The never ending story of getting the right squad/platoon

[Colin Parkinson]

Take it away and then bring it back again

 

[FJAG]

An article on the Armor Assault Company can be found in the Winter 2022 Issue of Armour Magazine here:

https://www.benning.army.mil/Armor/eARMOR/content/issues/2022/Winter/ARMOR_Winter_2022_edition.pdf

Interesting concept. Gives a whole new meaning to the concepts of fire base and depth platoons.

 

[Kirkhill]

Couple of comments

1 If they have gone that far why not combine the 2x Bradley Platoons into a single large Platoon commanded by the senior Lt or a junior Capt?

2 The Chieftain's disparaging comments about the 60mm mortar section

Suppose not this



But this.



Or this and this



They keep the 6 PYs of the mortar team but re-arm them with the Switchblade system to handle scouting, BDA, DFS and Anti-Armour roles.

 

[Kirkhill]

Just thinking about those Swingfires. Every time I do I am reminded of @a_majoor, who we haven't heard from in a while. To my mind it was Art that alerted us to the potential of these systems some years ago.

https://army.ca/forums/threads/manportable-ad-at-weapons-for-the-army.111872/page-5#post-1371773

 

[FJAG]

Couple of comments

1 If they have gone that far why not combine the 2x Bradley Platoons into a single large Platoon commanded by the senior Lt or a junior Capt?

Six vehicles is controllable, 12 not so much and they 12 vehicle platoon would need to be split into subordinate groups. With four platoons there is a clean and simple span of control coming directly from the company commander.

2 The Chieftain's disparaging comments about the 60mm mortar section

... keep the 6 PYs of the mortar team but re-arm them with the Switchblade system to handle scouting, BDA, DFS and Anti-Armour roles.

I've pretty much come to the conclusion that mortar platoons, regardless of battalion or company level, need to have a weapons locker of simple conventional mortars and guided loitering munitions of roughly comparable size and effects to draw on and rapidly switch between. ATGMs should stay with the mounted and dismounted platoons - give them the direct fire fight while the mortar group provides the indirect/over the horizon or the next block down fight.

 

[Kirkhill]

Six vehicles is controllable, 12 not so much and they 12 vehicle platoon would need to be split into subordinate groups. With four platoons there is a clean and simple span of control coming directly from the company commander.

But not so clear when deciding whether the GIB Platoon or the Zipperhead Platoon is leading.

Following the Canadian practice put the Bradley's / LAVs under the LAV Captain. That is easier in Canada because the Company is commanded by a Major and not a Captain. That is why I suggested using the senior Lt or adding a junior Capt.

And yes, control would be made easier if the 12 vehicle platoon (14 if you add the OC and MGnr's vehicle) were split into subordinate commands (6 vehicle sections for example with 2 vehicle squads)

I've pretty much come to the conclusion that mortar platoons, regardless of battalion or company level, need to have a weapons locker of simple conventional mortars and guided loitering munitions of roughly comparable size and effects to draw on and rapidly switch between. ATGMs should stay with the mounted and dismounted platoons - give them the direct fire fight while the mortar group provides the indirect/over the horizon or the next block down fight.

Three thumbs up on that one.