From Themarshallwiki

Current revision as of 09:46, 16 May 2009

The most common unit in the Australian Army is the Infantry Battalion. It is the smallest Australian Army unit capable of independent operations, and it is exceedingly rare for Australia to deploy a smaller group as a task force. Normally, the Infantry Battalion is supported by armour, light armoured reconnaissance, artillery, aviation, and engineering. There are three types of infantry battalion, mechanised infantry, motorised infantry, and light infantry. Mechanised infantry are equipped with heavy vehicles, the primary vehicle being the CV9040A Infantry Fighting Vehicle. Motorised infantry use lighter equipment, primarily the M113AS3/4. Light infantry normally proceed on foot, though they have Bushmaster IMV's for tactical, and strategic mobility. Airborne infantry are dropped into action by RAAF aircraft. Reserve battalions are all light infantry, and usually use Landrovers for mobility.

The battalions are referred to as part of Regiments, though the Regiment itself is not a tactical organisation. The Australian Army has the following infantry regiments:

• Royal Australian Regiment (ARA only)
• Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (ARA, and ARes)
• Royal Pacific Islands Regiment (ARes)
• Royal New South Wales Regiment (ARes)
• Royal Queensland Regiment (ARes)
• Royal South Australia Regiment (ARes)
• Royal Tasmania Regiment (ARes)
• Royal Victoria Regiment (ARes)
• Royal Western Australia Regiment (ARes)

List of Infantry Battalions

Australian Regular Army

Mechanised Infantry

• 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
• 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
• 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment

Motorised Infantry

• 4th Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
• 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
• 8th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment

Airborne Infantry

• 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (Airborne)
• 5th Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (Airborne)

Light Infantry

• 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
• 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
• 3rd Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
• 8th Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
• 9th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
• 10th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment

Army Reserve

• 1st/19th Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment
• 2nd/17th Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment
• 4th/3rd Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment
• 41st Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment
• 9th Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment
• 25th/49th Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment
• 31st Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment
• 42nd Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment
• 10th/27th Battalion, Royal South Australia Regiment
• 12th/40th Battalion, Royal Tasmania Regiment
• 5th/6th Battalion, Royal Victoria Regiment
• 8th/7th Battalion, Royal Victoria Regiment
• 11th/28th Battalion, Royal Western Australia Regiment
• 16th Battalion, Royal Western Australia Regiment
• 2nd Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
• 6th Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
• 7th Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment
• 1st Battalion, Royal Pacific Islands Regiment
• 2nd Battalion, Royal Pacific Islands Regiment

Organisation

The below organisations are for an Airborne Infantry Battalion. All other infantry battalions are changed by the addition of vehicles. All Australian Infantry Battalions that are not airborne are fully mobile with their own vehicles. Mechanised Infantry use the CV90A series, motorised Infantry use the M113AS3/4, and light infantry use the Bushmaster IMV.

Rifle Platoon

The basic unit is the Infantry Platoon. It consists of several 4 man teams, which are as follows:

• 4 Infantry Teams
• 2 Weapons Teams
• 1 Headquarters Team

Infantry Team

The infantry team consists of 4 men. A Team Leader with an F88, a Marksman who carries an F88S with additional sights including long range telescopic sights; thermal sights; and an off-angle sight¹, a Grenadier equipped with an F88 GLA, and a Light Support Weapon Operator equipped with an F89 Minimi.

Two teams can combine to form a section, with the more senior Team Leader becoming Section Leader.

¹The Off Angle Viewing Device is a simple, periscopic Australian designed sight. It fits behind any conventional scope, and gives a 50^o view angle, and is far superior to video-based installations being simpler, more reliable, and more ergonomic.

Weapons Team

The Weapons Team consists of 5 men. A Team leader with an F88, 1 GPMG crews of two men with one GPMG, 1 Carl Gustav gunner, and an ammunition carrier with an F88.

Headquarters Team

The HQ Team consists of the Platoon Commander, Platoon Sergeant, Radio Operator, and Combat Medic. Although all teams have at least one short range radio, the HQ Team radio is more capable. Likewise, all teammembers have some first aid training, and a member from each team has more advanced training, but the HQ Team medic is effectively as well trained as a civilian paramedic.

Rifle Company

A Rifle Company consists of 3 Rifle Platoons, and a Company Headquarters. The Company Headquarters consists of the Company Officer Commanding, his Second in Command, a Company Sergeant Major, and three other ranks.

Infantry Battalion

The Infantry Battalion consists of a Battalion Headquarters, four Rifle Companies, an Administration Company, and a Support Company.

Battalion Headquarters

The Battalion Headquarters consists of the following personnel:

• Commanding Officer (CO) (invariably a Lieutenant Colonel or even a full Colonel)
• Second-in-Command (2IC) (usually a Major or a lieutenant Colonel if the battalion is commanded by a full Colonel)
• Adjutant (Captain or Major)
• Padre
• Regimental Intelligence Officer
• Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM)

A number of other ranks support them.

Administration Company

The Administration Company provides various support services to the Battalion.

• Transport Platoon
• Quartermasters Platoon
• Catering Platoon
• Technical Support Platoon
• Medical Platoon

Support Company

The Support Company provides combat support to the Battalion.

• Signals Platoon
• Mortar Platoon
  • 6 F2 81mm Mortars
• Assault Pioneer Platoon
  • Infantry men trained to perform combat engineering tasks.
• Anti Tank Platoon
  • 9 FGM-148 Javelin launchers or 9 Milan Anti Tank Missile launchers
• DFSW (Direct fire support weapon) Platoon
  • 6 M40 106mm direct fire support recoilless rifles or 6 84mm Carl Gustav Medium Range Anti-Armour Weapon (MRAAW)
• Machine Gun Platoon
  • 9 MAG 58 General Purpose Machine Guns
• Reconnaissance and Surveillance Platoon
  • Scouts and snipers