MS100

Combat Arms, Support, and Symbols

Branches

  • Armor: Tanks maneuver at 30-40 mph with precision up to 2000m.

  • Engineers: Responsible for creating and destroying obstacles, vital for increasing mobility.

  • Field Artillery: Utilize indirect fire through cannons and rockets.

  • Cavalry/Recon: Focus on reconnaissance, technology, and information requirements.

  • Signal: Provides communication and information system support.

  • Infantry: Engages in close combat, acting as boots on the ground.

Army Organization

  • Control limitations: Only 2-5 things can be managed at once.

  • Team/Crew Structure:

    • ⍉ Squad: Basic unit

    • ⬤ Section: Composed of multiple squads

    • ⬤⬤ Platoon: Comprised of sections

    • Company/Troop/Battery: Larger unit

    • Battalion: Series of companies

    • Brigade: A unit of battalions

    • Division: Made up of brigades

    • Corps: Multiple divisions

    • Field Army: Collection of corps

    • Army Group: Several field armies

    • Theater: Overall command of operations in a region.

Army Symbols

  1. Frame

  2. Echelon Amplifier

  3. Main Icon

  4. Alphanumeric Unit Designation (name)

Frames

  • Friendly: Blue rectangle

  • Hostile: Red diamond

  • Neutral: Green square

  • Unknown: Yellow clover

Infantry Platoon Composition and Weapons

Key Personnel

  • Platoon Leader: Responsible for overall platoon actions and leads by example.

  • Platoon Sergeant: Second-in-command, ensuring discipline, training, and welfare of troops.

  • Radio Operator (RTO): Manages communication for the platoon.

Structure

  • Rifle Squads: Comprise of three squads, each led by a Squad Leader.

  • Weapons Squad: Provides base of fire for the platoon.

Infantry Fire Team Roles

  • Team Leader (M4): Leading by example, subject matter expert on weapons and tactics.

  • Rifleman (M4): Delivers precise fire to assigned targets.

  • Automatic Rifleman (M249): Provides sustained suppressive fire, experienced member of the team.

  • Grenadier (M320): Engages targets with high-explosive capability effective up to 350m.

Infantry Squad Breakdown

  • Composition: Two fire teams plus the Squad Leader.

  • Squad Leader: Directs fire and movements while coordinating tactical maneuvers.

Responsibilities of the Squad Leader

  • Accountable for squad's performance, care for members and equipment.

  • Acts as subject matter expert on tactical and battle drills.

  • Controls movement, fire rates, and techniques employed in combat.

  • Oversees close engagement strategies with units, combining fire and maneuver.

Leadership Duties of the Squad Leader

  • Selects optimal positions for fire teams.

  • Communicates accurate SITREPs (Situation Reports).

  • Carries out troop-leading procedures and assumes responsibilities of superior leaders when necessary.

Weapons Squad Components

  • 2 Medium Machine Gun Teams (M240B, range: 1100m)

  • 2 Close Combat Missile Teams (Javelin, range: 2000m)

  • Purpose: Suppress and neutralize enemy positions and armored threats.

Weapon Systems and Capabilities

  1. M4 Rifle: Max effective range of 500m (point) and 600m (area). Features lightweight, gas-operated, semi/automatic fire.

  2. M249 SAW: Max effective range of 600m (point, bipod) and 1000m (area, tripod); sustained fire rate of 50 rounds/min.

  3. M240B: Max effective range of 1100m (area, tripod) with a sustained fire rate of 100 rounds/min.

  4. M320 Grenade Launcher: Effective range of 150m (point) and 350m (area).

  5. Javelin Missile System: Range of 65-2000m; fire-and-forget capability targeting armored vehicles. Two firing modes: direct and overhead.

  6. Shoulder-Launched Munitions (AT-4/LAW): Lightweight, with an effective range of 200-300m.

Key Concepts

  • Point Target: A single target (e.g., soldier, vehicle).

  • Area Target: Multiple targets (e.g., trench line, troop formations).

Leadership Focus Areas

  • PSG emphasizes support for S1 (administrative) and S4 (logistics), allowing PL to address S2 (intelligence) and S3 (operations).

  • PL monitors platoon morale, discipline, and overall health.

Movement Formations and Techniques

Movement/Maneuver

  • Movement: Positioning of combat power to create favorable conditions for action.

  • Maneuver: Combination of movement and fires during combat engagement.

  • Movement techniques are chosen based on enemy contact likelihood and speed requirements.

Squad Movement Formations

  1. Squad Column: Main formation for movement; offers effective dispersion bilaterally.

  2. Squad Line: Maximizes frontal firepower for assaults or pre-assault scenarios.

  3. Squad File: Used in very tight terrain; easy to control and communicate, not optimal for enemy contact.

Squad Movement Techniques

  • Traveling: Utilized when speed is paramount and enemy contact is unlikely; compromises security for speed.

  • Traveling Overwatch: Contact with enemy possible; lead team moves ahead (at least 50m) for enhanced security, sacrificing some communication and control.

  • Bounding Overwatch: Employed when enemy contact is anticipated or crossing dangerous areas.

    • Successive Bounds: Short, choppy movements; safer, but time-consuming.

    • Alternate Bounds: Longer, smoother movements; less safe but quicker in crossing terrain.