Every once in a while I'll get the urge to write about how I would outfit a team. So here is how I would do it, if I were Daddy Warbucks and could afford to set up my own arms room. If I had to design a squad it would be a 12 man team, 2 "fire teams" and one "HQ" Team which includes a 2 man sniper team and the Squad Leader and RTO.
Basic Rifle (10 total). AR-15. Choices, S&W M&P-15, Optics, Burris AR-332 prismatic sight with BDC reticle. Total package under 1,100 US at this time (if you can get them on sale). Alternative to the 3x BDC site is an operator choice of Red Dot, but nothing less than a Vector and I'd prefer an Aimpoint.
Pistol, 12 total. Glock, Springfield XD, or S&W M&P 9mm's. No modifications. Low end 340 US.
SDM Rifle (one per fire team). AR-15. Choices. Armalite National Match A4 or Rock River National Match A4. Optic, Leupold Mark AR 3-9x40 with BDC turret and mildot reticle. Total package cost 1,500 US (can be had for less).
Sniper Rifle, bolt action, 1 total. Savage 10 (any variant in 308 Win) or Remington. Optic, Weaver 3-10x40 Tactical. Package can be had for 1,200 or less. You can find used rifles for a lot less.
Sniper Rifle, semi automatic 1 total. DPMS LR-10 Varmint. The 24" barrel makes this a better choice than a Knights SR-25.
Sniper Rifle, Anti-Material (1 total, mission dependent). 50 Caliber upper for an AR and deal with the bruised shoulder. 1,600 from Zel Manufacturing. Armalite AR50 as an alternate. Barrett M82A1 if funds don't run out.
Laser Range finder, 3 total: Bushnell 1500. Spotting Scope, 1 total: Leupold Gold Ring with mil reticle. Binoculars, 4 total: Weems and Plath 7x28 Apaches.
Ammunition: For the AR's Mk318 equivalent 210 rounds per man, and Mk262 equivalent for SDMs, 210 rounds per man. For Sniper rifles, Mk316 equivalent for 308 150 rounds per man. For 50 cal, API and 750gr AMAX loads, mission dependent.
Radios, 128bit encrypted Motorola handhelds, at least until I could figure out how to get some Harris spread spectrum tactical radios. Military/Government grade encryption is a huge tactical asset. 1 radio per man is the optimum.
Night vision: PVS-14. 12 total.
Body armor, molle plate carrier with level 4A plates. Molle pouches for magazines, radio, and first aid kit, set up user dependent. Helmet: ACH, or other kevlar ballistic dome cover that can accept a rino mount for the NODs. Eye protection: user preference. Gloves, user preference (I prefer Hatch myself). Boots, operator dependent (Belleville 390s for me). Uniform, multicam in the old BDU style, screw velcro. Rucksack, large ALICE (I don't have enough experience under other frames to have an informed opinion on what is the latest and greatest in rucksacks). Knee and elbow pads, user preference. Compass, gps, user prefference (a map compass is good for planning, an engineering compass better for land navigation).
As you can see, this gets expensive very quickly, and the bare minimum needed to stay trained as an effective team is a solid weekend a month as a team. This isn't "get together and qualify on weapons" time, this is everybody showing up, getting a mission brief, then conducting multi-echelon training (individual tasks, buddy tasks, team tasks, squad tasks) that covers land navigation, individual movement techniques, fire and maneuver, an ambush, a raid, a recon, demolition, and a break contact with first aid, tactical comms, patrol base ops and mission planning included.
And this doesn't cover the "staff work" that supports this squad, such as intelligence production, mission deconfliction/FRAGO production, logistic resupply and support, medical support, and the rest of the "staff work" that makes this squad successful in a fluid tactical environment. A good C2 and logistics node is an art form all to itself. There may be little glory on an SFOD-B, or the HQ platoon for an Infantry Company, but keeping people fed, in bullets, and bandaged up is a demanding job, and one that stays "high intensity" even if the battle isn't. The loggies, planners, and intel geeks are always working (or should be).
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9 comments:
I can't find any room for disagreement here.
ARs, Savage, Glock/Xds...
It gets spendy quick! The cost of the weapon is overshadowed pretty quick by the amount of ammo needed to maintain proficiency, I'd say.
I like the optics choices as well, and I'm impressed with the Mark ARs. I have a GRSC 1-4x CRS on my AR, and the wife is running a 1-4 Mark AR. If I ever upgrade my barrel, I'll likely go with the 3-9 Mark AR.
I like the BDC for AR use. It's quick, and one learns to use it in all sorts of ways.
Good piece. These mental exercises are fun and can be useful.
Get out of my head!
My only difference was going with 4 3-man teams (TL/RTO, an SDM, and a medic).
Seriously bored on a nightshift one week, I went so far as to work out individual loads, then TO&Es for platoon through Bn, and training curriculum.
Oh to have Bill Gates' deep pockets.
-Aesop
Where do you find the radios?
And, Aesop... my sleeve? Good to see you, if that's you.
Motorola puts out a spread spectrum (frequency hopping) radio in the 900 Mhz range. Add on encryption is available from other companies, but it is unlikely they would sell to me as a private citizen.
You can get a basic FH Motorola over the internet: http://www.buytwowayradios.com/products/motorola/motorola-dtr410.aspx
What's your take on the 77 grain 556 loads. I find them very accurate and have read they pack a way better hit them the 55 grain as well as the green tipped 62. Sierra Match king BTHP 77 grain.
Rick, what you are talking about is Mk262 ammunition, a 77gr SMK in 5.56, loaded by Black Hills. This is the load I chose for my SDMs, as it performs nicely in terms of accuracy and lethality.
The Mk318 is a 62 grain version of the "bonded bear claw" bullet which has improved barrier penetration over Mk262, M855 or M193. This bullet mass makes it track well with current sight systems designed for the older M855.
"Harris spread spectrum tactical radios"
I believe these and the MaCom's have built in GPS on the newer models for "tracking" purposes..
could be wrong.
Yank lll
On the logistical side you need continuos quantities of all the "heavies"-Beans,Bullets, Bandages,batteries,water and of course fuel for your Transport. Just for the one squad. You would need more me as you noted to support them, either for replacements or a reserve force to bail you out; You have no support weapons to call on. Just when you could use some arty, of course it ain't there. And what would you do with your wounded?They are gonna be screaming for painkillers and you'll need blood. On the tactical side you didn't mention the SAW and rocket or grenade launcher. Mines, etc. Don't forget the E tool for each man.The spade is brother to the gun. You'll need them for burying your dead as well as bunkers tunnels and entrenchments. Engineer gear like bolt cutters and such will come in handy as well. Just observations from an old Marine.
Consider the soviet model, since you might have to use soviet weapons. A squad leader and three fireteams of three men each. Each team is responsible for either the RPK squad auto, the RPG or the SVD sniper rifle. Each team consists of a gunner an assistant gunner and a rifleman/ammo bearer. The riflemen are administratively attached to the fireteam and function as but at the squad leaders discretion may be used as a separate three man rifle assualt team. Alternativly, while on the move,Two may be used as point and slack man while the third can be rear security. In defense the riflemen link together the squad weapons or and provide flank security. This gives tje squad the flexibilty of weapons to lay down auto fire, snipe and defend against Armor or destroy a bunker. All weapons fire the same round and in this organization all weapons are capable of fixing bayonets and semi auto fire.
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