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US and German paratroopers


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#1 Andrew Burton

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Posted 13 February 2006 - 01:12 PM

Hi, For me I was wanting to do some of the D-day landings and was just wondering how the paratroopers were organized. Like are they like the regular infantry units and they just jump out of air planes or what?Thanks Andrew burton

#2 Jonathan Coulter

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Posted 13 February 2006 - 02:15 PM

Andrew,Here is a typical American Paratroop Battalion TO&E:Battalion Headquarters (1)..Command Stand (1) BnCO..Staff Stand (1) BnXO..Carbine Squad (4)....Carbine Stand (2)....Bazooka (1)Paratroop Company (3)..Company Headquarters (1)....Command Stand (1) CoCO....Staff Stand (1) CoXO....Carbine Squad (2)......Carbine Stand (2)..Paratroop Platoon (3)....Anti-Tank Squad (1)......Carbine Stand (2)......Bazooka (1)....Carbine Squad (3)......Carbine Stand w/BAR (3) (yes, 3)....Support Squad (1)......60mm Mortar (3)Support Company (1)..Company Headquarters (1)....Command Stand (1) CoCO....Staff Stand (1) CoXO....Carbine Squad (2)......Carbine Stand (2)..Mortar Battery (1)....81mm Mortar (4)..Anti-Tank Platoon (1)....AT Squad (3)......Bazooka Team (3) <<OR>>......75mm Recoiless Rifle (1)..BAR Platoon (1)....BAR Team (2-man) (8)Hope that helps!

#3 Mark 1

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Posted 03 May 2006 - 07:26 PM

The TOE above shows the US Para infantry squads being equipped primarily with carbines and BARs. That is not correct.The primary infantryman's arm was the M1 rifle (Garand). Mortar crews and officers would have been equipped with M1 carbine. The Paras did indeed LIKE the M1 carbine, and often swapped their Garands for carbines when the opportunity arose, so that a Para infantry platoon should indeed have SOME carbines in it. But that was mostly off-TOE, and never got to the level of the standard arm for the platoon.The US Para's also were unique among US Army infantry formations in their issuance of the belt-fed M1919 .30 caliber machinegun in its bipod-and-pistolgrip version as their standard LMG. They had a tendancy to set up a base of fire with the LMGs, rather than having them maneuver with the riflemen. Thus they had higher MG firepower at the platoon level than BAR-equipped foot and armored infantry formations, but no BAR in the squads. Or so I understand it. Could be wrong. Been known to happen.-Mark 1




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