Machine-Gun Tactics

by R. V. K. Applin

COVER

Cover may be of two kinds:

(1) Cover from fire.

(2) Cover from view.

Cover from fire must be proof against the projectiles likely to be used against it—that is, against rifle fire and shrapnel. “Cover from fire” should also be “cover from view” if possible; it must be inconspicuous, and should be of the same colour and material as the background and locality. It must be as low as is compatible with command, and must never be on the skyline. The following points in the order given constitute good “cover from fire”:

(1) Bullet proof.

(2) Good field of fire.

(3) Invisibility.

(4) Protection from enfilade fire.

(5) Good line of retreat (under cover).

“Cover from view” is often not cover from fire, and must be used with great caution; it is the principal means by which guns are brought up to the fire position without the enemy’s knowledge, thus effecting a surprise. Cover may be either (1) natural, (2) artificial, (3) a combination of both.

“Cover from fire” will generally be artificial or a combination of natural and artificial cover, because natural cover will seldom be found that is suitable for machine guns, although partial cover from fire may often be found behind a bank, a rock, or in a ditch.

“Cover from view” will generally be natural cover, and will be used to conceal the guns while approaching a position to occupy it and, when in position, to effect a surprise. When used in position to effect a surprise, it must be remembered that the moment the guns open “rapid” fire the cover is no longer any protection—indeed, it may be a source of great danger should it be isolated or conspicuous, such as a patch of scrub in a plain, or a clump of bushes on a hillside, as it will form a mark to aim at for every gun and rifle within range. “Cover from view” may be also “cover from fire,” as when folds in the ground or a ravine are used to conceal the guns. It may also be artificial cover, such as screens of boughs and brushwood as used by the Japanese at Liao-yang to conceal their march, or to hide guns in position. Hurdles covered with grass, reeds, bush, or branches of trees to closely imitate the surrounding growth, and placed as screens to hide the guns until the moment arrives for opening fire, will often prove a most valuable method of concealing guns in position, and under favourable circumstances the guns may even open fire from behind the screens without being discovered. This method requires constant practice in peace to attain success on service—indeed, the necessity for the most thorough peace training and constant practice in all the details of bringing guns into action, making cover, taking up alternative positions, retiring under mutual support, etc., cannot be too strongly urged on section commanders. Little ammunition is available for practice in our own service, it is true, but there is nothing to prevent constant practice in this vital duty of the machine gunner; and by getting a few men to represent the enemy, with an intelligent officer and a pair of good glasses, most valuable help can be given by criticising the manner the guns are handled, and the amount of exposure or concealment of the gun and detachment in taking up a position or making cover.

Artificial cover may be either excavated or built up, or a combination of both. Excavated cover will usually take the form of a pit of sufficient size to hold the tripod, ammunition, and three men, and deep enough to conceal the gun and men not only from view, but from fire at “effective” range. This form of cover is particularly good on a level plain, the muzzle of the gun being just above the surface of the ground. The rear side of the pit may require to be enlarged to take the long leg of the tripod where time is limited and the pit has not been made large enough to take the tripod in any position, but it is advisable to make the pit of sufficient area to allow the gun to be worked in any direction. With an adjustable tripod, the pit should be so deep that the gun is completely concealed below the surface of the ground, and it is only raised when it is intended to open fire.

Other forms of cover consist of epaulements, trenches, sangars, etc., which will not differ essentially from those given in the manual of Military Engineering. In all types of “cover from fire” care must be taken that the cover is high enough to protect No. 1 from bullets fired at ranges up to 1,400 yards, taking into consideration the angle of descent of the bullets at that range and the distance of No. 1 from the cover.

Cover can seldom, if ever, combine all the points enumerated here, and it will lie with the section commander to discriminate between them and decide what points he will sacrifice in favour of others more important: thus it may be necessary, where concealment is the chief object, to forgo “cover from fire” at the longer ranges in favour of a low parapet or even none at all. It is only possible to indicate in outline the principles that should be followed; practice in training and the experience thus gained alone will make the reader an expert.

Shields will be found of great value in the final stages of the battle, when machine guns are pushed up to close range to assist in the final assault. They are too heavy to carry on the guns, and should be with the ammunition in the first-line transport, where they are easily obtained if required.