Sub-subunit

Sub-subunit or sub-sub-unit is a subordinated element below platoon level of company-sized units or sub-units which normally might not be separately identified in authorization documents by name, number, or letter. Fireteams, squads, crews, sections and patrols are typically sub-subunits.

Types of sub-units

Sub-subunits *(de: Teileinheit; ru: подразделение/podrazdelenie)* in various languages and armed forces
Designation & symbol		Bundeswehr			English	French	Russian	Polish
Individual	Whole sub-subunit	Designation	Structure	Commander/leader	English	French	Russian	Polish
● single point	Single point above a laying rectangle	Trupp	2–7 men, Tank crew	Unteroffizier ⇒ Hauptgefreiter	Team (e.g. Fireteam)	Équipe de combat	Группа (gruppa)^[1] Звено (zveno)^[2] Расчёт (raschot)^[3]	Działon Obsługa
● ● two points	Two points above a laying rectangle	Gruppe, Halbzug	8–12 men, 2 tank crews	Oberfeldwebel ⇒ Unteroffizier	Squad	Groupe de combat	Отделе́ние (otdelenie) Экипаж (ekipazh)^[4] Расчёт (raschot)^[5]	Drużyna
● ● two points	Two points above a laying rectangle	Rotte	2 aircraft	Oberfeldwebel ⇒ Unteroffizier	Two-ship flight/Pair	Patrouille légère	Пара (para)	N.N.
● ● ● three points	Three points above a laying rectangle	Zug, Hörsaal	ca. 40 men^[6]	Hauptmann ⇒ Hauptfeldwebel	Platoon, Lecture hall	Section^[7]	Взвод (vzvod)	Pluton
● ● ● three points	Three points above a laying rectangle	Schwarm/Kette	3–4 aircraft	Hauptmann ⇒ Hauptfeldwebel	Flight	Patrouille^[8] Peloton^[9]	Звено (zveno)	Klucz

Legend

Army
Air Force

References

^ Usually as a translation, rarely used in post-WWII Soviet and Russian infantry tactics due to small squad size
^ In historical context, e.g. 1930s Red Army teams
^ When referring to infantry teams crewing collective weapons: HMGs, grenade launchers, ATGMs etc.
^ Crew in most military branches, e.g. aviation, armour, automobile troops etc.
^ Crew in artillery and all kinds of missile troops
^ The personal strength, e.g. of self-contained platoons, training platoons, technical platoons, or Bundeswehr sub-subunits with platoon structure, might contain different staff.^{[citation needed]}
^ A section with group-structure (e.g.: US Marine Corps, 8–12 soldiers) may contain, in opposite to a "Section" in France armed forces, decisive less personal strength.^{[citation needed]}
^ In fighter aviation
^ In bomber and military transport aviation

[1] Usually as a translation, rarely used in post-WWII Soviet and Russian infantry tactics due to small squad size

[2] In historical context, e.g. 1930s Red Army teams

[3] When referring to infantry teams crewing collective weapons: HMGs, grenade launchers, ATGMs etc.

[4] Crew in most military branches, e.g. aviation, armour, automobile troops etc.

[5] Crew in artillery and all kinds of missile troops

[6] The personal strength, e.g. of self-contained platoons, training platoons, technical platoons, or Bundeswehr sub-subunits with platoon structure, might contain different staff.^{[citation needed]}

[7] A section with group-structure (e.g.: US Marine Corps, 8–12 soldiers) may contain, in opposite to a "Section" in France armed forces, decisive less personal strength.^{[citation needed]}

[8] In fighter aviation

[9] In bomber and military transport aviation

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[4]

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v t e Army units and organization
Subordinated element	Fireteam / Crew Ø Squad ● Section / Patrol ●● Platoon / Troop / Flight ●●● Staffel / Echelon ●●●●
Unit	Company / Battery / Squadron ❘ Battalion / Squadron / Cohort ❘ ❘ Regiment / Group ❘ ❘ ❘
Formation	Brigade / Group / Wing ☓ Division / Legion ☓☓ Corps ☓☓☓
Command	Field army / Command ☓☓☓☓ Army group / Front ☓☓☓☓☓ Region / Theater ☓☓☓☓☓☓
Temporary	Detachment Chalk Patrol Field force Task force Brigade group Flying column Combat command Regimental combat team Battalion tactical group Battlegroup Group army Combat team