abbreviations: 1st Bn.

Example sentences

  1. The battalion has about six hundred soldiers in four companies.

  2. Our battalion will host the visiting delegation next week.

Common collocations

  • infantry battalion
  • battalion commander
  • battalion headquarters
  • logistics battalion
  • companyA unit of roughly 80 to 250 soldiers, made up of several platoons and usually commanded by a captain or a major.
  • brigadeA formation of several battalions and support units, usually a few thousand soldiers, commanded by a brigadier, brigadier general or colonel.
  • regimentA military unit with a long history and its own traditions; in some armies a fighting unit, in others mainly a family of battalions.
  • unitAny organised group of military personnel with its own commander and role, from a small team up to a large formation.

More terms: Units & Organisation

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