Main bodies of parachute troops will be instructed to attack their
objectives (an airdrome, town, or military position) as a coordinated unit or
force. Tactics, of course, may be expected to vary, depending upon the
objective. Before an attack of any importance is launched, companies
will get into contact with battalions, and battalions with regiments. Companies
may descend some distance apart (say half a mile to a mile and a half), but
they will try so to land that they can operate as a normal infantry
unit. To produce the requisite coordination, radio communication will
be essential from the moment the descent is complete. The dropping
zone of one main attacking body may be as much as 24 square miles; in
Crete the density at which parachute troops were dropped on the first
day was from 400 to 500 (about 1 battalion) per square mile.