In Praise of Light Forces (2): Proposed Light Infantry Battalion

In the previous article I gave my reasons for recommending the expansion of the Nigerian Army through the creation of additional light infantry units. My reasons included cost, logistics, flexibility, mobility and utility over different terrain etc.

I believe this argument necessary due to the penchant the Nigerian military has for fetishizing bright shiny kit, particularly heavy armour, self propelled artillery, MRAPs, APCs etc. All of which are fine for fighting a combined arms war of manoeuvre in the desert, savanna or north European plains but of increasingly questionable utility for defeating lightly armed gunmen mounted on trucks and motorcycles whose main activities are raids on civilian and security forces locations or convoys.

NAF Super Tucano- PR Nigeria

To defeat these adversaries as well as develop a capability that can also close with and defeat a conventional military in a combined arms manoeuvre type battle I would suggest a light infantry unit structured as below.

Caveat: I will hasten to add the that I have absolutely no training or experience in design of military units. I assume many of my suggestions will be nonsensical to the better military educated but I will beg their indulgence in that hopefully the general ideas I’m trying to get across will make sense.

Proposed Battalion Structure

I envisage a Light infantry Battalion will be about 1000 men, organised as below

• 3 x Rifle Companies
• 1 x Light Mounted Squadron
• Manoeuvre Support Company
• HQ Company

The Battalion consists of 4 manoeuvre elements, a manoeuvre support company and a Support Company

Let’s look at each in detail, starting with the manoeuvre elements

1) Light Infantry Rifle Company (approximately 184 men)

I would suggest the Rifle Company consists of

• 3 x Rifle platoons
• 1 x Manoeuvre Support Platoon
• Company HQ

a) Light Infantry Rifle Platoon (34 men)

I would suggest the Rifle Platoon consists of

Organisation	Transport	Equipment
8 men broken into 2 x 4 man Fire Teams Platoon Commander, Platoon Sergeant, a signaller, Mini UAV operator, a 2 man 60mm mortar team, 2 medium machine gunners, Platoon medic, Ammo carrier/ runner	No organic transport	Each Section: 6 x rifles 1 x RPG or MGL (1 RPG per platoon) 1 x light machine gun 1 x Marksman rifle HQ 8 x rifles 1 x 60mm mortar 2 x medium machine guns mUAS

WHY? The thinking behind this platoon is that it should have the ability engage and defeat any adversary (including armour in the right settings). The mix of weapons allows the platoon to engage an enemy and suppress it at range. 5 machine guns, 3 MGLs or RPGs and a 60mm mortar provide significant firepower. The UAV allows the unit to find targets and accurately direct fire on them. The size of the platoon means that at the maximum they would need 4 APCS or MRAPs if they were to require protected mobility

Manoeuvre: Each section consists of 8 men commanded by a Corporal, with a Lance Corporal as Second in command, each of whom command 2 x 4 man Fire Teams and should have 6 riflemen, of whom 1 rifleman should armed with a multiple grenade launcher (MGL) or rocket propelled grenade (RPG), 1 man with a light machine gun and the marksman with either a special weapon such as a Dragunov rifle or just the sections best marksman using the same weapon as everyone else with better sights.

Milkor 40mm MGL- Defenceweb

Thus each section is equipped to be able to undertake fire and manoeuvre independently. With 6 riflemen and a light machinegun each section should be able to independently suppress a1 or 2 man position or provide fire support to another section. The marksman weapon system will allow each section to engage high value targets up to 500m away, while the RPG allows them to defeat armour vehicles and MGLs to suppress enemy in depth or in dead ground.

In essence this means each section can effectively suppress a target 3-400m away with direct fire as well as engage point targets up to 500m.

Command and control: the HQ will provide command and control and a link to higher HQ and other assets. It is expected that each section commander (and preferably each section second in command will have a radio with which to communicate with the Platoon Commander, whilst the Platoon Signaller carries another radio to speak to HQ

Organic fire support: The HQ also provides further organic fire support to the platoon, with 2 x Medium machine guns (in both direct and tripod mounted sustained fire) and 1 x 60mm mortars.

ISR: the platoon can use its mUAS to provide overwatch, route recce, recce enemy or friendly positions, as well as direct the fire of its machine guns, mortar, sharpshooters or riflemen. The device should preferably have a range of up to 5km and be able to operate day and night

Ukrainian servicemen – Daily Telegraph

b) Manoeuvre Support Platoon (46 men)

Should consist of:

• Mortar Section
• Air/ Ground Support Section
• Anti Armour Section
• Machine Gun Section
• Assault Pioneer Section

I would suggest a Light Infantry Manoeuvre Support Platoon consists of

Organisation	Transport	Equipment
Mortar Team 8 men broken into 2 x Fire Teams Commander/ MFC and Second in command	2 x Quad Bikes	2 x 81mm mortars 1 x mUAS
Air/ Ground Support Team 8 men broken into 2 fire teams	2 x Quad bikes	2 x 12.7mm HMG and/ or 4 x MANPADS
Anti Armour (AA) Section 8 men broken down into 4 fire teams	2 x Quad bikes	4 x ATGMS/ 8 x Light Anti tank weapons
Assault Pioneer Section: 8 men broken down into 2 fire teams	2 x Quad bikes	Pioneer stores, personal weapons
Machine Gun Section: 8 men broken down into 3 x gun teams, a commander and second in command	2 x Quad bikes	3 x GPMG in sustained fire role
Platoon Headquarters:6 men) Platoon Commander, Platoon Sergeant, a signaller, 2 x Mini UAV operator, Platoon medic,	2 x Quad bikes	mUAS

WHY? The manoeuvre support platoons task is to allow the Company Commander deploy his platoons while protecting them from a variety of threats (air, ground, armour) in defensive and offensive roles. Their mobility and survivability will be enhanced by the Assault Pioneers.

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Manoeuvre: the Manoeuvre Support Platoon (MSP) provides the Company Commander with the ability to support the company with indirect fire against ground targets, direct fire against ground/ air targets and provide combat engineering/ mobility and counter mobility. Quad bikes allow the platoon to carry their heavier equipment/ ammo and weapons and more quickly to provide support. The mix of weapons allows the Company to engage enemy air, armour and infantry without calling in external assets

ISTAR: the platoons can use its mUAS can be used provide overwatch, route recce, recce enemy or friendly positions but mainly to find the enemy and direct the fire of its weapon systems

c) Company Headquarters (36 men)

Organisation	Transport	Equipment
Med Section 2 x medics	1 x Ambulance
Recce Section 8 men broken into 2 x Fire teams	2 x Quad bikes	mUAS 4 x rifles 2 x marksmen rifles 2 x machine guns 2 x MGL
Headquarters (16 men) Company Commander, Company second in command Company Sergeant Major, 4 x signallers Intelligence Det (1 x officer, 1 x NCO)	2 x Quad bikes 2 x Land rovers/ pick ups
Quartermaster CQMS 2 x drivers	2 x trucks + trailers/ towed tanks 2 x motorcycles
Transport SNCO and JNCO 6 x drivers 2 x fitters/ mechanics	6 x trucks 1 x Mechanics truck/ Landrover

Manoeuvre and ISTAR: are provided by the Recce Section, which will seek to operate to the front or flanks of the company at all times either through static or mobile patrols, providing the commander with early warning as well as information about enemy activity or providing targets for the company’s support weapons. Additional recce can also be undertaken by the rifle platoons

Support: the unit will be expected to be able to move its platoons and stores itself using its own trucks. Trailers and tankers will allow it to transport water and fuel. Quadbikes and motorcycles should allow the company to supply troops and extract casualties even if they are based in difficult hard to reach locations. The fitters/ mechanics should have the skills and parts to carry out basic repairs on all the vehicles and weapons systems

2) Light Mounted Squadron (144 men)

This subunit will exist to provide mobility and firepower to the Battalion, conducting long range recce, supporting an infantry attack, exploiting a breakthrough, acting as a counter attack force, screening, raiding or scouting force, or breaking through a weak enemy line.

As a relatively weak force it would not be expected to engage armour or much stronger forces unless it was in an exceptionally advantageous position, its main asset would be better training & mobility

I would suggest it consists of

• 3 x Light Mounted Troops
• 1 x Manoeuvre Support Troop
• Company HQ

a) Light Mounted Troop (20 men/ 6 vehicles)

Organisation	Transport	Equipment
12 men/ 4 vehicles: Broken into 2 Sections containing, 2 vehicle Each vehicle crewed by a driver, commander and gunner Troop Headquarters – 8 men/ 2 vehicles: Platoon Commander, driver, gunner and Mini UAV operator Platoon Sergeant, driver, gunner and medic	4 x Armed pickups       2 x armed pickups	Each vehicle should be equipped with a heavy machine gun (12.7-14.5mm) or an AGS on top and one by the commander’s side. mUAS 60mm mortar RPGs

Manoeuvre: the commander has the flexibility to operate his unit as 3 x 2 vehicle fire teams, 2 x 3 vehicle fire teams or 2 x 2 vehicle fire teams with Platoon headquarters detached.  This provides for mutual protection and ensures even if a vehicle is damaged or immobilised there are still enough weapons to engage the enemy and vehicles to pick up dismounted crews

The troop is able to engage from 2000 to 3000m, direct fire and 2000 – 4000m indirect fire.

Jackal MWMIK- Wikipedia

Command and control: the HQ will provide command and control and a link to higher HQ and other assets. It is expected that each vehicle will have some sort of radio

Organic fire support: The AGS and 60mm mortars can be used to provide indirect fire support.

ISR: the platoon can use its mUAS to provide overwatch, route recce, recce enemy or friendly positions, as well as direct the fire of its machine guns, AGS or mortar

b) Manoeuvre Support Troop (38 men)

Organisation	Transport	Equipment
Mortar Team 6 men broken into 2 x Fire Teams MFC and MUAs operator	2 x vehicles	2 x vehicle mounted 81mm mortars 1 x mUAS
Air/ Ground Support Team 6 men broken into 2 fire teams	2 x vehicles	2 x vehicle mounted 20/23mm cannon and/ or 4 x MANPADS
AT Section 8 men broken down into 4 fire teams	2 x vehicles	Vehicle mounted  ATGMS/ 8 x Light Anti tank weapons
Assault Pioneer Section: 8 men broken down into 2 fire teams	2 x vehicles	Pioneer stores, personal weapons Vehicle mounted HMG
Platoon Headquarters: 8 men Platoon Commander, Platoon Sergeant, 2 x Mini UAV operator, 2 x drivers, 2 x gunners/ Platoon medic,	2 x vehicles	mUAS vehicle mounted HMG

c) Light Mounted Squadron Headquarters (36 men)

Organisation	Transport	Equipment
Med Section (2 men) 2 x medics	1 x Ambulance
Recce Section (8 men) broken into 2 x Fire teams	2 x vehicles	Each vehicle should be equipped with a heavy machine gun (12.-14.5mm) or an AGS on top and one by the commander’s side. mUAS 60mm mortar RPGs
Headquarters (14 men) Company Commander, Company second in command Company Sergeant Major, Signals Senior NCO 4 x signallers Intelligence Det (1 x officer, 1 x NCO), 4 drivers	4 x vehicles mUAS
Quartermaster (6 men) CQMS 4 x drivers	2 x trucks + trailers/ tankers 2 x motorcycles
Mechanics Section SNCO and JNCO 4 x mechanics/ fitters	2 x vehicles (recovery and repair)

Manoeuvre: and ISR: are provided by the Recce Section, which will seek to operate to the front or flanks of the company at all times either through patrolling or observation posts, providing the commander with early warning as well as information about enemy activity. Additional recce can also be undertaken by the rifle platoons

3) Manoeuvre Support Company (155 men)

I would suggest the Manoeuvre Support Company consists of

• Fire support platoon
• Mortar Platoon
• Air Defence Platoon
• Assault Pioneer Platoon
• Anti Tank platoon

Let’s look at each in detail

a) Fire support platoon (30 men)

Organisation	Transport	Equipment
2 Sections  Each consist of 12 men mounted in teams of 2 x 2 vehicles (driver, gunner, commander per vehicle) Platoon Headquarters Platoon Commander (Captain), Platoon Sergeant, 1 x signaller, 1 x Mini UAV operator team, 2 x Drivers/ Platoon medic	10 x armed pick ups	5 x vehicle mounted HMG 5 x vehicle mounted AGL

b) Mortar Platoon (35 men)

Organisation	Transport	Equipment
4 x detachments  Each detachment consists of 2 mortar barrels with a 3 man crew each, with a Detachment Commander (NCO) Platoon Headquarters Platoon Commander (Captain), Platoon Sergeant, 1 x signaller, 2 x Mini UAV operators, 4 x Mortar Fire Controllers 2 x Drivers/ Platoon medic	6 x armed pick ups 4 x quad bikes	8 x 81mm mortars 2 x mUAS

c) Air Defence Platoon (30 men)

Organisation	Transport	Equipment
3 Sections  Each section consist of 8 men broken into 4 men fire teams Platoon Headquarters Platoon Commander (Captain), Platoon Sergeant, 1 x signaller, 1 x AD NCO, 2 x Drivers/ Platoon medic	6 x armed pick ups 1 x command pick up	6 x vehicle mounted HMG (14.5-23mm) 6 x MANPADs

d) Assault Pioneer Platoon (30 men)

Organisation	Transport	Equipment
Mobility Section 8 man section (infantry bridging, minor road/ bridge repairs, watermanship) Counter mobility Section 8 man section (mining, demolitions) Pioneer Section 8 man section (Bricklayer, carpenters, masons (all drivers) Platoon Headquarters Platoon Commander (Captain), Platoon Sergeant, 1 x signaller, 1 x Mini UAV operator team, 2 x Drivers/ Platoon medic	3 x trucks 1 x pick up	8 x assault boats Engineering stores

e) Anti Tank platoon (30 men)

Organisation	Transport	Equipment
3 Sections  Each consist of 8 men broken into 2 Firing posts manned by a 3 man crew, commanded by a JNCO with a driver Platoon Headquarters Platoon Commander (Captain), Platoon Sergeant, 1 x signaller, 1 x Mini UAV operator team, 2 x Drivers/ Platoon medic	5 x armed pick ups	5 x vehicle mounted HMG 5 x ATGM

4) HQ / Support Company (130 men)

I would suggest the HQ Company consists of

• Signals platoon
• Support Platoon
• ISTAR Platoon
• Medical Platoon

Let’s look at each in detail

a) Signals platoon (22 men)

Organisation	Transport
4 x Signal Detachments Each Detachment consists of 1 x JNCO and 3 x Signallers/ Drivers Platoon Headquarters Platoon Commander, Signal Sergeant Major, CQMS (Colour Sergeant), 1 x MT Sergeant, 2 x Command Vehicle Sergeants	2 x command vehicles 2 x pick ups 2 x quad bikes

b) Support Platoon (40 men): 4 sections

Organisation	Transport
Repair Section 8 x mechanic drivers Distribution Section 16 x drivers POL Section 4 x drivers/ operators Recovery Section 4 x drivers/ operators Arms and Ammunition Section 4 x drivers/ ammo storemen 2 x Armourers/ Artificers 2 x Ammo techs 2 x Ammo NCOs Catering Section 2 x water specialists 4 x chefs 2 x storemen/ drivers	2 x Repair trucks   8 x cargo trucks   1 x Fuel tankers/ fuel bladder 2 x Recovery Trucks   2 x Armourers truck           1 x mobile kitchen 1 x catering vehicle 1 x Water Tanker/ purification system

c) ISTAR Platoon (44 men)

Organisation	Transport	Equipment
Recce Multiples 2 x multiples of 12 men Each 12 man multiple is broken into 3 x 4 man Fire Teams ISTAR Section 2 x 2 man UAV Dets Intelligence SNCO, JNCO Sniper Section Broken into Heavy & Light Fire Teams Each Fire Team consists of 2 x 2 man Sniper pairs Platoon Headquarters Platoon Commander (Captain), Platoon Sergeant, 1 x signaller, 1 x Mini UAV operator, 2 man 60mm mortar team, 2 x Drivers/ Platoon medic	10 x armed pick ups 6 x quad bikes 6 x motorcycles	Each fireteam: 1 x rifles 1 x MGL 1 x light machine gun 1 x Marksman rifle 1 x mUAS per multiple ISTAR Section 6 x rifles 2 x UAVs Sniper Section Heavy – 2 x anti material rifles- 4 x rifles Light – 2 x sniper rifles, 4 x rifles HQ 8 x rifles 1 x 60mm mortar mUAS

d) Medical Platoon (24 men)

Organisation	Transport	Equipment
Medical Officer and SNCO 18 driver/ medics 4 drivers/ medical assistants	6 x Ambulances 1 x truck + trailer/ tank 1 x Landrover/ pick up

e) HQ (20 men)

Organisation	Transport	Equipment
Commanding Officer Second in Command Adjutant 9 x Staff officers RSM, 3 x clerks, 4 x drivers	6 x Land rovers/ pick up

Summary:

The proposed layout is a rough indicator of a unit that in Nigeria’s peculiar situation has the ability to fight, move (albeit slowly/ not very far), sustain and support itself.

Of course there are many rough edges, such as whether the support element is large enough to keep the battalion operating and for how long. What is the logistic requirement for such a unit etc.

Quad bikes (these could simply be modified 4 wheel Keke NAPEPs with strengthened suspension and a cargo platform instead of a passenger cab, give Company commanders the ability to transport ammo and other stores to forward deployed platoons and extract casualties or prisoners even over bad roads.

The widespread deployment of UAVs (especially if they are cheap off the shelf) not only allows the units to maintain situational awareness but to direct fire on enemies out of line of site.

Despite there being a limited air threat in Nigeria’s current conflict, it is important not to neglect this capability and in the interim Anti Air units can be used in a ground rule as additional machine gunners.

Integrated Assault pioneers are meant to increase the survivability of the unit by enhancing their field fortifications and giving them the ability to breach obstacles.

All in all, this proposed unit is not meant to be a panacea to Nigeria’s military problems but to (hopefully) allow people interested in these things to think beyond simply purchasing new shiny pieces of kit and think more about what exactly the men riding around in or using that kit will need to do.