Question about number of Soldiers

[NavySealPT]

Guys, exactly how many soldiers US and British Army had involved in one normal battle for example in Affeganistan?


I ask this for a game (28 mm) and because i want to have an idea of how many man are involved in one urban guerilha in a conflit in middle east. I need a update because i have reading to much about WW2 and today US and UK fight in a very diferent way.

[CptJake]

You really need to define 'normal battle'.

Generally US infantry is patrolling in company-/platoon+ strength, but often as part of a larger BN operation (but often due to terrain/distances the companies are nowhere near enough to be mutually supporting).   Having said that, for some bigger  clearing operations BNs and even BCTs have been involved.   

I would think you could get relatively realistic scenarios where you show a squad making contact and the rest of the platoon trying to maneuver to support and give the platoon access to company and higher enablers (CAS from fixed wing or rotary wing, BN mortars or field artillery from higher, BCT or higher echelon drones for ISR and some limited strike capability and so on.)   

Since it is what we used to call a 'low intensity conflict' western (US, UK,NATO) forces tend to have resources they can throw at a Troops In Contact (TIC) event, but again, distances and terrain can very much influence the response times.   And if you happen to be the 3rd element to get a TIC, available sorties may have already been allocated.   

Using SOF type forces or local (Afghan forces) with SOF advisors you may see smaller US/NATO forces along with company-BN local forces.   SOF direct action missions will generally be smaller.

[NavySealPT]

Thanks

[Arlequín]

The other way to approach things is in relation to your playing area. Unless you use a very high ground scale ratio (in excess of 1"= 3-4 metres), your playing area is only going to represent an area that is a couple of hundred metres in any direction. You wouldn't typically expect to find anything larger than a platoon operating within such a small area... in contemporary practice even a platoon might actually be too much for such a relatively small area.

In effect the wider battle might be taking place in company or battalion strength, but you can only really focus on the actions of one platoon (or a squad or two) within that company, due to the limitations of your playing area.

[NavySealPT]

Platoon =20?
Squad=4?

[dadlamassu]

Platoon =20?
Squad=4?

There are lots of references on the internet giving organisations.  Remember that the only place you will find a full strength and fully armed platoon is on a wargames table.  A real one is almost always short of manpower.
"Generic" Platoon: has an HQ of 4-8 and 3 squads/sections of 8-10.  You really need to research the army of choice and the date/operation/scenario that you are using.

Try https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=modern+rifle+platoon+organisation&ie=&oe=

[CptJake]

An Army infantry squad is 9 guys (full strength), two 4-man fire teams and the squad leader.   A platoon is three of these, and a weapons squad with heavier machine guns not found in the rifle squads, and a platoon HQ element.

http://www.marines.mil/Portals/59/Publications/FM%203-21.8%20%20The%20Infantry%20Rifle%20Platoon%20and%20Squad_1.pdf


That is a 2007 version, but honestly aside from a few changes to radio and C2 equipment allocations there is not much difference today.

[Arlequín]

Out of interest, what's the solution to low-numbers? Is there a minimum fire team size that is considered 'combat effective'?

If I recall correctly in Vietnam two understrength fire teams might be amalgamated into a single over-sized team, or the Weapons Squad broken down into the squads, with a return to the old 'Alpha-Bravo' squad of gun team and rifle team... but that was a long time ago.

[commissarmoody]

The  sections can be broken down into town man teams also. The  smallest element we would clear a room with is a 3 man team.

Are gun teams are use ally broken down into 2 too 3 man group
And ether mounted on a truck or split between the LT and platoon Sargent with the next most senor NCO commanding the wepons squad.
The saw in each section give each squad it's own section support so no need to break the 240 into the teams unless they need more support.
Of course once a Target is found, every one wants a peace of the action.

[commissarmoody]

Of course are small teams were supported by the platoon, company and other assets.
The smallest element we would roll out on a patrol or as a qrf would be at 3 trucks so at least 12 to 15 guys.