USMC Information Thread
Moderators: dnichols, GHQ, Mk 1
-
Rutgervanm
- E5
- Posts: 132
- Joined: Thu Mar 20, 2008 7:08 pm
- Location: Nederland
Shortround, that is fantastic stuff! Much appreciated.
Two questions following from your information:
What is the function of the mortar and tac air radiooperators? Are they just the FAC's of the batallion? And the FAO's, is it just that they are attached to the HQ company in stead of the Weapons Company?
The Company Med teams, are they just the groups of Navy Corpsmen attached to the infantry companies?
About the Bn Aid Stations, what is the difference between first and second echelon? And what do they have in terms of vehicles? I have a couple of HMMVV ambulances, but how many do they need and what other types of Hummer do they have?
I have some more questions about other parts of a BLT.
What is the breakdown of an AA platoon? I thought they were supposed to have three HMMVV Avengers and three two man Stingerteams, also mounted in HMMVV's. Is that it? Do they just have six vehicles or does the HQ have a separate vehicle or something like that?
Finally, and the biggest question of them all: what is the exact breakdown of a Marine infantry batallion Weapons company?
I found the following link: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ ... o1027g.htm
This gives me the total number of troops, namely 153 officers and men. But how are they divided over the different platoons and sections? How many men are assigned to crew the Javelin's for instance? The breakdown also seems to suggest that they have their own drivers, but I thought that the Weapons Company didn't have it's own vehicles, but was transported in vehicles from the Transport Platoon (see above)?
Sorry for all these questions guys, but I just want to get it right!
Two questions following from your information:
What is the function of the mortar and tac air radiooperators? Are they just the FAC's of the batallion? And the FAO's, is it just that they are attached to the HQ company in stead of the Weapons Company?
The Company Med teams, are they just the groups of Navy Corpsmen attached to the infantry companies?
About the Bn Aid Stations, what is the difference between first and second echelon? And what do they have in terms of vehicles? I have a couple of HMMVV ambulances, but how many do they need and what other types of Hummer do they have?
I have some more questions about other parts of a BLT.
What is the breakdown of an AA platoon? I thought they were supposed to have three HMMVV Avengers and three two man Stingerteams, also mounted in HMMVV's. Is that it? Do they just have six vehicles or does the HQ have a separate vehicle or something like that?
Finally, and the biggest question of them all: what is the exact breakdown of a Marine infantry batallion Weapons company?
I found the following link: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ ... o1027g.htm
This gives me the total number of troops, namely 153 officers and men. But how are they divided over the different platoons and sections? How many men are assigned to crew the Javelin's for instance? The breakdown also seems to suggest that they have their own drivers, but I thought that the Weapons Company didn't have it's own vehicles, but was transported in vehicles from the Transport Platoon (see above)?
Sorry for all these questions guys, but I just want to get it right!
-
ShortRound70
- E5
- Posts: 270
- Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 7:32 am
- Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Rutgervanm:
This is the latest information that I have :
WEAPONS COMPANY OF A USMC INFANTRY BATTALION:
COMPANY HEADQUARTERS:
3 x Hummers
COMPANY COMMANDER: 1 x MAJ
EXECUTIVE OFFICER: 1 x CAPT
FIRST SERGEANT: 1 x 1STSGT
OPERATIONS CHIEF: 1 x MSGT
PROPERTY NCO: 1 x SGT
MESSENGER/DRIVER: 1 x CPL
MESSENGER/DRIVER: 1 x PFC
SECTION TOTALS: 2 x Officers, 5 x Enlisted
MORTAR PLATOON:
PLATOON HEADQUARTERS:
1 x Hummer
PLATOON COMMANDER: 1 x LT
PLT SGT/OPNS CHIEF: 1 x GYSGT
AMMO TECH: 1 x LCPL
AMMO MAN: 1 x PVT
AMMO MAN/DRIVER: 1 x PVT
81MM MORTAR SEC (2 EACH):
1 x Hummer
SECTION LEADER: 1 x SSGT
AMMO MAN: 1 x LCPL
AMMO MAN/DRIVER: 1 x LCPL
FIRE DIRECTION CENTER (2 EACH):
1 x Hummer
PLOTTER: 1 x SGT
PLOTTER/RECORDER:1 x CPL
RECORDER/DRIVER: 1 x LCPL
FWD OBSERVER: 2 x CPL
81MM MORTAR SQUAD (8 EACH):
1 x Hummer, 1 x 81mm Mortar
SQUAD LEADER: 1 x SGT
GUNNER: 1 x CPL
ASSIST GUNNER : 1 LCPL
AMMO MAN: 2 x PVT
AMMO MAN/DRIVER: 1 x PVT
SECTION TOTALS: 1 x Officer, 68 x Enlisted
ANTIARMOR PLATOON:
PLATOON HEADQUARTERS:
1 x Hummer
PLATOON COMMANDER: 1 x LT
PLATOON SERGEANT: 1 x GYSGT
MESSENGER/DRIVER: 1 x PVT
JAVELIN SECTION (8 x Javelin ATGM):
SECT LEADER: 1 x SSGT
JAVELIN SQD (2 EACH):
SQD/TM LDR/GUNNER: 1 x SGT
ASST GUNNER: 1 x LCPL
TM LDR/GUNNER: 3 x CPL
ASST GUNNER: 3 x LCPL
ANTITANK SECTION (8 x TOW ATGM):
1 x Hummer
SECTION LEADER: 1 x SSGT
DRIVER/RADIO OPERATOR: 1 x LCPL
ANTITANK SQUAD (4 EACH):
2 x TOW Hummers
SQUAD LEADER: 1 x SGT
TOW GUNNER: 2 x CPL
ASSIST GUNNER/DRIVER: 2 x LCPL
SECTION TOTALS: 1 x Officer, 41 x Enlisted
HEAVY MACHINE GUN PLATOON:
PLATOON HEADQUARTERS:
2 x HMG Hummers
PLATOON COMMANDER: 1 x LT
PLATOON SERGEANT: 1 x GYSGT
MESSENGER DRIVER: 1 x PVT
AMMO MAN/DRIVER: 1 x PV
HMG SECTION (6 x HMG Hummers):
1ST HMG SQD (3 EACH):
SECT/SQD LEADER: 1 x SGT
GUNNER: 1 x LCPL
A/GUNNER: 1 x LCPL
AMMO MAN/DRIVER: 1 x PVT
2ND HMG SQD (3 EACH):
SQUAD LEADER: 1 x CPL
GUNNER: 1 x LCPL
A/GUNNER: 1 x PFC
AMMO MAN/DRIVER: 1 x PVT
SECTION TOTALS: 1 x Officer, 27 Enlisted
COMPANY TOTALS: 5 x Officers, 138 Enlisted
Note: The Javelin Section will usually be deployed with the rifle companies as tactically required. When deployed with the weapons company, they will ride with whoever has room, usually the HMG platoon. The Javelins do not have organic transport.
To answer some of your other questions:
Mortar team and TACAIR RTO's co-ordinate Bn. 81mm mortar fires and Close Air Support strikes for the battalion. The heavy artillery will provide their own FO's.
Company medical teams provide corpsmen to the rifle companies and platoons.
1st echelon & 2nd echelon BattalionAid Stations. I'm not sure, I'll have to do some research. An educated guess would be that 1st echelon directly supports the incoming casualties from the battleline via the company corpsmen. 2nd echelon would be set up near the Bn. HQ, and be used as a support and evacuation center.
I'll have to look up the Anti-Air Platoon TO&E. My reference sources are geared to ground combat mostly. I have very little on USMC support units. Sorry.
Redleg:
I haven't forgotten you. I just haven't heard back from my contacts. 3/23 is on the road, and 2/24 has retired and has "gone fishin'".
I'll let you know as soon as I can.
Anyone with additional or newer information please share. I enjoy keeping up with the "New Breed".
BTW, does anyone know where I can find either D-7 or D-9 Cat's?
Semper Fi!
This is the latest information that I have :
WEAPONS COMPANY OF A USMC INFANTRY BATTALION:
COMPANY HEADQUARTERS:
3 x Hummers
COMPANY COMMANDER: 1 x MAJ
EXECUTIVE OFFICER: 1 x CAPT
FIRST SERGEANT: 1 x 1STSGT
OPERATIONS CHIEF: 1 x MSGT
PROPERTY NCO: 1 x SGT
MESSENGER/DRIVER: 1 x CPL
MESSENGER/DRIVER: 1 x PFC
SECTION TOTALS: 2 x Officers, 5 x Enlisted
MORTAR PLATOON:
PLATOON HEADQUARTERS:
1 x Hummer
PLATOON COMMANDER: 1 x LT
PLT SGT/OPNS CHIEF: 1 x GYSGT
AMMO TECH: 1 x LCPL
AMMO MAN: 1 x PVT
AMMO MAN/DRIVER: 1 x PVT
81MM MORTAR SEC (2 EACH):
1 x Hummer
SECTION LEADER: 1 x SSGT
AMMO MAN: 1 x LCPL
AMMO MAN/DRIVER: 1 x LCPL
FIRE DIRECTION CENTER (2 EACH):
1 x Hummer
PLOTTER: 1 x SGT
PLOTTER/RECORDER:1 x CPL
RECORDER/DRIVER: 1 x LCPL
FWD OBSERVER: 2 x CPL
81MM MORTAR SQUAD (8 EACH):
1 x Hummer, 1 x 81mm Mortar
SQUAD LEADER: 1 x SGT
GUNNER: 1 x CPL
ASSIST GUNNER : 1 LCPL
AMMO MAN: 2 x PVT
AMMO MAN/DRIVER: 1 x PVT
SECTION TOTALS: 1 x Officer, 68 x Enlisted
ANTIARMOR PLATOON:
PLATOON HEADQUARTERS:
1 x Hummer
PLATOON COMMANDER: 1 x LT
PLATOON SERGEANT: 1 x GYSGT
MESSENGER/DRIVER: 1 x PVT
JAVELIN SECTION (8 x Javelin ATGM):
SECT LEADER: 1 x SSGT
JAVELIN SQD (2 EACH):
SQD/TM LDR/GUNNER: 1 x SGT
ASST GUNNER: 1 x LCPL
TM LDR/GUNNER: 3 x CPL
ASST GUNNER: 3 x LCPL
ANTITANK SECTION (8 x TOW ATGM):
1 x Hummer
SECTION LEADER: 1 x SSGT
DRIVER/RADIO OPERATOR: 1 x LCPL
ANTITANK SQUAD (4 EACH):
2 x TOW Hummers
SQUAD LEADER: 1 x SGT
TOW GUNNER: 2 x CPL
ASSIST GUNNER/DRIVER: 2 x LCPL
SECTION TOTALS: 1 x Officer, 41 x Enlisted
HEAVY MACHINE GUN PLATOON:
PLATOON HEADQUARTERS:
2 x HMG Hummers
PLATOON COMMANDER: 1 x LT
PLATOON SERGEANT: 1 x GYSGT
MESSENGER DRIVER: 1 x PVT
AMMO MAN/DRIVER: 1 x PV
HMG SECTION (6 x HMG Hummers):
1ST HMG SQD (3 EACH):
SECT/SQD LEADER: 1 x SGT
GUNNER: 1 x LCPL
A/GUNNER: 1 x LCPL
AMMO MAN/DRIVER: 1 x PVT
2ND HMG SQD (3 EACH):
SQUAD LEADER: 1 x CPL
GUNNER: 1 x LCPL
A/GUNNER: 1 x PFC
AMMO MAN/DRIVER: 1 x PVT
SECTION TOTALS: 1 x Officer, 27 Enlisted
COMPANY TOTALS: 5 x Officers, 138 Enlisted
Note: The Javelin Section will usually be deployed with the rifle companies as tactically required. When deployed with the weapons company, they will ride with whoever has room, usually the HMG platoon. The Javelins do not have organic transport.
To answer some of your other questions:
Mortar team and TACAIR RTO's co-ordinate Bn. 81mm mortar fires and Close Air Support strikes for the battalion. The heavy artillery will provide their own FO's.
Company medical teams provide corpsmen to the rifle companies and platoons.
1st echelon & 2nd echelon BattalionAid Stations. I'm not sure, I'll have to do some research. An educated guess would be that 1st echelon directly supports the incoming casualties from the battleline via the company corpsmen. 2nd echelon would be set up near the Bn. HQ, and be used as a support and evacuation center.
I'll have to look up the Anti-Air Platoon TO&E. My reference sources are geared to ground combat mostly. I have very little on USMC support units. Sorry.
Redleg:
I haven't forgotten you. I just haven't heard back from my contacts. 3/23 is on the road, and 2/24 has retired and has "gone fishin'".
I'll let you know as soon as I can.Anyone with additional or newer information please share. I enjoy keeping up with the "New Breed".
BTW, does anyone know where I can find either D-7 or D-9 Cat's?
Semper Fi!
-
Cav Dog
- E5
- Posts: 898
- Joined: Wed Dec 29, 2004 1:12 am
-
Rutgervanm
- E5
- Posts: 132
- Joined: Thu Mar 20, 2008 7:08 pm
- Location: Nederland
Fantastic Shortround, I am much obliged.
Just a couple more questions and I should be good to go for a while.
Tom Clancy lists the Weapons Company as having six Mk. 19 grenade launchers and six M2 .50 cal HMG's, to be fitted on the various HMMVV's.
You however have listed 34 HMMVV's if I count correctly. What are the non-TOW and non-HMG Hummers armed with? Only Mk. 19's or yet more .50's?
The HMG's on the HMG Hummers, are they intented to be taken of the vehicles and deployed on a tripod? Or does this rarely happen?
Where do the Javelin teams ride in? Do they just fetch a ride from a HMG Hummer when attached to a CAAT?
What is the function of the Fire Direction Centres in the Mortar platoon? They have FO's so I would guess they would just do what FAO's do, but then what is the function of the Mortar Support Sections of the batallion HQ Company?
Many thanks in advance!
The
Just a couple more questions and I should be good to go for a while.
Tom Clancy lists the Weapons Company as having six Mk. 19 grenade launchers and six M2 .50 cal HMG's, to be fitted on the various HMMVV's.
You however have listed 34 HMMVV's if I count correctly. What are the non-TOW and non-HMG Hummers armed with? Only Mk. 19's or yet more .50's?
The HMG's on the HMG Hummers, are they intented to be taken of the vehicles and deployed on a tripod? Or does this rarely happen?
Where do the Javelin teams ride in? Do they just fetch a ride from a HMG Hummer when attached to a CAAT?
What is the function of the Fire Direction Centres in the Mortar platoon? They have FO's so I would guess they would just do what FAO's do, but then what is the function of the Mortar Support Sections of the batallion HQ Company?
Many thanks in advance!
The
-
voltigeur
- E5
- Posts: 814
- Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2004 3:26 am
- Location: Dallas Texas
I have kinda stayed out of the organization discussion because I'm not too current on Marine organization. (Kinda stuck in the 80's 
)
The Javelin teams would ride/March with what ever conmpany they are attached to. The weapons platoons and the Weapons company will not fight as a unit. They are support for the line companies. The one exception is the Mortar units which are basically the organic artillery for the unit. The FO's will be attached out to the companies and the FDC helps lay in the tubes and get the rounds on target.
When I was in their biggest contribution was setting up the Battalion's fire plan. Each unit draws up a range card for their position these are collected condensed at the company level then sent to the FDC team. They plot and in some cases pre register targets based on the commander's assesment of what the priorities should be.
When it is done right the end result is that the grunts have not only rapid response from the company's 60mm mortars but can call on the 81's from battalion as well. Also when I was in (it may have changed by now) they also integrated fires from attached 155mm & 8" support. I was told by a mortar gunny that if you can call 81mm you can call in anything.
When looking at a TO&E you have to figure out what yoru manuver units are. Everything else is support and gets parceled out. Most indirect fire assets will be held in battery formations since mass fire is the only way they are effective.
Just my 2 cents.
)The Javelin teams would ride/March with what ever conmpany they are attached to. The weapons platoons and the Weapons company will not fight as a unit. They are support for the line companies. The one exception is the Mortar units which are basically the organic artillery for the unit. The FO's will be attached out to the companies and the FDC helps lay in the tubes and get the rounds on target.
When I was in their biggest contribution was setting up the Battalion's fire plan. Each unit draws up a range card for their position these are collected condensed at the company level then sent to the FDC team. They plot and in some cases pre register targets based on the commander's assesment of what the priorities should be.
When it is done right the end result is that the grunts have not only rapid response from the company's 60mm mortars but can call on the 81's from battalion as well. Also when I was in (it may have changed by now) they also integrated fires from attached 155mm & 8" support. I was told by a mortar gunny that if you can call 81mm you can call in anything.
When looking at a TO&E you have to figure out what yoru manuver units are. Everything else is support and gets parceled out. Most indirect fire assets will be held in battery formations since mass fire is the only way they are effective.
Just my 2 cents.
I pray for Peace on Earth Good will toward men. Till then one round HE fire for Effect!
-
Rutgervanm
- E5
- Posts: 132
- Joined: Thu Mar 20, 2008 7:08 pm
- Location: Nederland
Thanks for your response Voltigeur.
I must admit that sometimes it's hard for me to translate TO&E's to the battlefield. I just like things orderly.
Therefore, I was under the impression that the Javelin teams would always have a Hummer attached to them (or the other way around). But clearly this is not the case.
Btw, what does 'lay in the tubes' mean? I thought I knew a lot for a young wargamer from the Netherlands, but I've never come across that expression.
I must admit that sometimes it's hard for me to translate TO&E's to the battlefield. I just like things orderly.
Therefore, I was under the impression that the Javelin teams would always have a Hummer attached to them (or the other way around). But clearly this is not the case.
Btw, what does 'lay in the tubes' mean? I thought I knew a lot for a young wargamer from the Netherlands, but I've never come across that expression.
-
Timothy OConnor
- E5
- Posts: 382
- Joined: Thu Nov 16, 2006 1:16 am
-
redleg
- E5
- Posts: 3864
- Joined: Fri Dec 17, 2004 11:02 am
- Location: Riverside, CA
The fire direction center in a mortar platoon does both technical and tactical fire direction. Technical fire direction is determining the azimuth and elevation of the tube and the charge to fire in order to hit the target. Tactical fire direction is determining what shell & fuze combination and how many rounds to fire in order to achieve the desired results against the target.
“Laying the tubes†basically means getting everything pointed in the right direction. Artillery (and mortars) use mils instead of degrees to orient the tubes (6400 mils in a circle) so there is a very precise process to make sure that the tubes are pointed in exactly the right direction.
Thanks for all the info on the USMC org!
“Laying the tubes†basically means getting everything pointed in the right direction. Artillery (and mortars) use mils instead of degrees to orient the tubes (6400 mils in a circle) so there is a very precise process to make sure that the tubes are pointed in exactly the right direction.
Thanks for all the info on the USMC org!
-
ShortRound70
- E5
- Posts: 270
- Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 7:32 am
- Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Cav Dog
I checked out The Last Square's website, and did not see the armored D-7 Cat listed in the US vehicle catagory. Can you provide more information on the model? Thanks.
Rutgervanm & Timothy
The Heavy Machine Gun Platoon has 6 "Gun Hummers". Each carries a M-2 .50 cal. HMG and a Mk. 19 40mm AGL. Since only one weapon can be mounted at a time, half mount the HMG and half mount the AGL. The other weapons can stay stored, or mounted on other Hummers in an emergency. The Command Hummers can mount the M-240G 7.62mm MMG or the M-249 5.56mm SAW. The HMG's & AGL's have tripod mounts stowed in the vehicles, but are normally mounted on the vehicle.
voltigeur & redleg
Thank you both for the additional information. I don't know everything about the current USMC, my time was in the early 1970's. Any new information is welcome. If I've made or make a mistake, I sincerely hope someone corrects me. No hard feelings. I'm still waiting for my contact to get back in town so I can get info on the Battalion CP.
Semper Fi! guys, and thanks for keeping this thread going.
Gary
I checked out The Last Square's website, and did not see the armored D-7 Cat listed in the US vehicle catagory. Can you provide more information on the model? Thanks.
Rutgervanm & Timothy
The Heavy Machine Gun Platoon has 6 "Gun Hummers". Each carries a M-2 .50 cal. HMG and a Mk. 19 40mm AGL. Since only one weapon can be mounted at a time, half mount the HMG and half mount the AGL. The other weapons can stay stored, or mounted on other Hummers in an emergency. The Command Hummers can mount the M-240G 7.62mm MMG or the M-249 5.56mm SAW. The HMG's & AGL's have tripod mounts stowed in the vehicles, but are normally mounted on the vehicle.
voltigeur & redleg
Thank you both for the additional information. I don't know everything about the current USMC, my time was in the early 1970's. Any new information is welcome. If I've made or make a mistake, I sincerely hope someone corrects me. No hard feelings. I'm still waiting for my contact to get back in town so I can get info on the Battalion CP.
Semper Fi! guys, and thanks for keeping this thread going.
Gary
-
voltigeur
- E5
- Posts: 814
- Joined: Mon Dec 13, 2004 3:26 am
- Location: Dallas Texas
Rutgervanm: What he said“Laying the tubes†basically means getting everything pointed in the right direction. Artillery (and mortars) use mils instead of degrees to orient the tubes (6400 mils in a circle) so there is a very precise process to make sure that the tubes are pointed in exactly the right direction.
-
Cav Dog
- E5
- Posts: 898
- Joined: Wed Dec 29, 2004 1:12 am
I got it at their booth at Little Wars. My guess is they haven't updated their online store. You can probably call them. It is on pg 12 of Navwar's UK site as US59. This is the critter, along with some veteran D-8 cats.ShortRound70 wrote:Cav Dog
I checked out The Last Square's website, and did not see the armored D-7 Cat listed in the US vehicle catagory. Can you provide more information on the model? Thanks.
Tactics are the opinion of the senior officer present.
-
ShortRound70
- E5
- Posts: 270
- Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 7:32 am
- Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
-
jb
- E5
- Posts: 2160
- Joined: Fri Mar 11, 2005 7:13 am
- Location: Antananarivo
each LAV-25 has 3 scouts.These scouts should be thought of as an integral part of the vehicles employment... Marines with the MOS of 0311, Rifleman, are assigned to the LAR battalion as scouts...redleg wrote:Does anybody know what a LAR company has in the way of dismounts? The only reference for it that I have is MCRP 5-12D, which doesn’t give a whole lot of detail.
-Mike
Ther are 14 LAV-25s assigned to a company.
John