Each of the 256 platoons contains three rifle squads and one weapons squad. This chart compares squad counts, not weapon ranges or tactical effectiveness.
| Category | Squads |
|---|---|
| Rifle squads | 768 |
| Weapons squads | 256 |
What this explains
Rifle squads provide maneuver elements; weapons squads provide dedicated machine-gun, mortar and anti-tank support. Keeping the categories visible helps explain why a platoon is more than a collection of identical riflemen. It also prevents support specialists from disappearing inside a single headline infantry total.