Specialist infantry force types

Specialist Infantry force types are defined by unique insertion methods (air, sea, or unconventional platforms). These forces often transition into standard infantry roles after insertion.

They are typically:

• Higher risk, higher reward
• Dependent on coordination (airspace, naval, or armour integration)
• Sensitive to enemy air defence or anti-vehicle capability

Infantry mounted externally on MBTs during assault.

Key Considerations:

• Provides no protection to infantry
• High vulnerability during movement

Best Employment:

• Emergency or historically constrained scenarios (e.g. WW2 Soviet doctrine)
• When no alternative transport exists

Infantry inserted via static line parachute. Operates as dismounted infantry post-landing.

Advantages:

• Strategic surprise
• Access to otherwise unreachable areas

Limitations:

• Dependent on air resupply
• Vulnerable to enemy air defence (AAA)

Best Employment:

• Behind enemy lines
• Shock operations
• Mountainous or inaccessible terrain

Infantry transported by heavy-lift helicopters (e.g. Chinook, Super Stallion, etc).

Advantages:

• Rapid repositioning
• Ability to remount and redeploy

Limitations:

• Limited lift availability
• Vulnerable to AAA

Best Employment:

• Widely dispersed objectives
• Difficult terrain
• Flexible, mobile operations

Infantry deployed via armed utility helicopters (e.g. Wildcat, Blackhawk, etc).

Advantages:

• Extremely rapid assault capability
• Organic aerial fire support

Limitations:

• High coordination requirement (FAC control)
• Vulnerable to air defence

Best Employment:

• Shock assaults
• Rapid objective seizure
• Low-AAA environments

Amphibious Assault Infantry are infantry that land by landing craft to secure a beachhead before transitioning to another force type depending on what (if any) vehicles are available to them.

Key Considerations

• Primary role is securing a beachhead
• Operates from landing craft during initial insertion
• Will transition to another force type after landing depending on available vehicles
• Requires coordination between landing craft and ground forces

Best Employment

• Establishing a beachhead for follow-on forces
• Initial coastal landings
• Operations where infantry must transition from sea insertion to ground operations

Littoral Assault Infantry are infantry that make use of armed small craft to engage beach or close-to-beach targets. They may be supported by missiles and guns from a littoral assault ship.

Key Considerations

• Operates from armed small craft
• Focuses on engaging targets near beaches or coastal areas
• May receive fire support from littoral assault ships
• Requires coordination between small craft and supporting naval assets

Best Employment

• Coastal engagement operations
• Supporting beach assaults with firepower
• Engaging targets near shorelines or coastal objectives

River Patrol Infantry are closely related to Littoral Assault Infantry and make use of armed small craft to engage targets at or close to river banks.

Key Considerations

• Operates from armed small craft
• Focuses on riverbank and river-based engagements
• Similar in role and structure to Littoral Assault Infantry
• Requires coordination between watercraft and infantry elements

Best Employment

• Riverine operations
• Securing riverbanks
• Engaging targets along rivers and waterways

Force type distinctions may sometimes overlap or combine depending on operational context.

Example: US Marines going ashore in LAVs would be classed as Amphibious Mechanised Infantry