Group Organisation
Basic Structure
As a community, we will often adjust our Order of Battle (ORBAT) to incorporate different assets, elements or gameplay requirements. By default, there are two types of standard platoon formations that we may use, either a Rifle Platoon or a Mechanised Platoon. These will be covered in more detail further down.
Platoon Command
The command element of the platoon remains consistent regardless of the type of ORBAT employed. This element is usually the most senior authority in the scenario, a small team responsible for coordinating the movements and tasking of all elements on the battlefield. We’ll cover each member of the command team, and their associated responsibilities.
Platoon Commander
The Platoon Commander is the ‘top dog’ of the operation. This individual will be the primary authority for making decisions about battle planning. The commander can choose to delegate certain responsibilities to other members of the platoon command team.
Platoon Sergeant
This individual is there specifically to aid the platoon commander with planning, or to take on any additional responsibilities that the platoon commander has seen fit to delegate. In the event that the platoon commander is rendered unavailable, either through death or injury, the platoon sergeant will take over as leader of the platoon until such time as the commander retakes control.
Logistics Commander
The logistics commander is responsible for coordinating all of the logistical support and transport assets that are available to the platoon. They’ll be in charge of making sure that troops have plenty of ammunition and medical supplies, as well as coordinating the redeployment of battle causalities into the area of operations.
Platoon JTAC
In the event that the platoon has offensive air support assets, a JTAC will be assigned to coordinate their movements and activities.
Infantry Roles
Next, we’ll talk a little bit about some of the roles within an infantry section, and their specific responsibilities. This is by no means an exhaustive list of all of the possible roles available within a section.
Section Commander
The Section Commander is the overall leader of the section. They will carry a section-level radio as well as a long range radio to order to communicate with platoon command. They are responsible for the tactical leadership of the section, coordinating movement and a response to any contact.
Section 2IC/3IC
Similar to the above, the section 2IC and 3IC will carry a section-level radio, but will focus on the movements and activities of an individual fireteam for which they are responsible. In the event that the commander is rendered incapacitated, the 2IC will take over, followed by the 3IC if the situation deteriorates. In the case of a mechanised section, the role of 3IC is replaced with a ‘vehicle commander’, who will be responsible for the command and control of integrated section-level fighting vehicles.
Medic
The medic is responsible for treating any wounded members of the team. In the event that both the Section Commander and the Section 2IC are wounded or killed, the Medic will assume command in order to lead the remaining forces to safety. When dealing with causalities, the medic has total authority to prioritise and triage causalities.
Autorifleman
The autorifleman (or machinegunner, depending on the calibre of the weapon system), carries one of the sections biggest firepower assets. It’s the responsibility of the autorifleman to lay down sustained fire on enemy positions, allowing members of the section to close onto the enemy position. Additional ammunition for this weapon system is usually carried by an assistant.
Sharpshooter
This individual is responsible for locating and eliminating priority targets at a greater range than the standard rifleman is able to effectively operate. They are usually equipped with a slightly more enhanced optical weapon sight, and a rifle chambered in a slightly higher calibre.
AT Specialist
The role of an AT Specialist is to deploy and operate the sections organic heavy anti-tank capabilities. This is usually in the format of a guided weapon system like the Javelin or the Titan. Additional ammunition for this weapon system is usually carried by an assistant.
Buddy Teams
When operating as part of an infantry section, we never do anything alone. A buddy team is a pair of people who are responsible for looking after each other. When you’re clearing a building, this will be the person moving in with you; when you’re crossing a road, this person will be the one covering you; if you go down, this person will be the one providing first aid to you.
Most of the roles have a natural pairing, such as a autorifleman and their assistant. In a normal rifle section, we split the buddy teams as follows:
| Yellow | Blue | Red | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Team 1
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Team 2
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Team 3
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Team 4
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Team 5
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Rifle Platoon
A Rifle Platoon is an infantry-centric platoon formation containing:
- A command element (Zero)
- Several rifle sections (usually 2-3)
- Attached fires & logistical support assets
Rifle Sections
A rifle section is a general-purpose infantry team, the configuration of which will differ depending on resourcing and mission requirements. The section is then subdivided into colour teams, usually containing at least a ‘cover’ and a ‘manoeuvre’ team.
6 Man (Minimal Section)
This is a generally non-standard section layout that puts a rifle section at it’s minimum possible troop level. The choice to use sections of this size could be determined by the requirements of the mission (such as a requirement to use smaller helicopters such as little birds), or by the platoon command element in order to free up resources to crew other assets.
Sections of this size lack any form of resilience, and they don’t have to take much in the way of causalities before they can be rendered totally combat ineffective. With this in mind, the application of this configuration should only be considered when the infantry are supported by high-mobility fire power assets such as rotary CAS.
8 Man (Medium Section)
A happy medium between a minimal rifle section and a full rifle section. It provides a greater level of resilience than a minimal section, but still leaves some resource free to crew additional assets. The usual layout for a section of this size is two four-troop fireteams, with the section commander taking primary responsibility for the cover element, and the 2IC commanding the manoeuvre team.
10 Man
This is the largest supported section size. It has the highest level of combat-resilience available to all of the infantry sections. Due to it’s larger size, this layout is usually found in ground-heavy deployments, but can be used for air mobile assuming the available transport aircraft are big enough.
In it’s usual configuration, it is configured into three teams. A command team, a ‘cover’ element, and a ‘manoeuvre’ element. The command team is comprised of the Section IC and the Medic, and usually hold slightly back from the main body of the section during contact in order to provide situational awareness and coordination.
Mechanised Platoon
Layout
A Mechanised platoon is a formation with integrated vehicle support, containing:
- A command element (Zero)
- Several mechanised sections (with integrated fighting vehicles)
- Attached logistical and fires support
Mechanised Section
A notable difference from the composition of the standard rifle section is the introduction of a dedicated fighting vehicle in place of the cover team. As such, the team is split into the following three elements:
- Command Team (Yellow)
- Cover Team (Vehicle)
- Dismount Team (Manoeuvre Element)
With regards to the structuring of the dismounted element, the focus is instead on specialised close-contact roles. As such, bulkier weapon systems like the squad automatic weapon are often removed here, instead prioritising precision weapon systems like heavy anti-tank and sharpshooters as well as general purpose infantry.
The following graphic outlines the usual composition of a mechanised infantry section:
