ARmy Rumour SErvice

More weapon systems to operate so greater fam training required, and not all units use GPMG light role within the rifle section on a routine basis, but other than that the principles are the same:

The experts in the weapon systems are the support weapons platoons in Support Coy, riflemen are expected to be competent operators of at least some of the direct fire systems.

Originally Posted by The_Duke

are also cross trained to operate the direct fire weapon systems, but not 81mm.

That's it..simple as...

By no means am I suggesting this was typical practice for all deploying Bns, but before we went on H10 there was a focus on putting lads through the mortar cadre (81 as well as 60) to ensure we had a pool of X-trained pers if needed. Why this came about I don't know, but I never heard of anyone getting pulled out of the fairly undermanned Rifle plns to fill in for for R&Ring or casualties in the mortar dets. Even when our mortar det was effectively wiped out by an RPG (it had been somewhat surplus in our location anyway).

3 Rifles who RIPed us appear to have had the same support trade fetish, but in their case with Assault Pioneers. Again, it was apparently never utilised in any way.

Originally Posted by polar

So nothing much has changed then, except mainly on the AT side? (Just a curious question not arguement).

I think the A/T crowd would be pretty pissed off if any old Rfn Fuknutz got to fire their precious Javelins instead of themselves! Other IDF weapons which ARE becoming integral platoon weapons are the ASM (Anti-Structure Munition - good and cheaper than a Javelin I'm guessing) and LASM (which is the old 66 with a new warhead). We never took the 60mm on patrol and in that regard it was an insufficient replacement for the 51, but it is handy for a Patrol Base to have as part of its own IDF system.

interesting...

My time in FS was in one of the 90's FS Bns... I'd guess that sort of structure would work then, each Bn/Coy/Pln would want it's own SF, to a certain extent AT but I supppose Mortars could remain seperate - easier to move them between normal rifle bn's

I have radomly completed GMG/HMG instructors cse at Warcop and filtered the training down to the Sqn and Coy i was attached to.