Quote Originally Posted by Infanteer View Post
The "Golf Bag" approach is, in my opinion, a sound one. My "HQ Section" has - at any time - 3 to 5 soldiers. In the carrier we keep a mortar, a GPMG (with more in the other cars), a recoilless rifle and - now - a DM rifle.
It is sound, if you don't end up taking a knife to a gun fight. We used to keep an 84mm and a GPMG in the 432s, but we could always de-buss carrying all weapons. When weapons are getting left behind, there is the top of a slippery slope.
I've found it harder to sustain operations with less than 30 guys as you can't rotate troops off of task to rest. Keep in mind that I also account for our vehicles, which chew up 12 guys in change for a phenomenal capability set.
Yep. Good point. Other ways to skin that cat, but can't argue with your logic.

I guess the thrust of my post was that the ideal isn't something we can pin down to exact numbers. Your ideal platoon has just as wide of arcs as mine (which I am assuming is your purpose).
Concur. We have to compare like with like.