Current USMC tank platoons

[Raider4]

Howdo,

Researching this for an alien invasion/giant monster attacks LA or SF scenario . . .

I believe a platoon is 4 M1A1 tanks, and that 3 platoons, plus a CO and XO tank, make a company.

I also believe that a platoon can split into two . . .  something . . . of two tanks each?

Anyone know the correct terminology for the "something" above? Squads? Sections? Manoeuvre groups? Something else?

Thanks, Martyn

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Bigjackmac is your man, he's an exMarine!

[Ithoriel]

This is based on what I remember from research for a now abandoned plan to do 3mm Modern gaming, so treat with adequate caution!

A U.S. Army tank platoon has 4 tanks. 3 Platoons and a 2 tank HQ, an M113A2, 2 M998 HMMWV's and two 2.5-ton trucks and trailers make a Company.

No infantry are assigned to a tank battalion. For a specific task, infantry and tank units can be mixed. A small battlegroup might be formed with one tank and 1 mechanized infantry company to perform a specific mission. For administration purposes they are still separate units. Mechanized infantry use the M2 Bradley fighting vehicle with 4 Bradley's carrying 3 rifle squads per Platoon and 3 Platoons per Company. Company HQ is the same as the Tank Company except for having M2's instead of tanks.

Light infantry walk or are transported on trucks. Medium Brigade Combat Teams have Stryker armoured vehicles.

USMC organization is different, they use Troops and Squadrons instead of Platoons and Companies. A Troop has 5 tanks and 3 Troops make up a Squadron with 2 more tanks in Squadron HQ.

USMC tank battalions almost never operate as a whole. The individual troops or squadrons will be parcelled out to Marine task forces, as required. USMC tank doctrine is very different from the U.S. Army,apparently.

[bigjackmac]

Sorry guys, Jack's not your man.  Jack was a machine gunner, not a tanker

I really don't know much, but here's a stab.

-Sorry Ith ol' buddy, but the Marines do not use Troops and Squadrons.  That's US Army.  They have 'regular' tank and mech units that use companies/battalions, and then they have cavalry units that use troops/squadrons.  The US Marine Corps definitely uses platoons/companies/battalions.

-The USMC has only three tank battalions on active duty, and one reserve tank battalion (at least while I was in), and they are numbered 1-4 Tank Battalion.  Each is part of a Marine Division, i.e., 1st Marine Division has 1st Tank Bn, 2nd MarDiv has has 2nd Tk Bn, etc..., with 4th being the reserve component.

-Ithoriel is absolutely correct in that they almost never operated as battalions, but rather get parceled out as part of task forces.  Matter of fact, I've never heard of a Marine Tank Bn operating as a tank battalion, ever.  Each MEU has a platoon of tanks, and everything else gets task organized.  During 'big stuff,' i.e., the Gulf War, Iraqi Freedom, etc..., it was pretty common for each Infantry Regiment to get a company of tanks attached.

-I have no idea how many tanks a Marine Tank Co has, and if memory serves me correctly, each Marine tank platoon has five tanks (I floated three times, and each time we had a single platoon of five M1A2 Abrams).  When I was in Iraq I part of RCT 1, and we had a company of tanks attached, though I only saw them a couple times when we were in Fallujah.  On one particularly bad day they sent a platoon of five tanks up to us, and I got to scream at their Lieutenant, but that's a different story

-Regarding Marine tank platoons splitting into sub-elements, I have no idea.  My guess would be that they would be called sections, as that's the same terminology we used in Weapons Platoons (subdivisions of machine gun and mortar squads).  The only other terms used below platoon level are 'squad' and 'fireteam,' and I just can't see parts of a tank platoon 'squads' or 'fireteams.'

I hope that helps at least a little bit.

V/R,
Jack

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Still more of an idea than I did old bean!

[Raider4]

First off, thanks to everyone for taking the time to reply.

According to my research, current USMC tank platoons contain four M1A1. Only the Army has the M1A2.

They were five tanks to a platoon when equipped with the M48A3 or M60A1, but moved to four when the Abrams arrived.

I've found a US Army manual - FM 15-17 - which refers to a four tank platoon splitting into two sections of two tanks, so I'm going to go with that.

As Jack said, squad or fireteam really doesn't sound right for tanks. Teams would work, I think, but section does sound 'right'.

Cheers, Martyn

[Sean67]

Hi Raider 4
http://www.marines.mil/Portals/59/Publications/MCRP%205-12D%20Organization%20of%20Marine%20Corps%20Forces.pdf
A bit of a read I'm afraid and was written in 1998, but I can't see doctrine or make up changed that much prior to Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Regards
Sean

[Sean67]

Page 65 is what you need
Regards
Sean

[bigjackmac]

Good grief!  I was wrong about everything   I told you I wasn't a tanker...

I honestly don't know why I put M1A2 instead of M1A1, I don't even know what the difference is.  And I see the official Marine Corps document, from 1998 (so from the time I was in the Corps), stating four tanks in a platoon, but I'm telling you we had five on all three of my floats.  I think.  I'd put money on it.  I'm pretty sure...

Sorry!  Now I don't even know what to believe!  I guess I'm getting old. Quick, ask me something about being a machine gunner, before I forget

V/R,
Jack

[Sean67]

There might of been five afloat but there might of been a spare.
I'm working with a few ex US Mil at the moment I'll ask if there were any Marine Tankers amongst them.
I know there's at least one Army tanker but not sure on Marines.
Regards
Sean