Platoon

The Platoon is a kind of military unit, typically comprised between 20 and 50 soldiers. Traditionally, the squad is the smallest military unit under the command of a official, it is normally commanded by a subaltern officer. The platoon commander is often assisted by a platoon sergeant. Typically, the platoons form companies, each one grouping two to five platoons.

As the army, The platoon may or may not be part of the organization of all arms and services.

In the past, the platoon was each unit of fire in a tactical formation of infantry instructed to make a discharge of gunfire under the command of an officer.

History
The word "platoon" is derived from the French "peloton" (From"pellet" Meaning "pellet" a small ball), which in seventeenth century referred to a small detachment of soldiers.

Since the late seventeenth century until the second half of nineteenth century, the general tactic of the infantry in combat was to perform successive discharges of musketry to neutralize the enemy in preparation for a final bayonet charge. The effectiveness of this tactic required that the shooting was permanent, so that the enemy was always under fire. For this, the combat formations were divided into units shot that they made discharges sequential, so that was always at least one to make fire while the other reloaded, pointed or maneuvering. The unit of fire basic was the platoon under the command of an officer.

The platoon was a unit not permanent, organized for combat. The size of each squad and amount platoon in each combat formations could vary depending on the tactical situation and the doctrine followed. However, typically, each battalion subdivided into eight squads that were grouped into four divisions of the battalion. As the organization of battalions, each platoon could be drawn based on a complete company - being led by Captain this - or half the company - getting under the command of a junior officer. In some cases, unaware of are the organization of companies, being the staff of these distributed by various platoons of the battalion, without taking into account its parent company.

The replacement of muzzle loading rifles by a repeating rifle. At the end of nineteenth century, obsolete the tactics of discharges of musketry successive. Since then, the squad was introduced in the organization of many armies as a subunit permanent of each company, usually under the command of a lieutenant or Ensign. The importance of the platoon as tactical unit increased significantly from the development of infiltration tactics with small units during the WWI.

Organization of platoons by country
===Germany ===

In German Army, The platoon (Zug) Includes a command element (Zugtrupp) - Including four to six soldiers - and three groups (Gruppen) - each including eight to eleven soldiers. Three Zügge formed a company, being the first Zug commanded by a lieutenant, who also serves as second master company. The second and third Zügge are controlled by experienced sergeants, usually with the rank of Hauptfeldwebel (First Sergeant). Each commander Zug is assisted by a platoon sergeant with the rank of Hauptfeldwebel the first Zug and Feldwebel (Staff Sergeant) In the other. Each Gruppe is controlled by a Unteroffizier (corporal), typically composed of a number of soldiers corresponding to the carrying capacity staff of its vehicle (armoured or not). The functions of Zugtrupp are to support the platoon commander and acting as a reserve force, providing snipers or a team of anti-tank weapons.

By their specificity, the functions of command in Zügge of Fallschirmjäger (paratroopers) are performed by military rank higher than that of exercising the duties of the platoons regular infantry. Each of these Zug is controlled by a Hauptmann (captain), assisted by a first lieutenant, each Gruppe commanded by a second lieutenant or staff sergeant.

Brazil
On Infantry Brazilian Army, a platoon (Pelotão) is formed by three battle groups plus a support group. Besides the weapons used by combat units, each squad will have a machine gun FN MAG of 7.62 mm as weapons employment collective in support group. Three platoons plus a platoon command and support form a company.

Spain
In the organization of Spanish Army the platoon is equivalent to the section of most other armies. Each spanish platoon consists of three squads, Four soldiers and commanded by a sergeant major-corporal or first corporal. Three or four squads make up a section - Equivalent to platoons of other armies - led by an officer.

United States
In U.S. Army, rifles platoon are usually composed of 42 soldiers. Are headed by a platoon leader (usually a second lieutenant) assisted by a platoon sergeant (usually a staff sergeant). The platoons of shooters include three squads of shooters (rifle squads) And a squad of weapons, each with nine soldiers. It also includes a command platoon where are integrated the platoon leader, the platoon sergeant , the operator of radio the platoon leader , the forward observer , operator radio of forward observer and a rescuer.

In U.S Marine Corps ,squads of gunmen are headed by a platoon commander, usually with the rank of second lieutenant. The role of platoon sergeant is normally inherent in a staff sergeant (Staff Sergeant), but may be held by a third sergeant or even a corporal. The squads shooters of Marines usually consist of three squads of shooters from 13 the military - led by third sergeants - plus a platoon commander, the platoon sergeant, three rescuers (belonging to U.S. Navy) And a guide platoon (usually the third sergeant). Each squad is divided into three teams shot. Already the platoons weapons consist of a section of mortars 60 mm, a section of assault with rocket launchers and a section of guns averages.

France
In French Army, The squad only exists in the organization of the gun armored and cavalry, and commanded by a lieutenant or sergeant. In other arms and services, the unit corresponding to the platoon is called "section".

Portugal
On Infantry Portuguese Army each squad of gunmen includes three sections - led by Staff Sergeant or a Furriel - Plus a platoon commander (a junior officer) and a platoon sergeant (First Sergeant). Each section includes two squads, each with four or five soldiers and commanded by a first cable. In each 's squad platoon there is a pointer light machine gun and a grenadier armed with a grenade launcher, the remaining squad members armed with automatic rifles. When necessary, are assigned two anti-tank weapons disposable to each squadron. Three platoons of snipers plus a platoon of combat support form a company of riflemen.

During the War of Ultramar, the normal organization of the companies - of three platoons of riflemen and a combat support - was changed to one based on four homogeneous battle groups, each with the same amount of troops and heavy weapons. This type of organization allow more readily the squad / battle group acting alone - a situation more common in guerrilla war than in conventional warfare. The organization in combat units is still maintained in today's companies Commands.

Cavalry platoons of the Portuguese army are the of tanks and reconnaissance. The first consists of four tanks, One commanded by the officer platoon and other by sergeants or furriels. Three platoons of tanks plus a platoon of command are a squad of tanks. The platoon reconnaissance consists of a command, an section operating, a section of machinegunners and a section of shooters, including usually five armored light, two autometralhadoras and a armored personnel carrier. Three platoons of recognition over a platoon of mortars formed a reconnaissance squadron.

United Kingdom
In British Army each squad of snipers (rifle platoon) of an infantry company consists of three sections of eight soldiers, plus a platoon leader (lieutenant or second lieutenant), the platoon sergeant, radio operator and a pointing Mortar slight L9A1 51 mm. Includes a total of 28 soldiers. is commanded by a corporal, assisted by a lance-corporal'' and six soldiers. is divided into two teams shot four officers, one led by a corporal and the other by lance-corporal.

Other types of squad - such as mortars or weapons antitank - usually have a effective less but can be commanded by a captain.

In Marines, in cavalry and armor, engineering, on signs, in logistics, Special Air Service and Honourable Artillery Company the troop is a unit equivalent to the platoon.

Russia
The platoon (Взвод-vsvod) is the basis for organization the infantry of Russian Army following the model in use in ancient Soviet Union. The firing line is divided into three sections, including a total of 28 soldiers. There platoons mechanized (based on vehicle BMP-2), airborne (based on the BMD-1) and motor (based on the BTR-70).