Squad Composition

[Suicidesoldier#1]

Squad Composition

For more into Manokan tactics, see Small Unit Tactics. There are many different groups in many different military's detailing their squad compositions; this often goes up to the platoon or even company level depending on the individual army. While the green Beret's and Marines use a 12-14 man group, isolated in groups of 3, many other groups, ranging from two man groups, to fire and maneuver teams, exist. While they are rarely used in the Manokan services, given that the U.S. Army and Navy Seals use some of these squad formations extensively it can be a good idea to know what they are!

So, some additional squad set ups are listed below.

Like all squad formations, these are essentially based on fire and maneuver principles, as one team fires, and the other team advances under fire. While there's more complexity to these groups than that, including flanking and ambush tactics, more or less these groups still usually have the fundamental principles behind them.

It's interesting to note that the Romans used 8 man teams, broken into 8-10 squad groups known as centurions. While the Army and Navy seals use this group, it's somewhat different. Generally speaking, with the army, there's a squad of 8 soldiers, and then 1 additional soldier as the commanding officer; with the Navy Seals, this individual is often integrated into their 8 man group, or is a part of it. With the marines, they have a 12 man group plus one CO, however, they added an additional marksmen recently, making it a 14 man group. With the army, they integrated the marksmen into the unit, making a 9 man unit. Therefore while these systems are all very similiar to each other, their inter dynamic complexity often yields minute differences, some of which can have a profound impact on form or function.  

[Suicidesoldier#1]

Standard Manokan Squad Composition- Formation Alpha

Sergeant

Fireteam 1
-Fireteam lead (Riflemen)
-Riflemen
-Grenaider
-Assault/Automatic Rifleman

Fireteam 2
-Fireteam lead (Riflemen)
-Riflemen
-Heavy Grenaider*
-Assault/Automatic Rifleman

Fireteam 3
-Fireteam lead (Riflemen)
-Riflemen
-Grenaider
-Heavy Assault/Automatic Rifleman*

Marksmen
Medic


The medic, Marksmen, or sergeant can be integrated into the squad, in the fireteams as additional units. The marksmen would likely be in the first squad, while the sergeant was in the second, and the medic was in the third. Additionally, the sergeant or squad lead could still act independently. This set up is based heavily on the Marine squad set up; developed in part by Chesty, this basic organization of dividing the squad into fireteams of 3 would allows the squad the smallest possible unit with everything necessary to operate independent from a platoon, including geometric squad attacks. The purpose of attacking while under covering fire is to have group of soldiers providing fire as quickly as possible to scare off or slow down the enemy, while the other team provides accurate fire or advances. Advancing could be to gain a range advantage, getting further away, or getting closer to an objective, or to get close enough to employ heavier, short range weapons, or to fire more accurately. With the addition of a marksmen, the squad range can be extended beyond 600 yards, potentially up to 1000, making light engagements easier at far ranges, and extending the lethal range of the squad, making them harder to target, particularly by snipers. While the medic is an optional choose, usually present in special forces squads, in the small unit tactic emphasis in Manokan Squads, it is a necessary addition, although typically medics are in their own units rather than being integrated into the squad.

As well, at the platoon level, a sniper team, mortar team, and have weapons team is typically attached, meaning that the ability to call on heavy or indirect fire is possible, or for scouts to relay information directly to a platoon or squad. While these are not attached to squads, at times they can support just a single or a few squads at a time. Like all Manokan units, this operates on the fundamental principle of 3. 3 fireteams = 12 + 1, or 13, 3 squads = 39 +1, or 40 per platoon. 3 platoons is 120 per company, and so on. However, with the addition of the marksmen and medic this is increased to 46 per platoon, and 138 per company, ignoring higher officers.

There may or may not be a heavier version of each unit per fireteam, as there may be a heavy machine gunner utilizing a heavier weapon or a heavier round, or grenaider. This is dependent on the scenario.  

[Suicidesoldier#1]

Army Stylized Formation- Formation Beta

Sergeant

Fireteam 1
-Fireteam lead (Riflemen)
-Riflemen
-Grenaider
-Assault/Automatic Rifleman

Fireteam 2
-Fireteam lead (Riflemen)
-Riflemen
-Heavy Grenaider*
-Assault/Automatic Rifleman

Marksmen
Medic


The medic, Marksmen, or sergeant can be integrated into the squad, in the fireteams as additional units. The marksmen would likely be in the first squad, while the sergeant was in the second, and the medic was in the third. Additionally, the sergeant or squad lead could still act independently. This set up is based heavily on the U.S. army 9 man squad; while originally the army shared a similiar set up to the marines, mechanized units have necessitated smaller squads, and thus somewhat smaller teams, that act at the platoon level, rather than the squad level, are present. In addition, the Navy Seals use this method, although they also tend to operate in platoons (which are 20 man, instead of 45 man). This basic organization of dividing the squad into fireteams of 2 still allows covering fire at the squad level, and thus a very simplistic manner of advancing the squad. Advanced tactics require larger units or support fire, such as from a vehicle, mortar team, sniper team, weapons squad, or other auxiliary unit. As with the marine styled squad, the purpose of attacking while under covering fire is to have group of soldiers providing fire as quickly as possible to scare off or slow down the enemy, while the other team provides accurate fire or advances. Advancing could be to gain a range advantage, getting further away, or getting closer to an objective, or to get close enough to employ heavier, short range weapons, or to fire more accurately. With the addition of a marksmen, the squad range can be extended beyond 600 yards, potentially up to 1000, making light engagements easier at far ranges, and extending the lethal range of the squad, making them harder to target, particularly by snipers. While the medic is an optional choose, usually present in special forces squads, in the small unit tactic emphasis in Manokan Squads, it is a necessary addition, although typically medics are in their own units rather than being integrated into the squad.

There may or may not be a heavier version of each unit per fireteam, as there may be a heavy machine gunner utilizing a heavier weapon or a heavier round, or grenadier. This is dependent on the scenario. Typically, this composition is used if a team is compromised (or if a large size could compromise the team), or if the soldiers know they will be operating in platoons and thus wish to be more spread out. While this hypothetically gives a 9 man team the ability to engage targets as if a 13 man team, much of the strategic capabilities are lost. Typically, if moving down from a manokan squad it's broke down into from a 9 squad company, to a 13 squad. The marksmen and medics are spread out as needed or desired, with 4 light reconnaissance squads. Outside auxiliary forces are often used to compensate.

It's interesting to note that the Romans used an 8 man team, downgraded from a 10 man team, to maximize their firepower capabilities.  

[Suicidesoldier#1]

Fire and Maneuver Team- Formation Gamma

Sergeant

Fireteam 1
-Riflemen/Automatic Rifleman
-Grenaider

Fireteam 2
-Riflemen/Automatic Rifleman, heavy*
-Grenaider, Heavy*

Fireteam 3
-Riflemen/Automatic Rifleman, Marksmen*
-Grenaider, Medic*




One of the smaller teams, the emphasis is largely based on units with little capabilities outside the range of a more or less, small squad. The squad may have taken losses or may try to maximize it's firepower if they are expected to be spread out. This is not uncommon in reconnaissance or special forces team, as they try to maximize their firepower with smaller units. These teams operate on the fundamentally same principles, utilizing the leapfrog advancing techniques, although instead of with teams, it alternates with individual people. One man provides covering fire, while another man advances. Instead of a fireteam providing covering fire, the fireteam is split in half or less, and thus these individuals advance.

Additionally, the fireteams can provide covering fire for each other, but just as two man groups. This is hypothetically the smallest unit capable of providing such strategies and tactics, as one man can always be providing covering fire while the others advances. These teams more or less operate in two's.

Like any unit, the marksmen, medic, and team lead can be integrated into the squad, although in the case of team lead typically the fireteams are so small that they have none. However, since they are so small, they more or less take up the entire unit filling in all the more specific roles. The lighter team with just the standard grenadier and riflemen, may serve as a reconnaissance unit, or simply carry more ammo. They may fullfill other roles, such as being communication or radio experts, or being engineers or possessing some other skill.

Alternatively, a fire and maneuver team can replace a fireteam within a regular squad. This means combinations of 2, 3, and higher fireteams can be replaced with fire and maneuver teams, although it makes the squad considerably larger.  

[Iamnotsuicidesoldier1]

Section- Formation Delta

Squad 1
Sergeant- Command
Fireteam 1
-Riflemen
-Grenadier

Fireteam 2
-Riflemen
-Grenadier

Fireteam 3
-Automatic Riflemen
-Heavy Grenadier



Squad 2- Scout
Fireteam 1
-Riflemen
-Grenaider

Fireteam 2
-Riflemen
-Grenaider

Fireteam 3
-Automatic Riflemen
-Grenaider
Marksmen


Squad 3- Heavy
Fireteam 1
-Riflemen
-Grenaider

Fireteam 2
-Riflemen
-Grenaider

Fireteam 3
-Heavy Machine Gunner
-Grenaider
Medic



One of the smaller teams, the emphasis is largely based on units with little capabilities outside the range of a more or less, small squad. The squad may have taken losses or may try to maximize it's firepower if they are expected to be spread out. This is not uncommon in reconnaissance or special forces team, as they try to maximize their firepower with smaller units. These teams operate on the fundamentally same principles, utilizing the leapfrog advancing techniques, although instead of with teams, it alternates with individual people. One man provides covering fire, while another man advances. Instead of a fireteam providing covering fire, the fireteam is split in half or less, and thus these individuals advance.

Additionally, the fireteams can provide covering fire for each other, but just as two man groups. This is hypothetically the smallest unit capable of providing such strategies and tactics, as one man can always be providing covering fire while the others advances. These teams more or less operate in two's.

Like any unit, the marksmen, medic, and team lead can be integrated into the squad, although in the case of team lead typically the fireteams are so small that they have none. However, since they are so small, they more or less take up the entire unit filling in all the more specific roles. The lighter team with just the standard grenadier and riflemen, may serve as a reconnaissance unit, or simply carry more ammo. They may fullfill other roles, such as being communication or radio experts, or being engineers or possessing some other skill.

Alternatively, a fire and maneuver team can replace a fireteam within a regular squad. This means combinations of 2, 3, and higher fireteams can be replaced with fire and maneuver teams, although it makes the squad considerably larger.