Thematic Beta list clarification

[expendablecinc]

The published lists are a way off yet and I am preparing for a trial of Thematic Byzantine Vs Abbasid Arab. The skutatoi in the Beta list is troubling me as the list says:
8-16 total
8-12 /battle group
1/4 must be LF archers

does this allow:
either one group of 9 HF and 3Lf or two groups of 6HF and 3LF.

This would put the LF in the 4th rank. Can they support from there?

[rbodleyscott]

does this allow:
either one group of 9 HF and 3Lf or two groups of 6HF and 2LF.

Yes

This would put the LF in the 4th rank. Can they support from there?

No. They should be in the 3rd rank, with another rank of HF behind them, or they can provde a partial 3rd rank when the HF are deployed 3 wide

The Byzantine manuals cover the spearmen being formed up 16, 8 or 4 ranks deep with the archers either behind the spearmen or in the middle of the ranks.

Strictly speaking the battle groups should be 4/5 spearmen and 1/5 LF but we decided to fudge that a bit for the sake of playability.