Graphica Mechanica
No battle plan ever survived contact with Comic Sans.
Graphica Mechanica melds graphic and information design with military, technological and mechanical topics.
Here we have the platoon layout of the BTR-152 Soviet motorized rifle platoon from the late 1940s to the early 1960s. Want to learn more? Read the article here: https://www.battleorder.org/ussr-mot-rifles-1949
Belarusian Motorized Rifle Company (2007)
Ever heard of a little place called Belarus? Read up on how the Belarusian motorized rifle company is organized here: https://www.battleorder.org/belarus-mot-rifles-2007
battleorder.org A concise layout of the Belarusian Motorized Rifle Company organization and equipment from 2007.
Here we have the organization of the U.S. Army Airmobile rifle squad at the time of the Battle of Ia Drang Valley featured in the movie "We Were Soldiers."
Poster: https://www.redbubble.com/works/38083375
Article on the Organization: https://www.battleorder.org/us-airmobile-1965
The squad layout was the same as the standard Army squad layout at the time, except when it came to the personal weapons. The M14 rifle remained the Army's standard service rifle until 1967 when replaced by the M16A1. However, several units engaged in jungle warfare in Vietnam were equipped with the XM16E1 (C**t 603) by 1965 - the predecessor to the M16A1.
The only Army units to receive the XM16E1 around this time period were the Green Berets, the airborne, and the 1st Air Cavalry Division. All other infantry were using the M14. Depicted here is an XM16E1. Key outward distinctions (aka, the only things I changed from the M16A1 posters) was the lack of a cage around the magazine release and 3 prong flash hiders versus bird cage. M16s (C**t 604s) that lacked forward assists went to the air force.
Other than not having the M14, another difference is the early lack of a different weapon for the automatic rifleman. The M14A1 had replaced the BAR in this regard, but it was a poor replacement. The automatic rifleman in this organization would just be a man ordered to use automatic fire.
U.S. Airborne Company Organization (1945)
Wonder what America's airborne forces looked like when they jumped on Germany? Check out our latest summary of the U.S. Army Parachute Infantry company in 1945!
https://www.battleorder.org/us-airborne-1945
battleorder.org A concise layout of the U.S. Army Parachute Infantry Company during World War II effective December 1944.
Here we have the organization of the Finnish Jaeger Group, based on "Jääkärijoukkueen ja -ryhmän käsikirja" published in 2018.
Poster (English): https://www.redbubble.com/works/38064693
Article on Platoon Organization: https://www.battleorder.org/finnish-jaeger-2018
Poster (Finnish): https://www.redbubble.com/works/38064771
The group consists of a command team, point team, and support team. The standard rifles of the Finnish Army are the RK 95 TP (newer) and the RK 62M (older). The standard machine guns is the KK PKM (newer) and the KVKK 62 (older). If the Jaeger platoon is mounted in Sisu Pasi or Patria AMV armored personnel carriers, there is also a vehicle commander and driver.
The command team has the group leader (corporal), demolitions specialist (private), and designated marksman (private) with an optic. The Finnish Army uses the Trijicon ACOG and Aimpoint RDS. The point team consists of the deputy group leader (private first class), machine gunner (private), and rifleman (private). The support team consists of a team leader (private first class), machine gunner (private), and combat life saver (private).
Vietnam Army Rifle Platoon (2019)
Curious how the modern People's Army of Vietnam organizes its rifle platoon? Satisfy that curiosity with this cheeky article: https://www.battleorder.org/vietnam-rifle-platoon-2019
battleorder.org A concise layout of the current Vietnam Army infantry rifle platoon organization and equipment as of 2019.
Singapore Army Rifle Platoon (2019)
Want to learn how the Singapore Army structures its rifle platoons? Check out our new article on the topic here:
https://www.battleorder.org/singapore-rifle-platoon-2019
battleorder.org A concise layout of the current Singapore Army infantry rifle platoon organization and equipment as of 2019.
This is the organization of the Singapore Army infantry rifle section.
Get the poster: https://www.redbubble.com/works/37958591
I've been told this is representative of the national service (conscript) units or an older professional section, as the professional soldiers now have SAR 21s with picatinny rails and newer Ultimax 100s.
The section consists of 7 men. There is a section commander (third sergeant; armed with an SAR21), 1 section second-in-command (corporal; armed with an SAR21 and M203), 2 machine gunners (armed with an Ultimax 100 each), 1 grenadier (armed with an SAR21 and M203), and 2 MATADOR operators/riflemen (armed with 1 MATADOR and one SAR21 each).
One of the MATADOR operators is armed with the sharpshooter variant of the SAR21. It is identical to the standard SAR21, except it is equipped with a 3x optic as opposed to the standard 1.5x optic. The MATADOR is a disposable 90mm rocket launcher, similar in role to the AT4.
The next level up is the platoon, which consists of 3 of these rifle sections (7 men each), a machine gun team (3 men), platoon sergeant, platoon medic, and platoon leader.
Here we have the organization of the New Zealand Army rifle section following the adoption of the LMT-produced MARS-L that replaced the F88 Austeyr around 2015-17.
Get the Poster: https://www.redbubble.com//works/37910497
The section consists of 10 personnel split into two even fire teams, although they can be divided in different ways depending on the situation.
Team A consists of the section commander (a corporal), 1 marksman (armed with a DMW, which is a LMT 308 MWS, similar to the British L129A1), 1 grenadier (armed with a MARS-L and M203PI gr***de launcher), 1 signaller (radio operator and rifleman, armed with a MARS-L), and a scout (armed with a MARS-L).
Team B consists of the section 2IC (a lance corporal), 1 machine gunner (armed with a Maximi LSW, which is a 7.62x51mm version of the Minimi), 1 assistant machine gunner (armed with a MARS-L), 1 grenadier, and 1 scout. Aside from the section commander and 2IC, all section members are privates.
Alternatively, the section can be divided into 3 teams (3, 4, and 3 men) when mounted in light utility vehicles. In this scenario, the teams would be led by the section commander, section 2IC, and the most capable/senior private in the 3rd fire team. Additionally, in a breaching scenario, the section can be divided into a clearance team and an overwatch team. In this scenario, the overwatch team consists of the Section 2IC, Machine Gunner, a Grenadier, and Marksman while the clearance team has the rest of the section.
The typical optic with the MARS-L is an ACOG 4x optic with an RMR on top. The DMW marksman rifle is equipped with a Leupold adjustable 4.5-14× scope.
Here we have the current organization of the Australian Army rifle section. This is following the adoption of the new EF88 Rifle in 2015.
Get the poster: https://www.redbubble.com/works/37884886
The section consists of two bricks (or fire teams) of four men each. The alpha brick is commanded by the section commander (a corporal) with a light machine gunner, grenadier, and rifleman. The bravo brick is commanded by the section 2IC (a lance corporal), but is otherwise the same.
The standard rifle of the ADF is the Thales EF88 with the Raytheon Elcan Specter F2 optic. The gr***de launcher is the ML40 40mm under barrel gr***de launcher. The standard light machine gun is the F89 Minimi chambered in 5.56x45mm, although the 7.62mm Maximi was used on a limited basis in Afghanistan to counter 7.62mm machine guns in use by the Taliban.
Note, an ASLAV-equipped cavalry unit would be reduced by two riflemen with the addition of a vehicle commander, driver, and gunner. The next level up is the rifle platoon, which consists of 3 sections.
Here is a new visualization of the current U.S. Army Stryker Rifle Platoon. Might be something we begin including in our articles on organization and equipment. Check out the full article here: https://www.battleorder.org/us-stryker-platoon-2019
East German Mot. Schützenkompanie (1985)
Check out our latest article on the organization and equipment of the East German Motorized Rifle Company (BMP-1 equipped) right before the fall of the Berlin Wall.
https://www.battleorder.org/ddr-motorized-1985
battleorder.org A concise layout of the East German NVA Motorized Rifle Company organization and equipment from 1985 to 1990.
British Parachute Company Organization (1944)
Ever wonder how the British jumped on Normandy, Holland, and Germany? Check out our new look at the British parachute rifle company organization from February 1944 to March 1945!
https://www.battleorder.org/uk-paras-1944
battleorder.org A concise layout of the British Army Parachute Infantry Company during World War II effective February 1944.
German Volksgrenadier Company (1944)
Did you know the Germans actually fielded Heer Volksgrenadier units primarily armed with Sturmgewehr 44s during World War II? Read more about it and those units' organization here:
https://www.battleorder.org/volksgrenadiers-1944
battleorder.org A concise layout of the German Sturmgewehr 44-equipped Volksgrenadier company during World War II.
This is the organization of the modern U.S. Army rifle squad. Check out our latest article on the Army's Stryker rifle platoon organization or pick this graphic up as a print below!
Article: https://www.battleorder.org/us-stryker-platoon-2019
Poster: https://www.redbubble.com/works/37520428
U.S. Army Stryker Platoon Organization (2019)
Want to know how the U.S. Army fights? Check out our newest article on the organization of the U.S. Army's Stryker-mounted rifle platoons!
https://www.battleorder.org/us-stryker-platoon-2019
battleorder.org A concise layout of the current U.S. Army Stryker ICV-mounted rifle platoon organization effective as of 2019.
British Rifle Platoon Organization (2019)
The British Army's rifle platoon and section organization is changing with the introduction of new weapons. Check out our new article on it for the details!
https://www.battleorder.org/british-rifle-platoon-2019
battleorder.org A concise layout of the current British Army rifle platoon organization effective as of 2019.
This was one of the squad organizations used by the U.S. Marine Corps' paratroopers during World War II. You can read the in-depth explanation and details of it here: https://www.battleorder.org/articles/us-paramarines-ww2
Poster: https://www.redbubble.com/works/37149023
U.S. Marine Parachute Platoon (WWII)
Check out our new article about the organization and equipment of the U.S. Marine Corps' paratroopers, or Paramarines, during World War II! We were annoyed that we couldn't find one place with all the info, so we made it happen.
https://www.battleorder.org/articles/us-paramarines-ww2
FN Herstal secures significant deal in Portugal | Jane's 360
The Portuguese will be acquiring 12,600 small arms and 1,700 underbarrel gr***de launchers from FN Herstal by 2022. They will include SCAR-Ls, SCAR-Hs, and Minimi Mk. 3s. Portugal's current standard issue service rifle is the H&K G3A3, while some special-mission units are also equipped with the H&K G36 or IMI Galil.
https://www.janes.com/article/86993/fn-herstal-secures-significant-deal-in-portugal
janes.com The Portuguese Army is to receive a comprehensive number of small arms between 2019 and 2022, a source within Army Headquarters told Jane’s on 28 February. A multi-year contract was recently awarded by the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) to FN Herstal on behalf of the Portuguese
This is the organization of the Swiss Army infantry squad. You can read the in-depth explanation and details of it here: https://www.battleorder.org/articles/swiss-army-modern
Poster: https://www.redbubble.com/works/37349650
750,000 new AKs for India: Modi unveils Kalashnikov plant producing latest Russian rifles
India will be purchasing 750,000 AK-203 rifles from the Kalashnikov Concern. The AK-203 is essentially a modernized version of the AK-103, both chambered in 7.62x39mm, but with the 203 featuring some modernized features seen on the AK-12/15 series (such as a collapsible stock and rails).
This new procurement will likely fill the role of the indigenous Indian AK-based INSAS rifle chambered in 5.56mm NATO, which had retirement plans announced in 2017.
As with most things from Russia Today, the article is clearly slanted in favor of Russian industry, but it was the first article I saw on this topic.
https://www.rt.com/news/452925-india-russia-plant-kalashnikov-rifles/
rt.com India’s PM Narendra Modi has inaugurated a Kalashnikov plant which is set to produce hundreds of thousands of AK-203s for the army locally, as the Indian forces are steadily phasing out their aging assault rifles.
Swiss Army Rifle Squad (21st Century)
Want to learn how the Swiss Army does things? Check out our new article on the organization of the Swiss Army rifle squad!
https://www.battleorder.org/articles/swiss-army-modern
The U.S. Marine Rifle Squad (21st Century)
Check out our new article on the evolution of the U.S. Marine Corps Rifle Squad from 2001 to 2020.
https://www.battleorder.org/blog/21st-century-usmc
battleorder.org The evolution of the composition and equipment of the U.S. Marine rifle squad from 2001 to 2020.
This is the current organization of the U.S. Marine Corps rifle squad following the replacement of the M16A4 with the M4 Carbine in 2015-16 and before the adoption of the M27 IAR as the squad automatic weapon around 2011-2013. You can pick it up as a print at the link in my bio.
Pick up the poster: https://www.redbubble.com/works/36788314
The squad is essentially the same format as the Marine Corps squad composition instituted in 1944. It consists of a squad leader (nominally a sergeant), and 3 fire teams consisting of 1 fire team leader (nominally a corporal, often a lance corporal), 1 automatic rifleman, 1 assistant automatic rifleman, and 1 rifleman who acts as a scout.
The standard rifle following 2015 has been the M4 Carbine, although this is slated to be replaced by the Heckler and Koch produced M27 IAR starting in FY 2020. Prior to 2017, the M27 IAR was just a replacement for the belt-fed M249 SAW. Ideally, fire team leaders are also armed with M203 gr***de launchers.
Based on initial releases, the automatic 22 30-round STANAG magazines would be carried by each fire team for use by the M27 gunner. This would add up to a total of 1,980 rounds within the entire squad allocated for the automatic rifleman. This is similar to the load of the M249 it is replacing, although a similar load would be carried in about 3 200-round belts contained in plastic magazines per fire team. Both of these figures obviously vary unit-to-unit.
🇩🇪 This is the organization of the German Bundeswehr Panzergrenadier Group following the replacement of the MG3 with the MG5.
Poster in English: https://www.redbubble.com/works/37320992
Wandkunst auf Deutsch: https://www.redbubble.com/works/37321077
The German Panzergrenadier squad consists of 6 dismounts, with an additional 3 vehicle crew that typically stay with the vehicle. Today, this squad would dismount from a Puma infantry fighting vehicle (formerly from a Marder) which has a passenger capacity of 6 (hence small number of dismounts characteristic of mechanized infantry). By contrast, the Jager light infantry consist of 8-10 personnel depending on the vehicle (typically a Boxer, Fuchs, or spread across lighter vehicles) and their crews dismount as well. In the case of the Panzergrenadiers, the vehicle crew are armed with MP7 PDWs.
The squad consists of a group leader (typically an NCO, such as an Feldwebel/Oberfeldwebel, and armed with a G36), a grenadier/Panzerfaust operator (armed with a Panzerfaust 3 and G36), a machine gunner (armed with an MG5, formerly an MG3), and three riflemen (armed with G36 rifles, on with an AG36 underbarrel gr***de launcher). Typically all Panzergrenadiers with 6 months or more of service also have a Panzerfaust qualification. Typically the operator carries one or two reloads for the Panzerfaust, or it is distributed amongst the squad.
As panzergrenadiers, the dismounts and their parent vehicles operate closely with the Panzertruppe: nominally Leopard 2A6 or 2A7 main battle tanks.
This is the organization of the Danish mechanized infantry group. This is based off of "HRN 023-057 - Den Mekaniserede Infanterigruppe (2007)" with updated weapons circa 2016 to the present.
Poster in English: https://www.redbubble.com/works/37302046
Vægkunst på dansk: https://www.redbubble.com/works/37302653
This squad would be mounted in a Mowag Piranha or M113. It consists of 6 dismounts with an additional 2 vehicle crew. The dismounts are the squad leader, 3 riflemen (including the 2IC) and 2 machine gunners.
Prior to 2014, the standard machine gun of the Danish infantry section was the Rheinmetall MG3. Based on my light research on the topic, at least back in the 1980s the MG3 gunner required an assistant, whereas the M60 doesn't. I could be mistaken on that, though.
The M60 variant is the new M60E6 produced by US Ordnance which beat out the HK121/MG5 in Danish trials in 2014. The M60E6 is an updated version of the M60E4, with much welcomed ergonomic improvements. The standard rifle is the C**t Canada C8 IUR, which replaced the C**t Canada C7 in 2010.
Two of the riflemen are listed as carrying the disposable AT-4 CS rocket launcher, while one of the rifleman could also be charged with carrying an additional gr***de launcher. The group leader is typically a Sergeant, while the Second-in-Command is typically a corporal.
I am presently uncertain whether the medic is a full combat medic or rifleman with intermediate combat life saver training. Given the language of the manual I am basing this off of, it seems more likely that they would be a rifleman first, medic second.
This is the organization of the Chinese People's Liberation Army's mechanized infantry squad dismounts. This is based upon an infographic published in 2017 from a photo taken at Zhurihe Training Base.
Pick up the poster: http://bit.ly/pla-mechanized
This squad would be mounted on a Type 08 infantry fighting vehicle, which is armed with a 30mm autocannon and ATGMs. In addition to these dismounts, there would be a driver and a gunner who would be armed with pistols. When the squad leader, also the vehicle commander, dismounts with his squad, if the Chinese follow the same doctrine as the Soviets, the gunner would direct the driver. It would be a healthy assumption that this squad would typically be operating with support from their vehicle.
The dismounts consist of a corporal squad leader, deputy squad leader, machine gunner, grenadier, assistant grenadier, and two riflemen. The standard rifle is the bullpup Type 95 assault rifle and the standard machine gun is the Type 95 light support weapon variant. Both chamber the indigenous Chinese 5.8x42mm ammunition.
The grenadier is exclusively armed with the Type 98 launcher, which fires a munition that is inserted partially outside of the tube to the rear. Because the munition is mounted externally, it allows for much larger munitions to be used. The Type 98 uses a 120mm rocket, while the Mk 153 SMAW is 83mm, the RPG-7 is 40mm, and the AT4 is 84mm.
Although this design is arguably better in terms of effectiveness, the infographic lists the grenadier as unarmed (similar to Soviet RPG gunners who were either unarmed otherwise or armed with a pistol) while the assistant grenadier carries two rockets.
This is the organization for the dismounts of the East German motorized rifle squad (BMP-1 equipped) from the late Cold War (late 1980s to 1990).
Poster: http://bit.ly/ddr-squad
This was done in collaboration with The AK47 catalog, go check them out!
The squad consisted of one squad leader, one deputy squad leader, two machine gunners, one grenadier, one assistant grenadier, and one rifleman. The vehicle driver and gunner could also considered to be within the squad, but did not dismount with the rest of the squad.
This graphic depicts the MPi-K74N (Maschinenpistole Kalashnikow 74N, the East German variant of the AK-74N). Approximately 190,000 MPi-K74s of all types were produced by 1991. Prior to the mid-1990s, the squad would have fielded the MPi-KM (the East German version of the Soviet AKM). The standard machine gun was the Soviet-produced RPK and the rocket launcher was the RPG-7.
The standard BMP variant fielded by the East Germans was the BMP-1 (which began to be widely available for high-readiness units in the early 1980s). They only received a handful of BMP-2s (less than 30). This layout would have become defunct with German reunification in 1990.
This is the official organization of the Fallschirmjäger rifle squad around 1939 and 1940. This would have been what was in place during the Battle of Crete.
More infographics: https://graphicaneu.com
The squad consisted of 12 men, versus the standard 10 of the Heer's rifle squads. It was led by a junior NCO (probably an Unteroffizier) who was aided by a deputy squad leader (an Oberjager or Gefreiter). Both the squad leader and assistant were armed with MP40 submachine guns. The squad had a 3-man light machine gun team (a gunner, assistant gunner, and ammunition bearer) and 7 dedicated riflemen armed with Kar98k rifles.)
Each man was armed with a pistol, as personal weapons (predominantly the Kar98k and the crew served MG 34) were dropped separately in canisters. This proved to be a key disadvantage during the Battle of Crete (1940), as men were separated from their primary weapons for extended periods of time, left only with their pistols, gr***des, and blades. The American paratroopers, by comparison, dropped with their personal weapons on their person, although early in their history (1941-2) each man in American airborne platoons also had a pistol.
Later in the war, the FJ would adopt an organization similar to the Panzergrenadiers based around two light machine guns (MG-34 or MG-42). Contrary to what some video games and movies might have you believe, the standard weapon of the FJ remained the Kar98k throughout the war. The iconic FG-42 was incredibly limited in production (only 7,000 produced). The branch lost 121,500 men as killed, wounded, or missing alone during the war.
A version of the Reichskriegsflagge with the Iron Cross is used for the print because I am not allowed by my distributor to feature swastikas that prominently and it does not take away from what is being taught.
This is the organization of the Russian VDV paratrooper rifle squad extrapolated from the field manual FM 100-2-3 and various forum posts on different defense/wargaming related boards.
More squad infographics: https://www.graphicaneu.com/squads
This was done in collaboration with The AK47 catalog, go check them out!
The squad consists of 5 dismounts - pretty small due to the BMD-4's small passenger capacity. This was a sacrifice in exchange for airborne capability. It should be considered that the BMD-4 acted in support of and fought with the rifle squad, so in addition to the dismounts the squad would have the fire power of a 100mm tank gun, 30mm autocannon, and 7.62mm machine gun.
The squad leader is typically a sergeant and doubles as the vehicle commander when he is not dismounted. He sits in a crew position and dismounts last, with the remainder of his squad being contained within the vehicle's passenger compartment. Some sources consider the driver and gunner of the standard BMD-4 to be part of the squad as well, but for the purposes of this graphic they were not included.
The other members of the squad are the senior rifleman (typically a junior sergeant or efreitor), machine gunner (ryadovoy), grenadier (ryadovoy), and assistant grenadier (ryadovoy). This leaves one empty seat in the vehicle which can accomodate the platoon leader or assistant platoon leader.
The standard rifle of the VDV as well as the remainder of the Russian armed forces is the AK-74M, which has a folding stock allowing for it to be stowed more easily. Likewise for the RPK-74M.
The grenadier is armed with an RPG-7D which can be broken down into two pieces for airborne operations. The grenadier typically carries 2 rockets and the assistant grenadier carries an additional 3. I extrapolated the number of rockets from Soviet standards.
The following was the standard squad organization for the Marine's 2nd Parachute Battalion (paramarines) around the time of 1942-1944.
Pick this design up as a poster here: http://bit.ly/2nd-paramarines
Full Shop: https://www.graphicaneu.com/
According to a memo by Lt. Col. Victor Krulak - CO of the 2nd Paramarines - the paramarine rifle squad consisted of one squad leader and three three-man fireteams.
The 2nd Parachute Battalion had received 650 Johnson rifles and 109 Johnson light machine guns by Nov. 1942, supplemented by 62 M55 Reising submachine guns.
Each fireteam would have been armed with an M1941 Johnson light machine gun. Based on the proportions of weapons available to the battalion (1 Reising for every 10 Johnsons) it can be assumed that all members other of the fire teams received Johnson rifles while the squad leader received a Reising or a Johnson.
The battalion's first combat action being the diversionary raid on Choiseul Island in Oct. 1943 during the New Georgia campaign. They would later take place in combat action on Bougainville with the 1st and 3rd Parachute Battalions.
The 2nd Paramarines weren't engaged in combat on Guadalcanal, while the 1st Paramarines were. The 1st Paramarines did not have large amounts of Johnson rifles at the time, being armed principally with 92 M55 Reisings, 79 M1903 Springfields, and 18 Johnson LMGs. However, Johnson rifles would replace their Reising after Guadalcanal in 1943.
The 1st Paramarines continued to experiment with the 3-man fireteam model, but employed BARs rather than Johnson LMGs. The fire team structure adopted early by the Marine raiders and parachutists would form the basis of the structure adopted by the rest of the Marine Corps in 1944.
This was the standard organization of the Soviet motorized rifle squad that would dismount from a BMP-2 in the late Cold War (read more below).
Pick this design up as a poster here: http://bit.ly/soviet-mot-rifles-bmp
Full Shop: https://www.graphicaneu.com/
It consisted of a squad leader, automatic rifleman, grenadier, and assistant grenadier (forming the fire group who would support in squad assaults) and the senior rifleman and two riflemen (forming the maneuver group). In dismounted assaults the whole squad would cover a front of about 50 meters and be supported by their parent BMP.
This is the set-up for a squad attached to a BMP-2. Although the BMP had 8 seats, a minimum of one would have been left vacant for the platoon leader to occupy as he did not get a separate vehicle. Up to 2 seats could have been left vacant to accomodate a PKM gunner, assistant gunner, and designated marksman as well. In this situation, the squads would lack one of the riflemen pictured.
The squad leader would have been a Sergeant and led the whole squad and the fire group, while the senior rifleman was typically a Junior Sergeant (rank pictured) or Efreitor and led the maneuver group in assaults. The remainder of the squad would have been Privates/Soldiers.
On paper everyone except the grenadier and automatic riflemen were armed with an AK-74 assault rifle. The grenadier was officially alloted a PM pistol. However, in practice, they likely carried the same rifle as everyone else. The automatic rifleman was allotted an RPK-74 (the platoon command group would be armed with a PKM general-purpose machine gun in platoon attacks).
This infographic was done in collaboration with the The AK47 catalog, go check them out!
Special thanks to Mark Winstead from the U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence for confirming some information I had gathered from some field manuals and talking to a friend of mine who used to be in the Russian naval infantry.
Comment below what you want to see next! This is the organization of Evans Carlson's 2nd Raider Battalion's rifle squad in 1942 and would have been the organization that saw combat during the raid on Makin Atoll and Guadalcanal.
The fire team system of the Marine Raiders and Paramarines was the predecessor to the modern Marine Corps' squad organization that was adopted in 1944. It consisted of a squad leader (Corporal) leading three fireteams of 1 scout/team leader (armed with an M1 Garand) and 2 automatic riflemen. One fire team would have one M1918A2 BAR and M1928A1 Thompson for their automatic riflemen. The other two fire teams would have two Thompsons.
Carlson was an early proponent of both the fire team system - inspired by the British Commando's "buddy system" - and the M1 Garand. Thus, the 2nd Raiders were among the first Marine combat units to adopt both as standard. Edson's 1st Raider Battalion would eventually adopt the 3-man fire team in 1943, and he would also become a proponent for the fire team system. However, Edson was not a believer of the M1 Garand early on. Thus, his Raiders' squad organization lacked it early on.
Carlson believed that his new squad organization had sufficient firepower and variety of arms to cover 100-300 yards of frontage, in comparison to his estimate of 50 yards for the standard Marine rifle squad which was armed primarily with bolt-action M1903 Springfields and 1 BAR at the time.
Comment what you want to see next! This was the standard organization of the U.S. Marine Corps rifle squad at the time of the Battle of Guadalcanal in late 1942 (effective from July 1942 to April 1943.
Prior to the widespread adoption of the fireteam system in 1944, the Marine rifle squad consisted of 9 men led by a squad leader (typically a sergeant). It included an assistant squad leader (typically a corporal), an automatic rifleman with an M1918A2 BAR and his assistant, a grenadier, 2 riflemen, and 2 scouts.
The most common weapon in the Marine Corps arsenal at the time was the M1903 Springfield. Although all Marine units were ordered to equip the newer semi-automatic M1 Garand in July 1942, this was too little too late for the 1st Marine Div. which was preparing to assault Guadalcanal in August.
The Marines had been initially hesitant of adopting the M1 due to concerns of poor performance during amphibious operations (aside from supply priority going to the army). Thus, the only units that received the M1 in any significant numbers were rear echelon forces and the Marine Raiders.
The automatic rifle was the M1918A2 BAR. Although the type came with a muzzle-mounted bipod and a stock-mounted monopod, these additions were typically discarded by the Marines to help alleviate some of the BAR's weight. The squad leader may have exchanged his rifle for a submachine gun if they were available (typically an M50 Reising and, more uncommonly, an M1928A1 Thompson) but he was officially allotted a rifle.
Sources: Analysis of D-Series Table of Organization (1 July 1942) in US Marine Corps Pacific Theater of Operations 1941-43 by Gordon Rottman
Weapons Inventory of 1st and 2nd Marine Divisions (1942) republished by USMCWeaponry.com
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