Quote Originally Posted by Van View Post
Please define "close". Ideally, even battalion scouts should be able to operate out of logistical contact and possibly out of battalion and brigade fire support range for at least two to three times as long as an infantry platoon.
"Close" is a UK term, essentially meaning, "dismounted." Personally, I feel General Infantry should be able to sustain themselves for about 72 hours, but the devil is in the detail. (6 x PRC-148 batteries per set for a start).

However, the only reason I am not suggesting every infantry platoon should be de-facto SOG-type RT is because the comparison is simplistic. Having said that, the UK's 1937 Infantry training regulations did state that night reconnaissance patrolling was the "gold standard" of infantry work. Words to the effect, that any Platoon/section that can do that well, has little difficulty with anything else.