A platoon is a military unit typically composed of two to four squads, sections, or patrols. Platoon organization varies depending on the country and the branch, but a platoon can be composed of 20–50 troops, although specific platoons may range from 10communications platoon (USA headquarters and headquarters company [HHC], airborne, air Assault, and light infantry battalions) to 100 people.Maintenance platoon (USA HHC mechanized infantry/combined arms battalion) A platoon is typically the smallest military unit led by a commissioned officer. The platoon leader is usually a junior officer—a second or first lieutenant or an equivalent rank. The officer is usually assisted by a platoon sergeant.
Rifle platoons normally consist of a small platoon headquarters and three or four sections (Commonwealth) or squads (United States). In some armies, platoon is used throughout the branches of the army. In a few armies, such as the French Army, a platoon is specifically a cavalry unit, and the infantry use "section" as the equivalent unit. A unit consisting of several platoons is called a company or a battery.
Etymology
According to Merriam-Webster, the word came into the English language via the French peloton ("small detachment"), from the Middle French pelote ("little ball") and derived from the Low Latin "pilotta", itself derived from the Classical Latin "pila". The use of the word is first attested in c. 1547, referring to "a subdivision of a company-sized military unit normally consisting of two or more squads or sections"." The meaning was a group of soldiers firing a volley together, while a different platoon reloaded. This suggests an augmentative intention. Since soldiers were often organized in two or three lines, each firing its volley together, this would have normally meant platoons organized so that half or a third of the company is firing at once.
The platoon was originally a firing unit rather than an organization. While the system is claimed in the 1829 London Encyclopaedia to have been introduced by Gustavus Adolphus the Great of Sweden in 1618,p.250 Curtis, Thomas The London Encyclopaedia: Or, Universal Dictionary of Science, Art, Literature, and Practical Mechanics... Volume 9 T. Tegg, 1829 the "peloton" appears to predate his birth. In the French Army in the 1670s, a battalion was divided into 18 platoons who were grouped into three "firings" with each platoon either firing or reloading at any given time during a fusillade.p.486 Lynn, John A. Giant of the Grand Siècle: The French Army, 1610-1715 Cambridge University Press, 14/12/2006 This system was also used in the British, Austrian, Russian and Dutch armies.p.404 Nimwegen, Olaf Van The Dutch Army and the Military Revolutions, 1588-1688 Boydell & Brewer, 21/10/2010
NATO NATO Map Symbols A platoon A mechanized infantry platoon a tank platoon a combat engineer platoon NATO defines a platoon, or detachment, as an organization larger than a section but smaller than a company. The standard NATO symbol for a platoon consists of three dots (●●●) placed above a framed unit icon. Member nations have stipulated the different names they use for organizations of this size.
+ Names for platoons in NATO member armed forcesAlbaniaTogëBelgiumAPP-6D B-4 Peloton BulgariaAPP-6D B-5Взвод CanadaAPP-6D B-6Platoon, Troop, or Section CroatiaVod Czech RepublicAPP-6D B-7Četa DenmarkAPP-6D, B-10 DelingEstoniaRühmFinlandJoukkue, or Jaos (artillery) FranceAPP-6D, B-13 Section, or Peloton GermanyAPP-6D, B-8 Zug, or Schwarm (Luftwaffe)GreeceAPP-6D, B-15 Themoerea, or Ulamos (διμοιρία, or ουλαμός)HungaryAPP-6D, B-17 Szakasz ItalyAPP-6D, B-19 Plotone, or SezioneLatviaVadsLithuaniaBūrysMontenegroVodNetherlandsAPP-6D B-23 Peloton, Gevechtsbatterij, or VluchtNorth MacedoniaВодNorwayAPP-6D, B-24 Tropp PolandAPP-6D, B-25 Pluton PortugalAPP-6D, B-26 PelotãoRomaniaPlutonSlovakiaČataSloveniaVodSpainAPP-6D, B-11APP-6C, B-10 Sección Sweden PlutonTurkeyAPP-6D, B-30Takım United KingdomAPP-6D B-14Platoon, Troop, or Flight United StatesAPP-6D B-31Platoon, or Detachment
Australia In the Australian Army, an infantry platoon has thirty-six soldiers organized into three eight-man sections and a twelve-man maneuver support section, with a lieutenant as platoon commander and a sergeant as platoon sergeant, accompanied by a platoon signaller and sometimes a platoon medic (full strength of forty men). A section comprises eight soldiers led by a corporal with a lance corporal as second in command. Each section has two fireteams (sometimes three) of four men, one led by the corporal and the other by the lance corporal. Each fireteam (also called a "brick" by Australian soldiers) has one soldier with an F89 Minimi LSW and the other three armed with F88 Steyr assault rifles. One rifle per fireteam has an attached 40 mm grenade launcher; one of the grenadiers is the lance corporal. Fireteam bravo has a HK417 7.62mm for the designated marksman role. More recently, the designated marksman of each Australian fireteam has been issued the HK417 in Afghanistan and possibly afterwards. The platoon may also have three MAG 58 general-purpose machine guns, one M2 Browning heavy machine gun or a Mk 19 grenade launcher at its disposal.
Bangladesh In the Bangladesh Army, infantry regiments have platoons commanded by a warrant officer, assisted by a sergeant. The platoon strength is typically 32 soldiers. The platoon headquarter consists of 5 men; the platoon commander, sergeant, a radio operator and 2 soldiers carrying a rocket launcher. The platoon HQ commands 3 rifle section of 9 men each. A section led by a corporal, who's assisted by a lance corporal. Each section also has 2 light machine gunners.
Canada In the Canadian Army, the infantry platoon commander is a second lieutenant, lieutenant or a junior captain assisted by a platoon warrant (who holds the rank of warrant officer, but can be a sergeant). It is usually divided into three eight to ten person sections and a heavy weapons detachment that deploys a GPMG, and a Carl Gustav rifle, depending on mission requirements. Sections are commanded by a sergeant or master corporal with a master corporal or corporal in the second in command position; two members of a section carry C9 LMGs and the remainder carry C7 or C8 assault rifles fitted with either optics or a grenade launcher. A section is broken into two assault groups, similar to the British and Australian organization.
Three infantry platoons make up a typical infantry company, sometimes with a heavy weapons or support platoon in addition. Specialist platoons, like reconnaissance, or "recce" platoons, that may be attached to a battalion may be led by a captain and assisted by a warrant officer. Some large specialist platoons may have a lieutenant as the second-in-command. In many corps, platoon-sized units are called troops instead. Prior to 1940, a platoon might be commanded by either a warrant officer or a lieutenant. An officer was referred to as "platoon commander", while a warrant officer in the same position was called a platoon sergeant major.
Colombia Within the Colombian Army, a training platoon () is often commanded by a higher-ranking soldier known as a , who is selected for his excellence in discipline and soldiering skills. However, a is still a soldier and can be removed from his position if his commander sees fit. For combatant platoons (platoons engaged in combat with guerrilla rebels), a corporal or sergeant would be the most likely commander.
France Under the 1971 regulations a in the French Army was used in the equivalent manner to a company, with the first section led by the sous-lieutenant and the second section led by the lieutenant, a captain commanding the entire group.Reglement concernant l'exercice et les manoeuvres de l'infanterie. Du ler. aout 1791 In the French military, a peloton is a mainly a term designating a mobile infantry unit. An escadron is a unit of battle tanks in cavalry or armor, but in some mechanized infantry regiments (), the tank platoon is also called . The or corresponds to the platoon, equivalent in size to an infantry section and commanded by a lieutenant or sergeant. It may also mean a body of officers in training to become non-commissioned officers, or officers ().
Georgia The Georgian Armed Forces equivalent of the platoon is the . Translated, it means "Group of 20" but has no connection with the number. It has been transferred into modern usage from medieval army reforms of the Georgian King David IV. Originally, it was meant to be a small detachment of 20 men to be led by a leader of corresponding rank. Almost all smaller formations are based on the designations of those reforms, which originally suggested tactical flexibility by keeping the size of small units in round numbers (10, 20, 100). Battalions and brigades were not affected by that system. It is unknown whether that usage was abandoned in the 1820s or earlier, but in present days a Georgian platoon still called "" has a similar size to that of other armies. Normally for infantry it has 32 men but can vary depending on the type of unit.
Germany
The German Army equivalent of the platoon is the (same word as for train, draught, move or streak), consisting of a ("platoon troop" or platoon headquarters squad), of four to six men, and three squads () of eight to eleven men each. An ("sergeant first class") is in charge of the . The provides support for the platoon leader and acts as a reserve force (such as two additional snipers or an anti-tank weapon crew).
Three make up a ("company"). The first platoon, until 2013, used to be commanded by an ("first lieutenant") or a ("second lieutenant"), nowadays it is usually a ("captain"), who is also the 's second-in-command. The second is led by an or a , the third is led by experienced NCOs, usually a ("master sergeant"). In the first platoon, the platoon leader's assistant is a ; in the second and third platoons, the assistant is an . Each squad is led by an , and its size corresponds to the typical passenger capacity of its squad vehicle (either wheeled or armored). Another of these vehicles is used for the . Sergeants of inferior rank act as assistant squad leaders in the other squads.
A ("airborne infantry platoon") has special operations responsibilities and has command positions one rank higher than corresponding positions in a standard infantry platoon. A captain () is the platoon leader, assisted by a first lieutenant and each squad has a second lieutenant or a master sergeant in charge, often supported by a long-service sergeant or skilled senior corporal.
Hungary In the Hungarian Armed Forces, a rifle platoon is commanded by either a second lieutenant or a first lieutenant, with a platoon sergeant (with the rank of sergeant major), a platoon signaller, an armored personnel carrier (APC) driver and an APC gunner composing the platoon headquarters. There is also in the HQ's TO&E a designated marksman rifle—either an SVD or a Szép sniper rifle. The platoon is sub-divided into three squads, each with eight soldiers. Each squad is commanded by a sergeant. His/her deputy has an RPG, there are also two soldiers with PKM machine guns, two with AK-63 assault rifles—one is an RPG grenadier, the other is the medic—the APC driver and the APC gunner. Each squad and the platoon headquarters is equipped with an BTR-80 armored personnel carrier. In total, the platoon comprises 29 soldiers, of whom eight are vehicle crew.
India In the Indian army, a platoon consists of three sections. Platoons are commanded by junior commissioned officers (JCOs). Sections are the smallest components in the Indian army consisting of ten men and commanded by a havildar. In the Corps of Engineers, a platoon in an engineer company (referred to as a "field company") differs from an infantry platoon, in that it has four sections of ten man, comprising nine sappers and an NCO, and is referred to as a "field platoon".
Israel