A Marine tank platoon consisted of 3 or 4 tanks commanded by an Officer, usually a Lieutenant, who also was in charge of his tank.
The other tanks were controlled by a Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO), usually a sergeant.

A tank company was 3 platoons plus two or three tanks in a Headquarters company commanded by a Captain in rank.
This was about 11 to 15 tanks total.
Tank companies were labeled similar to Marine companies such as companies A for Abel, B for Baker, C for Charlie, and D for Dog Companies.

An example designation of 3-3-1 would be for the 3rd (third) Platoon of Charlie Company (3rd company) of the 1st (First) Tank Battalion.

Tank platoons were sometimes referred to as being light in two ways.
If all tanks were the same type, then it referred to the number of available tanks in a platoon being three instead of four.
Later, and more commonly, if some of the tanks in a company consisted of “light tanks” like the M2A4 and M3 Stuart series with 37mm cannons compared to the M4 Sherman medium tank series with 75mm cannons, that platoon was consider light.

A tank battalion usually had four companies (11 to 15 x 4 = 44 to 60 tanks) plus two or sometimes three tanks in a Headquarters company.
They were often commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel in rank with a Major as an executive officer.
A battalion could consist of some 46 to 63 tanks.
Later the number of tanks in a battalion was standardized to 58 tanks.

Due to amphibious operations and operational needs, some platoons and companies operated separately or detached for various periods of time from their parent units.
In addition, tanks with special abilities such as flame thrower tanks could be substituted or added as needed.

For example, the USMC 1st Tank Battalion landed at Peleliu on September 15, 1944 equipped with M4A2 tanks with several M4A2 tanks outfitted with M1A1 Dozer Kits or a tank with a bulldozer blade in front.

The first Marines to use tanks in World War II were patched together US Army M2 light tanks in an ad hoc unit in the Philippines in early 1942, but details are scant.
On August 7, 1942, M2 and M3 tanks landed on Guadalcanal with the 1st Tank Battalion.
Later some upgraded M3s called the M5 were introduced.
The first use of a M4 used in tank landing operations was at Hollandia on April 22, 1943.
By February 1944 almost all USMC primary tanks were of the M4 series with only M3 specialty variants like the M3A1 (Satan) flame tank retained.
The 5th and 6th Tank Battalions never used light tanks during World War II.

The last combat related tank landing operation by the USMC was at Okinawa on April 1, 1945 by the 1st & 6th Tank Battalions.
A Marine tank platoon consisted of 3 or 4 tanks commanded by an Officer, usually a Lieutenant, who also was in charge of his tank. The other tanks were controlled by a Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO), usually a sergeant.
A tank company was 3 platoons plus two or three tanks in a Headquarters company commanded by a Captain in rank. This was about 11 to 15 tanks total. Tank companies were labeled similar to Marine companies such as companies A for Abel, B for Baker, C for Charlie, and D for Dog Companies.
An example designation of 3-3-1 would be for the 3rd (third) Platoon of Charlie Company (3rd company) of the 1st (First) Tank Battalion.
Tank platoons were sometimes referred to as being light in two ways. If all tanks were the same type, then it referred to the number of available tanks in a platoon being three instead of four. Later, and more commonly, if some of the tanks in a company consisted of “light tanks” like the M2A4 and M3 Stuart series with 37mm cannons compared to the M4 Sherman medium tank series with 75mm cannons, that platoon was consider light.
A tank battalion usually had four companies (11 to 15 x 4 = 44 to 60 tanks) plus two or sometimes three tanks in a Headquarters company. They were often commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel in rank with a Major as an executive officer. A battalion could consist of some 46 to 63 tanks. Later the number of tanks in a battalion was standardized to 58 tanks.
Due to amphibious operations and operational needs, some platoons and companies operated separately or detached for various periods of time from their parent units. In addition, tanks with special abilities such as flame thrower tanks could be substituted or added as needed.
For example, the USMC 1st Tank Battalion landed at Peleliu on September 15, 1944 equipped with M4A2 tanks with several M4A2 tanks outfitted with M1A1 Dozer Kits or a tank with a bulldozer blade in front.
The first Marines to use tanks in World War II were patched together US Army M2 light tanks in an ad hoc unit in the Philippines in early 1942, but details are scant. On August 7, 1942, M2 and M3 tanks landed on Guadalcanal with the 1st Tank Battalion. Later some upgraded M3s called the M5 were introduced. The first use of a M4 used in tank landing operations was at Hollandia on April 22, 1943. By February 1944 almost all USMC primary tanks were of the M4 series with only M3 specialty variants like the M3A1 (Satan) flame tank retained. The 5th and 6th Tank Battalions never used light tanks during World War II.
The last combat related tank landing operation by the USMC was at Okinawa on April 1, 1945 by the 1st & 6th Tank Battalions.
Tanks of the U.S. in the World Wars