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Platoon (United States Army)

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A platoon is a military unit of the United States Army. It is generally the smallest unit to be commanded by a commissioned officer, known as the platoon leader, currently a first or second lieutenant. The senior-most non-commissioned officer assists the platoon leader as platoon sergeant, currently a sergeant first class.[1][2]

The exact size and composition of platoons in the US Army depends on the time period and their intended mission. Among the combat arms a platoon will consist of several squads or a similar number of armored fighting vehicles, while combat service support platoons are organized based on their function. Several platoons will be combined into a company, with each platoon receiving a letter designation for identification.[1][2]

History

In the American Civil War, drill manuals used to train both sides described how a company could be divided into two platoons, which could be further subdivided into two sections of two squads. However very few references are made regarding the use of platoons in combat.[3] One exception was when a company was deployed as skirmishers: one platoon formed a skirmish line while the other took up position 150 paces behind as support.[4]

When new drill manuals were published in 1891, they retained the organization of a company divided into two platoons commanded by lieutenants. There was now though greater emphasis on the use of platoons and squads advancing and providing fire support for each other.[5][6] During the Spanish-American War an infantry company making a frontal assault would advance in rushes: one platoon running forward about fifty yards before going prone, whereupon the other platoon would rise up and rush past it, until close enough to assault the enemy's positions.[7]

World War II

Infantry Platoons

The doctrinal role of American infantry during World War II was to seize and hold territory. This was primarily done as part of an overall doctrine of combined arms, but the infantry was capable of acting on their own to accomplish their mission. When facing against another combined force or organized defensive position, however, infantry acting independently was at a disadvantage.[8]

The rifle platoon was the principle subunit of a rifle company with three per company; in turn each platoon was composed of three rifle squads.[8] This mirrored the "triangular" format of larger units, allowing for two subunits to engage in combat while the third remained in reserve as support.[8]

  • When marching, a rifle platoon would be deployed as the vanguard or rearguard for its parent company, or deployed as an outpost when the march came to a halt. Individual squads would be sent out to scout ahead, patrol the surrounding area or stand guard as sentinels.[9]
  • On the defensive, a rifle platoon placed on the front line could occupy an area 250-500 yards in length and no more than 200 yards in depth, depending on the terrain. Individual squads were placed so as to cover a given sector of the defensive line and provide supporting fire for adjacent platoons. The support platoon was situated behind the front line platoons so as to provide supporting fire, protect the flanks and rear, and if necessary counterattack in case of enemy penetration.[10]
  • When attacking, the rifle platoon's squads would conduct a frontal assault using fire and movement to close with and overrun the enemy's position. While a large flanking maneuver was rarely possible, depending on the terrain and other factors using one or two squads to assault the enemy while the third maneuvered to attack their flank could also be carried out. Likewise the support platoon would provide supporting fire to the attacking platoons, moving up to replace one of them or help secure the objective if necessary, or repel an enemy counterattack.[11]

Within the platoon's headquarters, the platoon guide was responsible for preserving platoon cohesion and maintaining proper cover, concealment, and discipline among the soldiers; of the two messengers one remained with the platoon while the other was assigned to the company commander. Additionally, one of the platoon's riflemen would be designated its sharpshooter and armed with a M1903A4 Springfield (replaced with a M1C rifle starting Jan 1945)[12] Lastly, the rifle platoon had a combat medic assigned to it from the parent battalion's medical detachment.[13]

Personnel Role Personal Weapons
& Equipment 		General Weapons
& Equipment
Rifle Platoon (Rifle Company, 1943-1945)[12]
Platoon Headquarters
1 x 1st Lieutenant Platoon Commander 1 x M1 carbine 1 x SCR-536 radio set
2 x M13 binoculars
1 x M7 grenade launcher
1 x Staff Sergeant[a] Platoon Sergeant 1 x M1 rifle
1 x Sergeant[b] Platoon Guide 1 x M1 rifle
2 x Privates Messengers 2 x M1 rifles
Rifle Squad x 3
1 x Sergeant[c] Squad Leader 1 x M1 rifle 3 x M7 grenade launchers
1 x Corporal[d] Squad Leader Assistant 1 x M1 rifle
1 x Private Automatic Rifleman 1 x M1918 BAR
1 x Private Automatic Rifleman Assistant 1 x M1 rifle
1 x Private Ammunition Bearer 1 x M1 rifle
7 x Privates Riflemen 7 x M1 rifles
1 Officer, 40 Enlisted Men
  1. ^ Tech Sergeant starting Feb 1944
  2. ^ Staff Sergeant starting Feb 1944
  3. ^ Staff Sergeant starting Feb 1944
  4. ^ Sergeant starting Feb 1944

The weapons platoon provided the rifle company with heavy weapons support which was still mobile enough to maneuver along with the rest of the company. The platoon was normally under company command and its constituent parts rarely attached to rifle platoons as it placed additional burden on the platoon commanders. In instances where it was necessary to provide additional firepower to a rifle platoon, a mortar squad could be attached to a rifle platoon, particular for hitting targets that could not be hit by direct fire. Attaching a light machine gun squad to a rifle platoon was only done in exceptional circumstances.[9][10][11]

Personnel Role Personal Weapons
& Equipment 		General Weapons
& Equipment 		Vehicles
Weapons Platoon (Rifle Company, 1943-1945)[12]
Platoon Headquarters
1 x 1st Lieutenant Platoon Commander 1 x M1 carbine 1 x SCR-536
1 x M2 Browning
3 x Bazooka 		2 x ¼-ton trucks
2 x ¼-ton trailers
1 x Staff Sergeant[a] Platoon Sergeant 1 x M1 rifle
2 x Tec 5/Privates Light truck drivers 2 x M1 rifle
2 x M7 grenade launchers
2 x Privates Messengers 2 x M1 rifles
60mm Mortar Section
Section Headquarters
1 x Sergeant[b] Section Leader 1 x M1 rifle
1 x Private Messenger 1 x M1 carbine
60mm Mortar Squad x 3
1 x Corporal[c] Squad Leader 1 x M1 rifle 1 x M2 mortar
1 x Private Mortar Gunner 1 x pistol
1 x Private Mortar Gunner Assistant 1 x pistol
2 x Privates Ammunition Bearers 2 x M1 carbines
Light Machine Gun Section
Section Headquarters
1 x Sergeant[d] Section Leader 1 x M1 rifle
1 x Private Messenger 1 x M1 carbine
Light Machine Gun Squad x 2
1 x Corporal[e] Squad Leader 1 x M1 rifle 1 x M1919A6 Browing
1 x Private Machine Gunner 1 x pistol
1 x Private Machine Gunner Assistant 1 x pistol
2 x Privates Ammunition Bearers 2 x M1 carbines
1 Officer, 34 Enlisted Men
  1. ^ Tech Sergeant starting Feb 1944
  2. ^ Staff Sergeant starting Feb 1944
  3. ^ Sergeant starting Feb 1944
  4. ^ Staff Sergeant starting Feb 1944
  5. ^ Sergeant starting Feb 1944

References

  1. ^ a b Encyclopedia of Military Science. (2013). United States: SAGE Publications. p. 873
  2. ^ a b International Encyclopedia of Military History. (2004). United Kingdom: Taylor & Francis. p. 1036
  3. ^ Hess, E. J. (2015). Civil War Infantry Tactics: Training, Combat, and Small-Unit Effectiveness. United States: LSU Press. p. 40
  4. ^ Hess (2015), p. 55-56
  5. ^ Hess (2015), p. 214
  6. ^ Jamieson, P. D. (2004). Crossing the Deadly Ground: United States Army Tactics, 1865–1899. United Kingdom: University of Alabama Press. p. 108
  7. ^ Jamieson (2004), p. 146
  8. ^ a b c Bellanger, Y. J. (2004). U.S. Army Infantry Divisions, 1943-1945. United Kingdom: Helion & Company. Chapter 1, 1.1 Organization & General Doctrine
  9. ^ a b Bellanger, Y.J. (2004). Chapter 4, 4.1 Security Missions
  10. ^ a b Bellanger, Y.J. (2004). Chapter 4, 4.2 Defensive Combat
  11. ^ a b Bellanger, Y.J. (2004). Chapter 4, 4.3 Offensive Combat
  12. ^ a b c Bellanger, Y. J. (2004). Chapter 3, 3.2 Infantry Rifle Company T/O&E 7-17
  13. ^ Bellanger, Y. J. (2004). Chapter 2, 2.6 Medical Detachment, Infantry Regiment T/O&E 7-11


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