Platoon
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This article is about the military unit. For other meanings, see Platoon (disambiguation).
A platoon is a military unit, typically composed of two to four sections or squads and containing about 30 to 50 soldiers. Platoons are organized into a company, which typically consists of three or four platoons. A platoon is typically the smallest military unit led by a commissioned officer; usually, a platoon is commanded by a lieutenant, who is assisted by a senior non-commissioned officer.
In some armies, platoon is used throughout the branches of the Army. In others, such as the British Army, most platoons are infantry platoons, while some carry other designations such as tank, mortar, or heavy weapons platoons. In a few armies, such as the French Army, a platoon is specifically a cavalry unit, and the infantry use "section" as the equivalent unit.
The word is derived from the 17th-century French peloton, meaning a small ball or small detachment of men, which came from pelote, (originally from Latin 'pillula', meaning 'little ball'). The word peloton now means the pack of riders in a bicycle race, which moves as a unit.
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[edit] British organization
In the British Army, the infantry Platoon Commander is a Lieutenant or Second Lieutenant, assisted by a Platoon Sergeant (who usually actually holds the rank of Sergeant). It is usually divided into three eight-man sections. Specialist platoons may be led by a Captain, assisted by a Warrant Officer or Staff Sergeant.
The Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Royal Army Medical Corps, Intelligence Corps and Royal Military Police also use platoons. The Household Cavalry, Royal Armoured Corps, Special Air Service, Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers, Royal Corps of Signals and Royal Logistic Corps use troops instead.
The equivalent unit in the Royal Marines is also the troop, while in the Royal Air Force and Army Air Corps it is the flight.
[edit] Canadian organization
In the Canadian Forces, the infantry Platoon Commander is a Lieutenant or Second Lieutenant, assisted by a Platoon Warrant (who usually actually holds the rank of Warrant Officer). It is usually divided into three eight- to ten-person sections and a heavy weapons detachment which will deploy either a GPMG, Carl Gustav, or 60 mm mortar depending on mission requirements. Specialist platoons may be led by a Captain, assisted by a Warrant Officer. Some very large specialist platoons will actually have a Lieutenant as the second-in-command. In many corps, platoon-sized units are called troops instead.
[edit] Thai organization
In the Royal Thai Army, a platoon is commanded by a Lieutenant or Second Lieutenant assisted by a Platoon Sergeant, usually of the rank of sergeant major. In infantry units, rifle platoons are generally made up of fifty man squads (three rifle squads, one machine gun squad and command squad).
[edit] United States organization
In the United States Army, a platoon is commanded by a Platoon leader, usually a First Lieutenant or Second Lieutenant, assisted by a Platoon Sergeant, usually of the rank of Sergeant First Class. Tank platoons consist of 4 tanks. In infantry units, rifle platoons are generally made up of four nine-man squads (three rifle squads and one weapons squad).
In the United States Marine Corps, platoon leaders are called "Platoon Commanders," but hold the same rank and function. The Platoon Sergeant often holds the rank of Staff Sergeant, although ranks from Corporal to Gunnery Sergeant are possible. In Marine infantry units, rifle platoons usually consist of three rifle squads of 13 men each, usually lead by a Sergeant, with a Navy corpsman, a Platoon Commander, and a Platoon Sergeant. Each squad is further divided into 3 fireteams. Each fireteam consist of 4 marines lead, by a fireteam leader, usually a Corporal. Each fireteam consist of a rifleman with m16A4, fireteam leader with m16A4 and 203 grenade launcher,an automatic rifleman with a m249 SAW, and an assistant automatic rifleman that carries a m16A4 and the extra barrels and ammo drums for the automatic rifleman. A weapons platoon replaces the 3 squads with a 60 mm mortar section, an assault section, and a medium machine gun section (using M240G 7.62 mm machine guns).
[edit] See also
