Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => The Conflicts that came in from the Cold => Topic started by: AngusPodgorny1969 on December 31, 2013, 08:24:33 PM
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Does the weapons squad of a typical rifle platoon routinely carry around their tripods so they're ready to use as needed?
Or are the tripods considered too bulky to lug around routinely and issued only when they're expected to be needed, for example in a static defense situation?
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From my experience lugging the tripods around for a 240B in Afghanistan, I can tell you that yes. The US army requires us to take the tripods when dismounted. :D
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GPMG type weapons (MG34/42, MAG, M60, UK GPMG) usually have tripods issued to specialist MG platoons eg German WW2, UK today, US in Vietnam). I do know that back in the 80s the British Army only had the GPMG at squad level but still had 2 tripods available per 3 guns in a platoon. The use of these SFMGs was pre planned; either as part of a deliberate defence or as a Fire Supprt Group shooting in an attack. So I wouldn't rule out a platoon having a tripod along with it, but I doubt it would be a normal occurrence. If nothing else, they are helluva bulky and heavy, need nearly the whole section to carry sufficient ammo to use the SF role proper and take far too long to set up during a firefight. Moreover, they are probably a unwieldy liability at under 200m unless dug in in overlapping defensive fields of fire, and you just can't take cover with them like lying down behind a bipod mounted weapon?
Commissarmoody, of course, shows the exception that proves the rule :). Afghanistan has very long engagement ranges over the mountain terrain so a tripod is really useful. If you were going out on a long foot patrol then 'nipping back' to the QM wagon for the tripod is not an option. Commissarmoody may also confirm that the USArmy uses its platoon weapons in a fire support section as well as the SAW at section level, and the USMC has them as company- level weapons. Conversely, I doubt a platoon on a street patrol in Iraq would ha e sed them unless they were planning to set up a defensive position at some point
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What do you mean by a typical rifle platoon? Not many rifle platoons have weapons squads except in the US model and those that employ US organisation and/ or doctrine.
In British/ Commonwealth armies, tripods and the associated kit, sights, aiming posts, etc are usually held well abovevthe platoon level. In the British model tripods and the associated kit were held at company level in the 1960s and 70s after the abolition of the MG platoon. In the early 1980s IiRC the British reintroduced an SFMG platoon within the battalion. Australia had something similar, at various times known as SFMG or Direct Fire platoon and part of Support Company. I never saw tripods issued below that level as they wete held by SFMG Platoon along with the C2 sighting units and aimimg stakes. For defence at platoon level, th gun was simply staked on fixed lines and the bipod employed.
IIRc the US model holds a certain number of kits at Coy level. I'm fairly certain I've seen photos of the tripod for the MAG 58 being used by rifle platoons in the Brazilian Army, wich broadly follows US organisational doctrine.
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From my experience lugging the tripods around for a 240B in Afghanistan, I can tell you that yes. The US army requires us to take the tripods when dismounted. :D
Thanks Moody!
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What do you mean by a typical rifle platoon? Not many rifle platoons have weapons squads except in the US model and those that employ US organisation and/ or doctrine.
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That sort of specialized MG squad is the issue here rather than a GPMG assigned to a rifle squad.
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No problem dude