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{{ImperialGuardPortal}}
The '''squad''' is the most basic fighting unit of the [[Imperial Guard]].
[[Image:Guardsman.jpg|thumb|right|Guardsman, [[Cadian Shock Troopers|Cadian 412th Shock Troops]]]]
==Types of Imperial Guard Squads==
===Armoured Fist Infantry Squad===A common name used to refer to mechanised [[Image:Cadian_Shock_Troopers_Squad.jpg |thumb|right|300px|Two infantrysquads of [[Cadian Shock Troopers]].]]The backbone of the Imperial Guard, an Armoured Fist unit is one which goes into battle mounted in infantry squads consist of a [[ChimeraImperial Guard Sergeant|Sergeant]]s and form nine [[Guardsmen]]. As with the bulk countless billions of fully mechanised regiments. Their equipment is often Guardsmen within the same as Imperial Guard, infantry squads from different [[regiment]]s can vary greatly with each other squads but have superior speed in tactics, training, equipment and tactical flexibility compared to their footslogging counterpartsother areas. They also tend About the only piece of gear universally common to have a higher attrition rate as they are almost every one of them is the ubiquitous [[Lasgun]].{{Fn|1a}} Besides the Lasgun the most often used against targets common load-out for which their armoured transport is vital to successthe typical infantry squad includes [[Flak Armour]], some type of [[Close Combat Weapon]] and [[Frag Grenade]]s for each Guardsman. It is quite common for individual Armoured Fist squads to Often a Guardsman will be attached to nongiven a [[Vox-mechanised caster]] for better communication with other units, while another will carry a squad support weapon, such as a [[Sniper Rifle]], [[Flamer]], [[Grenade Launcher]], [[Plasma Gun]] or [[Meltagun]]. In some infantry regiments to provide additional fast-moving supportsquads two of the Guardsmen will form a heavy weapons teams.{{Fn|1c1e}}
===Heavy Weapons Squad===
*'''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}}
===Special Weapons Squad===
Many regiments maintain six-man squads of specialists armed and trained in a variety of roles, categorized 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 unit is one which goes into battle mounted in [[Chimera]]s and form the bulk of fully mechanised regiments. Their equipment is often the same as other squads but have 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 armoured transport 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.{{Fn|1e}}
===Command Squad===
{{main|Imperial Guard Command Squad}}
Command squads form the headquarters unit for many larger Imperial Guard fighting formations.
==Sources==
*{{Endn|2}}: [[Caves of Ice (Novel)]] by [[Sandy Mitchell]] - [[Ciaphas Cain: Hero of the Imperium (Omnibus)]], Chapter 6, pg. 354, fn. 3
{{IGInfantry}}
[[Category: Troops (Imperial Guard and PDFs)]]
