Section (military unit)

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A section is an infantry unit in the British Army consisting of eight soldiers, including a Corporal as section commander, a Lance-Corporal as second-in-command, and six privates. The section is split into two four-man fireteams (Charlie and Delta), commanded respectively by the corporal and lance-corporal. Three sections together form a platoon. Sections, with varying organisations, are also found in some other corps.

The Canadian Army also uses the section, which is roughly the same as its British counterpart, except that it is led by a Sergeant, with a Master Corporal as second-in-command.

Prior to the introduction of 5.56 mm calibre squad automatic (SAW) weapons in the late 1980s, the typical section was armed with and organised around a 7.62 mm General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG). The section was typically divided into 3 "groups": a scout group, a rifle group and a gun group. The scout group comprised two men with rifles and/or submachine guns, who usually moved with the section commander (a corporal) close behind. In effect, the section commander was the third man in the scout group. The rifle group comprised 3-4 riflemen, and perhaps a grenade launcher (such as the M79 or M203). The last group was the gun group. This was commanded by the section 2ic (a lance corporal), and the gunner was usually the second most senior private (with the most senior private leading the rifle group).

All section tactics were basically designed to bring the gun to bear and support the gun. The gun would be deployed on the highest ground, with the best field of fire. The rest of the section carried ammunition for the gun. It was claimed that, in sections organised in this way, the gun provided 80 per cent of the section's firepower.

This organisation was abandonded in favour of fireteams when 5.56 mm automatic rifles and SAWs were introduced in the late 1980s (typically in the form of the SA80 and the M249 Minimi).

A section is roughly equivalent to a squad in the United States Army. Some corps, such as Air Defense Artillery and Field Artillery, use the term section to denote a squad-sized unit in which the fire teams may act independently of each other in the larger platoon formation. The section is used as an administrative formation overseen by a Staff Sergeant.

In some air forces, a section is also a unit containing two or three aircraft, commanded by a Lieutenant. Two sections and supporting ground staff make up a flight.

See also

• Infantry Minor Tactics

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