British Army Nomenclature

[Mobhack]

cbreedon said:
What is the correct designation of companies and platoons within a British Army Battalion? e.g. is it 2nd Platoon A Company or A Platoon 2nd Company?

Rifle companies are alpabetically designated, and platoons are typically designated with a 2 digit (? - been a while! individual numeral. HQ and support coys usually have names and not letters.

Depending on the era, and the individual bn, and whether the support and bn HQ etc platoons get numbered off first (before the rifle coys) you may have perhaps A company including 10,11, and 12 platoons, B with 13,14,15, C coy with 16,17,18 platoons.

Since each platoon has its own individual numeric designator which has no ties to the company letter scheme, 18 platoon say can therefore be temporarily attached to A coy for an operation, without needing redesignation as A/4 or somesuch. It remains as 18 platoon, but under command of A Coy, and if A coy gives it back to B after the loan, it is still No. 18 platoon.

Its individual name is 18 platoon, 1st bn the whoevers, and not part of some sort of company-oriented hierarchical structured naming system.

Cheers
Andy