Strength
Categories: PATROLLINGMilitary Handbooks: The Plattsburg Manual Advanced Training
The strength of the patrol will generally depend on its mission and on
the number of messages that it will probably send back. The larger the
patrol the greater the probability of the enemy seeing it. On the other
hand, if it is too small, it will not have sufficient members to send in
important information and continue operations. Captain Waldron in his
book, Scouting and Patrolling, recommends a patrol of a leader and six
selected men for ordinary reconnaissance. This number makes it possible
for the patrol leader to place a man out on each flank, a man in
advance, two to remain with him and one to remain in the rear as the
get-away man. The officer who sends out the patrol determines its
strength.
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