British Army Section (military unit)

the british army section consists of 8 soldiers made of corporal section commander, lance-corporal second-in-command ( 2ic ) , 6 privates. 3 sections form platoon. in conventional warfare, section split 2 four-man fireteams ( charlie , delta ), commanded corporal , lance-corporal respectively.

second world war , after

the rifle section of second world war infantry battalion formed of 10 men; corporal section leader 6 privates lee–enfield rifles forming rifle group, , light machine gun group of lance-corporal, gunner bren gun , loader carrying spare barrel , ammunition.

with switch .303 7.62mm nato in 1950s until introduction of 5.56 mm calibre weapons in late 1980s, typical section armed , organized around 7.62 mm l7 gpmg (general purpose machine gun). section typically divided 2 groups : rifle group , gun group.

the rifle group comprised section commander (corporal) l1a1 slr, anti-tank gunner 84mm carl gustav , 9mm smg, anti-tank no 2 spare 84mm rounds , l1a1 , 2 riflemen l1a1s. gun group commanded section 2ic (lance corporal) l1a1, , comprised gunner gpmg , gun no 2 l1a1.

all section tactics designed bring gun bear on enemy , support gun; once gun had suppressed enemy ( winning firefight ), rifle group assault , destroy enemy position gun providing fire until last safe moment.

this organization abandoned in favour of fireteams when 5.56 mm assault rifles , saws introduced in late 1980s. these l85 iw , longer-barrelled l86 lsw ( light support weapon ). firepower of team has been extended l110a1 lmg. lsw used designated marksman s rifle , lmg belt fed weapon laying down suppressing fire. each fire team has 2 iw, 1 underslung grenade launcher, 1 lsw , 1 lmg.

current organisation

an infantry section consists of:

charlie fireteam:

corporal, armed l85a2 5.56mm rifle.
rifleman, armed l85a2 5.56mm rifle 40mm underslung grenade launcher.
rifleman, armed l110a1 5.56mm light machine gun.
rifleman, armed l129a1 7.62×51mm sharpshooter rifle.

delta fireteam:

lance corporal, armed l85a2 5.56mm rifle.
rifleman, armed l85a2 5.56mm rifle 40mm underslung grenade launcher.
rifleman, armed l110a1 5.56mm light machine gun.
rifleman, armed l129a1 7.62×51mm sharpshooter rifle.

some units operating in afghanistan reintroduced gpmg section gun, on scale of 1 per fire team, meaning 2 l85a2s carried per section , both fitted ugl. practice may altered following introduction of l129a1 sharpshooter rifle, bringing 7.62mm weapons section level in recognition 5.56mm proved inadequate in afghanistan. l86a2 lsw entirely unused infantry sections, due implementation of l110a1 (fn minimi) , l129a1 sharpshooter rifle, laws option secondary weapon anti-structure roles, , javelin can carried anti-armor. fireteams can split smaller sub-divisions if needed, , these designated alpha , bravo respectively. of march 2016, british army reviewing need minimi lmg @ section-level in dismounted units.