Organisation
Vi har her valgt at se på hvordan en Airlading Battalion er organiseret, med fokus på et airlanding Rifle Company.
Airlanding Battalion
En Airlanding Battalion bestod af:
-
Battalion Headquarter (5 officerer, 30 mand)
-
Et Support Company (11 officerer, 187 mand) - se nedenfor
-
Fire Rifle Companyes (6 officerer, 121 mand) - se nedenfor
Support Company
-
Company Headquarter (1 officer, 5 mand)
-
Signal Platoon (1 officer, 36 mand)
-
Mortar Platoon, 3" mortar (1 officer, 24 mand)
-
Reconnaissance Platoon (5 officerer, 31 mand)
-
Pioneer Platoon (1 officer, 14 mand)
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Transport Platoon (1 officer, 25 mand)
-
Administrative Platoon (1 officer, 52 mand)
Rifle Company (A-D)
Et Airlanding Company bestod af
-
1 Company Headquarter (2 officerer, 29 mand)
-
4 Rifle platoons (se nedenfor)
I modsætning til normale Rifle companys, som kun have 1 HQ og 3 Rifle Platoons.
Det havde den simple forklaring, der var stor mulighed for tab ved landingen, så på den måde var der større mulighed for at have 3 kampklare Platoons.
Rifle Platoon
1 x Platoon Headquarter
1
1
1
1
1
Platoon Commander
Lieutenant
Sergeant
Batman
En oppasser til Platoon commander, ofte en officer som havde kendskab til commander eller en frivillig menig. Han virkede ofte som radiomand
Mortar gunner
Mortarman
Sten gun
Enfield Rifle
Sten gun
2-inch Mortar +
Pistol
Enfield Rifle
2 x Rifle Section (7 mand)
1
1
5
Section Commander
Corporal
Bren gunner
Riflemen
Sten gun
Bren gun + pistol
Enfield Rifle
1 x Rifle Section (5 mand)
1
1
1
2
Section Commander
Corporal
Bren gunner
Riflemen
Sniper
Da Horsa svæveflyet udviklede sig og fik 2 ekstra pladser, blev der tilknyttet 2 riflemen fra Battalion Reinforcement (reserven) til denne section.
Sten gun
Bren gun + pistol
Enfield Rifle
Enfield 4T