US TOE Questions

[Marcello]

Following some semi succesful prodding around for info about the iraqi OOB I have decided for a major overhaul of the New Iraqi Army formations along US lines. Given however that the iraqis lack many pieces of equipment (like ATGMs) I cannot simply import US formations as they are but I have to "translate" them. I will therefore use this thread to ask for some questions about US TOE.

First question: OOB 12, formation 203 Rifle Platoon.
This unit has a MMG section. I take that it is supposed to represent two tripod mounted MMGs. What I do not get is the LMG count. FM 7-10 tables would suggest six machine guns in total, which would work out as those aforementioned MMGs and one LMG per squad. However US squads get two LMGs in the US OOB. Has the number of LMGs been increased?

[thatguy96]

I just looked at the copy of FM 7-10 on Globalsecurity.org and find the pictures to be quite confusing myself mainly because the key says "machine gun 7.62mm/5.56mm" which doesn't seem to make a lot of sense.

US Squads get two automatic rifles per squad plus the MG section at platoon level. This should roughly equate to 2 M249 x N number of squads, plus 2 M240B in the current TO&E. The 2 auto rifleman per squad has been a fixture of US squads since 1956.

EDIT: Looking at it again, I think the 6 LMG's its referring to are the 2 MG's per platoon in the platoon MG section. This is the only way this makes sense.

Furthermore, since FM 7-10 is for Infantry Companies, I wouldn't expect it to bother describing notable systems down to squad level, only at platoon level, further supporting this theory.

[Marcello]

"US Squads get two automatic rifles per squad"

Yes, I had momentarily overlooked the US propensity for fire teams organization (typically i research armies where the emphasis is still on the squad). A typical squad cannot have just one LMG if it supposed to be able to split.

[thatguy96]

Just keep in mind that the M249 at squad level in the US Army is classed as an "automatic rifle" (see FM 23-14 M249 LIGHT MACHINE GUN IN THE AUTOMATIC RIFLE ROLE), not as an LMG (though the manual itself admits that this was perhaps the manufacturer's intended role for the weapon). The M240B, consided by some to be an LMG is used as an LMG/MMG, but only at platoon level.

[Marcello]

Well, the iraqis get the PKM, so that is a non issue.

[Marcello]

Another question. If I have understood correctly the Stryker company gets a MGS platoon and a couple of SP mortars as organic support. Now, does an US company mounted on M113s typically get a couple of organic SP mortars as well?

[thatguy96]

The only copy of FM 7-11 Rifle Company, Infantry, Airborne Infantry, and Mechanized Infantry I actually have on my comp is dated 16 Jan 1962. However, I would think that on a level the organization described would probably continue to this day in general terms. It would likely fluctuate no more than that of the standard Infantry Company. If you therefore have a more recent copy of the appropriate FM for a regular Infantry Company you could likely build from what I'm about to quote out of the FM that I have from around when the M113 was introduced.

"The weapons platoon of the mechanized infantry rifle company differs in that the four 3/4-ton trucks in the mortar section are replaced by one APC and three mortar carriers, full tracked. There are two radio telephone operators and one APC driver (who is also a radiotelephone operator) in the mortar section headquarters. Each mortar squad has only one ammunition bearer, and one APC driver who is also a radiotelephone operator."

[SGTGunn]

The Mechanized Infantry Platoon and Squad (M113)has two different tables of organizational equipment (TO&E): the older "H" TO&E and the newer "J" TO&E.

The "H" TO&E platoon has three 11-man rifle squads and one 7-man headquarters section.

The HQ section is comprised of the:

Vehicle Crew:

Driver
Track Commander/Gunner (Plt Sgt)

Dismounts:

Platoon Leader
Platoon RTO
Forward Observer
FO RTO
Plaoon Medic


The three squads are comprised of:

Vehicle crew:

Driver
Track Commander & Gunner (Team Leader)

Dismounts:

Squad Leader (M16)
Assistant Squad Leader (M16 and M203 GL)
Machine Gunner (M60 and M1911A1 or M9 pistol)
2 x Automatic Rifleman (M249 SAW or M16 SAW)
2 x Rifleman (M16)
Grenadier (M16 with M203 GL)
Anti-Armor Specialist (M47 Dragon & M16)

M67 frag grenades, M72 LAWs and M18 claymore mines would also be carried.

The "J" TO&E Platoon came about with the widespread adoption of the M249 SAW which lead to the removal of the M60 machine gunner as an organic "squad" member - but keeps the gun. It is comprised of one 7-man HQ section and three 9-man squads.

The HQ section is identical to the "H" TO&E with one exception - the Platoon Sgt though part of the HQ section rides in a squad APC - the idea was not to have your #1 & #2 man in the same track. One of the team leaders in the track the Plt Sgt rides in takes his place as TC/Gunner on the Plt HQ track. Confused yet? =)

The three squads are comprised of:

Vehicle crew:

Driver
Track Commander & Gunner (Team Leader)

Dismounts:

Squad Leader (M16)
Assistant Squad Leader (M16 - maybe M203 GL)
2 x Automatic Rifleman (M249 SAW or M16 SAW)
Rifleman (M16)
Grenadier (M16 with M203 GL)
Anti-Armor Specialist (M47 Dragon & M16)
M60 Machine Gun - no crew assigned. Weapon can be deployed for defense or in other scenarios were increased fire power is needed. It is likely that the MG would be manned by either an automatic rifleman or the grenadier, with the rifleman acting as the assistant gunner.

I suspect that whenever unit strength allowed it, an extra man would be carried in the squad to man the M60.

All of the above comes from FM 7-7 Mech Inf Plt & Sqd (M113)March 1985 (the last revision of this FM).

Adrian

[Marcello]

Is there anything specific on the mechanized infantry companies? All the stuff I have found is for the platoon level.

[thatguy96]

Its still FM 7-11, you just would want a more recent one that I've quoted from (though I'm sure the logic still stands, that whatever mortars an infantry company has at company level, a mech company has in tracks, same with other heavy weapons I'm sure)