The Platoon is sub-divided into three squads, each with eight soldiers. The system was said to have been invented by Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden in 1618. The weapons platoon typically provides heavy weapons support to the company and includes mortar, anti-armor and heavy machine guns organically. Translated, it means "Group of 20", but has no more connection whatsoever with the number. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Cavalry platoons had a similar organization to the infantry, but with fewer men; platoons rarely exceeded around 33 men, including the lieutenant, sergeants and corporals. [10], Each section is commanded by a corporal (lance sergeant in the Foot Guards), with a lance corporal as second-in-command and six riflemen divided into two four-man fireteams. The rifle squads each consist of two fire teams and a squad leader, while the weapons squad consists of two medium machine gun teams, two close combat missile teams, and a squad leader. Airlanding units were rained to a very high standard indeed and should always be rated as veterans. Made by Heckler and Koch, they fire NATO standard 5.56 x 45mm ammunition. The German Army equivalent of the platoon is the Zug (same word as for train, draught, move or streak), consisting of a Zugtrupp ("platoon troop" or platoon headquarters squad), of four to six men, and three squads (Gruppen) of eight to eleven men each. By the end of World War I in 1918, the rifle platoon had expanded to its largest size in U.S. Army history into a unit of 59 soldiers. [citation needed], An armoured "platoon" is known as a "troop". Traditionally, there were three sections in a platoon; while a platoon operated together during an assault, most patrols were carried out at the section level. A section comprises eight soldiers led by a corporal with a lance corporal as second in command. Each of these three platoons is divided into sections. Each squad is led by a Sergeant, who is usually a Staff Sergeant (SSG, E-6). In the South African army, a platoon usually consists of 27 soldiers and one officer organized into three sections 10 soldiers each plus an HQ which contains 8 men. Great variations on poses. One rifle per fireteam has an attached 40mm grenade launcher; one of the grenadiers is the lance corporal. British Army Platoon. Platoons are commanded by a … The Platoon is sub-divided into three section of between 7-10 soldiers, each commanded by a Corporal with a Lance-Corporal as the Section 2iC. It is unknown whether that usage was abandoned in the 1820s or earlier, but in present days a Georgian platoon still called "Ozeuili" has a similar size to that of other armies. The standard procedure, once the company had marched into its position in the line of battle, was for the company to form facing the enemy as two ranks, by platoon, one behind the other. Due to a shortage of officers, a non-commissioned officer rank of Platoon Sergeant Majorwas introduced from 1938 to 1940 … In the New Zealand Army, an Infantry Platoon is commanded by a 2nd Lieutenant or a lieutenant, with a Platoon Sergeant, a Platoon Signaller and a medic (where relevant) composing the Platoon Headquarters. An Infantry Battalion will also contain an organic Support Company (Mortars, Machine-Guns etc.) [8] Under Army 2020, a platoon in the Heavy Protected Mobility Regiments will consist of around 30 soldiers in four Mastiff/FRES UV vehicles. Each section can be sub-divided into two fire-teams, commanded by the Section Commander and 2iC respectively, as well as normal two man Scout, Rifle and Gun Teams. This is a list of equipment of the British Army currently in use. In the Singapore Army, a platoon is a Lieutenant's billet. and "house-keeping" matters, such as interior guard duty, billeting, messing, fatigue details (i.e., working parties), etc. Fireteam bravo has a HK417 7.62mm for the designated marksman role. A typical infantry company consists of 3 rifle platoons and a 4th platoon known as a weapons platoon. Step 2 If you join an Infantry regiment you go on to do the 16-week Platoon Commanders Battle Course in Brecon, Wales. Description Reviews (0) Description. More recently, the designated marksman of each Australian fireteam has been issued the HK417 in Afghanistan and possibly afterwards. The “platoon system” in municipal police and U.S. baseball and gridiron-football organizations signifies the use of two or more shifts or teams of comparable strength that alternate on duty. In addition, there are at least two light machine guns, each commanded by a lance corporal. Posted by Stewart Crichton on 4th May 2020 Absolutely gorgeous models. On 1 October 1913, under a scheme by General Sir Ivor Maxse, the regular battalions of the British Army were reorganised from the previous eight companies to a four-company structure, with each company having four platoons as separate units each commanded by a lieutenant with a platoon sergeant as his deputy. A unit consisting of several platoons is called a company/battery. Prior to 1940, a platoon might be commanded by either a warrant officer WO III or a lieutenant. In the United States Marine Corps, Infantry Rifle Platoons nominally (per TO&E) consist of 43 Marines and are led by a platoon commander, usually a second lieutenant (O-1), assisted by a platoon sergeant, a staff sergeant (E-6). Within the Colombian Army, a training platoon (in Spanish pelotón) is often commanded by a higher-ranking soldier known as a dragoneante, who is selected for his excellence in discipline and soldiering skills. For other uses, see, communications platoon (USA headquarters and headquarters company [HHC], airborne, air Assault, and light infantry battalions), Maintenance platoon (USA HHC mechanized infantry/combined arms battalion), Reglement concernant l'exercice et les manoeuvres de l'infanterie. Indeed, the sections, as well as the platoons, were primarily administrative sub-units of the company, since tactically the company seldom employed in other than as a massed formation. and a Logistics Company (Transport and Stores). A British Army Group in the First World War. While the officers managed the battle and the staff NCOs (first sergeant and quartermaster sergeant) superintended logistics, the NCOs (sergeants and corporals) served as first-line supervisors and leaders by exhibiting a soldierly example for their privates and encouraging them to maintain proper discipline and to fight effectively. The corporals, and the sergeant, prior to the increase to two corporals per section, led the two squads of the section. The “platoon system” in municipal police and U.S. baseball and gridiron-football organizations signifies the use of two or more shifts or teams of comparable strength that alternate on duty. A typical infantry platoon consists of three seven-man sections of riflemen and a machine gun team, both commanded by Third Sergeants, a platoon sergeant and a platoon medic for a total of 27 soldiers. Here we have a seating diagram I just did up of the British Army's Armoured Infantry Rifle Platoon mounted in FV510 Warrior IFVs. In the Indian army, a Platoon consists of three sections. Slightly smaller than GW heroic 28mm, but slightly chunkier than true 28mm which is perfect imo. The platoon may also have three MAG 58 general-purpose machine guns, one M2 Browning heavy machine gun or a Mk 19 grenade launcher at its disposal. These are the British Army's standard combat weapons. The British Army Armoured Infantry Platoon consists of a Platoon Headquarters, 3 Sections, and 4 FV510 Warrior infantry fighting vehicles. The platoon is the smallest military unit commanded by a commissioned officer—and all officers graduating from the IDF's Officer's Academy receive a "platoon commander" pin, even if they are not intended to command a platoon. British Armoured Platoons. US Tank Destroyers under British command via the lend-lease programme were organised into platoons of four. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. The typical flight commander is a captain. The Weapons Company is usually led by a first lieutenant (O-2) and a gunnery sergeant (E-7) due to the generally larger number of Marines (up to 69 in the 81mm mortar platoon) in these platoons (the heavy machinegun platoon being the exception with only 28 members) and the more complex weapon systems employed. The function of administration is introduced at this level,…, …a company headquarters, three rifle platoons of three squads each, and a weapons platoon in which were placed light, crew-served weapons for close-fire support. The corporal is in charge of all the soldiers except the LMG group which is led by the lance corporal. In the 17th century the term referred to a small body of musketeers who fired together in a volley alternately with another platoon, and it has always retained some sense of systematic alternate employment. An Infantry Rifle Company (3 per Infantry Battalion has a Weapons Platoon for crew served support Weapons. Each squad and the platoon headquarters is equipped with an BTR-80 Armoured personnel carrier. During their time as a Second Lieutenant, Officers complete special to arms training relevant to their Corps. Some very large specialist platoons will actually have a lieutenant as the second-in-command. A Corps contained two or more Divisions and was one step below an army group. With 8 Regular Battalions, 2 Reserve Battalions and 42 Light Aid Detachments there are varied and frequent opportunities working anywhere in the world. Rifle platoons normally consist of a small platoon headquarters and three or four sections (Commonwealth) or squads (US). In many corps, platoon-sized units are called troops instead. The squads were primarily a non-tactical sub-unit used mainly for drill (marching practice, formations, ceremonies, etc.) Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). This article will focus on the British integration of Non-Commissioned Officers to new officers’ training, field conditions, student evaluations, the student/cadre relationship, physical fitness, and student feedback at the British Army’s Platoon Commanders’ Battle Course. 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