BATTERY, MILITARY, the men, horses, guns and vehicles of the smallest independent artillery unit (from Fr. battre, to beat). The name was first employed in the British army at the time of the Crimean War, and in 1859 all existing artillery units were renamed batteries. The unit consists of four, six or eight guns with their teams, animals or tractors, and a corresponding number of vehicles for ammunition. Field batteries are horse- or tractor drawn, and usually form an integral part of infantry divisions. Light, pack or mountain batteries, the guns of which are often carried in pieces on horses or mules, usually act independently, though in the British army some are incorporated in the divisional organization. Medium and heavy batteries, which are usually tractor-drawn, and anti-aircraft batteries, the guns of which are mounted on lorries or on travelling platforms, are normally corps or army troops, and are not allotted to divisions. (X.) United States.—The battery is the smallest administrative unit of field artillery in the United States military service and is normally commanded by a captain. One first lieutenant and two second lieutenants complete the officer personnel. The enlisted strength varies with type of equipment. To facilitate technical operation it is organized into a battery headquarters, four gun sections, one caisson section and one maintenance section. Each section contains the necessary personnel, animals and equipment to perform its functions effectively. The battery is a four gun unit irrespective of calibre and type. In a division it is armed with the French 75 mm. gun, model 1917. Each gun and limber, or caisson and limber, is drawn by a six-horse team (see ARTILLERY; FORTIFICATION AND SIEGECRAFT).