View source for Imperial Guard Squad

{{redirect|Heavy Support Squad|the [[Space Marine]] formations|Fire Support Squad}}
{{AstraMilitarumPortal}}
The '''squad''' is the most basic fighting unit of the [[Imperial Guard]].

==Types of Imperial Guard Squads==
===Infantry Squad===
The backbone of the Imperial Guard, infantry squads typically consists of a [[Imperial Guard Sergeant|Sergeant]] and nine [[Guardsmen]]. However, as with the countless billions of Guardsmen within the Imperial Guard, infantry squads from different [[regiment]]s can vary greatly between each other in tactics, training, equipment and other areas. About the only piece of gear universally common to almost every one of them is the ubiquitous [[Lasgun]].{{Fn|1a}} Besides the Lasgun the most common load-out for the typical infantry squad includes [[Flak Armour]], some type of [[Close Combat Weapon]] and [[Frag Grenade]]s for each Guardsman. Often a Guardsman will be given a [[Vox-caster]] for better communication with other units, and many may be supplied with [[photo-visor]]s to protect from [[blind grenade]]s.{{Fn|1e}}{{Fn|5}} Some may carry a squad support weapon, such as a [[Sniper Rifle]], [[Flamer]], [[Grenade Launcher]], [[Plasma Gun]] or [[Meltagun]]. In some infantry squads two of the Guardsmen will form a heavy weapons team.{{Fn|1e}}

In some regiments each infantry squad is further divided into two five-man '''fire teams''', which allows the squad to divide if necessary and affords it greater flexibility in combat. An '''Assistant Squad Leader''' (normally a [[Corporal]] or other [[Imperial Guard Hierarchy|non-commissioned officer]]) is usually detailed to take command if the leader is killed or incapacitated, or leads the second fire-team if the squad splits into two.{{Fn|2}}

<gallery heights="170px" widths="300px" mode="packed">
Cadian Shock Troopers Squad.jpg|An infantry squad of [[Cadian Shock Troopers]]
</gallery>

===Heavy Weapons Squad===
Heavy weapons squads are given responsibility for their regiment's heaviest weapons and bolster the main battle line by providing close fire support. A typical heavy weapon squad is made up of three heavy weapons teams, each of which is composed of a gunner and loader, for six Guardsmen and three heavy weapons. These squads can be further classified under one of three roles:{{Fn|1b}}
*'''Fire Support Squads''': Armed with [[Heavy Bolter]]s or [[Autocannon]]s, these squads can suppress enemy infantry and neutralize light vehicles.
*'''Anti-Tank Support Squads''': Armed with [[Lascannon]]s or [[Missile Launcher]]s, these squads are principally used to kill enemy armour or similar high-priority targets.
*'''Mortar Support Squads''': Armed with [[Mortars]], these squads are primarily used for long-range suppression or harassing fire.
Their other equipment includes personal gear such as [[Flak armour]], a [[Close Combat Weapon]], [[Lasgun]] and [[Frag Grenade]]s.{{Fn|1e}} [[Death Korps of Krieg]] Heavy Weapons squad are also known to utilize twin-linked [[Heavy Stubber]]s and [[Heavy Flamer]]s.{{Fn|4}}

Individual Heavy Weapons teams can split up from the squad in order to defend more ground with fields of fire. However, under such circumstances, coordination becomes difficult and without the presence of a nearby [[officer]] able to shout or relay messages these squads are likely to remain very immobile, lacking the coherency provided by being near to a squad vox operator.{{Fn|6}}

Some Heavy Weapons teams can be directly assigned to [[Imperial Guard Command Squad]]s. As they protect the commander, they are typically obligated to remain close by and do not have the same freedom to split off as in typical heavy weapons squads{{Fn|6}}

In some particularly well supplied regiments with access to [[Suspensor]]s, heavy weapons squad composition may vary from the typical norm, as now individual guardsmen are able to wield powerful weapons such as the [[Lascannon]] individually without the need of typical wheeled carriages or tripods that normally encumber them. An example of such squad might include 4 men each carrying a lascannon, alongside 4 lasgun armed guardsmen and the Heavy Weapons Squad [[Imperial Guard Sergeant|Sergeant]].{{Fn|5}}

'''Regimental Heavies''': Veteran Heavy Weapons Squads are referred to as '''Regimental Heavies''' are handpicked by segmentum command with strict orders to protect [[Astra Militarum]] [[Generals]] assigned to them. The squad when entrenched are equipped with [[Heavy Bolter]]s, [[Autocannon]]s and [[Lascannon]]s.If the squads are undeployed, they're equipped with [[Lasgun]]s as they move into position or when they're relocating to a new firiing position.{{Fn|9}}

<gallery heights="170px" widths="300px" mode="packed" caption="">
CadianHeavyWeaponsSquad2023.jpg|[[Cadian]] Heavy Weapons Squad
KriegHeavyWeapons10th.jpg|[[Death Korps of Krieg]] Heavy Weapons Squad
Support Squad - Warhammer Compendium - page 157.jpg|The troopers of this particular squad have been supplied with [[suspensor]]s for their [[lascannons]]{{Fn|5}}
Regimental Heavies.JPG| '''Regimental Heavies''' deployed by the [[252nd Conservator Regiment]] during the [[Kaurava system|Kaurava]] Campaign.{{Fn|9}}
</gallery>

===Special Weapons Squad===
Many regiments maintain six-man squads of specialists armed and trained in a variety of roles, categorised under the catch-all term of special weapons squads. Some are [[Imperial Guard Sniper|sniper]] squads, working in three two-man teams of sniper and spotter with the former armed with [[Sniper Rifle]]s for taking out enemy commanders. Others are combat engineer teams, meant to clear trenches and destroy enemy fortifications with [[Demolition Charge]]s, [[Flamer]]s, [[Plasma Gun]]s, [[Meltagun]]s and [[Grenade Launcher]]s. These squads will often be attached to other [[platoon]]s to provide them with their expertise.{{Fn|1b}}

===Armoured Fist Squad===
A common name used to refer to mechanised infantry, an Armoured Fist squad goes into battle mounted in a [[Chimera]] and forms the bulk of fully mechanised regiments. Their equipment is often the same as other squads but the addition of an armoured transport gives them superior speed and tactical flexibility compared to their footslogging counterparts. They also tend to have a higher attrition rate as they are most often used against targets for which their Chimera is vital to success. It is quite common for individual Armoured Fist squads to be attached to non-mechanised infantry regiments to provide additional fast-moving support.{{Fn|1c}}

===Veteran Squad===
These special squads of [[Hardened Veteran]]s are not so much a formal unit type as they are the result of attrition. Often the only survivors of their parent company or even regiment, they are usually attached to other, newly-formed regiments in order to pass on their hard-won skills to the new recruits. They are given greater freedom of operation than other squads and access to a wider array of equipment as well, along with whatever they can loot from the battlefield or otherwise "borrow" from other friendly units.{{Fn|1d}}  Compared to normal infantry squads they tend to carry a greater number of squad support weapon including [[grenade launcher]]s, [[flamer]]s, [[sniper rifle]]s, [[plasma gun]]s, [[meltagun]]s and even a [[Heavy Flamer]]. Some are organised as [[grenadier]]s and wear [[carapace armour]] for additional protection, while others operate as forward sentries and equip themselves with [[camo-cloak]]s and snare mines. Still others specialise in demolition and carry a disturbing amount of explosives in the form of [[melta bomb]]s and [[demolition charge]]s. The [[Catachan Jungle Fighters]] do not contain Hardened Veterans as elite troops, instead their standard soldiers are considered to be the equivalent, having grown up and survived on the galaxy's deadliest planet.{{Fn|1e}}{{Fn|3}}

===Command Squad===
*{{main|Imperial Guard Command Squad}}
Command squads form the headquarters unit for many larger Imperial Guard fighting formations.

===Assault Squad===
'''Assault Squads''' are typically composed of 10 men, with 4 assault squads and a [[Imperial Guard Command Squad|Platoon Command Squad]] forming an '''Assault Platoon'''. Assault Platoons are the only main Imperial Guard troop that field [[Jump Trooper]]s, equipped with expensive [[Jump Packs]], as a vital part of their combat role is to enter close combat quickly. Armoured in typical [[flak armour]], they are armed with close combat weapons such as a combat knife or one or two [[laspistol]]s held in both hands, as well as a supply of [[frag grenade]]s and [[krak grenade]]s. They may also be equipped with a few [[plasma gun]]s. Alternative weapon loadouts included singular, pairs, or a combination of [[bolt pistol]]s, [[chain sword]]s, and [[hand flamer]]s.{{Fn|5}} Others do appear to be armed with [[lasguns]] or some form of laser rifle.{{Fn|8}}
<gallery heights="300px" widths="500px" mode="packed" caption="">
Imperial Guard Assault Squad.jpg|An '''Assault Squad''' with [[Jump Packs]] attacking [[Orks]]{{Fn|5}}
Assault Squad White Dwarf 110 pg 34.jpg|An '''Assault Squad''' with [[Jump Packs]] attacking [[Orks]]{{Fn|7}}
</gallery>

It is feasible Assault Squads trace their origins to the [[Imperialis Militia#Forces|Voidjumper]] Reconaissance Squad of the [[Imperialis Militia]] during the [[Great Crusade]].{{Fn|8}}

==Whiteshield Squad==
*{{main|Whiteshields}}
'''Whiteshield Squads''' are squads of probitors - youths who have been born and raised within a regiment by their guardsmen parents. Not yet considered adults nor proper guardsmen, they make up for their inexperience with a fanatical zeal to prove themselves worthy of becoming guardsmen and earning adulthood. Such traditions date back all the way to the [[Great Crusade]] and [[Imperial Army]]. They typically comprise 9 young probitors, lead by an older experienced [[Imperial Guard Sergeant|Sergeant]]. Their weapons and equipment are identical to that of typical infantry squads, primarily [[lasguns]], [[flak armour]], [[frag grenade]]s and occasionally [[photo-visor]]s. One of their number may even be equipped with a support weapon such as a [[lascannon]] with a [[suspensor]].

<gallery heights="170px" widths="300px" mode="packed">
Whiteshield Squad - Warhammer Compendium - Pg45.jpg|A [[Whiteshield]] Squad
Youth Army Squad - Codex Eye of Terror Pg 17.jpg|A squad of [[Whiteshield]]'s of the '''Cadian Youth Army''' (bottom-left)
</gallery>

==Sources==
*1: [[Codex: Imperial Guard (5th Edition)]]:
**{{Endn|1a}}: pg. 37
**{{Endn|1b}}: pg. 38
**{{Endn|1c}}: pg. 39
**{{Endn|1d}}: pg. 40
**{{Endn|1e}}: pg. 97
*{{Endn|2}}: [[Caves of Ice (Novel)]] — [[Ciaphas Cain: Hero of the Imperium (Omnibus)]], Chapter 6, pg. 354, fn. 3
*{{Endn|3}}: [[Codex: Catachan (3rd Edition)]] {{CME}}
*{{Endn|4}}: [https://web.archive.org/web/20241123042324/https://www.warhammer-community.com/en-us/articles/csbikvdh/world-championships-preview-the-death-korps-mobilise-for-all-out-war/ Warhammer Community: World Championships Preview – The Death Korps mobilise for all-out war (posted 22/11/2024)] ''(archived from [https://www.warhammer-community.com/en-us/articles/csbikvdh/world-championships-preview-the-death-korps-mobilise-for-all-out-war/ the original], last accessed 22 November 2024)''
*{{Endn|5}}: [[Warhammer 40,000: Compendium]], pgs. 150-158
*{{Endn|6}}: [[Codex: Imperial Guard (2nd Edition)]], pgs. 65-66 - ''Weapons teams''
*{{Endn|7}}: [[White Dwarf 110 (UK)]], pg. 34
*{{Endn|8}}: [https://assets.warhammer-community.com/horusheresy_legaciesoftheageofdarkness_imperialismilitia_eng_24.09-tyq53ht49b.pdf Legacies of the Age of Darkness: Imperialis Militia]
*{{Endn|9}}: [[Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Soulstorm]], Commander: Honour Guard Unit List 

{{IGInfantry}}

[[Category:Troops (Astra Militarum)]]