Weapon platoons organization

[tento125]

Ok, so right now I am rping as a staff sergeant of 4th platoon echo company, which is the company's weapons platoon.

I understand that a weapons platoon is suppose to haul the heavy weaponry (motars, howitzers and the like) used to support the rifle companies. But how are they actually organized? Astro, in his latest post, stated that he wanted to have one of my mg gunners, attached to his platoon. In my understanding, every normal squad already has a dedicated mg gunner (like in the real world theres a SAW gunner in every squad) So why the extra gun???

It has also occured to me that astro had said "attached" (or at least implied, apologize if I quoted wrong), what does it mean by attach? Is my platoon suppose to disperse out into different sections with each section being attached to diffent squads or sonething??? Cuz that would cause havoc in the weapons platoon management (with everyone in your platoon being scattered all over the place, its kinda hard to keep track).

My understanding of a weapons platoon is that they are to hang back from tje front lines and give supporting motor fire (but they can fight as normal infantrymen as well. "every marine is a riflemen") That way, the platoon is still intact on the battle field (ok technically they're still scattered around but you get the idea right?) and the Lt can easily rely orders from one motor to another.

I hope someone can clear up my confusion. This is the first time I heard about weapons platoons so I am confused somewhat (which might explain why the position was open in the first place lol).





P.S. What is the radio call sign for my Ssg again? On the information thread it said "Echo 4 sierra" but Echo company's call sign is "Tornado", so does this mean that my call sign would be "Tornado 4 sierra"?

[John]

I don't have 100% knowledge on this, but I'll answer it to the best of my ability. I'm not sure on weapons platoons. The smallest formation I can find that you're describing is a Weapons Company. That said, what I can find is modern USMC stuff.

Usually in a battalion, there's 3 rifle coys, and a weapon coy. The Company has three dedicated platoons: The Mortar Platoon, the Anti-Armour platoon, and the Machinegun platoon. Each of these platoons does as the name implies. Their sole job is to support the rifle coys in their jobs.

In normal circumstance, the weapons company hangs back, yes. This is due to the fact that the weapons company has a much greater range on their weapons (Mortars in the Mortars plt, .50's and Mk.19's in the Machinegun plt.). However, especially in this setting it wouldn't be wrong to assume that if the situation calls for it, certain sections of a Weapons Coy to attach themselves to another platoon for a limited time.

As for your character's callsign. Per the callsigns topic, it would be "Echo Four Sierra".

[Astro]

Okay, so the Marine Corps has a boner for threes as it works well strategically. Three fireteams per squad, three rifle squads per platoon, three rifle platoons per company. The fourth platoon, known as Weapons Platoon, aims to augment the rest of the Company. To do this, it also has three of everything. Three Machinegun Squads to a Machine Gun section, three Assault Squads to an Assault Section and three Mortar Teams to a Mortar Section. This way, the assets of the Weapons Platoon can be equally split among the three Rifle Platoons.

However, they are not always split up equally. For example, let's say 2nd Platoon was to be the Company's support element. If the Company Commander desired, you could stick both the entire Machine Gun section and the entire Mortar Section with them, while 1st and 3rd Platoons got one and two Assault squads respectively. It doesn't have to be equal, it's all just mission specific. Weapons Company assets could also be attached to us in similar ways if the Battalion Commander so desired.

Your callsign would not be "Echo Four Sierra". As per the Marine Corps and the way callsigns work, you would be "Tornado 4 Papa" or simply "4 Papa". Your Platoon Commander will be "Tornado 4 Actual" and your RTO will be Tornado 4 Romeo". I believe that Sierra is used for Platoon Sergeant in the US Army, John.

[MrKill]

First and foremost: Yappa's is not a military simulation, it has elements of one to add a depth of realism the books failed to produce.

We can't take the organisation of the modern (2016) USMC since it doesn't phase well into the Halo universe surprisingly - despite the Marines from Halo being based on their IRL counter-parts. Halo has established its own sense of units, strengths and what not. We need to throw away our knowledge received from mil-sims, service, research and what ever else we have done to understand the structure of the beloved devil dogs. Halo is a completely new animal... with similar shoulders (structure).

Unfortunately for those who love them weapon platoons... they don't exist in Halo. Typically, yes, a modern company would have three infantry platoons followed by a weapons platoon. But that organisation doesn't exist in Halo. With a lack of proper, concrete (canon) tools to do the job, weapons platoons weren't really a thought in Bungies or 343i's plans. Not that the UNSC is well thought out anyway with inconsistent and unorganised units.

So, just as future reference type of thing, it is easier to proceed as if your company is another rifle company.

Only in times where you are the weapons company in the organisation will you have four weapon platoonss. Since we don't know what mortars the UNSC uses, all four of your companies would be heavy MG teams. We know the AIE-486H can be dismounted, those would be your primary tools for those MG teams, along with a much larger count of Marines with M247 and Mk280 (custom canon) machine guns.





Astro, I know you love your Marines, and I know you're a member of various Marine units in mil-sims, and even have buds that are in the Marines. Yappas isn't entirely a military simulation, we've just brought in elements of realism. So yes, his callsign would be what John said it was. To simplify the process further, this is how people can identify their radio call sign.

In simple terms, the layout is like this:

(Company Callsign) - (Platoon) - (Squad) - (Fire-Team)

Read more: yappashalorpg.proboards.com/thread/9707/120th-marine-expeditionary-radio-signs#ixzz4Ho0yQ9jz


His callsign explained:

Echo (Company) - Four (platoon) - Sierra (position as Platoon Sergeant).

//Echo Four Sierra - Fourth Platoons Sergeant (Staff Sergeant)

Read more: yappashalorpg.proboards.com/thread/9707/120th-marine-expeditionary-radio-signs#ixzz4Ho86RbDP