Post by connie on May 22, 2014 12:06:04 GMT -5
Looking for a grandfather's unit, a recent discussion has sparked an education on machine guns: 106thdivision.proboards.com/thread/946/looking-more-info-roosevelt-silvester
Floyd provided this info:
THE INFANTRY BATTALION (Authorized Strength - 860):
Three infantry rifle companies, a headquarters & headquarters company, and a heavy weapons company together made up the infantry battalion. The headquarters & headquarters company was referred to by that name, or as “HHC”. The other companies of the battalion, however, were known as the “letter companies.” Identification of the “letter companies” ran consecutively through the three battalions of the infantry regiment:
1st Battalion contained A, B, and C Companies (rifle companies) and D Company (heavy weapons);
2nd Battalion contained E, F, and G Companies (rifle companies) and H Company (heavy weapons);
3rd Battalion contained I, K, and L Companies (rifle companies) and M Company (heavy weapons). The letter J was not used, as it could be confused with the letter “I” when handwritten.
A machine gunner in a heavy-weapons company operated a 50 caliber (Heavy) machine-gun.
Companies A,B,C. E, F,G and I,K,L each had one Heavy weapons platoon. A machine gunner in those platoons operated a 30 caliber, water cooled, (light) machine-gun.
Further down in the same thread, Floyd notes:
[i]Whether a Soldier was using a heavy machine gun (50 Caliber) or light machine gun (30 Caliber) it had to be set up. One man could set up a Light Machine-gun but for one man to set-up a Heavy Machine-gun under any circumstances would be very questionable for one Soldier to do.
More discussion of the Heavy Weapons Company can be found at: 106thdivision.proboards.com/thread/588/heavy-weapons-companies-ww2
Floyd provided this info:
THE INFANTRY BATTALION (Authorized Strength - 860):
Three infantry rifle companies, a headquarters & headquarters company, and a heavy weapons company together made up the infantry battalion. The headquarters & headquarters company was referred to by that name, or as “HHC”. The other companies of the battalion, however, were known as the “letter companies.” Identification of the “letter companies” ran consecutively through the three battalions of the infantry regiment:
1st Battalion contained A, B, and C Companies (rifle companies) and D Company (heavy weapons);
2nd Battalion contained E, F, and G Companies (rifle companies) and H Company (heavy weapons);
3rd Battalion contained I, K, and L Companies (rifle companies) and M Company (heavy weapons). The letter J was not used, as it could be confused with the letter “I” when handwritten.
A machine gunner in a heavy-weapons company operated a 50 caliber (Heavy) machine-gun.
Companies A,B,C. E, F,G and I,K,L each had one Heavy weapons platoon. A machine gunner in those platoons operated a 30 caliber, water cooled, (light) machine-gun.
Further down in the same thread, Floyd notes:
[i]Whether a Soldier was using a heavy machine gun (50 Caliber) or light machine gun (30 Caliber) it had to be set up. One man could set up a Light Machine-gun but for one man to set-up a Heavy Machine-gun under any circumstances would be very questionable for one Soldier to do.
More discussion of the Heavy Weapons Company can be found at: 106thdivision.proboards.com/thread/588/heavy-weapons-companies-ww2
