Dec 14, 2019

U.S. Army Rifle Squad (1918-2020)

Updated: Dec 14, 2019

This video chronicles every major change to the U.S. Army Rifle Squad's organization and equipment from World War I to the present day.

You can find a written summary of each organization from 1918 to today here:

1918—World War I (Sayen 2001)

1 Squad Leader, Corporal, armed with a Rifle*
3 Riflemen, Private First Class, armed with Rifles*
5 Riflemen, Private, armed with Rifles*

*Rifles were mostly M1917 Enfield. M1903 Springfield were more common at the beginning of the engagement and back home. Model 1892-99 Krags were used by National Guard and rear echelon units.

1920—Interwar (Table 28P)

1 Squad Leader, Corporal, armed with an M1903 Rifle
1 BAR Man, Private*, armed with an M1918 BAR and M1911 Pistol
1 Grenadier, Private, armed with an M1903 Rifle and VB Grenade Launcher
5 Riflemen, Private, armed with M1903 Rifles

*Two of 8 BAR Men per Rifle Company were authorized as Private First Class

1927—Interwar (Table 28W)

1 Squad Leader, Corporal, armed with an M1903 Rifle
1 BAR Man, Private*, armed with an M1918 BAR
1 Grenadier, Private, armed with an M1903 Rifle and VB Grenade Launcher
5 Riflemen, Private, armed with M1903 Rifles

*Six of 18 BAR Men per Rifle Company were authorized as Private First Class

1938—Interwar (T/O&E 7-17, 6 Dec. 1938)

1 Squad Leader, Sergeant, armed with an M1 Rifle
1 Assistant Squad Leader, Corporal, armed with an M1 Rifle
10 Riflemen, Private, armed with M1 Rifles

1938—Alternate Interwar (Sayen 2001)

1 Squad Leader, Sergeant, armed with an M1903 Rifle
1 Assistant Squad Leader, Corporal, armed with an M1903 Rifle
1 BAR Man, Private, armed with an M1918 BAR and M1911A1 Pistol
1 Assistant BAR Man, Private, armed with an M1903 Rifle
1 Ammo Man, Private, armed with an M1903 Rifle
7 Riflemen, Private, armed with M1903 Rifles

1942—World War II (T/O&E 7-17, 1 April 1942)

1 Squad Leader, Sergeant, armed with an M1 Rifle
1 Assistant Squad Leader, Corporal, armed with an M1 Rifle
1 BAR Man, Private, armed with an M1918A2 BAR
1 Assistant BAR Man, Private, armed with an M1 Rifle
1 Grenadier, Private, armed with an M1903 Rifle and M1 Grenade Launcher
5 Riflemen, Private, armed with M1 Rifles
2 Riflemen (Scouts), Private, armed with M1 Rifles

1943—World War II (T/O&E 7-17, 15 July 1943)

1 Squad Leader, Sergeant, armed with an M1 Rifle
1 Assistant Squad Leader, Corporal, armed with an M1 Rifle and M7 Grenade Launcher
1 BAR Man, Private, armed with an M1918A2 BAR
1 Assistant BAR Man, Private, armed with an M1 Rifle
1 Ammo Bearer, Private, armed with an M1 Rifle
2 Grenadiers, Private, armed with M1 Rifles and M7 Grenade Launchers
2 Riflemen (Scouts), Private, armed with M1 Rifles
3 Riflemen, Private, armed with M1 Rifles

1944—World War II (T/O&E 7-17, 26 Feb. 1944)

1 Squad Leader, Staff Sergeant, armed with an M1 Rifle
1 Assistant Squad Leader, Sergeant, armed with an M1 Rifle and M7 Grenade Launcher
1 BAR Man, Private, armed with an M1918A2 BAR*
1 Assistant BAR Man, Private, armed with an M1 Rifle
1 Ammo Bearer, Private, armed with an M1 Rifle
2 Grenadiers, Private, armed with M1 Rifles and M7 Grenade Launchers
2 Riflemen (Scouts), Private, armed with M1 Rifles
3 Riflemen, Private, armed with M1 Rifles

*After June 1944, 6 spare BARs were made available in the Rifle Company weapons pool. Six of 9 rifle squads in the company could be armed with 2 BARs ad hoc.

1945—World War II (T/O&E 7-17, 1 June 1945)

1 Squad Leader, Staff Sergeant, armed with an M1 Rifle
1 Assistant Squad Leader, Sergeant, armed with an M1 Rifle and M7 Grenade Launcher
1 BAR Man, Corporal, armed with an M1918A2 BAR*
1 Assistant BAR Man, Private, armed with an M1 Rifle
1 Ammo Bearer, Private, armed with an M1 Rifle
2 Grenadiers, Private, armed with M1 Rifles and M7 Grenade Launchers
2 Riflemen (Scouts), Private, armed with M1 Rifles
3 Riflemen, Private, armed with M1 Rifles

*After June 1944, 6 spare BARs were made available in the Rifle Company weapons pool. Six of 9 rifle squads in the company could be armed with 2 BARs ad hoc.

1948—Korean War (T/O&E 7-17N, 21 April 1948)

1 Squad Leader, Staff Sergeant, armed with an M1 Rifle
1 Assistant Squad Leader, Sergeant, armed with an M1 Rifle
1 Gunner, Corporal, armed with an M1918A2 BAR* and M1911A1 Pistol
1 Assistant Gunner, Private First Class, armed with an M1 Rifle
1 Sniper, Private First Class, armed with an M1C/D Sniper Rifle
4 Riflemen, Private First Class, armed with M1 Rifles and M7 Grenade Launchers

*Six spare BARs were made available in the Rifle Company weapons pool. Six of 9 rifle squads in the company could be armed with 2 BARs ad hoc.

1950—Korean War (T/O&E 7-17N, 15 Nov. 1950)

1 Squad Leader, Sergeant First Class, armed with an M1 Rifle
1 Assistant Squad Leader, Sergeant, armed with an M1 Rifle
1 Gunner, Corporal, armed with an M1918A2 BAR* and M1911A1 Pistol
1 Assistant Gunner, Private First Class, armed with an M1 Rifle
1 Sniper, Corporal, armed with an M1C/D Sniper Rifle
2 Riflemen, Corporal, armed with M1 Rifles and M7 Grenade Launchers
2 Riflemen, Private First Class, armed with M1 Rifles and M7 Grenade Launchers

*Six spare BARs were made available in the Rifle Company weapons pool. Six of 9 rifle squads in the company could be armed with 2 BARs ad hoc.

1952—Korean War (T/O&E 7-17N, 15 May 1952)

1 Squad Leader, Sergeant First Class, armed with an M1 Rifle
1 Assistant Squad Leader, Sergeant, armed with an M1 Rifle
1 Gunner, Corporal, armed with an M1918A2 BAR*
1 Assistant Gunner, Private First Class, armed with an M1 Rifle
1 Sniper, Corporal, armed with an M1C/D Sniper Rifle
2 Riflemen, Corporal, armed with M1 Rifles and M7 Grenade Launchers
1 Rifleman, Private First Class, armed with an M1 Rifle and M7 Grenade Launcher
1 Rifleman, Private First Class, armed with an M1 Rifle

*Six spare BARs were made available in the Rifle Company weapons pool. Six of 9 rifle squads in the company could be armed with 2 BARs ad hoc.

1956—Cold War (T/O&E 7-17T, 30 Dec. 1956)

1 Squad Leader, Sergeant First Class, armed with an M1 Rifle

2 Fire Teams of:

1 Fire Team Leader, Sergeant, armed with an M1 Rifle
1 Gunner, Corporal, armed with an M1918A2 BAR
3 Riflemen, Corporal/Private First Class*, armed with an M1 Rifle**

*Three Riflemen per squad were Corporals, 3 were Privates. Corporals were Senior Riflemen.

**One Rifleman was armed with an M1D Sniper Rifle. Two could be armed with M7 Grenade Launchers.

1960—Cold War (T/O&E 7-17D, 1 Feb. 1960)

1 Squad Leader, Staff Sergeant, armed with an M14 Rifle

2 Fire Teams of:

1 Fire Team Leader, Sergeant, armed with an M14 Rifle
1 Automatic Rifleman, Specialist 4, armed with an M14(M) Automatic Rifle
1 Senior Rifleman, Specialist 4, armed with an M14 Rifle
2 Rifleman, Private First Class, armed with M14 Rifles

1963—Vietnam War (T/O&E 7-17E, 15 July 1963)

1 Squad Leader, Staff Sergeant, armed with an M14 Rifle

Alpha Fire Team:

1 Fire Team Leader, Sergeant, armed with an M14 Rifle
1 Automatic Rifleman, Specialist 4, armed with an M14E2 Automatic Rifle
1 Grenadier, Specialist 4, armed with an M79 Grenade Launcher and M1911A1 Pistol
1 Rifleman, Private First Class, armed with an M14 Rifle

Bravo Fire Team:

1 Fire Team Leader, Sergeant, armed with an M14 Rifle
1 Automatic Rifleman, Specialist 4, armed with an M14E2 Automatic Rifle
1 Grenadier, Specialist 4, armed with an M79 Grenade Launcher and M1911A1 Pistol
2 Rifleman, Private First Class, armed with M14 Rifles

1967—Vietnam War

1 Squad Leader, Staff Sergeant, armed with an M16A1 Rifle

Alpha Fire Team:

1 Fire Team Leader, Sergeant, armed with an M16A1 Rifle
1 Automatic Rifleman, Specialist 4, armed with an M16A1 Rifle
1 Grenadier, Specialist 4, armed with an M79 Grenade Launcher and M1911A1 Pistol
1 Rifleman, Private First Class, armed with an M16A1 Rifle

Bravo Fire Team:

1 Fire Team Leader, Sergeant, armed with an M16A1 Rifle
1 Automatic Rifleman, Specialist 4, armed with an M16A1 Rifle
1 Grenadier, Specialist 4, armed with an M79 Grenade Launcher and M1911A1 Pistol
2 Rifleman, Private First Class, armed with M16A1 Rifle