Rather than having a traditional class system, Battery Mode employs a system wherein players choose a specific role to fill in units, the smallest units being sections. The section can contain anywhere from 8-14 men, depending on the role of the section. Many different types of sections exist. The only infantry unit that is smaller than a section is a Group.
Rifle Section[]
The Rifle Section, also known as the Light Machine Gun Section, is the most common type of section encountered. There are several different types of Rifle Sections in Cross of Iron. The Rifle Section is part of the Rifle Platoon.
Standard Rifle Section[]
A Standard Rifle Section is usually split into a Gun Group and a Maneuver Group.
Gun Group[]
The Gun Group is the main base of fire in the Rifle Section. The Gun Group is based around a Light Machine Gun, which can be a Belt, Magazine or Strip-fed weapon. The LMG is attended to by two soldiers, one who carries and fires the weapon and one who assists in feeding and restocking the weapon, along with carrying spare barrels. Besides that, the Gun Group usually has a leader who directs the fire of the gun, and can be the Section Leader or his assistant, as well as occasionally other men to carry ammunition for the gun.
Maneuver Group[]
The Maneuver Group is the main part of the Rifle Section and consists of anywhere from five to eight riflemen. Usually, most of the Riflemen are equipped with Self Loading Rifles, while the Grenadiers (i.e. those equipped with Rifle Grenade Adapters) carry Repeater Rifles. This is because it is much easier to chamber the special cartridges needed for launching Rifle Grenades with a Repeater Rifle than a Self Loading one. However, some formations carry mostly Repeater Rifles, with some Self Loading Rifles to increase firepower. The Riflemen often also carry ammunition for the Light Machine Gun, though not as much as the assistant in the Gun Group does. The Maneuver Group can be led by the Section Leader or, sometimes, his assistant. Besides being armed with rifles, the Maneuver Group usually carries Rifle Grenade Adapters, usually two to three. Also, the Section Leader may be armed with a carbine.
Light Rifle Section[]
The Light Rifle Section is an alternative to the Standard Rifle Section. Rather than carrying a Light Machine Gun, the Light Rifle Section carries one or more usually two Automatic Rifles. While not being able to put down the stream of fire that a Light Machine Gun can, Automatic Rifles can be handled with much more agility than a Light Machine Gun can. A Light Rifle Section is split into two Fire Teams.
Fire Team[]
Each Fire Team is centered around the Automatic Rifle. The Automatic Rifle is attended to by two men, with one firing and carrying the weapon while the other carries ammunition for it. As with the Standard Section, all men carry some ammunition for the Automatic Rifle. Each fire team is led by the section leader or his assistant, and usually there is one or two men in each fire team with a rifle grenade adapter.
Medium Rifle Section[]
The Medium Rifle Section is a second alternative to the Standard Rifle Section. Rather than only carrying a Light Machine Gun, the Medium Rifle Section carries an Automatic Rifle in addition to a Light Machine Gun. The organization for the group is essentially the same as with a Standard Rifle Section, but the Maneuver Group gains the ability to provide automatic fire. However, Medium Rifle Sections and their Heavier cousins can become overburdened by the need to provide ammunition for multiple automatic weapons.
Heavy Rifle Section[]
The Heavy Rifle Section is another alternative to the Standard Rifle Section. Rather than just carrying one Light Machine Gun, the Heavy Rifle Section carries two. This allows it to put down twice as much fire as the Standard Rifle Section, but it stretches the resources of the section thin when it comes to supplying both guns. The Heavy Rifle Section is split into two Gun Groups and a Maneuver Group
Gun Group[]
The Gun Group is identical to the Gun Group is the Standard Rifle Section, though because of the duality of the Gun Groups in the Heavy Rifle Section the Section Leader and his assistant are sometimes consumed with directing one gun each, though not always.
Maneuver Group[]
The Maneuver Group is much smaller in the Heavy Rifle Section than in any other Rifle Section, usually number four or five men at most. This makes the Maneuver Group much less able to accomplish a mission by itself, causing one Gun Group to usually move up with the Maneuver Group.
Grenade Discharger Section[]
The Grenade Discharger Section is important for supporting attacks and defending, as it allows infantry to project grenades beyond throwing range. This has many applications, such as taking out Machine Gun nests and enemy troop concentrations. The Grenade Discharger Section is a part of the Rifle Platoon.
Standard Grenade Discharger Section[]
The Standard Grenade Discharger Section is split into three Firing Groups.
Firing Group[]
Each Gun Group is centered around the Grenade Discharger. The Grenade Discharger is carried by one man, with another usually assisting with firing it. The Section Leader directs the fire of the three dischargers. The final two men in each Firing Group protect the Discharger whilst providing ammunition for it. Every man in the Firing Group has a rifle, except for the Section Leader, who usually has a carbine.
Heavy Machine Gun Section[]
The Heavy Machine Gun Section is an extremely important part of many actions in Battery Mode. The Heavy Machine Gun (which is often, in fact, a Medium Machine Gun) can lay down much more suppressive fire than the standard Light Machine Gun, and can completely cut up any attack. The Heavy Machine Gun Section can be part of a Machine Gun Platoon or a Heavy Weapons Platoon.
Standard Machine Gun Section[]
The Standard Machine Gun Section is composed of a Firing Group and an Ammunition Group.
Firing Group[]
The Firing Group is responsible for aiming and firing the weapon. The weapon is carried by one man, whilst another carries the tripod and a third (usually the Section Leader) commands the gun. The man carrying the weapon and the man carrying the tripod have pistols, whilst the Section Leader usually carries a carbine.
Ammunition Group[]
The Ammunition Group is composed of eight or nine men who carry ammunition for the gun and protect it. This group is usually commanded by the section leader's assistant. All these men carry rifles.
Antitank Rifle Section[]
The Antitank Rifle Section is an important element of the infantry, responsible for defense against light armored vehicles and for destroying enemy equipment at range. Whilst the Antitank Rifle is ineffective against most tanks, it is highly effective at penetrating lighter armored vehicles such as armored cars and landing craft. Furthermore, its ability to destroy enemy communications and other equipment make it viable at long range as well. The Antitank Rifle Section is usually part of the Heavy Weapons Platoon.
Standard Antitank Rifle Section[]
The Standard Antitank Rifle Section is composed of a Firing Group and an Ammunition Group.
Firing Group[]
The Firing Group is responsible for the aiming and firing of the weapon. Depending on the exact weapon used, the Antitank Rifle is carried by two to three men. One man fires the weapon whilst another man loads, and the Section Leader commands the gun. The man firing the weapon and his assistant also carry pistols, whilst the Section Leader usually carries a carbine.
Ammunition Group[]
The Ammunition Group is usually composed of eight to nine men who are responsible for protecting the Antitank Rifle and providing ammunition for it. This group is usually commanded by the assistant of the Section Leader. These men all carry rifles.
Mortar Section[]
The Mortar Section is similar in function to the Grenade Discharger Section, but is much more capable in its ability to affect the outcome of the battle. The Mortar Section is able to lay down an extremely deadly stream of fire in a much larger area than the Grenade Discharger Section. This makes it vitally important in affecting the outcome of any battle. The Mortar Section is usually part of the Heavy Weapons Platoon.