in 1942, a parachute battalion had an establishment of 556 men in three companies (three platoons each) supported by a 3 inch mortar platoon and a vickers machine gun platoon. by 1944, a support company was added to command the battalion's heavy weapons. it comprised three platoons: a mortar platoon with eight 3 inch mortars, a machine gun platoon with four vickers machine guns and an anti-tank platoon with ten piat (projecter, infantry, anti-tank) anti-tank projectors.