Organization and Composition of a THS US Army Airborne Infantry Platoon

[DAT]

I have a scenario where elements of a THS US Army Airborne Infantry Platoon (rescue force or punishment force is still up in the air) may come into play. Unless I missed it somewhere, I haven’t seen where one has been defined for THS. So this thread is to present my ideas for what the composition of a THS US Army Airborne Infantry Platoon might look like for the game, and get any feedback. I’ll have a separate thread on weapons (but they are mentioned here).

From quick research, the general definitions of a modern airborne infantry platoon seem they are made of:
- A Platoon Headquarters (PLT HQ),
- 3 Rifle Squads, and
- A Weapons Squad (WPN SQD)

The exact makeup of these seems to be changing, but a representative current makeup is:
Platoon HQ:
- Platoon Leader (PL) – First Lieutenant (1LT) armed w/ M4 & M9,
- Platoon Sergeant (PSG) – Sergeant First Class (SFC, E-7) armed w/ M4, and
- Radio Telephone Operator (RTO) – Private First Class (PFC, E-3) armed w/ M4,
Plus
- Forward Observer (FO)/Forward Air Controller (FAC) –Sergeant (SGT, E-5) armed w/ M4,
- FO’s/FAC’s RTO – Specialist (SPC, E-4) armed w/ M-4,
- Platoon Medic – Specialist (SPC, E-4) armed w/ M-4.
3 Rifle Squads
- Squad Leader (SL) – Staff Sergeant (SSG, E-6) armed w/ M4,
- 2 Fire Teams of
o Team Leader (TL) – Sergeant (SGT, E-5) armed w/ M4,
o Automatic Rifleman (AR) – Specialist (SPC, E-4) armed w/ M249,
o Grenadier (GR) – Specialist (SPC, E-4) armed w/ M-4 and M203, and
o Rifleman (RFLM) – Private First Class (PFC, E-3) armed w/ M4.
Weapons Squad
- Squad Leader (SL) – Staff Sergeant (SSG, E-6) armed w/ M4,
- 3 Medium Machine Gun Teams of
o Gunner (MMG) – Specialist (SPC, E-4) armed w/ M240B,
o Assistant Gunner (AG) – Private First Class (PFC, E-3) armed w/ M4.
- 1 Close Combat Missile Teams of
o Gunner Javelin (JG) – Specialist (SPC, E-4) armed w/ Javelin & M4,
o Ammunition Handler (AH) – Private First Class (PFC, E-3) armed w/ M4.
The Rifle Squads could have Squad Designated Marksman (SDM) w/ accurized M16 assault rifles, if not attached scout snipers teams of Sniper and Spotter, or Sniper, Spotter, and Flanker.

Translating this platoon to a THS setting, since the THS US Army is a Fifth Wave force, most of their “troops” in an Infantry Platoon will be small RATS (Robotic Armored Tactical Systems). In an Airborne Infantry Platoon, those will be Jump RATS like, variation of the M82 Ridgways. I’m thinking all the Rifle Squad and Weapons Squad will be M82 Ridgway Jump RATS (with some weapon loadout changes for different platoon/squad roles). For the HQ section, I would see the PL, PSG, and RTO being humans (or bioroids) in battlesuits. FO/FAC and FO/FAC RTO would probably also be humans in battlesuits. With so few humans, and the availability of Medical Swarms for first aid/critical care, I don’t think there would be a Platoon Medic.

The base M82 Ridgways come armed with a pair of Battle Rifles (w/ 100 5.6mm light automatic rounds and 3 30mm mini-missiles) and a 60mm Recoilless Rifle (RR) (w/ 1 round). I think replacing the 60mm RR with alternative systems makes sense for some roles.

Platoon HQ:
- PL – Human in battlesuit armed w/ Battle Rifle & Assault Pod,
- PSG – Human in battlesuit armed w/ Battle Rifle,
- RTO – Human in battlesuit armed w/ Battle Rifle,
- FO/FAC – Human in battlesuit armed w/ Battle Rifle (or a Laser Rifle, 3kJ?), and
- FO’s/FAC’s RTO – Human in battlesuit armed w/ Battle Rifle.
3 Rifle Squads
- SL – M82 Ridgway (Ghost) w/ standard armament
- 2 Fire Teams of
o TL – M82 Ridgway (Ghost) w/ standard armament,
o AR – M82 Ridgway (SAI) w/ Gatling Carbine (UT.137) and extra ammo (x7) (no 60mm RR),
o GR – M82 Ridgway (SAI) w/ 42 extra 30mm mini-missiles (no 60mm RR), and
o RFLM – M82 Ridgway (SAI) w/ standard armament.
Weapons Squad
- SL – M82 Ridgway (Ghost) w/ standard armament
- 3 Medium Machine Gun Teams of
o Gunner – M82 Ridgway (Ghost or SAI) w/ Storm Chaingun/Light Support Weapon (UT.138) and extra ammo (x2/x3) (no 60mm RR),
o AG – M82 Ridgway (SAI) w/ extra ammo for Storm Chaingun (x6) or Light Support Weapon (x7) (no 60mm RR),
- 1 Close Combat Missile Teams of
o Gunner MLAWS – M82 Ridgway (Ghost or SAI) w/ MLAW (UT.145) (no 60mm RR),
o AH – M82 Ridgway (SAI) w/ extra ammo (x3) for MLAWS (no 60mm RR).
Sniper Teams (if attached)
- Sniper – M82 Ridgway (Ghost) w/ AMR 15mm and extra ammo (x4) (no 60mm RR),
- Spotter – M82 Ridgway (SAI) w/ standard armament, and (optionally?)
- Flanker – M82 Ridgway (SAI) w/ standard armament (or Gatling Carbine (UT.137), extra ammo (x7), and no 60mm RR.
(The Flanker being a new position that is being considered in some sniper teams).

There is some discussion of an alternative Infantry Rifle Squad in the future. It would be configured with:
- SL
- 2 scouts (assume a sniper team with a sniper & spotter)
- AR/Machine Gunner
- AG
- 3 RFLM
- 1 GR

For an alternative Airborne Infantry Rifle Squad with Jump RATS, I might change it to:
- SL – M82 Ridgway (Ghost) w/ standard armament,
- 2 scouts – M82 Ridgway (Ghost/SAI) w/ AMR 15mm and extra ammo (x4) (no 60mm RR),
- 2 AR – M82 Ridgway (Ghost/SAI) w/ Storm Chaingun/Light Support Weapon (UT.138) and extra ammo (x2/x3) (no 60mm RR),
- 3 RFLM – M82 Ridgway (SAI) w/ standard armament, and
- 1 GR – M82 Ridgway (SAI) w/ 42 extra 30mm mini-missiles (no 60mm RR).

What are folks thoughts on my version of the THS US Army Airborne Infantry Platoon, Sniper Team, and alternative Airborne Infantry Rifle Squad?
-Dan

[AlexanderHowl]

I question that utility of paratroopers in a setting with advanced anti-aircraft weaponry, as they would suffer horrific casualties while parachuting behind enemy lines, assuming that their transport reached the drop point. Even if they managed to reach the drop point though, the enemy knows where they are, stealth aerial insertions are practically impossible in THS, so every piece of artillery and/or drone swarm focuses on their position.

SEALS are much more likely to be effective (especially since they can receive bioaugmentations that allow them to survive underwater without technology). In that case, you would likely have a mixed human/bioroid augmented SEALS platoon that specializes in stealth aquatic insertion followed by assassination and/or sabotage. The ranks would not necessarily be human over bioroid though, as the SEALS get the best of the best, so they will get the best bioroids and the best humans.

[DAT]

Originally Posted by AlexanderHowl

I question that utility of paratroopers in a setting with advanced anti-aircraft weaponry, as they would suffer horrific casualties while parachuting behind enemy lines, assuming that their transport reached the drop point. Even if they managed to reach the drop point though, the enemy knows where they are, stealth aerial insertions are practically impossible in THS, so every piece of artillery and/or drone swarm focuses on their position.

I would say traditional paratroopers no. But with the idea of cybershell Jump RATS that don't really need a parachute (they essentially drop like bombs), dropping HALO or LALO from TCAVs or X-craft (appears as a regular commercial airliner or cargo plane on a scheduled flight), going up against Third Wave or Fourth Wave forces, not dropping directly on a target defended by full anti-aircraft batteries, and other tricks, I think Airborne Infantry would still be a tool militaries would have in 2100. They just wouldn't be deployed under the same circumstances. Think rapid deployment of overwhelming forces to a remote location (an airfield, bridge, power station, etc.) to secure it only temporally or until additional forces can be deployed less rapidly, rather than a stealthy insertion/infiltration.

Originally Posted by AlexanderHowl

SEALS are much more likely to be effective (especially since they can receive bioaugmentations that allow them to survive underwater without technology). In that case, you would likely have a mixed human/bioroid augmented SEALS platoon that specializes in stealth aquatic insertion followed by assassination and/or sabotage. The ranks would not necessarily be human over bioroid though, as the SEALS get the best of the best, so they will get the best bioroids and the best humans.

A stealthy aquatic insertion/infiltration only works if the target is near a large body of water.

[DAT]

Here is a new idea for the THS US Army Airborne Infantry Platoon, to increase its firepower.

Drop the separate Weapons Squad, but make each Rifle Squad with the alternative squad, except change the Grenadier (GR) in the alternative squad to an MLAW gunner.

4 Rifle Squads of:
- Squad Leader (SL) – M82 Ridgway (Ghost) w/ standard armament,
- 2 Scout-Snipers (SS) – M82 Ridgway (Ghost/SAI) w/ AMR 15mm and extra ammo (x4) (no 60mm RR),
- 2 Machine Gunners (MG) – M82 Ridgway (Ghost/SAI) w/ Storm Chaingun/Light Support Weapon (p.UT138) and extra ammo (x2/x3) (no 60mm RR),
- 3 Riflemen (RFLM) – M82 Ridgway (SAI) w/ standard armament, and
- Gunner MLAW (GM) – M82 Ridgway (SAI) w/ MLAW (p.UT145) (no 60mm RR).

This doesn’t include the Mini Scout-RATS and Mini-UCAVs (unmanned combat air vehicles) run by LAIs the squad will have, and swarm resources they have available.

[AlexanderHowl]

I just really do not see it. If you do not have air superiority, your paratroopers are just target practice for the enemy. If you have air superiority, just use aerial drones to take care of any enemy instead of using paratroopers.

If you are going up against guerrilla forces, you should use something other than paratroopers, as you need to take, secure, and hold territory. If we assume that a normal infantry section is going to be twenty humans/bioroids supported by eighty robots piloted by LAIs, then the primary job of the humans is command and support. There will be a command squad led by an O-1, a support squad led by W-1, and eight robot squads. The robot squads are capable of doing the patrolling of the local area while the command and support squads are going to remain safe in their outpost.

[DAT]

Originally Posted by AlexanderHowl

I just really do not see it. If you do not have air superiority, your paratroopers are just target practice for the enemy. If you have air superiority, just use aerial drones to take care of any enemy instead of using paratroopers.

I think you are thinking too much in terms of absolutes, "complete air superiority over all contested land" and "no air superiority over any contested land". An opponent can have complete anti-aircraft coverage over some parts of their land, and can have weaker, or no coverage over other parts. You would only drop airborne troops over weaker or no coverage areas, unless you have a surprise element that gives you confidence your losses wouldn't be unacceptable for the mission.

An example would be a TCAV (traveling at hypersonic speeds) doing a 30 second diversion from their scheduled flight path (traveling 10s of miles or more) to to release low radar return glide packages with squads or platoons of RATS, before accelerating away. The TCAV may not ever be in the adversaries' anti-aircraft weapon envelop long enough for it to be engaged, and the low signature/return may be able to be sensed, but not get a target lock before it is below the engagement area of the anti-aircraft weapons. This is part of THS RAW (p.TS101, last paragraph of Air Warfare).

The other part of the equation is timing and mission once they are on the ground. If you want/need troops over a certain target ASAP, flying your UCAVs NAP of the Earth to the site may take 90 minutes, while you can get your ready airborne force there in 15 minutes. Once there an on the ground, the airborne troops will be able to go into buildings to stop or capture individual, without taking out the building and killing civilians.

Originally Posted by AlexanderHowl

If you are going up against guerrilla forces, you should use something other than paratroopers, as you need to take, secure, and hold territory. If we assume that a normal infantry section is going to be twenty humans/bioroids supported by eighty robots piloted by LAIs, then the primary job of the humans is command and support. There will be a command squad led by an O-1, a support squad led by W-1, and eight robot squads. The robot squads are capable of doing the patrolling of the local area while the command and support squads are going to remain safe in their outpost.

Think about a heavily armed group of terrorist/guerrilla, with good mobile anti-aircraft capability, fleeing towards a border. You could drop your airborne troops in front of the terrorist, outside their anti-aircraft weapon's engagement area, and stop them from crossing the border and escaping. You couldn't get your conventional forces there as fast, and your air assets would be vulnerable to their anti-air defenses.

Or maybe the target is an airport/landing field with some air-defenses. In the very short time it takes the airborne troops to land, say the defenses can take out 10 of them (from 100). The remaining troops can take out the anti-air defenses from the ground and secure the airport for cargo aircraft to land with more heavier armed troops. Yes you lost 10 troops (at least temporarily until you can warmup a new cybershell and download their backup) at a large dollar cost, but if you had to take out those air-defenses using UCAVs, you may have had to fire many more smart missiles (many getting shot down by the defenses) and potentially lost a few UCAVs for an overall larger cost.

You do bring up a good point about what would be a typical opposition for the airborne troops and where humans would be in a troop. Third Wave would likely be all human (or imported bioroids), with maybe a few rare cybershells. Fourth Wave would have human and bioroid troops in battlesuits with more cybershells. Fifth Wave would be mostly autonomous cybershells, with humans and bioroids back safe in bunkers in an outpost.

I am starting to rethink the HQ section for the platoon. Humans in battlesuits may only be at the company level, if not higher. The whole platoon maybe should be cybershells.

[RogerBW]

Originally Posted by DAT

dropping HALO or LALO

Well, with a RATS it's more like HANO/LANO - No Opening.

And presumably (as in Starship Troopers) you also drop distractions, things that the enemy air defence network will regard as higher priority targets for the few seconds of fall.

[dcarson]

The HQ might include a robot ammo carrier/litter for wounded.

[DAT]

Originally Posted by RogerBW

Well, with a RATS it's more like HANO/LANO - No Opening.

Ha. True.

I guess in the case of dropping from a TCAV coming in hypersonic, or from true orbit, having a drogue chute to pop and take an edge off the impact (slow down to normal terminal fall velocity for an egg shape) or break target lock from air defenses might come in handy.

Originally Posted by RogerBW

And presumably (as in Starship Troopers) you also drop distractions, things that the enemy air defence network will regard as higher priority targets for the few seconds of fall.

Very good point. Electronic Warfare packages may make drops near defended locations more feasible.

[DAT]

And of course, now I find a Jump RATS Platoon description, after starting this thread.

For those of you who are interested, p.DB99 has “82nd Spaceborne Cyber-Infantry Company Organization”, and as part of it describes a “Jump RATS Platoon”, which contains 12 M82 Ridgway infantry cybershells, divided into 3 squads of 4.

But with a count of only 12 in a Platoon and 4 to a squad, that is treating M82 Ridgways as vehicles, rather than infantry.

I may continue my thought exercise.