US Army Mechanized Units

[Hellfish6]

When I got out of the Army in '01 there was talk about converting the Army's mechanized platoons organization from three 6-man dismount teams to two 9-man dismount squads. Does anyone know if this still holds true?

And what does the average mech platoon have these days? 18 dismounts still probably, but how many Javelins, etc?

[jedisponge]

... at Fort Hood, Texas, is the Army's first digitized ... of nine men in each mechanized
infantry platoon ... augmentation, signal, aviation, and medical positions/units. ...

got it from a search in google, and here's the article the captions were taken from: www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/4id.htm

[Jedburgh]

The Force XXI concept around which the "digitalized" 4th ID was built is now dead and gone. The entire Army is currently restructuring around the Unit of Action (Brigade Combat Teams) into the Modular Army concept. As announced today (http://www.dod.gov/home/articles/2004-12/a121504a.html), 4th ID is now "modular".

US Army's "Modular" Redesign (http://www.fas.org/man/crs/RL32476.pdf)

[Hellfish6]

Good reads.

Not exactly what I was looking for, but thanks anyways. woot

[jedisponge]

The Infantry School is a proponent of the organization of two rifle squads and a five-member support element (2x9+5) per platoon.
With these considerations in mind and basic infantry doctrine as a start point, the 2d Battalion, 9th Infantry, developed the structure shown in Figure 1. The nine-man assault squad is similar to the light infantry squad organization.


http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0IAV/is_1_90/ai_70777168

first quote shows the 2 rifle squads of 9 men plus a support team.

i also found this:
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/army/unit/toe/07247L200.htm

07247L100 -- WHEN ORGANIZED WITH MACHINEGUN SECTIONS (2X9+5)
07247L200 -- WHEN ORGANIZED WITHOUT MACHINEGUN SECTIONS (2X9)
07247L300 -- WHEN ORGANIZED WITH M113 APC
07247L400 -- WHEN ORGANIZED WITH THREE SQUADS (3X9)

but then this thing said it was published in 1997, so it could be outdated.

[ShakesFIST]

A Bradley holds 3 crew and 6 dismounts if that helps... ;)

[yellowking]

When I got out of the Army in '01 there was talk about converting the Army's mechanized platoons organization from three 6-man dismount teams to two 9-man dismount squads. Does anyone know if this still holds true?

And what does the average mech platoon have these days? 18 dismounts still probably, but how many Javelins, etc?
All I know is FM 7-7 (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/7-7/) (H), and 7-7J (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/7-7j/) for Bradleys, which is as follows:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/7-7j/figA-2.gif

Here's an apparently authoritative 7-7J FM (http://atiam.train.army.mil/portal/atia/adlsc/view/public/297088-1/fm/3-21.71/toc.htm) from 2002:
http://atiam.train.army.mil/portal/atia/adlsc/view/public/297088-1/fm/3-21.71/figa-2.gif

[Hellfish6]

Good stuff.

I actually found this: FM 3-21-71 (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/3-21-71/index.html)


http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/3-21-71/fig1-1.gif

This organization is a lot like the light infantry platoon I was in. I believe the M-2A2ODS variant and the M-2A3 carry seven dismounts as opposed to the M2A0/M2A1/M2A2 which only carried six.

I'm curious - does the 3XMAG under the Auto Rifleman and Grenadier mean that each carries 3 magazines (when I was a grenadier we had 18-24 40mm rounds) or each has a 3x magnification scope on their weapon?