No. 7.
Object: To teach men to combine fire and movement.
Rounds: 6 per man.
Targets: Any of the following: (a) A row of Solano figures representing a line of loopholed head-cover entrenchments. (b) A row of 300 or 400 yards head-and-shoulder figures representing men firing from a bank or open trench. (c) A row of low bushes representing the line of a screened entrenchment. (d) A stone wall marked with loopholes or with head-and-shoulder figures exposed at intervals to represent men firing over it. (e) A row of houses defended from doors and windows. (f) Folds of ground, etc.
Directions: The above targets, (a) to (e) inclusive, may be arranged on either tier; (f) will consist of features shown on the scenery itself. The firers will represent a firing-line advancing at close range. Firing will be carried out as follows: 2 rounds will be fired; the men will then run 50 yards and fire 2 more rounds, after which they will run 50 yards again and fire the last 2 rounds.
4. Fire Direction Practices (Sec. 42, paras. 8 and 9, Sec. 47, paras. 2 to 4 inclusive, and Sec. 54, para. 3).—(i) Though officers and N.C.O.’s cannot be trained satisfactorily in the important duties of ranging on miniature ranges, much useful instruction can be carried out by fire direction practices on the target and landscapes, the object of which will be to teach fire-unit commanders and men to work together in some of the principal duties of fire direction, control, and discipline before proceeding to fire collective field practices.
(ii) The object of these practices is to train fire-unit commanders to discern targets quickly, describe them accurately, and give clear, correct fire orders (Sec. 46, paras. 1 to 6 inclusive), and to train men to recognize targets, obey and pass fire orders. Both officers and men will previously have been trained to some extent in these duties. In fire direction practices they should be carried out as a whole under a time limit, reckoned from the appearance of the target to the end of firing or aiming in obedience to fire orders. The time limit should be decreased as progress is made. Observers should also be trained in their duties in these practices, which should be devised so as to train both fire-unit commanders and observers to watch for signals and maintain communication with neighbouring units (Sec. 42, para. 8 (ii) (b), and para. 9).
(iii) The target should be arranged before practices with a variety of figures representing various arms and troops in different formations at various ranges (Appendix, VII, para. 5). They should be exposed suddenly for short time limits corresponding approximately to the probable time exposure of such targets on service. Fire-unit commanders should use field-glasses and include ranges estimated by the size of the figures in fire orders. Passing fire orders may be practised by passing them down a line of men to those at the firing-point (Sec. 46, para. 7). This should be done if possible while firing is proceeding. Practices may be carried out with firing or by aiming with rifles on rests for laying aim. Instructors must carefully criticize the work of both fire-unit commanders and men.
5. Collective Field Practices (Sec. 54, para. 4)—(i) Demonstrations.—These practices may be preceded by lectures demonstrating some of the Points for Criticism set out in Sec. 54, para. 4 (iii), and also points in the instruction laid down in Sec. 35, para. 4 (Reconnaissance of Ground in Attack and Defence), Sec. 42 (Organization for Fire Action), Sec. 43 (Effect of Fire at Different Ranges on Various Formations and Objectives), and Sec. 44 (Tactical Application of Fire).
(ii) Arrangement of Target for Demonstrations.—Demonstrations should be carried out on the Target arranged with scenery and figures with or without firing to illustrate instruction. The arrangement of the target for lectures and demonstrations affords scope for skill and ingenuity on the part of instructors, and may be used to give practical instruction to N.C.O.’s and men engaged to help in arranging the scenery and figures to illustrate various principles and tactical schemes. The following are examples of simple lessons which may be demonstrated on the Target.
(iii) Examples of Demonstrations.
No. 1. Need for Collective Fire.—The instruction laid down in Sec. 11 may be demonstrated by arranging figures on the Target as above described in para. 3 (ii), adding figures representing troops in different formations, artillery and transport at ranges up to 2,500 yards. If the demonstration is carried out with firing, a useful object lesson may be provided as follows. A row of 1,000 and 1,200 yard figures can be arranged on the clips so that when exposed their heads will appear over continuous cover, such as low bushes, to represent men firing from a bank or fold of the ground. The figures will be arranged against background which renders them invisible to the naked eye from the firing-point. The firers will be told that they have come under the fire of the enemy somewhere to their front, and that the need for replying to it immediately to minimize its effect is urgent. They will depend upon individual firing for fire effect. When they have realized their helplessness, a fire-unit commander will indicate the target and direct fire, the results of which will be noted.
No. 2. Justification for Opening Fire (Sec. 43 and Sec. 44, paras. 3 to 6 inclusive).—This may be demonstrated by various examples carried out with or without firing to illustrate the principle that fire must not be opened in attack or defence without reasonable assurance of effect in regard to the object for which it is delivered. For instance, a number of rounds may be fired at an extended line of 2,000 or 1,600 yard figures, and an equal number of rounds at an extended line of 1,000 and 800 yard figures, to illustrate the greater effect of fire at closer ranges. It must be explained, however, that exceptionally favourable targets may justify the opening of fire at long and distant ranges [Sec. 43, para. 2 (iii)].
No. 3. Choice of Targets [Sec. 54, Note to para. 4 (iii)].—The principle that the more favourable or important targets should be chosen may be illustrated by various examples, as for instance by exposing a line of 800 yard figures so that the heads and shoulders only are visible above cover affording protection from fire, and exposing a line of the same figures upright in the open to one side. If carried out with firing, a demonstration of the effects of converging fire (Sec. 44, para. 11) may be combined with that of the choice of targets as follows: The firers may be divided into two fire-units of four men each under its own commander. Each unit will deliver deliberate fire for half a minute at a line of 1,000 yard figures on Tier A within its own sector or frontage. A dense line of 800 yards figures will then be exposed in the centre of Tier B to represent a part of the enemy’s line which has taken advantage of a covered approach or dead ground to push forward. Both fire-unit commanders will at once divert the fire of half their unit in a burst of rapid converging fire for half a minute at this favourable target while continuing to keep the enemy’s line to his front under fire with the rest of his unit for the same time. Results of firing will be compared.
No. 4. Control of Fire as to Rate and Volume (Sec. 44, paras. 14-17 inclusive).—The above object lesson illustrates the principle governing the control of fire as to volume and rate, both of which are increased to get the greatest possible effect against very favourable or important targets. Many other object lessons can be devised on the Target with figures to illustrate the principles of fire control. For instance, against an enemy’s entrenchment or firing line under cover, fire at longer ranges will usually be deliberate, while against the dense line of an attack at close range or against very favourable or important targets, especially if they are fleeting, it will usually be delivered in rapid bursts and in as great a volume as possible. The relation between the rate and volume of fire and the object for which it is delivered, and the circumstances under which it is delivered, should be explained and demonstrated in connection with fire control.
No. 5. Concentration and Distribution of Fire [Sec. 44, paras. 8 and 9; and Sec. 54, para. 3 (v) to (vii) inclusive].—The broad principles which govern the concentration and distribution of fire may be illustrated by arranging figures representing troops in different formations, machine guns, etc., at various ranges on the Target, so that men can see the different kinds of targets against which fire will be concentrated or distributed. For instance, against a narrow-fronted column or machine gun fire will be concentrated, while against lines of infantry in extended order or the frontage of a defensive position fire will usually be distributed. Fire may, however, be concentrated if part of a line offers a favourable target through the men failing to keep their extension and crowding together, on the principle that fire should be concentrated against very vulnerable targets or at points where it will produce increased effect.
No. 6. Mutual Support and Covering Fire (Sec. 44, paras. 12 and 13).—The broad principles governing the application of fire in mutual support and covering fire may be illustrated by arranging simple tactical schemes on the Target in the following manner: The firers will be divided into two fire-units, as in Demonstration No. 3. They are supposed to be part of a firing line in attack. To illustrate mutual support, one unit will be represented by a line of figures on Tier B, directly in front of it. When the figures are disappeared, the unit they represent is supposed to be halted, and when they are exposed, it is supposed to be advancing. The enemy’s position will be indicated as a definite frontage in front of each unit on the scenery above Tier A, or the scenic accessories on this tier. While both units are supposed to be firing during a halt, the figures on Tier A will be exposed, denoting that one unit is advancing. The commander of the other unit will at once direct fire from part of his unit in rapid fire against the front of the enemy’s position to the front of the advancing unit, while keeping the enemy’s position to his front under fire from the rest of his unit. To illustrate covering fire, a line of figures on Tier B will represent the firing line of an attack, to which the firers are supports on high ground. The enemy’s front will be indicated on Tier A. When the figures are exposed, denoting an advance by the firing line, the supports will cover the advance by delivering heavy fire at the enemy’s position to the front of the figures.
No. 7. Fire and Movement (Sec. 44, para. 7).—The control of fire in its application to movement may, for example, be illustrated by supposing the firers to be part of a force acting on the defensive against an attacking force, represented by figures on the Target. Considerations relative to opening fire may be studied, together with the control of fire against advancing troops, with the object of obtaining increased effect at closer ranges and attempting surprise (Sec. 44, paras. 17 and 18). The rate and volume of fire in relation to movement may be demonstrated by illustrating by figures arranged on both tiers of the Target the different stages of an attack[31] in column and extended order formations from 1,600 to 600 or 400 yards range, an advance, and explaining that the rate of fire is usually deliberate when the enemy halts or takes cover, and is increased in rate and volume when his troops present favourable targets during forward movement, more especially to beat them off in the act of assaulting [Sec. 44, para. 16 (i) and (ii)].
No. 8. Organization for Fire Action (Sec. 42).—Before commencing collective field practices, the principles of organization for fire action, so far as it concerns the allotment of frontages and the division of the field of fire into separate sectors for each fire unit should be demonstrated to fire-unit commanders on the Target or on landscape targets. Platoon and section commanders
inclusive. may be practised in indicating the limits of sectors to their units, after the frontage allotted to their unit in a field of fire has been pointed out to these commanders. The limits of sectors must be indicated in the manner described in Sec. 42, para. 3, and illustrated in [Fig. 47]. The nature and details of fields of fire should be varied as much as possible to accustom unit commanders to dealing with all kinds of ground. The field of fire may be divided up into two, three, or four sectors, a different unit commander being made to indicate the limits of each sector.
(iv) Conditions of Practices.—The collective field practices on [pp. 188] to [192] inclusive may be adapted for miniature range firing on the Target by modifying the conditions as may be necessary. The conditions of practices may also be based on the ideas contained in the examples of demonstrations given in para. (iii) above. Instructors should encourage fire-unit commanders and N.C.O.’s to devise simple tactical schemes for collective field practices which, besides training officers and men in the duties of fire direction, control, and discipline, will teach them to give effect to the principles which govern the application of fire. The arrangement of the Target by men for practices to be fired by their comrades may also be used by the instructor for imparting useful practical knowledge. Special attention should be paid in these practices to firing from cover, passing fire orders, and fire discipline generally. The following examples of practices will serve as a guide to instructors with regard to conditions.
(v) Special Rules.—Practices will begin with the caution Commence, and will end with the order Cease Fire. The number, nature, and positions of targets will be unknown to firers, and must be invisible until exposed or moved. Targets may be exposed without warning any time after the caution Commence, and the order, time, and duration of exposure or movement will be unknown to firers in every case. All information which will help commanders and men to use their judgment will be given them beforehand, when the object of the practice will be explained, but no help or suggestion as to the manner in which they will carry out their duties will be told them either before or during a practice. Criticism will not be confined to the points noted in the following examples of practices, but will be general. These examples are purposely made simple, and devised as far as possible to deal with situations which may confront men in the present campaign. They may be varied by Instructors as desired.
Collective Field Practices on the Solano Target.
No. 1.
Object: Test of fire direction and control.
Targets: Tier A (left section) infantry line standing, extended order, 1,200 yards. Right section, infantry line standing, extended order, 800 yards. Tier B (left half) infantry line standing, extended order, 1,000 yards—half of line crowded together.[32]
Directions: The firers will represent two separate units in neighbouring localities of a defensive position. The target on Tier A (right section) will first be exposed for ten seconds. After a pause, both targets on Tier A will be exposed together for ten seconds. After a pause the targets on Tier A (right section) and Tier B will be exposed together for ten seconds. Particulars: The enemy at 1,200 yards is difficult to discern owing to background and undergrowth, and the defence know that he is close to a covered approach which will bring him to 1,000 yards of their line. Criticism: (i) Justification for Opening Fire: (a) By both units on first exposure of 800 yards’ target; (b) by both units on exposure of 1,200 yards target. (ii) Choice of Targets and Mutual Support: By left unit on simultaneous exposure of 1,200 and 800 yards targets. (iii) Rate of Fire: (a) By both units on first exposure of 800 yards target; (b) by left unit at 1,000 yards target. (iv) Concentration and Distribution of Fire: By left unit at 1,000 yards target. (v) Results of Firing.