Shortround6
Lieutenant General
We have gotten a bit off track (guilty) but as far as small unit tactics go the British (other armies are different) went through at least 4 stages.
The 1914 stage where it was either rifle fire or bayonet.
The 1916-18 and later stage where the Lewis gun/s (1 or 2 per platoon) for long range fire, some rifle fire and both hand thrown and rifle launched bombs (grenades) for close range (under 150-200yds) suppressive fire to get the bayonet guys into position.
3rd stage is the coming of the Bren gun the 3 squads (down from 4 squads) are equal instead of having separate functions. Every squad has a LMG and they can be used unteachably.
Each squad has hand "bombs" and perhaps rifle bombs, but a smaller quantity. Squad is now down to 8 men and it seems that the entire squad is centered around the LMG. Either carrying ammo, providing security or providing casualty replacements. Bren gunners were not specially trained. Every soldier got the same training on the Bren as every other soldier, same as every soldier got the same training on the rifle or other weapons in the platoon. Perhaps the men you had done better is firing exercises were chosen to be the No 1 and No 2 Bren gunners but the squad was taught (like the Germans) to keep the LMG in action until they run out of men. The LMG is the fire power of the squad. This is different from 1914 when they had no Lewis guns.
4 stage shows up after France, there is a subtle shift that is not so subtle. The manpower is increase to 10 men per squad. But now the LMG 'section' is 3 men, the squad commander, the Bren No 1 and the Bren No 2. The other 7 men are now in the 2nd section of the squad under the squads 2nd in-command. They still carry a lot of ammo for the LMG but they have a new duty. They form a 'maneuver' section that is supported by the smaller LMG section. Instead of the platoon commander having 3 squads and having to use one squad to provide support/covering fire for another squad (or 2) while advancing or retreating each squad can provide support/covering fire for itself in as a two element squad. With a 'commander' (junior NCO or senior rifleman) and 4-6 actual riflemen (depending on casualties) this provides for much more flexibility. Also a few more bombs of either type. A couple of men with a 2in mortar were attached to platoon HQ for HE or smoke support if needed. There was a Boyes AT rifle on the Platoon truck if needed but it was not crewed. One or more riflemen had to get it and set it up if needed.
It is into this 'mix' that, for the British at least, any semi auto rifle or intermediate cartridge semi or full auto rifle/LMG has to be fitted. Squad leader often got the Thompson gun, or Sten gun. His job was to direct the other men, not really participating in the firefight unless things got desperate. For the British in 1939/40 through 194?? there was one 15cwt truck per platoon for extra ammo, food, and some extra "stuff" for the men (blankets and tarps?). British standard of issue for riflemen was 50 rounds per man while marching. I don't know what they were issued before combat. Ammo was in 50 round bandoliers (10 5 round chargers) and at times some riflemen were issued a 2nd bandoleer to refill Bren magazine with. The standard British equipment pouches would hold 2 Bren magazines each with the "standard" load of 3 magazines there was not quite enough room for the 50 round rifle bandoleer, the two Mills bombs and whatever other small stuff he was supposed to fit in the pouches. He could fit 2 Bren magazines, two 50 round bandoleers, the 2 Mills bombs and one/two other small items. later in the war the British issued larger pouches that would fit 3 Bren mags each.
British, it they had enough money, could had issued some sort of intermediate cartridge weapon but it would have to be a supplement to the platoon replacing a few rifles per squad and not replacing all .303 rifles. The .303 was the firepower of the platoon with the Bren guns and just about everything else was to support the Bren guns or allow for close in fighting.
British seemed to love the Bomb/Grenade/Bayonet combo although the rifle with it's ten shot magazine offered a bit more close range firepower over the German and Italian platoons.
Perhaps the British, given enough gold, could have used an AK-47/SKS rifle and replaced many/most of the bolt rifles and restructured the squads into a 4-5 man LMG section (leader, 2 gunners and 2 ammo carriers) and a 5 man "maneuver" section with the intermediate rifles and hand grenades. Might have been more effective in urban fighting and/or forests.
Switching to RPD/RPK type LMGs might not have given the same type of fire power as an equal number of Bren guns.
British Army in 1935-40 had to be able to fight anywhere. France, Egypt, Iraq, Afghanistan, Burma, and anywhere else the British government might commit them to.
The 1914 stage where it was either rifle fire or bayonet.
The 1916-18 and later stage where the Lewis gun/s (1 or 2 per platoon) for long range fire, some rifle fire and both hand thrown and rifle launched bombs (grenades) for close range (under 150-200yds) suppressive fire to get the bayonet guys into position.
3rd stage is the coming of the Bren gun the 3 squads (down from 4 squads) are equal instead of having separate functions. Every squad has a LMG and they can be used unteachably.
Each squad has hand "bombs" and perhaps rifle bombs, but a smaller quantity. Squad is now down to 8 men and it seems that the entire squad is centered around the LMG. Either carrying ammo, providing security or providing casualty replacements. Bren gunners were not specially trained. Every soldier got the same training on the Bren as every other soldier, same as every soldier got the same training on the rifle or other weapons in the platoon. Perhaps the men you had done better is firing exercises were chosen to be the No 1 and No 2 Bren gunners but the squad was taught (like the Germans) to keep the LMG in action until they run out of men. The LMG is the fire power of the squad. This is different from 1914 when they had no Lewis guns.
4 stage shows up after France, there is a subtle shift that is not so subtle. The manpower is increase to 10 men per squad. But now the LMG 'section' is 3 men, the squad commander, the Bren No 1 and the Bren No 2. The other 7 men are now in the 2nd section of the squad under the squads 2nd in-command. They still carry a lot of ammo for the LMG but they have a new duty. They form a 'maneuver' section that is supported by the smaller LMG section. Instead of the platoon commander having 3 squads and having to use one squad to provide support/covering fire for another squad (or 2) while advancing or retreating each squad can provide support/covering fire for itself in as a two element squad. With a 'commander' (junior NCO or senior rifleman) and 4-6 actual riflemen (depending on casualties) this provides for much more flexibility. Also a few more bombs of either type. A couple of men with a 2in mortar were attached to platoon HQ for HE or smoke support if needed. There was a Boyes AT rifle on the Platoon truck if needed but it was not crewed. One or more riflemen had to get it and set it up if needed.
It is into this 'mix' that, for the British at least, any semi auto rifle or intermediate cartridge semi or full auto rifle/LMG has to be fitted. Squad leader often got the Thompson gun, or Sten gun. His job was to direct the other men, not really participating in the firefight unless things got desperate. For the British in 1939/40 through 194?? there was one 15cwt truck per platoon for extra ammo, food, and some extra "stuff" for the men (blankets and tarps?). British standard of issue for riflemen was 50 rounds per man while marching. I don't know what they were issued before combat. Ammo was in 50 round bandoliers (10 5 round chargers) and at times some riflemen were issued a 2nd bandoleer to refill Bren magazine with. The standard British equipment pouches would hold 2 Bren magazines each with the "standard" load of 3 magazines there was not quite enough room for the 50 round rifle bandoleer, the two Mills bombs and whatever other small stuff he was supposed to fit in the pouches. He could fit 2 Bren magazines, two 50 round bandoleers, the 2 Mills bombs and one/two other small items. later in the war the British issued larger pouches that would fit 3 Bren mags each.
British, it they had enough money, could had issued some sort of intermediate cartridge weapon but it would have to be a supplement to the platoon replacing a few rifles per squad and not replacing all .303 rifles. The .303 was the firepower of the platoon with the Bren guns and just about everything else was to support the Bren guns or allow for close in fighting.
British seemed to love the Bomb/Grenade/Bayonet combo although the rifle with it's ten shot magazine offered a bit more close range firepower over the German and Italian platoons.
Perhaps the British, given enough gold, could have used an AK-47/SKS rifle and replaced many/most of the bolt rifles and restructured the squads into a 4-5 man LMG section (leader, 2 gunners and 2 ammo carriers) and a 5 man "maneuver" section with the intermediate rifles and hand grenades. Might have been more effective in urban fighting and/or forests.
Switching to RPD/RPK type LMGs might not have given the same type of fire power as an equal number of Bren guns.
British Army in 1935-40 had to be able to fight anywhere. France, Egypt, Iraq, Afghanistan, Burma, and anywhere else the British government might commit them to.
