which is commanded by a lieutenant colonel. An infantry battalion will also contain an organic Support Company including a signals platoon, mortar platoon (mortars now officially under the artillery corps but still used by infantry on deployment), Direct Fire Support Weapons Platoon which includes anti-armor, heavy machine guns and automatic grenade launchers, Reconnaissance Platoon and Sniper cell, and a Logistics Company (transport and stores). The battalion totals around 400 to 500 soldiers depending on retention levels. Theatre and battle honours Because it is recruited on a nationwide basis and has no specific regional links, the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment claims descent from the old New Zealand Regiment and all previous Territorial Infantry Regiments of the New Zealand Army. As a consequence, it is permitted to display a selection of 105 battle honours awarded to ten separate regiments: New Zealand South Africa 1900–02 The Great War: Anzac, Gallipoli 1915, Somme 1916 '18, Messines 1917,Ypres 1917, Polygon Wood, Passchendaele, Arras 1918, Hindenburg Line, France and Flanders 1916–18 World War II: Greece 1941, Crete, Minqar Qaim, El Alamein, Takrouna, North Africa 1940–43, Cassino I, The Senio, Italy 1943–44, South Pacific 1942–44 South Vietnam 1967–71 Alliances The Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment currently maintains the following alliances: – The Royal Highland Fusiliers (1 RNZIR) – The Rifles (1 RNZIR, 2/4 RNZIR, 5/7 RNZIR) – Royal Gurkha Rifles (2/1 RNZIR) – Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (2/4 RNZIR, 5/7 RNZIR) – Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (2/4 RNZIR, 5/7 RNZIR) – Royal Anglian Regiment (3/6 RNZIR) – Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (3/6 RNZIR) – Royal Australian Regiment (1 RNZIR) – 5th/6th Battalion, Royal Victoria Regiment (3/6 RNZIR) – 7th Battalion, Royal Malay Regiment (1 RNZIR) – 1st Commando Battalion (1 RNZIR) Lineage of Reserve Battalions Northland Regiment from 1951 Order of precedence Notes Footnotes Citations References Further reading Regiments of New Zealand Infantry regiments of New Zealand Military units and formations established in 1947 1947 establishments in New Zealand Organisations based in New Zealand with royal patronage