THE NEW BRITISH ARMY

Taranaki Daily News, 13 January 1932, Page 3

THE NEW BRITISH ARMY

REORGANISATION PLANS. THE INFANTRY BATTALION • Some time ago it was announced that the Army Council was contemplating * reorganisation of the infantry, and details were given of the two proposed types of battalion under consideration. < The authorities now appear to have crystallised their ideas, although, they may still alter their conception in detail, says the London Daily Telegraph. In the last war an infantry battalion was 1000 strong. The “new model” battalion will be only three-quarters of this number, but much stronger in fire- ,-y power and mobility. It will comprise 743 officers and men. To this may be added an anti-tank section, ’bringing the number up to 771. The battalion will bo divided into a headquarters-wing, three rifle companies, and a support company. The headquarters-wing includes signallers. administrative, transport and workshop groups, for the battalion will be provided with mechanised transport, mainly six-wheeled lorries. Instead of marching, its men will be moved in j buses provided by a divisional or corps j pool. . . ' The rifle companies will consist of g four platoons, each platoon having three rifle sections of seven men, and one light machine-gun, section of ten men, armed with two guns. As an alternative each of the four sections may be equipped with a light* machine-gun. The most interesting development, however, is the support company. It will comprise a mechanised mortar platoon of four mortars, and a mechanised machine-gun platoon of twelve guns, each in a little armoured carrier. The possession of this mechanised suppoi t company is small and therefore comparatively invisible armoured machines will give the battalion commander a real “surprise packet” of fire-power that he can throw in promptly and swiftly to help his riflemen as they skirmish forward. The support company will crack the nuts that the riflemen find too hard.