Intro to Crew Served Weapons

Question 1

Describe the structure of the medium machinegun section in the weapons platoon

Answer 1

Section leader (SSgt)
3 Sqd per section, 2 machine gun teams per squad.
There are six M240B medium machine guns per section, two per squad, and one per machine gun team.

Question 2

Describe the structure of the heavy machinegun platoon in the weapons company.

Answer 2

1. Platoon Headquarters
   a. Platoon commander First Lieutenant, 0302
   b. Platoon sergeant Gunner Sergeant, 0369
   c. Messenger, Private 0331
   d. Messenger/Driver Private 0331
2. Sections (3)
   a. Two squads per section, Section Leader/1st Squad Leader, Sergeant 0331
   1) Squad leader, Sergeant 0331
   2) Gunner, Lance Corporal 0331
   3) Assistant Gunner, Private 0331
   4) Ammo man/driver Private 0331
3. T/E: The platoon is equipped with six M2 .50 cal Browning Machine Guns and six MK19 mod 3 40MM Automatic Grenade Launchers. This is divided into two M2s and two MK19s per section, with each squad having one M2 and one MK 19.

• Total for the Platoon = 28

Question 3

Describe the capabilities of 60mm mortars

Answer 3

1. a smoothbore, muzzle loaded, high angle of fire weapon. The components of the mortar consist of a canon, sight, mount, and baseplate
2. three 60mm mortars
3. is immediately responsive to commander’s need for fire.
4. Maximum rate of fire is 30 rounds per minute for four minutes.
5. Sustained rate is 20 rds per minute.
6. Maximum effective range: 3500m.
   Max: 3500m
   Min: 70m
   ECR: 30 m

Question 4

Describe the capabilities of 81mm mortars.

Answer 4

• a smoothbore, muzzle loaded, and high angle of fire weapon.
• organized into a platoon headquarters
• two 81mm mortar sections with four mortars per section for a total of 8 Mortars per platoon.
• Maximum rate of fire is 30 rounds per minute for two minutes
• Sustained rate of fire is 20 round per minute
• Maximum Effective Range: 5700m

Question 5

Describe the structure of the 60mm mortar section in the weapons platoon.

Answer 5

• Section Leader, Staff Sergeant, 0369
• Three squads per section, one M224 Mortar per squad, squad leader/gunner, Sergeant 0341
  a. Assistant gunner, Lance Corporal
  b. Ammoman, Private
• Table of Equipment (T/E): There are three M224 LWCMS mortars within the section and one per squad.
• Total = 10 Marines.

Question 6

Describe the structure of the 81mm mortar platoon in the weapons company

Answer 6

Plt Hq with Plt Cmdr, PltSgt, 2 Ammo men
There are 2 sections in the Plt and each section has 2 squads. Each squad has (2) 81mm mortar tubes.
Total of (8) mortars per plt and 68 Marines.

Question 7

Describe the capabilities of the Shoulder Mounted Anti-Armor Weapon

Answer 7

1. one-man operable, 83 mm smooth bore, shoulder-fired, rocket launcher with a spotting rifle attached to the right side of the launcher tube.
2. is fed 9 mm tracers by a magazine, which holds six rounds.
3. The 9 mm round is ballistically matched to the 83mm rocket.
   - Minimum 17 m
   - Maximum 1800 m
   - Maximum effective (HEDM) 250 m
   - Maximum effective (HEAA) 500 m
   - Time of flight to 250 m 1.6 sec

Question 8

Describe the structure of the assault section in the weapons platoon .

Answer 8

Section leader is a 0351
Three Sqds per section, 2 Assault teams per squad.
There are six MK153 SMAWs per section, two per squad, one per team.
13 Marines total

Question 9

Describe the structure of the anti-armor platoon in the weapons company

Answer 9

1. Platoon Headquarters
   a. Platoon commander, First Lieutenant, 0302
   b. Platoon sergeant, Gunner Sergeant, 0369
   c. Messenger/Driver, Private, 0331
2. Javelin Section
   a. Section Leader, Staff Sergeant, 0369
   b. Two Squads, Squad leader, Sergeant, 0352
   1) Four Teams, Gunner, Corporal 0352, Assistant gunner Lance Corporal 0352
   c. There are eight Javelins per section, one per team
3. Antitank Section
   a. Section Leader Staff Sergeant, 0369
   b. Four Squads Squad leader, Sergeant, 0352
   1) TOW Gunner, Corporal, 0352
   2) TOW Gunner, Corporal, 0352
   3) Assistant TOW Gunner, Lance Corporal 0352
   4) Assistant TOW Gunner, Lance Corporal 0352
   c. There are eight M220E4 TOWs per section, two per squad
4. T/E: The platoon is equipped with eight Javelin Missile systems located in the Javelin section and eight M220E4 TOW missile systems located in the Antitank section.

• Total for the Platoon = 41

Question 10

Describe sniper weapons capabilities available in the infantry battalion.

Answer 10

1. Platoon Headquarters
   a. Platoon commander First Lieutenant, 0203
   b. Platoon sergeant Gunnery Sergeant, 0317
2. Section (2) 2 teams per section, senior team leader is section leader
3. Teams (4)
   a. Six Marines per Team
4. T/E: The platoon is equipped with eight M40A3 7.62 Sniper Rifles and four M82A3 SASRs.

• Total for the Platoon = 26