Peloton (military)
Peloton (French: 'small heap' from the Latin pila 'ball', 'knäuel') refers to a troop unit in the French army, comparable to a train in German-speaking armies, with around 30 to 40 soldiers. This term is mainly used in associations that see themselves in the tradition of mounted associations and the gendarmerie . In other French associations, corresponding structures are called sections .
The term was also used in other countries and referred to a smaller unit of troops below company strength , which usually comprised several platoons or gangs of foot soldiers. The term platoon , which in Anglophone armed forces stands for a military train, is derived from the word peloton .
In the 18th century the peloton formed the eighth part of a battalion in the Prussian army . At the peloton fire , the eight pelotons alternately shot a musket salvo , each closed , so that the impression of a “rolling fire” was created. Firing of the muskets was started on the wings of the battle line and continued towards the center.
In the army of the German Empire (1871-1918), the peace-keeping strength of a peloton of infantry was around 80 NCOs and men . The peloton consisted of four platoons, three pelotons formed a company.
Military firing squads are also known as execution squads.