Nam Question?

momaw nadon · Post by **momaw nadon** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 12:35 am

What was the routine squad & platoon size during Vietnam? Would it be like today 9-10 guys for squad and 16-44 guys for platoon? Also would the same apply to Navy SEAL teams? Would it be common for a SEAL team to use other weapons such as M16, M60, and M79? Looking to make a Nam diorama. Thank you for your help.
momaw nadon

Rylau · Post by **Rylau** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 10:32 am

http://www.answers.com/topic/united-states-army Scroll down and you'll come to Batalion, Platoon and Squad strength. Please note that my unit was never even close to these figures. Regards....Bob

7thva_hunter · Post by **7thva_hunter** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 6:27 pm

I do not know but my dad mite know he was in the USMC.

momaw nadon · Post by **momaw nadon** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 8:07 pm

Thank you guys for the help. I got some good numbers for Army/USMC.

Anyone know size for SEALS? Thanks
momaw nadon

Threetoughtrucks · Post by **Threetoughtrucks** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 8:09 pm

SEALs were on the cutting edge of the weaons system. Near the end they were equiped with top of the line "modern" weapons as well as M-16A1's and M-60's. Besides these two, SEALs used:
The standard S&W 9mm
M-79 Granade Launchers
M-63 Stoner weapons system
H&K G3 sub machine guns
AK-47
Various sniper rifles
Any and all weapons they could get their hands on back to WW2 45cal "Grease guns" and all kinds of hand guns silenced or not and rifles from a dozen countries.

TTT

momaw nadon · Post by **momaw nadon** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 8:16 pm

Thank TTT,
Would you know the size of a SEAL team during Nam?
momaw nadon

macvsog · Post by **macvsog** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 8:36 pm

I was a platoon comander.

101st Airborne, HQ company.

We were supposed to have around 50.

We never had anywhere near that many guys.

Ever.

I would say I was somewhere around 35 at most times.

Sometimes less. Sometimes more.

There were all sorts of rules about numbers of guys and combat effectiveness, and to be honest, I don't remember what it was, but it was never given any attention.

good luck,

VMF115 · Post by **VMF115** » Sun Sep 03, 2006 10:56 pm

macvsog wrote:I was a platoon comander.

101st Airborne, HQ company.

We were supposed to have around 50.

We never had anywhere near that many guys.

Ever.

I would say I was somewhere around 35 at most times.

Sometimes less. Sometimes more.

There were all sorts of rules about numbers of guys and combat effectiveness, and to be honest, I don't remember what it was, but it was never given any attention.

good luck,

I was a squad leader in a light infantry platoon and this is what we had

3 Squads

Platoon leader: 1
Usually a west point graduate with a Ranger tab that has no real operational experience in the real world and has a tendency to get lost and like to flow the FM manuals to a T.

***"No disrespect to the guys with Rangers tab’s or the ones that served in the Bat’s"

Platoon Sargent: 1
Usually a beer drinking competent leader that knows his way around the army regulations and knows what works and what does not. He is Usually spending his time undoing what West Point teaches to its cadets about field and real world operations, and generally baby sits the PL during the first year of the PL command.

1st squad: was the crew served weapons: 2 M60’s gunners and 2 gunner’s assistance plus one squad leader.
Total 5

2nd squad: 1 squad leader, 2 team leaders 2 M203, 2 M249 and 2 M16’s
Total 9

3rd squad: 1 squad leader, 2 team leaders 2 M203, 2 M249 and 2 M16’s
Total 9

Total 25

Usually we ran sort a few guys in each platoon.

momaw nadon · Post by **momaw nadon** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 2:33 am

VMF115,
Were you also 101st Airborne?

Do any of you guys know if the SEALs would have about the same in numbers? Thank you all with the help, also I thank you guys for serving in a time when not everone supported the military.
momaw nadon

Threetoughtrucks · Post by **Threetoughtrucks** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 6:47 am

Sorry MM, I don't have a clue about SEAL unit strength.

I don't even have a clue about what the strength was in the unit I was in. Too many moons have gone by.

I used to know, I really did, I was sharp.......now I'm just a dull duffer.

TTT

shadow83 · Post by **shadow83** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 9:36 am

I believe VMFs platoon breakdown is circa the early 80s and not vietnam stats.

VMF115 · Post by **VMF115** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 10:22 am

momaw nadon wrote:VMF115,
Were you also 101st Airborne?

Do any of you guys know if the SEALs would have about the same in numbers? Thank you all with the help, also I thank you guys for serving in a time when not everone supported the military.
momaw nadon

shadow83 wrote:I believe VMFs platoon breakdown is circa the early 80s and not vietnam stats.

I was in 1992-1996 and served in the 25th ID, 4/87 and,

<----------------------1/27 infantry Wolfhounds

As far as the numbers go, I believe the Vietnam infantry units where made up of this. rifle platoons are generally made up of four nine-man squads (three rifle squads and one weapons squad).

momaw nadon · Post by **momaw nadon** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 12:03 pm

I found out some information on SEAL teams if anyone wants to know. It in modern numbers, but I would think it would be about the same for Nam too.

SEALs are trained to operate in small units of one or two men up to platoon strength of sixteen. However, they work best in squads of eight or fewer.

I would think that most during Nam would be that 8 or less squad size. More so less as every other Unit in Nam was. If you have a take on this let me know. Thank you guys for all the help.
momaw nadon

KAGNEW · Post by **KAGNEW** » Mon Sep 04, 2006 3:30 pm

it depended on the op and how many healthy bodies we had

my Ranger team was

7 souls 1970/1971. most GB, & Seal teams numbered the same