Squadron
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A Squadron is a small unit or formation of cavalry, aircraft, or naval vessels.
- A cavalry squadron (horse or armoured) typically consists of three to five troops. In the United States Army, a squadron is the Armor Branch equivalent of a battalion of infantry or artillery; in the British Army, it is the counterpart of an infantry company or artillery battery.
- An air force, army aviation or naval aviation squadron typically consists of three or four flights, with a total of 12 to 24 aircraft, depending on aircraft type and air force. In the Imperial Japanese Army in the Second World War, three air squadrons were assigned to each air regiment. Some air forces (including the Royal Air Force and United States Air Force) also use the term for a ground unit.
- In the United Kingdom, the designation is also used for company-sized units in the Special Air Service, Royal Engineers, Royal Corps of Signals, Royal Army Medical Corps and Royal Logistic Corps, and formerly of the now defunct Royal Corps of Transport, as well as some units in the Royal Marines.
- A naval squadron is more of an ad hoc formation. The only requirement for a grouping of ships to be a squadron is that at least two must be capital ships (battleships, battlecruisers, cruisers, or aircraft carriers). In the United States Navy, several ships of a similar type, such as submarines and destroyers, are administered as squadrons.
- Squadrons are commonly designated using letters or numbers (e.g. No. 1 Squadron or A Squadron). In the British Army, however, it is also a tradition for squadrons to be named after an important historical battle in which the regiment has taken part. In some special cases, squadrons can also be named after a unique honour which has been bestowed on the unit (e.g. The Queen's Colour Squadron of the Royal Air Force's RAF Regiment).