83rd Chemical Battalion

83rd Chemical Battalion 83rd Chemical Mortar Battalion 83rd Chemical Smoke Generator Battalion
Battalion Coat of arms
Active	10 June 1942 – 26 November 1945 16 July 1951 – 15 January 1952 18 March 1955 – 20 December 1966 1 October 1993 – present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army
Role	CBRN defense
Size	Battalion
Part of	48th Chemical Brigade
Battalion HQ	Fort Stewart, Georgia
Motto(s)	"Confront Any Mission" / "Rounds Away!"
Engagements	World War II Italian Campaign Sicily Naples-Foggia Anzio Rome-Arno Southern France Ardennes-Alsace Central Europe War on Terrorism Iraq War Liberation of Iraq Transition
Insignia
Distinctive Unit Insignia

The 83rd Chemical Battalion is a CBRN defense unit of the United States Army. The battalion currently forms part of the 48th Chemical Brigade, providing CBRN assistance to the XVIII Airborne Corps and its subordinate formations. Prior to the modularization of the army it was directly subordinated to XVIII Airborne Corps.

History

Prior to the commencement of the Second World War, the United States Army's Chemical Corps consisted of an assortment of chemical units, from chemical protection to maintenance, smoke generation, and chemical attack. Other than the General Headquarters Reserve, chemical units were habitually assigned only at the field army level where three companies—a chemical laboratory, a depot and a maintenance company—provided that command with specialized chemical warfare support. The primary means for chemical and smoke attack was the service’s various chemical regiments and separate battalions. In 1931, the basis of the main 'Chemical Battalion' was established with four gas companies, which would go on to form the new 'Chemical Battalion (Motorized)(Separate)'.

The 83rd Chemical Battalion was first constituted in the Army of the United States on 12 March 1942. On 10 June 1942, it was activated at Camp Gordon in Georgia. Between its activation and 10 April 1943, it undertook training at the camp before deployment overseas. The new battalion was organised through TOE 'Chemical Battalion (Motorized)(Separate)' documented in T/O 3-25, T/O 3-26 from November 1940. As such, upon formation it was organised as follows:

• Chemical Battalion (Motorized)(Separate)
  • Battalion Headquarters (4 x officers)
  • Headquarters Company
    • Company Headquarters (1 x Officer, 3 x NCO, and 18 x Enlisted with 3 x trucks and 1 x trailer)
    • Battalion Staff (4 x NCOs and 6 x Enlisted with one truck)
    • Communications Section (1 x Officer, 2 x NCOs, and 25 x Enlisted with two motorcycles and two trucks)
    • Ammo Platoon
      • Platoon Headquarters (1 of Officer, NCO, Enlisted, and Motorcycle)
      • 4 x Ammo Sections (1 x NCO, 15 x Enlisted with 4 x trucks, 4 x trailers, and 2 x BAR machine guns)
    • Ordnance Section (Light Maintenance) (2 x NCOs and 10 x enlisted with 4 x trucks)
  • 4 x Chemical Companies
    • Company Headquarters (2 x Officers, 6 x NCOs, and 34 x Enlisted with 1 chemical mortar cart, 2 x motorcycles, 8 x trucks, 1 x trailer, and 2 x BAR machine guns)
    • 2 x Chemical Platoons
      • Platoon Headquarters (2 x Officers, 2 x NCOs, and 13 x Enlisted with 1 x chemical mortar cart, 2 x trucks, and 2 x BARs)
      • 2 x Chemical Sections (each of three teams) (11 x Enlisted with 2 x chemical mortar carts, 1 x truck, and 2 x 4.2-inch mortars)

On 1 April 1942, each chemical battalion's structure was altered. This included the addition of personnel in the headquarters company, the addition of a supply section in the headquarters company. On 28 April 1943, the battalion was sent overseas where it joined United States Forces in Great Britain. However, on 5 July 1943, the battalion was moved to Northern Africa, where on 10 July 1943 it arrived as part of the Seventh United States Army. As part of the army, alongside the 2nd Chemical Battalion form the army's two 4.2-inch mortar battalions. Under this army, the battalion was engaged in all major battles between Operation Husky, Operation Dragoon, and finally the move north for the Western Allied invasion of Germany. On 27 June 1944, it was redesignated as the 83rd Chemical Battalion, Motorized, and on 7 December 1944 amended to 83rd Chemical Mortar Battalion.

On 15 August 1944, the battalion returned to the Continental United States via the Port of Boston, Massachusetts where it was inactivated at Camp Myles Standish on 26 November 1945.

On 5 June 1951, while inactive the Headquarters & Headquarters Company was reduced to Headquarters & Headquarters Detachment, and the battalion redesignated as the 83rd Chemical Smoke Generator Battalion; allotted to the Regular Army; and concurrently the remainder of the battalion was disbanded. On 16 July 1951, the battalion was activated in West Germany, but disbanded on 15 January 1952 while in the United Kingdom. Consequently, the battalion's headquarters were raised to company-size as Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 83rd Chemical Mortar Battalion. On 1 February 1955, the battalion's headquarters were again reduced to a detachment as Headquarters & Headquarters Detachment, and was redesignated as the 83rd Chemical Battalion. The battalion was subsequently activated on 18 March 1955 at Fort McClellan in Alabama as 83rd Chemical Battalion (Service), responsible for training new recruits. During this time, it included the following companies:

• Headquarters & Headquarters Detachment
• 22nd Chemical Company (Combat Support)
• 317th Chemical Company (Processing)
• 501st Chemical Company (Depot)

On 20 December 1966 however, the battalion was inactivated while at Fort Bragg in North Carolina.

On 1 October 1993, the battalion was once again activated at Fort Bragg, North Carolina as 83rd Chemical Battalion (Corps), and assigned to XVIII Airborne Corps. The battalion's war-trace units included:

• Headquarters & Headquarters Detachment
• 59th Chemical Company (Smoke/Decontamination), at Fort Drum, New York
• 101st Chemical Company (Smoke/Decontamination)

Within XVIII Airborne Corps, the battalion served as the active duty command and control headquarters for chemical units assigned to attached to XVIII Airborne Corps or a Joint Task Force Commander. During the early 2000s, it joined the Dragon Brigade which was responsible for all special troops of the corps. It later moved to Fort Stewart, and was aligned with the 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized) for administration.

On 8 February 2003, the battalion deployed from Fort Polk in Louisiana for Iraq, where it served 118 days in Kuwait and Iraq. Upon commencement of ground offensive operations in Iraq, the battalion provided support for all the major ground forces involved: 3rd Infantry Division (Mechanized), 1st Marine Expeditionary Division, United States Special Operations Forces, and the 173rd Airborne Brigade (Separate).

In 2007, following a restructure of the Army's support forces, including chemical troops, the battalion was placed under the 48th Chemical Brigade. Subsequently, the battalion's structure was altered as follows:

• Headquarters & Headquarters Detachment
• 705th Ordnance Company (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) – administrative control
• 7th Chemical Company (Biological Identification/Detection System "BIDS")
• 51st Chemical Company (Combat Support)

A year later, the battalion took control of the 21st Chemical Company (Combat Support) and 101st Chemical Company (Smoke/Decontamination) at Fort Bragg for training, readiness, and authority purposes. The 69th and 92nd Chemical Companies were also later attached based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky and Fort Stewart, Georgia for the battalion's deployments for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom respectively.

In 2010, the battalion was reorganised again, so that all its companies (7th, 21st, 71st, and 101st) were all reorganised into Combat Support (CS) companies. On 10 September 2010, the 7th Chemical Company was inactivated, while in June 2011 the 92nd Chemical Company at Fort Stewart, Georgia was assigned to the battalion. Prior to 2025, the battalion also included the 705th Ordnance Company (EOD) out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina. For administrative purposes, the battalion forms part of the 3rd Infantry Division Artillery Brigade, but its operational formation remains the 48th Chemical Brigade. Before 2025, the battalion's organisation was as follows:

• Headquarters & Headquarters Detachment
• 38th Ordnance Company (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) –> joined 184th Ordnance Battalion (EOD)
• 731st Ordnance Company (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) –> joined 3rd Ordnance Battalion (EOD)
• 756th Ordnance Company (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) –> joined 184th Ordnance Battalion (EOD)
• 766th Ordnance Company (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) –> joined 63rd Ordnance Battalion (EOD)
• 51st Chemical Company (Combat Support), at Fort Polk, Louisiana
• 63rd Chemical Company (Combat Support), at Fort Campbell, Kentucky –> joined from 101st Airborne Division, later joined 23rd Chemical Battalion
• 92nd Chemical Company (Combat Support)

Current structure

The battalion's current structure stands as follows:

• Headquarters & Headquarters Detachment
• 21st Chemical Company (Hazard Response) "Blackjacks", at Fort Bragg, North Carolina
  • Company Headquarters
  • 1st & 2nd Light Decontamination Platoons
  • 3rd CBRN Reconnaissance and Surveillance Platoon (Light) – equipped with M93A/M93A1P1 Fox NBC Reconnaissance Vehicles
• 25th Chemical Company (Technical Escort) "Sentinels"
• 51st Chemical Company (Hazard Response) "Cobras", at Fort Johnson, Louisiana
  • Company Headquarters
  • 1st & 2nd Light Decontamination Platoons
  • 3rd CBRN Reconnaissance and Surveillance Platoon (Light) – equipped with M93A/M93A1P1 Fox NBC Reconnaissance Vehicles
• 59th Chemical Company (Hazard Response) "Mountain Dragons", at Fort Drum, New York
  • Company Headquarters
  • 1st & 2nd Light Decontamination Platoons
  • 3rd CBRN Reconnaissance and Surveillance Platoon (Light) – equipped with M93A/M93A1P1 Fox NBC Reconnaissance Vehicles
• 92nd Chemical Company (Hazard Response) "Rock Steady"
  • Company Headquarters
  • 1st & 2nd Light Decontamination Platoons
  • 3rd CBRN Reconnaissance and Surveillance Platoon (Light) – equipped with M93A/M93A1P1 Fox NBC Reconnaissance Vehicles

Heraldry

Heraldry of the 83rd Chemical Battalion, as approved by the United States Army Institute of Heraldry.

Coat of Arms

Coat of arms of the 83rd Chemical Battalion

Years in use The coat of arms was approved on 28 May 1993. It was amended to correct the description on 27 May 2004. Escutcheon Azure (Cobalt Blue), a hexagon of the like, vertex down fimbriated Argent, overall a dragon flight affronté of the like, wings elevated, head to sinister, spewing fire Gules fimbriated of the second, eyed Or pupil Sable, in front of and grasping in dexter claw a lightning bolt bendwise Yellow fimbriated of the second. None. Symbolism Cobalt blue and golden yellow are colors traditionally associated with the Chemical Corps. The flying amphibious dragon refers to the Battalion's combat service in World War II, which included participation in four assault landings, amphibious and airborne, in Sicily, Italy and France. The lightning flash represents the destructive power of the ammunition used by the unit. The hexagon is a symbol used in chemical formulas for a particle of matter. None.

Distinctive Unit Insignia

Coat of arms of the 83rd Chemical Battalion

Years in use The distinctive unit insignia was approved on 29 June 1966. It was amended to include metric measurements in the description and revise the symbolism on 28 May 1993. Escutcheon A silver color metal and enamel device 1 inches (3.18 cm) in height overall, consisting of a blue hexagon bearing a diagonal yellow lightning flash surmounted by a silver flying dragon exhaling tongues of scarlet flames, the wings extending above the hexagon; all above a silver scroll inscribed "CONFRONT ANY MISSION" in blue. Symbolism Cobalt blue and golden yellow are colors traditionally associated with the Chemical Corps. The flying amphibious dragon refers to the Battalion's combat service in World War II, which included participation in four assault landings, amphibious and airborne, in Sicily, Italy and France. The lightning flash represents the destructive power of the ammunition used by the unit. The hexagon is a symbol used in chemical formulas for a particle of matter.

Awards

Campaign Participation Credit

• Battalion Campaign Participation Credit:
  • World War II
    • Italian Campaign
      • Sicily (with arrowhead)
      • Naples-Foggia (with arrowhead)
      • Anzio (with arrowhead)
      • Rome-Arno
    • Southern France (with arrowhead)
    • Ardennes-Alsace
    • Central Europe
  • War on Terrorism
    • Iraq War
      • Liberation of Iraq
      • Transition

Decorations

Decorations awarded to the 83rd Chemical Battalion or predecessors:

Ribbon	Streamer	Name	Service	Date of Assignment
		Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered ANZIO 1944	22 Jan 44 to 24 May 44	Army General Orders 2013-05
		Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered SOUTHWEST ASIA 2003	8 Jan 03 - 12 Jul 03	Army General Orders 2009-15