This article is about the military unit. For other meanings, see Platoon (disambiguation).

Platoon.

A platoon is a military unit. In an army, a platoon is a unit of thirty to forty soldiers typically commanded by a lieutenant assisted by a non-commissioned officer. A military unit is an organisation within an armed force. ... Army (From Latin armata (act of arming) via Old French armée) can, in some countries, refer to any armed force. ... A soldier is a person who serves in an armed force for pay. ... Lieutenant is a military, paramilitary, fire service or police officer rank. ... A non-commissioned officer (sometimes noncommissioned officer), also known as an NCO or noncom, is a non-commissioned member of an armed force who has been given authority by a commissioned officer. ...

A platoon is formed by between 2 to 4 sections or squads and is smaller than a company. Typically, there are three or four platoons per company. Most platoons are infantry platoons; some carry other designations such as mortar or heavy weapons platoons. The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... In the fire service a Squad is a Engine Company with a compliment of rescue tools. ... A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 100-200 soldiers. ... Infantry of the Royal Irish Rifles during the Battle of the Somme in World War I. Infantry are soldiers who fight primarily on foot with small arms in organized military units, though they may be transported to the battlefield by horses, ships, automobiles, skis, or other means. ... US soldier loading a M224 60-mm mortar. ... Heavy weapons platoon is a term from military science which refers to an infantry platoon equipped with machine guns, light mortars, rocket-propelled grenades, flamethrowers, grenade-launchers, anti-tank weapons, and/or other portable heavy weapons. ...

A platoon is the smallest military unit led by a commissioned officer. In military organizations, a commissioned officer is a member of the service who derives authority directly from a sovereign power, and as such holds a commission from that power. ...

The word is derived from the 17th-century French peloton, meaning a small ball or small detachment of men, which came from pelote, a clew (originally from Latin 'pillula', meaning 'little ball'). As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700 in the Gregorian calendar. ... Latin is an ancient [[Indo-European languages|Indo-well as the Roman CEuropean language originally spoken in Latium, the region immediately surrounding Rome. ...

British organisation

In the British Army, the infantry Platoon Commander is a Lieutenant or Second Lieutenant, assisted by a Platoon Sergeant (who usually actually holds the rank of Sergeant). It is usually divided into three eight-man sections. Specialist platoons may be led by a Captain, assisted by a Warrant Officer or Colour Sergeant. The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ... Lieutenant is a military, paramilitary, fire service or police officer rank. ... Second Lieutenant is the lowest commissioned rank in many armed forces. ... Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organisations around the world. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... This article concerns the rank and title of Captain. ... A Warrant Officer (WO) is a member of a military organization holding one of a specific group of ranks. ... Colour Sergeant (CSgt or C/Sgt) is an non-commissioned rank in the Royal Marines, ranking above Sergeant and below Warrant Officer Class 2. ...

The Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Royal Army Medical Corps, Intelligence Corps and Royal Military Police also use platoons. The Household Cavalry, Royal Armoured Corps, Special Air Service, Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers, Royal Corps of Signals and Royal Logistic Corps use troops instead. The Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers cap badge The Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME; usually pronounced phonetically as Reemee) is a corps of the British Army that has responsibility for the maintenance of all electrical and mechanical equipment. ... The Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) is a specialist corps in the British Army which provides medical services to all British Army personnel and their families in war and in peace. ... The Intelligence Corps (also known as Int Corps) is one of the corps of the British Army. ... The Royal Military Police (RMP) is the military police branch of the British Army. ... The term Household Cavalry is used across the Commonwealth of Nations to describe the cavalry of the Household Divisions. ... The Royal Armoured Corps (RAC) is currently a collection of ten regular regiments, mostly converted from old horse cavalry regiments, and four Yeomanry regiments of the Territorial Army. ... It has been suggested that SAS Troops be merged into this article or section. ... RGA redirects here. ... The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers (RE), and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army. ... The Royal Corps of Signals (sometimes referred to incorrectly as the Royal Signal Corps and often known simply as the Royal Signals, R Signals or R Sigs) is one of the arms (combat support corps) of the British Army. ... The Royal Logistic Corps is a British Army corps that provides the logistical support for the Army. ... A troop is a military unit, originally a small force of cavalry, subordinate to a squadron and headed by the troop leader. ...

The equivalent unit in the Royal Marines is also the troop, while in the Royal Air Force and Army Air Corps it is the flight. His/Her Majestys Royal Marines, also known as the Royal Marines (RM), are the Royal Navys Light Infantry, the United Kingdoms amphibious force and specialists in Arctic and Mountain Warfare. ... The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the air force branch of the British Armed Forces. ... The Army Air Corps is a vital component of the British Army. ... A flight is a military unit in an air force, naval air service, or army air corps. ...

Canadian organization

In the Canadian Forces, the infantry Platoon Commander is a Lieutenant or Second Lieutenant, assisted by a Platoon Warrant (who usually actually holds the rank of Warrant Officer). It is usually divided into three eight- to ten-person sections and a heavy weapons detachment which will deploy either a GPMG, Carl Gustav, or 60 mm mortar depending on mission requirements. Specialist platoons may be led by a Captain, assisted by a Warrant Officer. Some very large specialist platoons will actually have a Lieutenant as the second-in-command. In many corps, platoon-sized units are called troops instead. The Canadian Forces (French: Forces Canadiennes), abbreviated as CF (French: FC) are the combined armed forces of Canada. ... Lieutenant is a military, paramilitary, fire service or police officer rank. ... Second Lieutenant is the lowest commissioned rank in many armed forces. ... A Warrant Officer (WO) is a member of a military organization holding one of a specific group of ranks. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... The FN MAG is a machine gun manufactured by Fabrique Nationale (FN), Belgium. ... Carl Gustav recoilless rifle The Carl Gustav is the common name for the 84mm recoilless rifle anti-tank weapon from the Carl Gustav company in Sweden. ... This article concerns the rank and title of Captain. ... A corps (a word that immigrated from the French language, pronounced IPA: , but originating in the Latin corpus, corporis meaning body; plural same as singular) is either a large military unit or formation, an administrative grouping of troops within an army with a common function (such as artillery or signals... A troop is a military unit, originally a small force of cavalry, subordinate to a squadron and headed by the troop leader. ...

United States organization

In the United States Army, a platoon is commanded by a Platoon Leader — a First Lieutenant or Second Lieutenant — assisted by a Platoon Sergeant, usually of the rank of Sergeant First Class (pay grade E-7). In infantry units, rifle platoons are generally made up of four nine-man squads (three rifle squads and one weapons squad). The United States Army is the largest branch of the United States armed forces and has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ... First Lieutenant is a military rank. ... Second Lieutenant is the lowest commissioned rank in many armed forces. ... Sergeant First Class insignia Sergeant First Class (SFC) is the seventh enlisted rank in the U.S. Army, just above Staff Sergeant and below Master Sergeant, and is a non-commissioned officer. ...

In the United States Marine Corps, platoon leaders are called "Platoon Commanders," but hold the same rank and function. The Platoon Sergeant often holds the rank of Staff Sergeant, although ranks from Corporal to Gunnery Sergeant are possible. In Marine infantry units, rifle platoons usually consist of three rifle squads of 13 men each, with a Navy corpsman, a Platoon Commander, and a Platoon Sergeant. A weapons platoon replaces the 3 squads with a 60 mm mortar section, an assault section, and a medium machine gun section (using M240G 7.62 mm machine guns). This article is becoming very long. ... United States Military Staff Sergeant insignia (U.S. Air Force) Staff Sergeant is the fifth enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force, just above Senior Airman and below Technical Sergeant. ... Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries, police forces or other uniformed organizations around the world. ... Gunnery Sergeant insignia (U.S. Marine Corps) Gunnery Sergeant is the seventh enlisted rank in the U.S. Marine Corps, just above Staff Sergeant and below Master Sergeant and First Sergeant, and is a staff non-commissioned officer. ... Hospital Corpsmen (HMs) are members of the United States Navy Hospital Corps. ... The M240 is a 7. ...

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

platoon

• Military unit
• Manuel de Landa's War in the Age of Intelligent Machines (1991)

Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Wikimedia Commons logo by Reid Beels The Wikimedia Commons (also called Commons or Wikicommons) is a repository of free content images, sound and other multimedia files. ... A military unit is an organisation within an armed force. ... Manuel DeLanda, (born 1952 in Mexico City), is a writer, artist and distinguished philosopher who has lived in New York since 1975. ... War in the Age of Intelligent Machines (1991) is a book by Manuel de Landa which traces the history of warfare. ...

References