Someone pointed out that US stryker brigades had been gamed against Russian motorized and were looking at I think 50% casualty rates in under a week. A second issue is the now universal threat of IEDs, which means that all deployed infantry units need some form of protected mobility. A company has anywhere from a few dozen to 200 soldiers. Forgive me if this is obvious but I dont know how much youve seen/been in a Warrior. Mortar platoons with 8 or 9 x 81 mm tubes has been proven on many occasions to be sufficient. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. In addition, each section now has an organic 7.62 mm L7A2 GPMG gunner plus a designated marksman with the 7.62 mm L129A1 Sharpshooter rifle. They usually consist of three or more field armies, with about 1 million to 3 million soldiers. Your fantasy FF2020 is pretty much identical to mine, but I want three brigades of each type, for 1 in 3 rotation cycle. When infantry commanders are able to plan around having 36 soldiers in all circumstances, this is bound to have a positive impact on training, tactics and procedures. With all these components, a battalion is the smallest military unit capable of "limited independent operations".[1]. Currently, infantry companies have a fourth fire support platoon equipped with 7.62 mm L7A2 GPMGs. Jed touched upon it earlier, rekindling Think Defences rather outlandish proposal to create a non-deployable ceremonial unit. Units AUTHORISED PERSONNEL: AUTHORISED EQUIPMENT - BATTALION LEVEL: Prev Next What if you disbanded the reserve artillery regiments and added reserve batteries to your regular regiments? 3743 0 obj <>stream Given the requirement, identify the elements and generic employment missions of a . I think that keeping divisions how they are is the better system and that each of the divisions should be organised into independent battlegroups (with some of their own logistics included) that can be used to bolt onto a heavier or lighter formation as and when required or massed together such as the armored div for a major confrontation. It is estimated that a typical Armoured infantry or Mechanised Battalion will operate around 90 IFVs or MIVs and have an additional 60 support vehicles including MRVPs for command and liaison, MAN 44 trucks plus MAN 44 fuel trucks for resupply, and MAN Recovery vehicles. This would lead directly to an to small infantry force wich would not be able to create the said necessary critial mass and also such an infantry would simply not have the overall size which is necessary to fight in an infantry-terrain (like woods, urban etc). After 1882, cavalry battalions were renamed squadrons and cavalry companies were renamed troops. In the U.S. Marine Corps, an infantry or "rifle" battalion typically consists of a headquarters and service company, three rifle, or "line", companies (designated alphabetically A through M depending upon which battalion of the parent regiment to which they are attached) and a weapons company. Army Infantry Division Infantry Battalion (AEF) of the Infantry Regiment Rifle Company (1917 1921) Army Air Service Monoplace Pursuit Group of the Monoplace Pursuit Wing Monoplace Pursuit Squadron (1918) Marine Regiment Infantry Battalion (AEF) Rifle Company (Sep. 1918) Army Regular Division Regular Brigade Regular Infantry Regiment (1861 1867) Several battalions form a regiment or brigade. With a 7.62mm MG, 7.62mm DMR and 6 shot 40mm GL in each section I would not want to follow the Yanks direction to an overly powerful 6.8mm AR for everyone. Why did / do we need mass, as in large numbers of infantry boots on the ground ? With a universal size, it is easy to see gaps and to fill them. A battalion may also contain a combat support company. And it is Soldier so of course Warrior 2 is the best thing that ever happened to the Army, https://gdls-aus.com/products/ajax-ifv/ajax-infantry-fighting-vehicle/. The Combat Medic and Platoon Sergeant are generally paired as the Platoon Sergeant is responsible for coordinating CASEVAC. Cross Reference Table that lists the numbered regiments and artillery IBCTs also are organized to be airborne or air-assault capable. Beginning in the early 1980s, some elements of the combat support companies (the mortar and scout platoons) were merged into the headquarters company with the staff and support elements, others were moved to their parent type organization (ground surveillance radar and air defense), and in infantry battalions the heavy anti-tank missile platoon was organized as a separate company (ECompany). Moreover, having an SF Pl means that you have more PIDs to play with too, which could be redistributed to REME or Anti-Tanks, both of which should be enlarged in Armd/Mech BGs (as well as the extra personnel in Coy HQs: Warrior Sergeant Major, CQMS(T) etc). Other ranks will include the RSM, Drill Sergeant, Chief Clerk, plus 7 additional clerks / drivers. Officers Mess Staff In an infantry squad, the teams divide duties: one serves as a base-of-fire element, while the other serves as the maneuver element. Or fortunate, as you will. It usually consists of 1 officer + 27 other ranks. Eight is hard enough (the driver helpfully stows his away in the tunnel between him and the gunner although that is likely a death sentence if the wagon brews up or goes underwater). This means instead of giving every infantry unit organic protected mobility, i would even take the units that have such now this vehicles and would create own fighting units out of them which are then part of the tank troops. Have the shortfall taken up by a line battalion. [27][28], A Soviet artillery battalion in the late 1980s consisted of a battalion headquarters, a headquarters platoon, a maintenance and supply platoon and three firing batteries, each with six artillery pieces, whether the self-propelled 2S1 Gvozdikas or the towed D-30 howitzers, and numbering 260 personnel or 240 personnel respectively. I would like to see the Hirtenberger 60mm mortars purchased under UOR deployed at least in the Rifle Company HQ, more for smoke and illumination rather than HE. It offers a range of new ammunition natures from anti-tank rounds to bunker-busting HE. Fantastic comments. This means wagons to have space for additional personnel and stores, are all properly crewed and that dismounted mass hits the desired 28 (plus crew 53=15 so 43 total). Anyway, having filled all the racks with ammo for the cannon and chain gun and having packed the rations away, stowed everybodys gonk bag, admin pouch, daysack and squeezed the six dismounts in, you give them a couple of NLAWs (12kg, 1m long each), an ASM (9kg, 1m long) and hand the 2IC a couple of spare crates of ball and a couple of link, half a dozen extra smoke, boxes of cyalumes, handful of shermulies etc etc and you see that quite quickly its become so crowded that six dismounts is the absolute maximum. Teams can serve as a base-of-fire or as a maneuver element. The problem the Army has is when it wants people to do two jobs at once in two different places at the same time . This set up allows the squad to fire and maneuver at the same time, with one team able to act as a "support" element and the other as an "assault" element. It will include the Commanding Officer, 2IC, Adjutant, Operations Officer, Intelligence Officer, and Training Officer. - light cannon, assigned to AT unit. This would inevitable change their way of fighting and therefore hinder them to be an true general purpose infantry. Option A allows the platoon to be divided equally between four combat vehicles. Encouraged by his children, Uchida began to write his memoirs when he was in his seventies . Thisproposal is in-line with what rifle companies already have. Unfortunately, it is only attached if a battalion deploys and may not train often enough with the battalion to which it is allocated to achieve the desired level of integration. By having so many different existing battalion structures, it is more difficult to asses overall manning levels. These are: The Communications Platoon (formerly the Signals Platoon) is primarily designed to support Battalion HQ by providing C4I services and radio operators. This adds-up to 2 officers +14 other ranks. The battalion structure is designed to readily expand to include a fourth rifle company, if required, as described above under battalion organization. It would be no problem to fit 9 soldiers in a Warrior IFV, Boxer MIV or Bushmaster PMV. Ok thats a long post so short range air defences, and infantry use of drones later !! This structure was used during Operation Banner in Northern Ireland for many years and proved to be extremely effective. Often Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company (ANGLICO) officers are assigned to the battalion, to coordinate naval gunfire support. The Netherlands have four battalions that are permanently reserved for the United Nations, for the purpose of peacekeeping duties. The central idea in proposing a universal battalion structure is to build it around platoons of 1 + 35 soldiers. In the brochure it is seven. With this weapon now returned to individual sections, in lieu of the 5.56 mm L110A2 LMG, there is arguably no need for a separate machine gun platoon, especially as platoon vehicles will have a mix of 12.7 mm HMGs and 40 mm GMGs. (c) distributed as required when regiment is broken-up in detachments. I agree on the close relationship between regs and reserves, having been in a specialist reserve unit, I have seen it work really well. However, the usage of designated marksmen not too common. You say this would enhance their professionalism. Infantry Regiments and Their Commanders 1792 - 1815 The Austrian infantry and their commanders. 1 Combat Support battalion. There are ways and means around problems though, if I recall correctly when they introduced warrior with its seven seats, they split a section into a four man squad and a three man squad and the warrior became a fire support squad, but therell have to be some very creative thinking with twenty four seats unless you shrink your platoon or fund a fifth and sixth vehicle. It could be the primary weapon and role of squaddie per section to be the grenadier. An MEB is one of the standard Marine Air-Ground Task Forces (MAGTF), is commanded by a brigadier general or major general, and consists of command element, a ground combat element (usually one reinforced Marine infantry regiment), an aviation combat element (a reinforced Marine aircraft group including rotary wing, fixed wing, and tiltrotor aircraft), and a combat logistics element (a Marine combat logistics regiment, which includes naval construction forces [Seabees] and naval medical elements). The commander's staff coordinates and plans operations. If its not can we at least work round it by concentrating on fire and manoeuvre? Finally, a REME Detachment will provide repair and recovery services for all Battalion Armoured Vehicles. If youre looking to increase platoon strength without greatly increasing overall numbers Id eliminate the support company and draw its manpower and vehicles down from battalion, possibly adding two dedicated support sections to a platoon. SVC - Short answer: Ajax IFV has six seats (link at bottom). Some would argue that the 40 mm low velocity grenade is a substitute for 51 mm mortars, but maximum range is 300-400 metres not 700-800 metres. Regimental pride is at stake. Steven Aftergood 07 Personnel summary. It normally has a headquarters company, support company, and three rifle companies (usually, but not always, A, B and C companies). Four section vehicles each having six dismounts with three crew is 36. . @whitehaxkle I like this idea, keeps the flexibility of providing vehicle crews while improving the firepower ! Two items that the infantry cannot do without. NOTE: This summary of Army Tables of Organization and Equipment includes only combat and directly related major support units. I think that wider structures, instead of ten BCTs we should look at the French and Australians. To be true general purpose infantry they would be trained to act together with the tank units which can transport them and then assist them in the fight, but this tank units would be a world for them own and would even in the case of an unit of IFV be an complete seperate unit which could and should also fight for its own if the need arises. 01 Introduction ), probably Boxer SPH.. Each battalion usually consists of the following: In the Soviet Armed Forces, a motorised rifle battalion could be mounted in either BTR armoured personnel carriers or BMP infantry fighting vehicles, with the former being more numerous into the late 1980s. Gary Uchida was an original member of the 100th Infantry Battalion. As a bonus I thought that a closer relationship with reserves at battalion might serve as a nice middle ground, with regulars perhaps choosing that as way out of the service as well as for reserves finding it a way in. When the German armed forces began their invasion of Soviet Union in June 1941 with . They would free up the Battalions and companies now assigned to this role to shore up the numbers in real Battalions . This is because a battalion's complement of ammunition, expendable weapons (e.g., hand grenades and disposable rocket launchers), water, rations, fuel, lubricants, replacement parts, batteries, and medical supplies normally consists of only what the battalion's soldiers and the battalion's vehicles can carry. Troops in IFVs will additionally benefit from 40 mm CT40 cannons and 7.62 mm chain guns for support. Select A Unit From the Menu to Learn More: There are a few distinct exceptions in the structure of each military service. The next level up is the Infantry Battalion (IBCT) which consists of a Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3 Rifle Companies (this) and a Weapons Company. That gives a reduction of 1590 from current strength that could be used for the new bronegruppa. Such a doctrine would also change the very nature and character of many infantry units which would then become mech-inf and therefore their thinking, their self-understanding, their military culture and so on will change. Therefore, this exercise will commence by considering how platoons and rifle sections should be organised and how this determines overall rifle company size and structure. Maybe reserve Infantry can protect reserve loggies delivering stores and ammo. 6 Battalions of Foot Guards (armoured infantry), 6 battalions of The Light Infantry 6 Battalions of The Fusilliers (Mech infantry in Boxer) and 18 Battalions of The Rifles ? So it is a very flexible number. The United States Navy has construction battalions and navy cargo handling battalions. , Specialist (OR-4), armed with 1 60mm Mortar and 1 M9/M17 Pistol, , Private First Class (OR-3), armed with 1 M4A1 Carbine, , Sergeant (OR-5), armed with 1 M4A1 Carbine. Doing this has massively increased the company in vehicles (+6) and personnel (platoon now being 9+9+9+9+4+4=44 without a Signaller or medic). The current active corps are I Corps at Fort Lewis, Washington; III Corps at Fort Hood, Texas; and XVIII Airborne Corps at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. However, guarding Buck House entails huge levels of scrutiny screw-ups will be recorded and shared online. The BTR battalion also featured an anti-tank platoon with four AT-3 Sagger or AT-4 Spigot launchers and two 73mm SPG-9 recoilless guns; BTR units on high-readiness status sometimes had six missile launchers and three recoilless guns. [1] The other support company would have the assault pioneers and the 2-3 anti tank platoons. An infantry battle group will typically be commanded by the commander of the core infantry battalion around which it is formed and can range in size from 300 to 1,500 or more soldiers, depending on the nature of the mission assigned. There are also support battalions in the Dutch Army, which specialise on a specific task: for example, supplies and transport or communications. The Warrior has two benches how many can you squeeze on? While the US army will no doubt eventually start fielding thier new 6.8mm super calibre I think 2 rifle calibres in sections will remain wise. Is putting the GPMG back Into the section enough to ditch 12.7mm or 40mm GMG from a heavy machine gun platoon in the Support Company ? Under the observation of the Marine Corps. It enables a return to pre-1950s rule of four: assault, suppress, reserve, exploit. Medics require a lot of expensive training and continuous clinical exposure to remain competent, in date, and able to operate in the complex world of modern combat medicine. The size of this sub-unit must be sufficient to support the tracked vehicles of Armoured Infantry battalions, so a Detachment structure of 1 officer + 37 other ranks is proposed. Light Machine Gun Section and a Mortar Section. Note(s) 6-10. @Jed In my fantasy army its the best allocation of resources. In this context, a BTG can be defined as a task-organised, combined arms, tactical formation created by a brigade or regiment commander to complete a specific, discrete mission. In the Royal Netherlands Army, a mechanised infantry battalion usually consists of one command- and medical company, three mechanised infantry companies, and one support company, which has three platoons with heavy mortars and three platoons with anti-tank missiles (TOW). Starting in 20052006, the U.S. Army's mechanized and tank battalions were reorganized into combined arms battalions (CABs). I further agree that 28 is a good number: four six-strong sections and a four-strong Pl HQ has sufficient flexibility, lethality and survivability (it can absorb casualties, something current AI platoons struggle to do). 3 regiments with 3 infantry battalions, plus supporting troops. I appreciate Ive written a lot but have a few more broad questions on future infantry structures and would be curious to hear others views. The number . I think were missing a trick with not using the reserve transition from regular service. There are combat arms battalions, as well as combat support and combat service support battalions. The basic individual weapon in the light infantry battalion was the M14 rifle, while the airmobile unit was authorized M16 rifles. 338 MMGs are going to make GPMG SF obsolete. 25th INFANTRY DIVISION (Occupation) During the occupation of Japan from 1945-1950, the 25th Infantry Division retained its triangular WWII organization of three infantry regiments. Four soldiers make up a team a noncommissioned officer and three junior enlisted soldiers. One of the most readable and enjoyable articles on defence I have read recently. NATO defines a battalion as "larger than a company, but smaller than a regiment" while "consisting of two or more company-, battery-, or troop-sized units and a headquarters. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Do we have to acknowledge the British Army lacks mass on any scale and that includes the dismounted close combat platoon ? A platoon consists of a few squads and up to a few dozen soldiers. Combat enemy fast air? 02 Infantry Platoons built around 36 soldiers. With the US Army planning to adopt a new 6.8 mm High Velocity Armoured Piercing Ammunition (HVAP), the rest of NATO may follow its lead. Of course, there will always be exceptions, be you Regular or Reserve, but to dismiss them as second-rate soldiers is unfounded and outdated. A company consists of 3-4 platoons and is part of a battalion. While Light Role battalions will primarily operate on foot, they will still need all-terrain vehicles that support them in the field. At least in tracked / wheeled armoured infantry ? Battle Order is for informational purposes only. Various members of the platoon will also carry a 9 mm Glock 17 pistol. The term battalion is used in the British Army Infantry and some corps including the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, and Intelligence Corps. Ref In the U.S. Marine Corps, the brigade designation is used only in "Marine Expeditionary Brigade" (MEB). I think this ORBAT with this weapon allocation redresses the balance of infantrymen equipped to assault and those equipped to suppress as well as giving greater flexiblity and lethality by bridging the gap between it and support weapon platoons. So back to my original question , can firepower and manoeuvre replace infantry mass, at least for armoured infantry units for the missions they will be used for, while maximizing boots on the ground for protected mobility Battalions which would have a different primary mission set ?? However, it differed from the light infantry platoons, which lacked a weapons squad and had 2 M240 teams in the platoon headquarters, and the ranger rifle platoon, which lacked Javelins in its weapons squad. Moving from the micro to the macro, the organization of the army overall is a little wacky, given the number of infantry battalions youd expect to see simple structures equivalent to ten brigade combat teams, but you dont; Id say this is a worry not just operationally but because it lends itself to questions and to cuts, the fighting and the support units should explain and justify each others existence. Radio operators, medics and anti-tank weapon operators would carry assault rifles with shorter barrels for reduced weight and increased convenience. The Medical Platoon (which establishes a Regimental Aid Post when deployed) will be comprised of 1 medical officer + 19 other ranks. The battalion is "the smallest infantry organization that can arrange for a concentration of support weapons of different kinds" (War Office training manual, 15 January 1944), and is usually grouped with other units such as armoured regiments or other infantry battalions into higher formations: brigades, divisions, corps, armies and army groups. Good points. With the Army embracing other new technologies, such as drones and loading carrying autonomous vehicles, having sufficient technical personnel to operate and maintain them suggests that having sufficient REME personnel is essential. (b) In principal belongs to the auxiliary service. The basic platoon structure of the Universal Battalion assumes that individual riflemen within sections will be equipped with the 5.56 mm L85A3 assault rifle (SA80) including two soldiers with 40 mm UGLs. So that the tanks can seperate from the infantry completly and then act as an force for their own. 40mm MV is would be an excellent addition to the ammo mix in sections bit there will be some work for the SASCs to update Pams and traces so unlikely to happen. Battalions are tactical and administrative organizations with a limited capability to plan and conduct independent operations and are normally organic components of brigades, groups, or regiments. It is also suitable for Light Role battalions operating on foot. Thisproposal is in-line with what rifle companies already have. 04 Battalion HQ and HQ Company structure For context Ive remembered where my TA train of thought originated, it was during the general discussion on strike brigades and a resurgent Russia. This will also be sufficient to sustain Mechanised Infantry Battalions and Light Role Protected Mobility Battalions. [26], Prior to the late 1980s, Soviet tank battalions consisted of three tank companies of 13 T-64, T-72 or T-80 tanks each, along with a battalion headquarters mounted in a command tank and a headquarters and service platoon, for a total of 165 personnel and 40 tanks; battalions using the older T-54, T-55 or T-62s tanks had 31 or 40 additional enlisted personnel.
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