Bolt Action: US Army Weapons Teams

Infantry weapons teams are essential for any Bolt Action army, providing a lot of tactical flexibility. Anti-tank teams and flamethrower teams are particularly common, presenting your opponent with a range of challenges to overcome.

In American doctrine, the roles of scouting and sniping were similar. The US manual stated that a sniper’s duty was to kill enemy officers to undermine enemy morale. Snipers were equipped with a telescopic sight on a M1903 bolt-action Springfield rifle, and also carried close-combat weapons like pistols and shotguns for defense if discovered. Both members of a sniper team had sniper training, making their roles interchangeable.

Mortars were the most common support weapon. Paratroopers and Rangers had one mortar per platoon, in addition to any assigned at the company level. Mortars were typically deployed in a suitable rear position, no further than 100 yards from the observer, to “cover the most dangerous approaches to the platoon area.” The standard light mortar was a relatively large 60mm caliber. It fired a larger and more effective shell over a greater range than the smaller mortars used by the Germans and British. The only drawback was its weight (19kg), requiring a larger team to move it.

Flamethrowers were used throughout the war, particularly in the Pacific, to clear out tunnels and bunkers. During the Normandy landings, the number of flamethrowers was increased to help break through the fortified lines.