- For the Steel Division: Normandy 44 unit see SD:Glider Rifles
Glider Rifles is a United States Infantry unit in Steel Division II.
Background[]
1st Airborne Task Force commanded 550th Glider Infantry Battalion. This battalion was originally 550th Airborne Infantry Battalion formed in Fort Kobbe, Panama. This unit was originally designed as a air-landing unit to be landed after a parachute infantry formation take a airfield. This unit along with 1/551st PIR originally mission was to defend the Panama Canal against the Japanese and prepare for a airborne assault on Vichy held Martinique.
550th Glider Infantry Battalion which was assigned to 1st Airborne Task Force landed in France with Mission Dove in the second wave of landings. This battalion moved to the Alps supporting French Partisans of Groupement Dody.
Glider Rifles represents the Rifle Squads of 327th Glider Infantry Regiments of the 101st Airborne. Originally Glider Infantry Regiments had only two battalions but 401st Glider Infantry Regiment's 1st Battalion was sent to serve as the third battalion of the 327th Glider Infantry Regiment. The three Glider Infantry battalions were landed in Normandy by sea because lack of glider transport. Glider Infantry Regiment were treated poorly then their AB Rifles counterparts by not getting the airborne pay and airborne combat equipment. The Glider battalion was organized into three companies commanding two platoon each.
Glider Infantry Battalion were similar to their conventional counterparts but lack in motorized transport and Anti-tank guns. Unlike their conventional counterparts in Infantry Company, Glider Rifle companies lost their third rifle platoon.