Rifle squad composition

[Ken White]

Just upgrading assault rifles to the point where they are better capable of firing full auto reliably (AR role) without adding too much weight to the system, does not mean that they must always be used on ‘rock ‘n roll’. I fully agree with you, Ken, that aimed single shots should be the norm. Full auto must be carefully managed and controlled...

That's fairly easy to do in peacetime and in training; it is extremely difficult to do in combat and particularly so as the war goes on a new intake training declines in time and quality and expereinced leaders are killed and replaced by inexperienced folks. It is not that easy to control even with combat experienced troops as my multiple thrown helmets testify. Better to remove the temptation; it is not really necessary.

...However, any ‘decent’ assault rifle is capable of it...

Does it not then become and Automatic Rifle (AR2) instead of an Assault Rifle (AR1) leading to --

...Adding a single AR ( beefed up assault rifle) to a fire team invites for that weapon to be fired on full auto most of the time...

just that?

...whereas the team leader ordering one, or a few, riflemen to fire a few bursts when the situation demands it, eliminates the perceived need for an AR. And that does of course mean, fire burst “at my command”, not willy nilly.

Works in peacetime and in training; sometimes in combat but it isn't reliable.

As to an AR in the Team / Squad / Section, it is far simpler to train one man than a few and it is quite possible for a junior leader to control the fire of one man who is directed to remain as close as feasible to said leader just as it is extremely difficult for him to control the fire of several. In the desert, separation between men should be on the order of fifty meters or even more; no way to control fire at that optimum distance and to close that distance for control purposes (as is now generally done; that plus the herd instinct) is to create a lucrative target that extended order doesn't provide. Even in rolling temperate terrain, distances of fifteen to twenty meters between men should be the norm. In the jungle, the distance is not a problem but the vegetation is. Fire control is just very difficult and your people have to know what to do -- and have temptations to err removed from their grasp.

...I do however believe that there is still a place for a beltfed (lighter then GPMG) at section level, with the option of grouping them at platoon level. (not the other way around, with a gun squad at platoon level, agree with you there Ken). With greater quantities of ammo, as required for MGs, belt can actually be lighter and less bulky (volume) than magazines; certainly high capacity mags like Beta at 1 kg empty.
6.5 Grendel........keep on dreaming!

Disagree on belt fed (on grounds of complexity and reliability; several levels) and weight is vastly overstated as a problem; mostly because many insist on carrying too much ammo. The Beta Mag is too complex to survive in the infantry and serves mostly, while it works, to encourage excessive full auto firing.