What the best Infantry section size ?

• storywolf

  24 Feb 05, 15:53

  Originally posted by dragonstar:

  See my previous post - it was meant to be humourous. Have I served my NS? You bet - finished national service AND reservist obligations.

  Good at least we will not be expecting a idiot with a 120mm mortar doing a assualt charge at us during any future execrise !!! That may be a little too humourous for most soldiers to take, some of them may die laughing or accident roll down the hill.
• spencer99

  24 Feb 05, 17:15

  
  When we talk about the weapon loadout of soldiers one must consider the physical attributes of our soldiers.
  
  Also how can we compare what the US soldiers carried in the movie "black hawk down". The US Rangers are Special Forces or at least elite infantry.
  
  Our NS boys and Nsmen are human. A GPMG is not a easy thing to carry around. I think having one organic to the platoon is enough. I can't imagine each section with one GPMG.
  
  Alternatively, maybe expand the GPMG section to 5-men/2-guns. one commander and 2x gunners and 2x asst gunners. So we will have 2 GPMG per platoon.
  
  So GPMG section will either deploy indepedently with 2 guns as a support role or maybe split to two. one gun will deploy as a support role. the second gun, will deploy and join up with one of the section. Theortically increasing the 7 men section to a 9 men section.
  
  7-men section
  Grp 1
  -------
  Sect Comd
  1st LAW
  1st M203
  
  Grp 2
  -------
  Sharpshooter/2nd LAW
  1st SAW
  
  Grp 3
  -------
  2nd M203
  2nd SAW
  
  9-men section (GPMG team attached)
  Grp 1
  -------
  Sect Comd
  GPMG Gunner
  GPMG Asst Gunner
  
  Grp 2
  -------
  Sharpshooter/2nd LAW
  1st SAW
  1st M203
  
  Grp 3
  -------
  2nd M203
  2nd SAW
  1st LAW
  
  The reason why I put the GPMG with the sect Comd is becaue the GPMG the SEct Comd will be in the best position to direct the GPMG's firepower.
  
  
• Joshua1975

  24 Feb 05, 17:23

  hello, please take note. in SAF a GPMG commander estab is higher than a PL SGT
  
  section comd estab 2SG.
  PS estab 1SG
  GPMG estab SSG.
• Joshua1975

  24 Feb 05, 18:01

  9 is good and 7 is fine.
  
  we must look at what we have (as in manpower) in the 1st place what is going to happen when all was to call for duty.
  
  what we have (as in manpower) is little and will be less as years goes by.
  
  what is going to happen if we are to go up front?
  
  1. we can forget about coming back within days or weeks as we will occupy till peace is achieve and most likely we will stay there for good.
  
  2. man fall, no replacement at all. it better to get used with small group now. anyway who now have a full section for the whole 2 year. I dun even have a full PL of man during my last few years of services. in the 80s SAF PL have more than what is needed but not today.
  
  3. size dun matter in SAF. it is said that we had the most fire power in a section in the world that any army can ask for.
  
  4. what about logistics, with the number now we have our log are having a big head when we are just on ex, if ops i really think will they make it in time?
  
  and SAF is going or are in 3G now. most likely we will see a 3 man section soon.
• gary1910

  24 Feb 05, 18:14

  SAF reason then for reducing from 9 men section to 7 men section was due to increase firepower that 7 men sect provide due to introduction of SAW , LAW & M203.
  
  But in reality , I think they were following the US model, likewise, the US sect has increase in firepower as well.
  
  But I think the main reason for reduce the US's Sect to 7 men was the introduction of Bradley IFV M2 (3+ 7 dismounted infantrys)which replaced the M113( 2+ 11 infantrys).
  
  One thing , the newer Bradley IFV M2A2/A3 has even smaller crew (3+6 dismounted infantrys).
  
  AFAIK, only 6 men sect will be the dismounted from the M2A2/A3, now will SAF follow the US again & down to 6 men?
  
  BTW, Bionix has a crew of 3 + 7 dismounted infantry.
  
  Going back to 9 men sect for SAF I think is quite impractical, likewise for GPMG in a sect, then SAW and GPMG will hace duplicated role.
• storywolf

  25 Feb 05, 14:37

  Originally posted by gary1910:

  Going back to 9 men sect for SAF I think is quite impractical, likewise for GPMG in a sect, then SAW and GPMG will hace duplicated role.

  If in a 9 man section , there is 2 saw, what we can do it replace 1 saw with GMPG. Why GPMG is harder hitting then a saw, it give the section a lot more firepower which the saw cannot.