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Imperial Guard Squad

(Redirected from Astra Militarum Squad)
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Targetdrone.gif Heavy Support Squad redirects here. For the Space Marine formations, see Fire Support Squad.

The squad is the most basic fighting unit of the Imperial Guard.

Types of Imperial Guard Squads

Infantry Squad

The backbone of the Imperial Guard, infantry squads typically consists of a Sergeant and nine Guardsmen. However, as with the countless billions of Guardsmen within the Imperial Guard, infantry squads from different regiments can vary greatly between each other in tactics, training, equipment and other areas. About the only piece of gear universally common to almost every one of them is the ubiquitous Lasgun.[1a] Besides the Lasgun the most common load-out for the typical infantry squad includes Flak Armour, some type of Close Combat Weapon and Frag Grenades for each Guardsman. Often a Guardsman will be given a Vox-caster for better communication with other units, and many may be supplied with photo-visors to protect from blind grenades.[1e][5] Some may carry a squad support weapon, such as a Sniper Rifle, Flamer, Grenade Launcher, Plasma Gun or Meltagun. In some infantry squads two of the Guardsmen will form a heavy weapons teams.[1e]

In some regiments each infantry squad is further divided into two five-man fire teams, which allows the squad to divide if necessary and affords it greater flexibility in combat. An Assistant Squad Leader (normally a Corporal or other non-commissioned officer) is usually detailed to take command if the leader is killed or incapacitated, or leads the second fire-team if the squad splits into two.[2]

Heavy Weapons Squad

Heavy weapons squads are given responsibility for their regiment's heaviest weapons and bolster the main battle line by providing close fire support. A typical heavy weapon squad is made up of three heavy weapons teams, each of which is composed of a gunner and loader, for six Guardsmen and three heavy weapons. These squads can be further classified under one of three roles:[1b]

  • Fire Support Squads: Armed with Heavy Bolters or Autocannons, these squads can suppress enemy infantry and neutralize light vehicles.
  • Anti-Tank Support Squads: Armed with Lascannons or Missile Launchers, these squads are principally used to kill enemy armour or similar high-priority targets.
  • Mortar Support Squads: Armed with Mortars, these squads are primarily used for long-range suppression or harassing fire.

Their other equipment includes personal gear such as Flak armour, a Close Combat Weapon, Lasgun and Frag Grenades.[1e] Death Korps of Krieg Heavy Weapons squad are also known to utilize twin-linked Heavy Stubbers and Heavy Flamers.[4]

Individual Heavy Weapons teams can split up from the squad in order to defend more ground with fields of fire. However, under such circumstances, coordination becomes difficult and without the presence of a nearby officer able to shout or relay messages these squads are likely to remain very immobile, lacking the coherency provided by being near to a squad vox operator.[6]

Some Heavy Weapons teams can be directly assigned to Imperial Guard Command Squads. As they protect the commander, they are typically obligated to remain close by and do not have the same freedom to split off as in typical heavy weapons squads[6]

In some particularly well supplied regiments with access to Suspensors, heavy weapons squad composition may vary from the typical norm, as now individual guardsmen are able to wield powerful weapons such as the Lascannon individually without the need of typical wheeled carriages or tripods that normally encumber them. An example of such squad might include 4 men each carrying a lascannon, alongside 4 lasgun armed guardsmen and the Heavy Weapons Squad Sergeant.[5]

Special Weapons Squad

Many regiments maintain six-man squads of specialists armed and trained in a variety of roles, categorized under the catch-all term of special weapons squads. Some are sniper squads, working in three two-man teams of sniper and spotter with the former armed with Sniper Rifles for taking out enemy commanders. Others are combat engineer teams, meant to clear trenches and destroy enemy fortifications with Demolition Charges, Flamers, Plasma Guns, Meltaguns and Grenade Launchers. These squads will often be attached to other platoons to provide them with their expertise.[1b]

Armoured Fist Squad

A common name used to refer to mechanised infantry, an Armoured Fist squad goes into battle mounted in a Chimera and forms the bulk of fully mechanised regiments. Their equipment is often the same as other squads but the addition of an armoured transport gives them superior speed and tactical flexibility compared to their footslogging counterparts. They also tend to have a higher attrition rate as they are most often used against targets for which their Chimera is vital to success. It is quite common for individual Armoured Fist squads to be attached to non-mechanised infantry regiments to provide additional fast-moving support.[1c]

Veteran Squad

These special squads of Hardened Veterans are not so much a formal unit type as they are the result of attrition. Often the only survivors of their parent company or even regiment, they are usually attached to other, newly-formed regiments in order to pass on their hard-won skills to the new recruits. They are given greater freedom of operation than other squads and access to a wider array of equipment as well, along with whatever they can loot from the battlefield or otherwise "borrow" from other friendly units.[1d] Compared to normal infantry squads they tend to carry a greater number of squad support weapon including grenade launchers, flamers, sniper rifles, plasma guns, meltaguns and even a Heavy Flamer. Some are organised as grenadiers and wear carapace armour for additional protection, while others operate as forward sentries and equip themselves with camo-cloaks and snare mines. Still others specialise in demolition and carry a disturbing amount of explosives in the form of melta bombs and demolition charges. The Catachan Jungle Fighters do not contain Hardened Veterans as elite troops, instead their standard soldiers are considered to be the equivalent, having grown up and survived on the galaxy's deadliest planet.[1e][3]

Command Squad

Main article: Imperial Guard Command Squad

Command squads form the headquarters unit for many larger Imperial Guard fighting formations.

Assault Squad

Assault Squads are typically composed of 10 men, with 4 assault squads and a Platoon Command Squad forming an Assault Platoon. Assault Platoons are the only main Imperial Guard troop that may be equipped with expensive Jump Packs, as a vital part of their combat role is to enter close combat quickly. Armoured in typical flak armour, they are armed with close combat weapons such as a combat knife or one or two laspistols held in both hands, as well as a supply of frag grenades and krak grenades. They may also be equipped with a few plasma guns. Alternative weapon loadouts included singular, pairs, or a combination of bolt pistols, chain swords, and hand flamers.[5] Others do appear to be armed with lasguns or some form of laser rifle.[8]

It is feasible Assault Squads trace their origins to the Voidjumper Reconaissance Squad of the Imperialis Militia during the great crusade.[8]

Whiteshield Squad

Main article: Whiteshields

Whiteshield Squads are squads of probitors - youths who have been born and raised within a regiment by their guardsmen parents. Not yet considered adults nor proper guardsmen, they make up for their inexperience with a fanatical zeal to prove themselves worthy of becoming guardsmen and earning adulthood. Such traditions date back all the way to the Great Crusade and Imperial Army. They typically comprise 9 young probitors, lead by an older experienced Sergeant. Their weapons and equipment are identical to that of typical infantry squads, primarily lasguns, flak armour, frag grenades and occasionally photo-visors. One of their number may even be equipped with a support weapon such as a lascannon with a suspensor.

Sources

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