Each platoon lost two of its three tanks to direct hits within minutes, and several men were killed.
As the battalion commander and the battalion command sergeant major looked out on the parade ground and saw a black sergeant standing in front of each platoon and a black first sergeant in front of the entire company, you could see the shock in the officers' eyes, the sergeants said.
Because the platoons are judged as a whole, the members of each platoon rely on each other to perform to the best of their ability.
Within each platoon, a headquarters element of five men provided command and control.
The white lieutenant commanding each platoon carried the weapon of his choice, usually a shotgun or an FN FAL battle rifle, and acted with the assistance of a black platoon sergeant and a black warrant officer.
One sniper was designated for each platoon, with the remainder of the troops being equipped with M1 Garand and M2 Carbine rifles.
One sniper was designated for each platoon, with the remainder of the troops equipped with M1 Garand and M2 Carbine rifles.
These measures gave each platoon a clearer picture of how it fitted into the greater battle plan, and in so doing, reduced the command and control problems that plagued First World War combat.
Each platoon also had a section of 2-inch mortars.
