gun and mortar fire support and an antitank defense with
the care and condition of the weapons and equipment of
the antitank weapon (AT4).
the fire team. The fire team leader stations himself where
he can best control the fire of the automatic rifles of the
team. He usually controls his men through real and
THE WEAPONS PLATOONS
commander's level. Although he is armed with the
Alfa, Bravo, Charlie, and Delta companies each
service rifle, his primary duty as a leader comes first;
have a weapons platoon composed of a platoon
and he serves as a rifleman only when absolutely
headquarters, two machine gun squads, and an antitank
necessary. The senior fire team leader serves as assistant
squad.
squad leader and is prepared to take over the squad in
the event that the squad leader becomes a casualty.
Weapons Platoon Headquarters
Automatic Rifleman
The weapons platoon headquarters consists of the
The automatic rifleman, generally a third class petty
officer (E-4), provides heavy firepower and is the
platoon commander, platoon petty officer, ammunition
technician/guide, a communicator and a messenger.
backbone of the fire team. He is responsible to the fire
team leader for the effective employment of his
WEAPONS PLATOON COMMANDER.-- The
automatic rifle as well as its condition and care. The
weapons platoon commander is generally a chief petty
automatic rifleman acts as the fire team leader's
officer (E-7). He is responsible for the training, combat
assistant and takes over in his absence.
efficiency, discipline, administration, and welfare of his
platoon. He also sees to it that his platoon members
Rifleman Number 1
proceed correctly when carrying out preventive
maintenance on their weapons. The weapons platoon
Rifleman number 1, generally a constructionman
commander makes sure they use their weapons and
equipment economically. All of his other
rifleman. The automatic rifle must be kept in action at
responsibilities are similar to those discussed for the
all times; if the automatic rifleman becomes a casualty,
rifle platoon commander. He is armed with the service
rifleman number 1 moves up and replaces him. In
pistol.
addition, rifleman number 1 is armed with the service
WEAPONS PLATOON PETTY OFFICER.--
rifle and acts as a rifleman and a scout. He assists
The weapons platoon petty officer is usually a first class
rifleman number 2 in protecting the flank (exposed side)
petty officer (E-6). His responsibilities and duties are
of the fire team.
identical to those of the rifle platoon petty officer. He is
armed with the service pistol.
Rifleman Number 2
AMMUNITION TECHNICIAN/GUIDE.-- The
ammunition technician/guide is also a first class petty
Rifleman number 2, a constructionman (E-3) or an
officer (E-6). He not only has the responsibility of
apprentice (E-2), serves as a rifleman and protects the
supplying the platoon and keeping the casualty list but
flank of the fire team. He is point man for all team
he also must be highly skilled in the operation and
formations and may also serve as a scout. If more than
maintenance of the machine guns used by his platoon.
four men are assigned to the fire team, the additional
He must be familiar with the many types of ammunition
men have the same general duties as rifleman number
used by the machine guns, its safe use, and its effect
2. All are armed with the service rifle.
upon the enemy. The ammunition technician/guide's
other duties are similar to those of the rifle platoon
FIRE SUPPORT ELEMENTS
guide. He is armed with the service rifle.
The fire support elements of the rifle companies are
COMMUNICATOR AND MESSENGER.-- The
the weapons platoons, the 60-mm mortar platoon of the
communicator and the messenger, both usually
headquarters company, and the weapons platoons
constructionmen (E-3), perform the same basic duties
furnished by the construction/rifle companies. Their
as their counterparts in the rifle platoon. They are armed
with the service rifle.
purpose is to provide the companies organic machine
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