Imperial Guard Company
From Lexicanum
A company is a common term for the primary fighting unit of most Imperial Guard Regiments. The size and composition of Imperial Guard regiments is not standardised across the Imperium; the number of individual Guardsmen alone can vary enormously between regiments, with some only a few hundred strong at founding-strength, whilst others possess tens of thousands of fighting troops.1 This non-standardisation is reflected in the organisation of Imperial Guard companies, which can vary in numbers and composition just as much as regiments.
A company tends to have a command staff of its own, with the Company Commanding Officer notionally being ranked as Captain, or some equivalent. This is not universal, however. Depending on regimental organisation, it has been known for companies to be - intentionally - commanded by ranks anywhere from Colonel to Sergeant. Companies tend to be made up of smaller units again, notionally, called platoons (which in turn are made up of squads). Some companies have been observed which do not appear to use the 'traditional' platoon/squad organisation and instead appear to exist as a single entity with squads and details being formed, broken up and re-formed when necessary.2
Additionally, companies reflect their parent regiment; it is likely - though not always the case - that the battlefield role of a company matches that of the regiment as a whole. Thus, a company belonging to a Light Infantry regiment is likely to be equipped and outfitted as Light Infantry. However, companies can be detached from their regiment and attached to another (either as a temporary measure or permanently) or seconded to other branches of the Imperium, such as the Inquisition, creating a more varied fighting unit.3
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Types of Imperial Guard Company
Infantry Company
Infantry companies consists of between two and six platoons (which themselves are made up of between two to six squads) plus command staff and attached support units. The fighting strength of each company is therefore highly variable, especially between regiments, and totally accurate figures are difficult to pin down at any one time. When 12 companies of the Cadian 8th Shock Troops paraded led by Lord Castellan Ursarkar E. Creed, just under 4,000 soldiers were present. This gives a rough company strength of over 300 Guardsmen each.3 The organisation of infantry companies is mirrored to an extent in that of Light, Heavy, Drop and Mechanised companies.
Armoured Company
An armoured company is typically made up of between 12 and 24 fighting vehicles (such as Leman Russ Tanks) but may have additional support in the form of Armoured Fist Squads or other mobile support/reconnaissance units. These units tend to be grouped into squadrons of 3 vehicles for the purposes of administrative and battlefield control.4
Commissars attached to armoured companies may be forced by the company organisation to take to the field in armoured vehicles of their own. These vehicles are simply known as Commissar Tanks and tend to be a variant of the Russ or Salamander Scout Vehicle.4
Heavy Tank Company
Also known as Super Heavy Tank Companies, these formations are a variant of armoured company either exclusively or mostly made up of Super Heavy Tanks. Containing up to 3 Super Heavy Tanks, these companies are often attached to other regiments in order to bolster their fighting power and are treated as independent formations in many ways.5
