US TOE Questions

SGTGunn · #1 May 7th, 2007, 01:07 AM

The Mechanized Infantry Platoon and Squad (M113)has two different tables of organizational equipment (TO&E): the older "H" TO&E and the newer "J" TO&E.

The "H" TO&E platoon has three 11-man rifle squads and one 7-man headquarters section.

The HQ section is comprised of the:

Vehicle Crew:

Driver
Track Commander/Gunner (Plt Sgt)

Dismounts:

Platoon Leader
Platoon RTO
Forward Observer
FO RTO
Plaoon Medic

The three squads are comprised of:

Vehicle crew:

Driver
Track Commander & Gunner (Team Leader)

Dismounts:

Squad Leader (M16)
Assistant Squad Leader (M16 and M203 GL)
Machine Gunner (M60 and M1911A1 or M9 pistol)
2 x Automatic Rifleman (M249 SAW or M16 SAW)
2 x Rifleman (M16)
Grenadier (M16 with M203 GL)
Anti-Armor Specialist (M47 Dragon & M16)

M67 frag grenades, M72 LAWs and M18 claymore mines would also be carried.

The "J" TO&E Platoon came about with the widespread adoption of the M249 SAW which lead to the removal of the M60 machine gunner as an organic "squad" member - but keeps the gun. It is comprised of one 7-man HQ section and three 9-man squads.

The HQ section is identical to the "H" TO&E with one exception - the Platoon Sgt though part of the HQ section rides in a squad APC - the idea was not to have your #1 & #2 man in the same track. One of the team leaders in the track the Plt Sgt rides in takes his place as TC/Gunner on the Plt HQ track. Confused yet? =)

The three squads are comprised of:

Vehicle crew:

Driver
Track Commander & Gunner (Team Leader)

Dismounts:

Squad Leader (M16)
Assistant Squad Leader (M16 - maybe M203 GL)
2 x Automatic Rifleman (M249 SAW or M16 SAW)
Rifleman (M16)
Grenadier (M16 with M203 GL)
Anti-Armor Specialist (M47 Dragon & M16)
M60 Machine Gun - no crew assigned. Weapon can be deployed for defense or in other scenarios were increased fire power is needed. It is likely that the MG would be manned by either an automatic rifleman or the grenadier, with the rifleman acting as the assistant gunner.

I suspect that whenever unit strength allowed it, an extra man would be carried in the squad to man the M60.

All of the above comes from FM 7-7 Mech Inf Plt & Sqd (M113)March 1985 (the last revision of this FM).

Adrian

Marcello · #2 May 7th, 2007, 12:03 PM

Is there anything specific on the mechanized infantry companies? All the stuff I have found is for the platoon level.

thatguy96 · #3 May 7th, 2007, 12:33 PM

Its still FM 7-11, you just would want a more recent one that I've quoted from (though I'm sure the logic still stands, that whatever mortars an infantry company has at company level, a mech company has in tracks, same with other heavy weapons I'm sure)

SGTGunn · #4 May 7th, 2007, 01:46 PM

I'm not sure there is a newer version of FM 7-11 than the 1962 revision... I can look around my armory for a hard copy, but FM 7-11 is no longer "current" and is not available on AKO (Army Knowledge Online). Are you looking for an M113 based TO&E for a specific time period? During the 60's and 70's the M113 mech companies had 3 M125 81mm mortar carriers in the company mortar platoon plus 1 M113 for the FDC. These seem to have been dropped at some point, because a more recent M113 mech unit (Massachusetts Army National Guard) did not have mortar carriers at the company level. I think the unit had 3 81mm mortars, but they were not mounted in carriers. The only SP mortars were the M106A1 4.2" mortar carriers in the battalion mortar platoon. This was 1998-2000 time frame. Post 2000 the unit converted to a light infantry TO&E and was probably one of the last M113 based mech infantry battalions in the US Army.

Adrian

Marcello · #5 May 7th, 2007, 02:13 PM

The issue is basically this. In the next six months the iraqis are going to get a big shipment of american made (although they apparently will come from third parties rather than US) equipment: 600-800 M60 tanks, artillery etc. Included are 4000 APCs, many of which M113s. This has prompted me to give a closer look at the iraqi organization. As far as I have been told and read US organization practices are followed when possible. So I was looking for US templates to follow to fill the gaps where the info is not available.

SGTGunn · #6 May 7th, 2007, 04:40 PM

I suspect that what we will see is the standard Iraqi army infantry TO&E simply given the M113s with out much change to their organization. That is what the US Army is currently doing with various non-mech units in Iraq. For example a light infantry platoon will get 4 M113A3s to use in mounted operations. They either have to scrounge up some extra bodies to use as drivers and TCs or lose 2 men out of each squad (probably a rifleman and team leader) to fill those spots. I wouldn't be at all surprised to find "extra" bodies from company HQ platoons and battalion HHC getting pressed into service in that role (especially as drivers) to allow the infantry squads to maximize their dismount capabilities.

If there was no specific mention of mortar carriers (M125 and M106) going to the Iraqi army my guess they aren't getting any. The US has a lot of "extra" M113s as they were (and still are) used by just about everyone in heavy formations from mechanics to medics to engineers as a generic armored utility vehicle. Mortar carriers are more rare, and many of them are still in use by the US Army as the M106A2 (older M106A1s were converted, and I suspect so were at least some M125s). So I think we'll see the Iraqi army using non-mechanized mortars (81mm/82mm and 120mm) carried in trucks or towed in the case of the 120mm. Not sure if they still have any of their MT-LB mortar carriers, but they may use those. As I understand it the first Mech Brigade of the New Iraqi Army is using MT-LBs as APCs.

This of course, is only speculation

Adrian

thatguy96 · #7 May 7th, 2007, 02:18 PM

Quote:

SGTGunn said:
I'm not sure there is a newer version of FM 7-11 than the 1962 revision... I can look around my armory for a hard copy, but FM 7-11 is no longer "current" and is not available on AKO (Army Knowledge Online).

Did not know that. I stand corrected.

The company mortar platoon org you're describing for the '60s and '70s is the one in FM 7-11 though, 3 mortar carriers and 1 track as command vehicle/FDC

Suhiir · #8 May 7th, 2007, 03:45 PM

Being a former Marine I've never quite understood the Army's approach to mortars.

During WWII and Vietnam the Marines had 60mm's at company level, 81mm's at battalion, and 4.2inch at regiment. Currently we don't have the 4.2inch active but I strongly suspect the new 120's will wind up at regiment.

The Army doesn't use the 60mm's much, given the extra firepower they get from most of their units being mechanized I can understand that. They had the 81's at company level in the 70's as mentioned above but now seem to have dropped them altogether and are left with only the battalion 120's.

I guess my question is - why doesn't the Army like mortars? Are they just assumeing the artillery battalion in each of their brigades is enough indirect fire support?

SGTGunn · #9 May 7th, 2007, 04:20 PM

The army makes extensive use of 60mm mortars, though not in mech units. Army light, airborne, air assault, and ranger companies have an organic 2 tube 60mm mortar section. At the battalion level, Army light, airborne and air assault battalions have a 6 tube 81mm mortar platoon. Ranger battalions have no battalion level mortars. The old M113 APC mech companies (which may still exist in a handful of NG units) had 3 81mm M125 SP mortars instead of the lighter 60mm mortar. All Bradley equipped mech infantry battalions and tank battalions have a 120mm mortar platoon with the M106A2 mortar carrier. Stryker equipped cavalry troops (RSTA) have an organic 2 tube 120mm mortar section using the M1129 mortar carrier. The Stryker infantry company has an organic 2 tube 120mm mortar section using the M1129 mortar carrier. In addition there are two 60mm mortars carried in the M1129 for dismounted use.

Adrian