The elements of the Battalion
Battalion Headquarters - as with the Infantry, this unit comprised the Command Staff of the Battalion, a Lieutenant-colonel, his Executive Officer and several other specialists.
Company Headquarters - cooks, clerks and armourer. A separate Mess Section was eventually established. Three unallocated Bazookas were also carried.
Headquarters Section - the various NCOs and men who operated alongside the Battalion Staff.
Supply Section - a reduced version of the Ammunition & Pioneer Platoon found in the Infantry, just a single Squad under a Sergeant.
Communication Platoon - responsible for the Battalion's links with other units. The Communications Officer was, curiously, listed among the members of Company HQ.
Light Machine Gun Platoon - this unit divided into two Sections, each serving four M1919A4 Browning light machine guns. No heavy machine guns were allocated to the Battalion and the gunners must have struggled to provide the same level of support as the M1917s in the Infantry Battalion. The Platoon also deployed three Bazookas for self defence.
Mortar Platoon - a reduced strength version of the Infantry, with only four 81 mm tubes. Like the Machine Gun Platoon, had three Bazookas.
The Rifle Company - it was among the Rifle Companies that the Paratroops began to add their own unique touch. The Rifle Squad remained at its core though.
The twelve man Squad retained the general appearance of the Infantry model. A Sergeant and Corporal commanded, promoted to Staff Sergeant as Squad Leader and Sergeant as assistant by 1944. A gunner, loader and ammunition bearer served the squad automatic weapon, while five riflemen and two scouts provided the bayonet strength. The difference in their weapons was noticeable. The automatic weapon was the M1919A4/6 Browning light machine gun. While a much heavier load than the BAR it provided a good deal more firepower, something the Paratroops really needed. Both the gunner and loader were issued a Carbine from 1944, replacing the previous pistols. On paper, all other men carried the M1 Rifle, however this was not always so in practice. When the Paratroops had been formed, each man was given an Automatic Colt Pistol in the same way the early German airborne troops each carried a Luger or Walther. This practice was later rescinded, however most men conspired to hold onto the weapons. Paratroopers were also notorious for supplementing their issue weapons with privately acquired .45s and revolver for use if and when they were separated from their rifle. Early submachine gun issue had also been high, each Rifle and Mortar Squad Leader, Platoon and Company Sergeant being so armed. Again, this was reduced to the same six 'unallocated' weapons of an Infantry company during 1944, Carbines supposedly replacing the NCOs weapons, but in reality far more were in use.
The two or three Squads served under Platoon Headquarters. Each HQ had two Officers, a 1st and 2nd Lieutenant, intended to reduce the risk of a scattered Platoon being separated from its commander. This was subsequently reduced to a single 1st Lieutenant perhaps a reflection of the heavy casualties among junior leaders. They were aided by a Platoon Sergeant, Sergeant Guide and three messengers, one of whom operated the radio. As there was no Weapons Platoon, each Rifle Platoon included a six man Mortar Squad serving a single 60 mm weapon. Here again the intention was M1 Rifles for all, except the two Officers who carried Carbines, and a submachine gun for the Platoon Sergeant. The reality was again probably quite varied. A Platoon sniper rifle is only mentioned from August 1944, the M1C, however M1903A4s were certainly in use before this time.
Each Platoon also had access to several unallocated support weapons, chief among these being a Bazooka. When the Platoon operated with two Rifle Squads, there were a further two Browning light machine guns available which could be deployed as necessary. That gave the Battalion forty four such weapons and allowed each Rifle Squad to double its firepower. Sometime during 1944 this was reduced to thirty five, when the unallocated weapons were deleted and the third squad confirmed. At this time, the Company received nine Browning Automatic Rifles, apparently intended to replace the M1919s but more likely used alongside them.
Company Headquarters retained the usual roles of command and administration support. They held the six submachine guns mentioned above and also added a fourth Bazooka to the Company.
The Information on this page is Courtesy of Gary Kennedy