Evolution of the U.S. Army Rifle Squad (100+ Years)

Join us today as we cover the hundred-year evolution of the U.S. Army Rifle Squad from World War I to modern times. For the written summary of each squad organization, check here: www.battleorder.org/post/u-s-...
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Music
• Medal of Honor: European Assault Soundtrack composed by Christopher Lennertz
• Men of Honor by Two Steps From Hell
Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:41 - 1918 (WW1)
1:36 - 1920 (Interwar)
2:04 - 1927 (Interwar)
2:15 - 1938 (Interwar)
3:19 - 1942 (WW2)
4:02 - 1943 (WW2)
4:15 - 1944 (WW2)
4:44 - 1945 (WW2)
5:47 - 1948 (Cold War)
6:30 - 1950 (Korean War)
6:55 - 1952 (Korean War)
7:27 - 1956 (Cold War)
8:25 - 1960 (Cold War)
8:52 - 1963 (Vietnam War)
10:01 - 1967 (Vietnam War)
10:29 - 1970 (Vietnam War)
10:49 - 1975 (Cold War)
11:24 - 1984 (Cold War)
12:00 - 1986 (Cold War)
12:12 - 1992 (Post-Cold War)
12:18 - 2007 (GWOT)
12:36 - 2016 (GWOT)

[@BattleOrder]

If you want a written summary of each of these squad organizations, check the link in the description for the companion article to this video! Also, here are the time stamps for each of the years covered if you are looking for just one of them: 0:41 - 1918 (WW1) 1:36 - 1920 (Interwar) 2:04 - 1927 (Interwar) 2:15 - 1938 (Interwar) 3:19 - 1942 (WW2) 4:02 - 1943 (WW2) 4:15 - 1944 (WW2) 4:44 - 1945 (WW2) 5:47 - 1948 (Cold War) 6:30 - 1950 (Korean War) 6:55 - 1952 (Korean War) 7:27 - 1956 (Cold War) 8:25 - 1960 (Cold War) 8:52 - 1963 (Vietnam War) 10:01 - 1967 (Vietnam War) 10:29 - 1970 (Vietnam War) 10:49 - 1975 (Cold War) 11:24 - 1984 (Cold War) 12:00 - 1986 (Cold War) 12:12 - 1992 (Post-Cold War) 12:18 - 2007 (GWOT) 12:36 - 2016 (GWOT)

[@dmoorePTman]

Question for you. ....Did the modern army not abolish the spec4f rank and now is just secialist (SPC)? I think all the other specialist ranks E5 and above no longer exist!

[@BattleOrder]

@@dmoorePTman Yes you are correct. After 1985 Spec4 just became Specialist

[@cashcleaner]

I have a question that’s of a theoretical nature. What do you believe the evolution of the infantry squad would look like? Looking a few decades in the future with new weapon systems, communication systems, a possibly more efficient supply chains, do you predict any substantial changes to unit size and organization? I ask because I like to play tabletop war games and I notice many games really limit players in terms of weapon options and usage. For example, it’s very common to have a series of 5 or 6-man teams fielded with only one special weapon operator included. That seems like a poorly-equipped unit, in my opinion, but I wonder if it could explained adequately?

[@FirstDagger]

@@BattleOrder ; You should put the timestamp into the description also, as KZbin will create timeline/bar stamps / chapters out of them.

[@samsavage3426]

The stripe is called a chevron

[@stephenduffy5406]

According to the official Army documentary “Kelly’s Heroes “ , the 1944 squad consisted of ten Thompson SMGs and one M1919. M1911s were also issued to everyone.

[@BattleOrder]

Every American war movie just wishes we had Soviet levels of submachine guns

[@TedBronson1918]

It was wartime. "Issuing" wasn't necessary. It wasn't hard to pick up a dead man's weapon and keep it. Who was going to complain about having too much firepower ?

[@The_Crimson_Fucker]

I know this is a joke...but let me be autistic here for a second: 1: There's _one_ rifle in that unit, what are you talking about? 2: It's an almost entirely off-the-books operation. 3: All of their weapons were acquired through "unofficial requisitioning". 4: You forgot the 2 BARs. 5: You forgot Oddball's entire unit including: - Custom Engines and transmission boxes on their M4s. - 76mm guns on Small turret M4s. - Custom barrel shrouds to make the guns look bigger. - Paint ammunition. - Dat Boombox The entire point of that entire cadre is that absolutely nothing is standard there and the "heroes" is sarcastic.

[@JakeHammerHTX]

@@The_Crimson_Fucker Oddballs outfit was also equipped with time travel equipment to go forward in time and obtain records of a song that was produced 15 years after the war ended, ya know incase the Germans threatened Paris or even New York they could move in, and stop them.

[@The_Crimson_Fucker]

@@JakeHammerHTX I mean, Oddball's entire outfit was straight from the '60s.

[@johnharwick1330]

My grandfather was in the army (1952-1954) and when I saw pictures of his rank, I saw the 3 chevrons over 1 rocker and assumed he was a staff sergeant even though he always said he never remembered being promoted to that rank. Thanks for clearing the brief rank change up, I couldnt find this information anywhere on the internet.

[@mikebrase5161]

As an Infantry Squad Leader in Iraq in 04-05 my squad weapons consisted of 1 M-14, 2 M-203, 2 M-249 Short barrel, 4 M-4's, 1 Mossberg 500 with dual pistol grip, 1 M-9 and my "Unofficial" Browning Hi-Power I traded an Iraq Police chief with for some unaccounted for smoke grenades. When we left Theatre I was down to 5 men. Me the Squad Leader with the M-14, 2 SAWS and 2 Grenadiers. My 1114 Up armored Hummer had a .50 mounted so one of my SAW Gunners was also the .50 gunner with the saw on a side mount in case the .50 went down. So boots on ground my Squad was a fire team by the end.

[@stephenbritton9297]

What did you think of the M-14 compared to the M-4? I worked on a Navy chartered container ship in 03-04, and we had a small armory; M-14, M-9 and the Mossberg. Really enjoyed shooting the M-14 in qualifying, but thats a WHOLE different world than taking it on patrol in combat...

[@mikebrase5161]

@@stephenbritton9297 I liked the M-14 for longer range work and stopping cars. I got a Bronze Star w/ V and an ARCOM w/ V due to what I was able to do with the M-14. For Combat Shotguns I prefer anything over the Mossberg I had a failure in Iraq that required armorer level to unfuck.

[@hoppes9658]

Mike Brase We used the A1 and when I see the m4 with the scope and other attachments I keep thinking of getting snagged up in the pucker brush and vines. Can you strip them down in case we end up in say the Philippines?

[@mikebrase5161]

@@hoppes9658 you can configure them however you like with the modular rail system. The rails have helped take lethality to a whole nother level. IR lasers, IR floodlights, flashlights etc. Can all be mounted or demounted to fit the mission/ environment.

[@hoppes9658]

Reid Parker No. You dig a hole to sleep in. Before that you set trip wire for flares and wire up your claymores on any trail or area that comes close to your spot.

[@robbiekipping1124]

My service was with the 101st in vietnam in 1970. Our infantry platoons were variable but often composed of 5 five man squads. I was the medic attached to a heavy weapons platoon of 4 m60 machine guns. Thus the first squad of 5 consisted of an officer, a radio man, senior non com, medic and one infantry man. The officer was a lieutenant and the senior non com was a platoon Sargent. The other 4 squads consisted of one gunner and assistant gunner and 3 infantry men. The m16 was commonly carried. Some times one man in each squad carried the m79. Ranks varied from Sargent to corporal for the gunner. Every one else were pfcs or spec 4. New guys rarely came in at lesser rank. Dr. K

[@rompryan7867]

When I deployed to Afghanistan in 2014, my squad consisted of a squad leader, two team leaders with the M320, one SAW gunner, and three riflemen. Our platoon medic was part of our squad for accountability reasons but would be on our platoon sergeant's hip if we took contact. I was in a light Cav squadron but even so, the squads in the regular infantry battalions were more or less in the same shape my squad was. Makes me believe that the Army should increase squad size to account for manpower shortages but my opinion ain't worth much to generals.

[@OrDuneStudios]

Mate aussie squads number 8 led by an E4. Quit your bitching.

[@floydvaughn836]

To increase unit size, you must recruit more folks overall. Or get ready to disappoint a lot of folks who joined up to be veterinarians, or chopper mechanics, etc. The best squad size is 12. SL, AR, GRN, and 3 riflemen. ASL, etc. ,1 rifle is RTO in fire team 1. ASL is RTO in fire team 2. This gives each fire team base of fire plus a significant maneuver element. But the best is the enemy of the good enough. Hell, everybody rides now, in their own mini tank anyhow. Except for Airborne, are there any light units left? Rangers are Airborne, so I just lumped them in.

[@MaxwellAerialPhotography]

“From equipment evolutions to doctrine revolutions” Dude that was a slick line, seriously god writing.

[@2011Oly]

“Army gets new stuff and we get shit my grandfather used.”

[@milmex317th]

I trained in mid 80s with royal Engineers at camp Patawawa, I was with 1st Engineer Big Red One. Yes we shot your. 30 caliber Machine gun it was our ww2 weapon,. So I hear ya.

[@Paladin1873]

You sound like a Marine.

[@suspicioususer]

Yet the marines got the m16a2 first, as well as the m32, SMAW, and M27

[@flight2k5]

The myth of the marines

[@floydvaughn836]

@@suspicioususer that line is from The Pacific. And on Guadalcanal it was true. The Marines there were still using 03 rifles. The Army adopted Garands in 1938, so... The Marines also were short on Thompson SMGs. They used Reisings.

[@gilevi]

Love how u mentioned lower ranks filling in for tl and sl. Also like how u mentioned the jr guy tends to get the saw, rather then the sr spc that doctrine says. When i was sl in a line squad i always gave the saw to one of the jr guys. Id rather the sr spc have the GL. The reason was he was next up for TL and tendes to be acting tl, and i didnt want him encumbered by a SAW or have to trade it off. Also he had put in his time and deserved to carry something a bit lighter. The 40mm is also a bit more tricky to utilize properly and could be more dangerous to friendly troops and civis, so id rather a guy with more seniority do that role. Its funny how in the infantry majority of leaders go against official doctrine and mtoe when it comes to stuff like this. Besides the example i gave above, another perfect one is that i have been a weapons squad leader for a while, and my SR guys are Assistant gunners rather then the doctrinally correct gunner. For many many reasons. And pretty much ever WSL i have ever meet that is at least half way decent runs it that way.

[@mikebrase5161]

^^ I was a rifle squad leader in Iraq 100% agree to all. 5th principle of patrolling.

[@notaspy1227]

My platoon sergeant was weird, he made me a SAW gunner as a specialist... Oh wait he just didn't like me.

[@coreymorrow332]

Best reasoning I ever heard and applied was if you’re in buddy teams the tl should be with the SAW so you’ve got most experience with least experience plus control of highest casualty producing weapon, and next most experienced guy buddied with other as rifle/grn for same reasons you posted.

[@coreymorrow332]

@CodingCrusader1095 ? ok tell me exactly where you got the idea that SAWs "receive the highest concentration of fire."

[@harrymallory7963]

How Ive observed that works is the Specialist figures he's got seniority and he's buddies with the Sqd Ldr, so guess who gets stuck with the SAW?

[@rooster-zg4oo]

im glad you mentioned putting privates as saw gunners. they give it too the new guy because it sucks the worst to carry. 1200 rounds, plus the machine gun and your own barrel bag. 240 gunners got ammo bearers and people to carry barrels. i carried a saw for 2 years before becoming grenadier then team leader.

[@LRRPFco52]

Awesome video. I would point out that we got M4 Carbines (along with the M240) in 1997-1998 timeframe in the Light Infantry Divisions (25th ID and 10th MTN), 82nd Airborne, and 101st Airmobile. We got M4 carbines in my 3rd Scout Platoon in 25th ID around September-October of 1997. Ranger Regiment already got M4A1s in 1994.

[@reelrook3044]

I was in the Army from 1990-1994, and our Team Leaders doubled as our Grenadiers. The reasoning behind this was that they could direct fire with Grenades. I was a primarily a SAW Gunner, but I was also an RTO for two years and I was a qualified Dragon Gunner, even though I was lucky enough to never have to fill that role.

[@AndrewL123]

Just a little thing, but we usually gave the rifleman in our fire team an acog 4x optic so they could fill the role as a designated marksman. But dude to shortages, sometimes they'd make due with a m68 instead.

[@vox1962]

Around 2008 we had a squad designated marksmen, usually a PFC or SPC with a m16a4 and later, a repurposed M14

[@mikebrase5161]

I carried an M-14 in Iraq 04-05 they had been drill rifles for some ROTC unit. When my DM got hit and evac'd to Germany I took his rifle, even though I was a Squad Leader. I was 33 so I was always the trail vehicle and used the 14 on more than one occasion to stop a car ignoring the big fucking machine gun atop my 1114. The M-14 is the weapon system I credit with being responsible for my Bronze Star with V/ Device that and the M-118 ammo I got from the sniper section.

[@SOS-School_Of_Survival]

M14 best rifle ever

[@fathead8933]

I carried a Winchester M14. I knew through history that I was holding the rifle my grandfather used in basic, and kinda relished that moment. I did stuff to the rifle that would make people throw up nowadays. I used the barrel mount for an M4 to mount a Paq4 to the barrel definitely destroying the harmonics. Looking back it was the cool guy weapon over there. In order to get it, you had to know you're fecal matter. Kirkuk 04-05

[@chrisblack6258]

The m16a4 might actually be an SDM-R instead of the normal A4

[@Gepedrglass]

Why did grenadiers in Vietnam only carry an m79 and a pistol? I'd figure they'd issue an m1 - m2 carbine or something that was more powerful than a pistol. Just curious.

[@BattleOrder]

The M79 was considered their primary weapon. At this point, the pistol had come back into vogue replacing the Carbine as the PDW of weapons crews. Between the 30-40 grenades they carried and the rifle sized weapon there wasn’t much room for rifle in addition (at least officially)

[@notbot8830]

Battle Order a little old west in the Far East

[@MrSheckstr]

See I was was thinking M3 grease guns.... but perhaps not... There is a good reason why NOT to issue them anything more than a pistol (whether you are talking about the carbine or the grease gun, or for that matter any other long arm) actually several reasons 1 The M79 is heavy, the ammunition is heavy. The M1 is heavy the ammunition is heavy 2 every tried carrying 2 long weapons? Switching between them in combat is going to be tedious and awkward. Find a place to put the weapon you are not using is going to be difficult

[@terryv]

One word: WEIGHT.

[@MaxwellAerialPhotography]

Logistics: it would have been a problem supplying ammo for a weapon that only 3 men in a rifle platoon carried. And by the late 60’s the carbines were surplussed out of service because they were worn out pieces of shit by that point.

[@kennetth1389]

Really cool. Would it be possible do give the 12B's a treatment? We cold war engineers would appreciate it. How many 203 gunners out there? Both 11B & 12B.

[@coreymorrow332]

Also common practice is to rotate positions in training so guys get familiar with all roles and weapons, would suck to have your SAW gunner go down and nobody else knows how to load an open bolt gun. We did this constantly and including to swapping out as TL with SL supervision and training for same reason.

[@AUGUSTOOCTAVIO1]

I love your videos! They are really good for understand this complex topics!

[@slavvodkaman9359]

This channel should be have more Subscriber because THIS IS AWESOME HE EXPLAINING WITH DETAIL INFORMATION!!!!

[@cavscout7113]

Great vid, thank you. love your work!

[@ShaDOWDoG667]

Music is giving me flashbacks.

[@BattleOrder]

Medal of Honor was the bee's knees

[@Delgen1951]

@@BattleOrder That is were I hear that. Could not remember.

[@carlhicksjr8401]

Good vid. Simple, clear, and with enough allowance for the various preferences and vagaries inherent in the infantry. I also want to commend the narrator. Clearly he's younger than me [I'm in my mid-50's] and avoids the casual 'bro' speech patterns ['Hey dudes, whut is uuup?...']. Your speech style is that of an instructor and it lends your video an air more of a teaching tool and less of a bar room conversation. There is a time and place for both styles, but 'teacher style' fits the purpose of this video.

[@dougmoore5252]

Thank you , very interesting and appreciated!

[@harrymallory7963]

Love this. Very well done. I subscribed immediately and am looking forward to more.

[@holymosey2556]

Yo you got that medal of honor music in the beginning...ugh it's so good!

[@Manvillebrady]

Nice video. My dad was a S/Sgt Platoon Guide for the 3rd Platoon of the 3rd Batallion of the 112th Infantry Regiment of the 28th Infantry Division (D-Day+46) Omaha Beach. I remember him telling of how they went from a squared division to a triangle but never fully grasped the time line he was referring to. It appears you've answered that question @ the 3:19 mark of this video. KZbin has been filling in the gaps for a bunch of lingering questions I've had about my dad's time in the army. He told a lot of interesting stories but they were seldom put into any kind of chronologial order; that made sense to me. Thanks for helping fill in some of the blanks.

[@ducksrgud]

This was really interesting! Thank you!

[@BattleOrder]

Glad you like it!

[@not-a-theist8251]

Sweet overview. Thanks man

[@BattleOrder]

You’re welcome 👍🏻

[@JackAkaJCK]

I'm writing a book about a squad in Vietnam and this helped me extremely well Thx

[@RalphReagan]

When I could get my dad to talk about it. His eyes just gleamed remembering his first Garand.

[@RailfanDownunder]

So very interesting.... thanks for educating me - such a contrast to the organisation of a Rifle or Cavalry Assault Section in the Australian Army during my time in uniform 1975-1985

[@nigelwoo4815]

thanks for the very good content and effort you put into the channel. I'm sure you'll have 100k followers soon, screencap this

[@josephgonzales4802]

I served as a 11B Infantrymen in the US Army,1981-85 and all are squads were assigned a M-60 machinegun. I was that machinegunner.

[@jrobbins707]

Thank you for serving bro.

[@flavortown3781]

Shine your boots pops, you deserve it.

[@user-hk5ji5ws9d]

Great Video

[@johnstacy7902]

when I was in the Nasty Guard we had a M60 in each squad instead of the SAW

[@darinautrey5412]

GREAT Video - it would be very interesting to add to each of these doctrine squads the rounds per minute of sustained fire and time until all ammo spent...

[@pacifiquebusiness]

Thank you 🙏🫡🇺🇸

[@gilevi]

I would like to see the evaluation of the rifle platoon next please

[@OX-1856]

That Medal of Honor European assault theme song. Still once of my favorites

[@12DisturbedGuy93]

Dogs of War in the background, one of, if not my favorite orchestral piece ever. MOH fans remember

[@tphillips63]

I was in from '83-'91. I became a sqaud leader in late '85. I had two fire teams of 5 men each, not including a medic and sometimes air defense. We got the M249 in late '85 but kept the M60. Dragon and 90mm RR was interchangeble and sometimes we would take a M2. So 1 SSG SL, 2 SGT Squad leaders mostly with the M203, 2 SPC with M249, leaving 4 men with crew served weapons, 2 for 90MM RR/Dragon but each also had an M16, and 2 for the M60 with 45/9mm. We got the M16a2's in '86 and if it had a 203 that was also replaced. This was "light" infantry and I am not sure the layout differences between divisions but most of the 75th, 503rd, 23rd battalions and guys I knew from the 25, 82, 101 and 10th all had about the same layouts during those times. A bit different and we never dropped down to 9 man while I was in so that must have been in the works. Not mechanized ever so I do not know about those units.

[@johnnieburnett9249]

2016 the shotgun mounted to m4 for breaching was introduced,like this thank you.

[@harshbansal7982]

Very good video . Can you do this for the USMC as well ?

[@noodles5438]

Great video Where would SMGs be in a squad. I thought it was 2 Thompson per squad used by NCO.

[@BattleOrder]

Glad you like it!

[@BattleOrder]

Generally speaking for regular infantry, submarine guns were issued unofficially. After June 1944 each rifle company had 6 they could distribute, but there would be nothing to stop some soldiers from trading a few drivers in another unit to get their issued Thompsons

[@JonathanJonoMiller]

Is Thompson issue to NCO/CO only or sometimes their N/CO gave it to their rifleman as submachinegunner like Airborne sometime?

[@JonathanJonoMiller]

Oh and how many Thompson for each squad if they want to have it into their squad?

[@BattleOrder]

@@JonathanJonoMiller Airborne were a bit of a different story. By late in the war, Airborne and Standard Rifle Companies had 6 submachine guns in reserve technically, but Airborne units got a lot more unofficially due to their special mission. Six submachine guns would be enough to give 6 out of 9 rifle squads in the company a submachine gun, so with the official allotment not every squad would be able to be armed with even one submachine gun. Who got them was at the company leadership's discretion. However, that doesn't include any unofficial procurement. For example, if a rifle company wanted to trade something with a vehicular unit (all vehicle drivers and tank crewmen were allotted a submachine gun) then they could theoretically have more

[@iancollins4380]

I didn't even have to look at the video description to recognize the European Assault music. Nostalgia hit me really hard.

[@santiago4120]

“Privates first class” is the proper way to say it.

[@michaelkoerner4578]

Fascinating. I heard that MP squads have more firepower than their infantry counterparts, didn't realize how true it was.

[@jamesscott2894]

How is the MP Squad/Platoon organized? Where does the extra firepower come from?

[@SandMDOTCOM1]

Funny, I have been in the USMC and the army infantry for a total of 21 years...and I did not know this history. Thank you!

[@garychandler7632]

the introduction of the mk48 variant of the m240b 7.62 medium machine gun changed squad line up in afghanistan. the 249 5.56 didn't have the punch or range of the 7.62 guns. the mk48 is a medium machine gun with weight of light machine gun making it possible. the squad replaced both m249 gunners with 1 mk48 gunner and an assistant gunner giving every squad a medium machine gun that worked with great affect. this currently the dream line up but not fully implemented stateside yet for lack of mk48 medium machine guns.

[@shootinbruin3614]

7:05 Could the Army's reversal in its opinion regarding how many men a squad leader could effectively control come from the likelihood that they had more experienced NCOs during the Korean War vs during WWII?

[@DonMeaker]

Truman was very unfair to the men who had already served in WWII, but knew that experienced leadership would save lives. So the old guys were drafted again, and Korean war casualties were lower than those in Vietnam under the Whiz Kids.

[@dernwine]

Will you do these for other armies? I'd love to see the evolution of the British Infantry Section.

[@Damo2690]

Well section Leaders are Corporals in the British Army. I always find it mad, the amount of rank inflation that has occurred in the US

[@nutyyyy]

@@Damo2690 Yes it is strange especially considering in practice more junior ranks fill these roles anyway.

[@TheWebclaw]

@@Damo2690 Can say that again! Always awkward when doing exercises with the US/Canada army due to how their ranks are so mismatched but have the same names as Brit/Aus/NZ armies. Seeing someone think a platoon sergeant is 'just' a fireteam leader is always awkward.

[@darthkillhoon]

Modern squads also normally also have an RTO and two backup riflemen in the squad leader team

[@joshuathomas8529]

I was in the army when we transition away frome the M203 to the M320. The m320 is grait when in its independent mode sucks when attached to the M4. Most of us the knew better whished they had just stuck to the M203.

[@00Athus1]

I have a question, was there any point during the transition to the m14 that arms were mixed in with the weapons they were replacing? (Ie. M14s issued along side BARs and m1s)

[@Paladin1873]

I can't comment on current organization and tactics, but when I worked with the Air Force Security Police Air Base Ground Defense training program back in the 1980s they had patterned their squads after Marine units. As I recall, each flight (platoon) was composed of at least three 12-man or 13-man squads which were broken down into three fire teams. In addition to the squad leader, we had two or three team leaders armed with M16s. Each team leader controlled a rifleman (M16), grenadier (M16/203) and a M60 gunner. This heavy arrangement gave each squad more reach and firepower than a typical Army infantry squad of that time. Our emphasis was on defense more than offense, and since our forces did not have to do extended long range patrolling, it may have been a more practical arrangement for us.

[@alancranford3398]

The WW2 Army rifle squad was based on the French rifle squad with a fire element (the BAR team) and a maneuver element (riflemen). The 1944 Marine rifle squad was three elements that were combined fire and maneuver elements. Eventually the Army adopted the Marine combined fire and maneuver elements but only two fire teams per squad. The Marines did go to two fire teams during the 1980's but returned to three fire teams per squad. The Army was more mechanized and its squad carriers were a factor limiting squad size--the Bradly IFV originally had a six-Soldier dismount squad. www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.asp?armor_id=5 Vehicle capacity limited Army squads. Marine Corps rifle squads were more often foot mobile and not vehicle mounted. As noted, Army rifle squads went into combat understrength, which can compromise the fire team system when the squad is only at 70% strength. Not only did battlefield casualties reduce front-line strength but non-battle injuries, illness, administrative attrition (didn't prioritize keeping the squad at full strength, diverting personnel to support and service functions) usually meant that squads would not fill out their TO&E. Army operations were more often sustained combat and the Army rifle squad often began with less than full squads. Marine operations generally permitted having full rifle squads at the beginning of an operation and the shorter, more intense combat operations of the Pacific Theater permitted this--with longer periods between operations to replace missing Marines. Priority for manpower usually meant that fewer riflemen would be in understrength squads--and if there was only one Soldier per squad, that would most likely be the designated squad leader, followed by the automatic rifleman (or SAW gunner). Rifle squads don't exist in a vacuum and when there's not enough Soldiers to fully staff a squad, the most important positions get filled first. When rifle squads are too understrength the practice is to combine underfed rifle squads into a single, better-staffed squad--that level may be a three-Soldier squad but typically if a squad is smaller than a fire team, it will be merged with another understaffed squad in the same platoon. Keeping the 9 rifle squads in a rifle company up to strength is difficult enough in garrison. Pulling "support troops" from the rifle company (company clerks and bakers and even radio operators) mean that there's nobody left in the company to bring rifle squads up to full strength--but despite consolidating administrative personnel at battalion the companies still have a lot of support and service functions that they have to perform on their own. Using civilian contractors for logistics operations (a return to the past--why use trained soldiers for supply operations?) and automation help--until the unit goes into combat and the logistics tail gets left behind. The day-to-day life of Soldiers makes the tables of organization more Fantasy Island than reality. And then there's the organic fire team organization versus putting a squad on a defensive perimeter and then tasking that squad to cough up a scouting patrol. The perimeter is organized on a fire team basis, placing every key weapon on the perimeter. Now take 50% of your squad to pull a foot patrol out five kilometers (to the horizon on flat terrain)--do you leave behind most of the firepower and keep the perimeter intact or do you maintain unit integrity and send an entire fire team out, leaving a gap in your perimeter? Do you instead do a Hey You mob (cobble together a patrol using personnel from each fire team) instead of using a fire team that has worked together as a unit? The squad began the 20th Century as an administrative unit for messing, billeting and other duties--the First World War made the rifle squad a tactical unit and this is reflected by the First World War rifle squad versus the rifle squads of World War Two. The Great War rifle platoon had several specialty squads. By 1944 the US Army rifle platoon consisted of a platoon headquarters and three rifle squads and all squads were, on paper, equal. Every solution produces new problems.

[@DonMeaker]

WWII squads may also have had a 2 man scout team equipped with a M-1 Thompson, or later, an M-3 submachine gun. The scout "C" team would accompany the squad leader on his leaders reconnaissance, would provide frontal or flank security when not in contact with the enemy, and would augment the maneuver "A" team in the assault while the "B" team provided fire support with the BAR. The Squad needs two fire teams led by Sergeants, and a scout section to find the enemy, so neither fire team is pinned down after the enemy is located.

[@moremacsmedia8745]

Very well made video i was wondering in WW1 how many men would have been armed with shotguns in a squad or even platoon?

[@BattleOrder]

We don't have a solid answer as of right now. They are not included in any of the regimental TO&Es of the time. As they were often commercially procured, they may have been regimental or divisional spares (as was the case during WWII for the Marine Corps) that were issued when needed for offensives or patrolling duties.

[@moremacsmedia8745]

@@BattleOrder The only source i was able to find is that there 50 of them in a division and given to scout platoons. Thanks for the reply.

[@MaxwellAerialPhotography]

Short answer: None Long answer: the use of shotguns by the Americans in the First World War is so exaggerated and over blown as to almost be a myth. Trench guns were typically only used on various forms of sentry duty and saw very limited use in offensive action. Shotgun ammo of the day was hideously unreliable in the wet conditions of trench warfare. The paper hulled shells would often swell in the chamber and mag tube, making cycling and feeding impossible. It actually wouldn’t be until the Second World War when brass hulls were issued that shotguns really gained a fearsome combat reputation. As for the Germans diplomatic protest that everyone makes a big deal out of, everyone protested everything. Earlier in the war the British had protested German sawback bayonets. It really was not a big deal.

[@southernknight9983]

Wow! The ranking system makes no sense these days. A sergeant used to be the Platoon Leader's assistant. Squad Leaders were corporals and riflemen were privates. A Staff Sergeant as a Squad Leader makes no sense. Those stripes need to be earned, not given away. Godspeed!

[@nutyyyy]

That’s how it is for most armies honestly. The US has a huge rank inflation. I can understand the rationale behind raising it during WW2 but seems to just be a holdover from there.

[@username_3715]

It's to increase pay for morale and retention. Marines have E6 platoon sergeants, E4/E5 squad leaders and they have trash retention and morale.

[@alfasierra254]

Man... I still remember waking up in the middle of the night to re-clean and lube my 249. That thing would not run magazines reliably but ate those belts like a hungry hog!

[@nativegerry335]

Im guessing the Philippines scouts in 1941 retained the 1938 squad configuration and armament. The 1903 Springfield was more common in the us forces of the far East . Many older people my parents know are sons and daughters of Philippine scout and army veterans who were fighting in bataan from 41 and 42 then captured. They remembered being issued the 1903 and used well during the ill fated campaign to defend their homeland from Japan.

[@scottjoseph9578]

Each squad was also issued one "Mr. Warmth," for immediate morale improvement, according to Kelly's Heroes.

[@akmemeopsyt8483]

Its insane ww1 started 100+ years ago

[@Narrowsplice]

Hi can you please do an army ordnance company , like an ordnance depot company or ordnance battalion

[@Beoulve95]

13:49 "This M249 is heavy and jams every 5 shots. Man, it really sucks... make the new guy carry it!"

[@isaachousley325]

Yeah, its simply laziness on the rest of tge squad to give it to the new private. The 249 provides the majority of the squads suppressive and defense fire power, and is more complicated than the basic rifle. Combin that with most of them needing an adept hand because it should have had a depot level rebuild over a decade ago, and it just becomes idiocy to give it to the new guy.

[@Pistachio-db7co]

Can I request you to make some videos about South Korean Mechanized Infantry Squad? Those military are the unique one which still keep the Cold-War style massive ground forces even in 21C

[@50TNCSA]

can we talk about why the smallest dude in the unit normally had the largest gun like the bar

[@gareththompson2708]

I still think the 11 man squad was the superior format, being better at absorbing losses while being similarly controllable. But I understand why it was decreased to 9 men. It is difficult enough to fit 9 men in the back of an IFV (and the Bradley can't even manage that), and designing one to fit 11 would have been especially challenging (though I'm not convinced it would be impossible). And 9 men allows you to have more divisions in an army of the same size.

[@blue387]

Hello, I noticed in your article on the US Army rifle company that the company headquarters had a dedicated bugler (private/PFC) as late as 1944-5. What was the purpose of the bugler and was it used in relaying orders in combat?

[@BattleOrder]

They were meant to be an observer in company HQ observation/command posts and sometimes man a radio set on the company/battalion net

[@medes7894]

Nice vid mate. And love your desings about army structure. Wanna ask sth. Why some troops in an army unit are attached to their higher level organizations? As an example weapons platoon. İnstead of deploying each wpns squad with a rifle platoon why do they have dedicated unit? The thing goes same for all types of units, artilerry, recon, medic, AA.

[@LRRPFco52]

It hasn’t been like that in the Army for generations. Weapons Squad was always part of the Rifle Platoon when I was in. We still had M60s in Weapons Squad, which was replaced by M240Bs in the late 1990s. We also had the Anti-Armor Weapons in Weapons Squad, with the Dragon at first, then replaced by the Javelin. I was in 3 different Battalion-level Recon Platoons, as well as Corps Long Range Surveillance. Battalion-level Recon Platoons help with training the Reconnaissance soldiers, but teams end up basically working for the different line companies often doing recon for them before they hit their objectives. Snipers would also be attached to each line Company operationally. It’s funny because there was no MTO&E for Snipers in the Battalion, but every Light Infantry Battalion I was in had a 9-man Sniper Section in the Recon Platoon, complete with the Sniper Systems. The Army was still trying to figure out how to train and employ Snipers, and still hasn’t got it right. They need Division-level Sniper Schools that can authorize and award the Additional Skill Identifier. The Marines have Division-level schools that award the Sniper MOS, while using Quantico as their Scout Sniper Instructor Course to manage the quality of Instructors who will run the Division-level schools. The Army also needs a formal Designated Marksman course. That should really be taught and run in Infantry OSUT along with a Grenadier, SAW Gunner and Machinegunner Course.

[@medes7894]

@@LRRPFco52 thank you very much dude , this clarified everything much more better

[@edwardgilmour9013]

Interesting ~! I always wondered how the USA & USMC Squad Structures compared to an Australian (Section) or the British system. Interesting that your US Squads are led by Sgt & SSgt But ours are lead by Cpl. With a LCpl in charge of the one AR (It has probably changed since I left) I like the two fire team system with both AR & Grenade launcher options.

[@LRRPFco52]

Australian and British Light Infantry cultures are some of the best in the world. Same with Canadians, Danes, Norwegians, and Germans. The British Infantry Center produces high quality infantrymen. My Long Range Surveillance unit was heavily influenced by the proven concepts and techniques that were fundamental in the UK Recon community. We sent a lot of guys to the Brecon Beacons for Cambrian Patrol, as well as to ILRRPS in Germany where all the cadre are senior NATO Special Operations and LRRP soldiers with combined experience you would never find anywhere else in the world. The US Army has a difficult task of training much large groups of Infantrymen, but has doubled the length of Infantry OSUT within the past several years and revamped the whole program. I went through OSUT in early 1994 for 13 weeks. Most of the training was on-the-job which can be great in a unit with excellent leadership, and totally unsat in a unit with risk-averse garritroopers.

[@mariag2563]

The US military has more enlisted ranks than the UK/Australian militaries. A sergeant in the British Army and Royal Marines is equivalent to a Sergeant First Class in the US Army and Staff Sergeant in the USMC, they're usually platoon sergeants, at least as far as 'line' infantry units go. More specialised/elite units might have a sergeant in charge of a smaller unit, like a recce team. It takes about 10-15 years to reach sergeant in the British Army and Royal Marines so they're usually in their 30s and even 40s now, as promotion is slow. There are not many SNCO slots.

[@JohnMiller-iu2sx]

Ya done good kid

[@coldwarrior78]

FWIW, In 1976, my infantry platoon in A Co, 1/4 Inf had three 11 man squads, at full strength, which was almost never. At Platoon level, I had one 76mm recoilless rifle for AT and one M60 for fire support. We were told we would never be too far from our tracks so the real firepower came from the .50 cals.

[@maxtongilbert1114]

Optics I think are a huge upgrade also

[@crabtrap]

I'm in Space Force. the only thing they issued me was a Fazer and a 5th ED 'Art of the Deal' book.

[@faramund9865]

Hey there, where can I find a database containing these Tables of Organization? I'm specifically looking for the vietnam era ones.

[@jesselamb1003]

probably need to do a single video on the new squad weapons there phasing out the m4 to the new sig

[@MightyTiki]

13:12 The Specialist 4 (SP4) has not existed since 1985 when it was transitioned and phased out of the Army to Specialist (SPC).

[@dexm2010]

The term Spec-4 was still thrown around constantly from 2000-2008...not sure about now.

[@MightyTiki]

@@dexm2010The fuck?

[@ronaldwhite1730]

thank you . ( 2022 / July / 30 )

[@miguelprima5937]

i recognized the TSFH bgm :D

[@helium-379]

War aways changes. The organizations and the structures of groups change. Weapons and equipment change. The reason people fight change. Nothing is ever the same ever again. No ammount of recreation will the same as the orriginal, but it can be more efficient and more than its past.

[@tacticalhyvecadre1049]

Great vid. Where are the SMGs?

[@noodles5438]

During WW2 SMGs are given to the platoon and then the platoon would give them to who the wish, typically that would almost always be Squad NCOs.

[@blackops7psn]

Do the Marines next! Errah!

[@kodykernan6917]

Music from medal of honor European assault?

[@foxhoundr3364]

Can you please do the evolution of the Australian Infantry Section?

[@timmyv930]

This is a great video just one nit picky thing, its Privates First Class or Specialists 4 not Private First Classes or Specialist 4s.

[@davidmcnamara8759]

hey can you do one on aussy and kiwi squads

[@le8267]

Could u do the usmc?

[@ryankuniyoshi96825]

My vision of a future US army rifle squad 2020 through 2025. Sig wins a big military contract for replacing current gen weapons. The Squad leader would have the Sig MCX Virtus 5.56 carbine, 5 other riflemen would have the Sig MCX SPEAR rifle, 2 guys would have the Sig MG 6.8, last man in the squad will have the H&K M110A1 SDMR.

[@Year_of_the_Dell]

Heh well i have some news....

[@blue387]

Do you plan to cover other armies in the future? How does the US rifle squad compare to foreign units such as British, Russian or Chinese PLA units?

[@BattleOrder]

Absolutely. I think our next video is going to be on the British. We also have several British and Russian articles up on our website battleorder.org

[@dudejo]

I imagine the French army would work closest to the US Army. Although it's a section-sized element, it also has two team leaders under a single commander. 8-men sections like in Britain is what I'd like to know. I imagine the commander controls his own team while the 2IC's team works semi-independently with the overall section goal in mind.

[@3009534]

Could you do a video on modern US army rank structure please?

[@matthewjones39]

It’s pretty simple. Just look it up.

[@LaMiltonTheHoodrat]

Do one on an M109A6 section. I'm in a Paladin Battery

[@Usammityduzntafraidofanythin]

I wonder how many bayonet training accidents happened? That guy leaning into the blade... haha.

[@toilet_cleaner_man]

a quick doot about the 1956 formation, where would standard Sergeants fit into this? The rank insignia show it going straight from Sgt First Class to Staff Sgt, and then corporal on down. Was it supposed to be a Staff Sgt as squad leader, and then descend from there?

[@BattleOrder]

The rank structure for NCOs in the 50s went Corporal > Sergeant > Sergeant First Class > Master Sergeant. But the Sergeant rank insignia was like the current Staff Sergeant, with 3 chevrons and 1 rocker. So there was actually no Staff Sergeant, although Sergeant was at a pay grade comparable to the WW2 staff sergeant. It reverted back to the more normal way in 1959

[@obiwankenobi4252]

Is it just me or the 1975-1984 Squad organisation is just visually appealing?

[@TexasRambo]

The background song reminds me of Medal of Honor lol 😂

[@jroynonfisher]

You missed that the modern Squad (since 90’s I think) has had a MG, AG, and RTO with the SL.

[@kerbalaerospacelabs3445]

He did. He also missed that each fireteam can be augmented to no more than 6 men per team.

[@username_3715]

No they don't but you can attach them from weapons squad.

[@isaachousley325]

​@username_371 yep. Sounds like his experience is based upon the units being habitually understrength leading to the canabilation of the 3rd squad and the wpns squad. Or it could be he was in an mech inf unit that was clinging to old doctrine, as 80s mech inf doctrine provided an MMG to each rifle squad if the unit was still fielding m113s.

[@Seroc99]

I’m a navy squid so most of this is foreign to me. This was a great summary that was easy to follow. One question. What happens to those who get promoted to corporal instead of Spec 4? Do the move to company or can the full the spot of one of the SGTs?

[@BattleOrder]

Anecdotally I’ve heard that Corporal is sort of a punishment rank almost for Specialists who aren’t ready to go in for Sergeant. That or it’s a tradition thing for a specific unit. Corporals would probably fill junior NCO roles (so Fire Team Leaders), but in most units a senior Specialist could do that as well

[@anthonykaiser974]

CPL is an NCO rank. In the Army, CPL rank is given worthy SPCs holding SGT positions. There are no CPL slots in the US Army.

[@joelrunyan1608]

If the army wants to retain people? Bring back the 1950s rank structure.. E6 fire team leader? E7 squad leaders. Hell yeah!

[@chhoc]

nice video, but odd and distracting music. thanks for creating and sharing