The platoon shall have a flexible and robust command structure which shall be tolerant of attrition and conducive to the retention of experienced non-commissioned officers. The first lieutenant shall be the platoon commander,the first in command of the platoon,and when required,a section commander.
The second lieutenant shall be the deputy platoon commander,the second in command of the platoon,and when required,a section commander.
The platoon sergeant major (a Warrant Officer third class) shall be the platoon commander's assistant,third in command of the platoon,and when required,a section commander.
The platoon sergeant shall be the deputy platoon commander's assistant,fourth in command of the platoon,and when required,a section commander.
The four corporals shall be the deputy section commanders,the second in command of the sections,and when required,the section commanders. The twelve lance corporals shall be the team commanders,and when required,the deputy section commanders. All of the above shall be issued with a short range team/section radio,which shall not be issued to the private soldiers to reduce their load.
The private soldiers shall be the platoon's equipment operators and shall be paired with soldiers of higher rank and experience in twenty,two man,teams.
A typical two man team shall consist of a lance corporal and a private,five teams typically being combined in to each of four ten man sections,each typically consisting of a sergeant or lieutenant,a corporal,three lance corporals and five privates.
However these teams shall be equipped,and organised in to sections,as the platoon commander sees fit,within the constraints of the platoon's available manpower and equipment.
Before proceeding further,it should be noted that there are two different and unrelated "Three Eighths Inch" cartridges referred to below,one for carbines and pistols,the other,much larger,cartridge for machine guns and sniper rifles.
It should also be noted that the weight of the complete Quarter Inch Rifle weapon system with seven full magazines shall be twenty five pounds but,where greater foot mobility is required,infantrymen carrying heavy equipment,such as the Six Inch Rocket Launcher,may reduce their burden by thirteen pounds by omitting the sword,six loaded magazines,thermal imager and day scope,a total weight reduction of twenty pounds shall be possible by replacing the complete Quarter Inch Rifle weapon system with a Three Eighths Inch Pistol weapon system.
There shall be up to twenty,two man,rifle teams,each of which shall be armed with two Quarter Inch Rifles,this being the standard weapon of the platoon,providing direct fire against infantry at ranges up to half a mile.
There shall be up to twenty,two man,close combat teams,each of which shall be armed with two Three Eighths Inch Carbines,in lieu of the Quarter Inch Rifles,a dozen hand grenades and one Three Eighths Inch pistol,providing a close combat capability at ranges up to a quarter mile. There shall be up to four,two man,command teams,each of which shall consist of a signaller and platoon or section commander (first lieutenant,second lieutenant,platoon sergeant major or sergeant),be armed with two Quarter Inch Rifles and one Three Eighths Inch Pistol and operate the platoon's platoon/section radios providing both command and communication support.
There shall be up to four,two man,vehicle teams,each of which shall consist of a driver and commander (who also operates the vehicle's machine gun),be armed with two Three Eighths Inch Pistols,two Quarter Inch Rifles and one Three Eighths Inch Machine Gun and operate the platoon's Light Protected Trucks (or Field Cars),providing both mobility and fire support. There shall be up to four,two man,machine gun teams (dismounted vehicle teams),each of which shall consist of a machine gun operator and a machine gun commander,be armed with one Quarter Inch Rifle and one Three Eighths Inch Machine Gun,providing direct fire at ranges up to one and a half miles and area fire at ranges up to five miles.
There shall be up to four,two man,Three Inch Mortar teams,each of which shall consist of a mortar operator and a mortar commander,be armed with two Quarter Inch Rifles and one Three Inch Mortar with up to seven bombs,providing illumination,target marking and area fire at ranges up to half a mile.
There shall be up to four,two man,Six Inch Rocket Launcher teams,each of which shall consist of a rocket launcher operator and a rocket launcher commander,be armed with two Quarter Inch Rifles and one (loaded) Six Inch Rocket Launcher,providing direct fire against buildings,bunkers,armoured vehicles,infantry and aircraft at ranges up to half a mile.
There shall be no more than one,two man,stalking team,which shall consist of a stalker and a stalker commander armed with two Quarter Inch Rifles,providing reconnaissance,observer and marksman capabilities. There shall be no more than one,two man,stretcher team,which shall consist of a stretcher bearer and a stretcher commander,armed with two Quarter Inch Rifles,providing second stage medical treatment and foot mobile casualty evacuation.
There shall be no more than one,two man,signals team,which shall consist of a signaller and a signals commander armed with two Quarter Inch Rifles,providing detection,identification,location and jamming of hostile signals.
There shall be no more than one,two man,pioneer team,which shall consist of a pioneer and a pioneer commander,armed with two Quarter Inch Rifles,providing mobility,counter mobility and counter-counter mobility capabilities.
Picture: Unknown photographer,unknown copyright
It should be noted that the command,stalker,stretcher,signal,pioneer,mortar and rocket teams shall be integral elements of the platoon and in addition to,not instead of,specialist platoons held at battalion group level.
