Heavy weapons platoon

"[3] As with most support units in any army, the size of a weapons platoon is generally smaller than that of its light infantry equivalent.

For example, a typical light infantry platoon consists of 30 to 40 men divided in three or four squads (or sections) of 9–13 men, whereas a weapons platoon substitutes the squads with smaller groups for mortar teams, machine gun crews, anti-tank teams etc.

The addition of a HWP can greatly increase the chances of victory in a combat zone, due to the unique specialist abilities the soldiers in that group can offer to the company.

The advancement in troop transportation has lessened the problems of re-locating heavy weaponry and large quantities of ammunition.

A February 1944 Table of organization and equipment[4] show the following details about a US Army WW2 weapons platoon: