The Problem
Situation No. 2:
The platoon commanders have assembled at the appointed rendezvous. You, Captain C, have come to a decision to attack the enemy strong point with two platoons and hold the third as company support.
Required:
The orders that you would issue for the attack.
Procedure
The Director distributes the sheets bearing Situation No. 2, reads it aloud and makes such explanation as may be necessary.
Explanation
The Director: “Before going further with the problem I desire to again call your attention to the five paragraph field order that we use in our service. This form of field order was evolved before the war and used in our service schools. It is prescribed by our Field Service Regulations. When we entered the war and our troops went to France we found on both the British and French fronts a system of field orders that did not agree with our American ideas. The orders were most voluminous. They went into every detail of procedure and left little to the initiative of the commanders of tactical units. The consequence was that many of these commanders lost their initiative. When their orders ran out and nothing further had been prescribed for them to do, they just naturally did not know what to do and stopped until more orders were sent up to them. I am not so sure but what this system was responsible in the proposition of limited objectives that we found when we entered into the campaign. Many of our own officers fell for the voluminous order system but it did not last long after we got into action. It was then abandoned and we reverted to our own five paragraph order which filled the bill and met all our requirements. You remember that after an attack started and was seen to be under way, how quickly orders came up to disregard all objectives and push on. Our own simple field order system stood the test of war and I do not think it will ever be abandoned again for any other system.”
The paragraphs of the order include:
1st paragraph:—Information of the enemy and our own troops.
2nd paragraph:—The plans of the commander.
3rd paragraph:—Disposition of troops. Orders for each element of the command and the tactical instructions that pertain to all elements.
4th paragraph:—Administrative arrangements.
5th paragraph:—Where messages are to be sent or location of the command post.
In preparing the order for the attack under the requirement to our Situation No. 2, I wish you would use this form of order.
Solution
The Director: “Captain Hall, just what would you include in the first paragraph of the order?”
Captain Hall: “I would include the information about the enemy holding up our attack and the part that his strong point has played with the affair. I would include information of the fact that our second battalion is resuming the advance and how the rest of our battalion is to attack. That is all that would be necessary.”
The Director: “What would you include in the second paragraph?”
Captain Hall: “My plan—To attack the enemy strong point enveloping its left.”
The Director: “Lieutenant Barry, tell us what you would include in the third paragraph?”
Lieutenant Barry: “I would include orders for the machine guns, the light mortars and the 37 mm. guns; orders for the assault platoons, indicating the troops, line of departure, frontage and the objective; orders for the support platoon; orders for covering and connecting patrols; indicate the base platoon; orders for the action to be taken when the enemy strong point is captured.”
The Director: “There will be very little to be provided for in an administrative way. The location of the battalion aid station should be noted and if there are any instructions regarding extra ammunition, it should be included here. The C. P. of the company will be near the support platoon and this information should be placed in the last paragraph of the order.”
Procedure
The Director: “Now I want each member of the class to write out the order of Captain C for the attack.”
The necessary time is allowed for this and after the orders are completed they are collected and again distributed to the members of the class, making sure that no man gets his own order back again.
Members of the class are called upon to read the order in his possession and it is discussed.
At the conclusion of this the Director will submit the following order for discussion:
Order
“The enemy has held up the advance of our battalion by fire from that (ridge, edge of woods or other feature) and especially by machine gun fire from that enemy strong point (describe and indicate location of the enemy strong point). The second battalion on our left has resumed its advance. Our battalion will attack. Companies A and B will advance from their present positions on our left and attack the enemy in their front (indicate the present positions of Companies A and B).
“Our Company will attack and capture the enemy strong point, enveloping its left.
“The first platoon Company D, will support our advance by direct overhead machine gun fire from (indicate firing position of the machine guns).
“The 1st platoon howitzer company will support our advance with light mortar fire from (indicate firing position of light mortars) and 37 mm. gun fire from (indicate firing position of the 37 mm. gun).
“Lieutenant M. with the 1st platoon, will attack the front of the enemy strong point. Line of departure (indicate). Frontage about 150 yards from that (designate) to that (designate). Objective enemy strong point. Direction ______ degrees, magnetic.
“Lieutenant O, with the 2nd platoon, will attack and envelop the left of the enemy strong point. Line of departure (indicate). Frontage, about 150 yards, left of platoon at (indicate). Route of advance (designate). Objective enemy left.
“Lieutenant P, with the 3rd platoon (less detachments), will constitute the Company support and await orders (indicate where—should be in rear of the 2nd platoon). A combat patrol will be sent out to cover the right flank. A connecting group of two men will maintain connection with the right of Company A on our left.
“The 1st platoon, base platoon.
“After capture the enemy’s strong point will be immediately organized for defense.
“The battalion aid station is at a point 700 yards in rear of Company A.
“Messages to the support platoon.
“After issuing the order Captain C will say:
“It is now ____ o’clock, set your watches to agree.
“Join your platoons. Get them up to the line of departure.
“Notify me at this point when you are ready to attack. Begin the attack at my signal.”
Procedure
The Director will distribute mimeograph copies of this order to the members of the class. He will read the order. The members of the class follow from the copy in their possession. He will point out the features of the terrain referred to in the order as he reads it and make such comment and explanation as may be necessary.
The Director: “You now see what the order for an attack of an infantry company must contain. If you omit any of these things the order is not complete. Note how the order conforms to the requirements of our Field Service Regulations. Are there any questions?”
Lieutenant Hunt: “I note that the 1st and 2nd platoons are to attack on a front of about 150 yards. How does a platoon cover such a front?”
The Director: “The normal interval between skirmishers is 5 paces. This should be adhered to rigidly in extended order drill. Men will, under the stress of danger and excitement, do as they have been trained. In spite of the injunction of the Infantry Drill Regulations, I would not change this interval in drill for it may lead to bunching and the consequent loss of lives in action.”
The platoon fights in two waves with a section in each wave. This gives a wave and consequently a platoon a front of 120 yards in action. Where a larger front than 120 yards is assigned to a platoon to cover, the platoon is placed at about the center of the front and held responsible for the interval on each flank to the boundary of the zone of action assigned. The support section forming the second wave, following at a convenient distance, is used by the platoon leader in any required part of the platoon zone of action as the situation develops.
“In rare instances a platoon may be deployed with both sections on one line, covering a front of 240 yards. Such a line is very difficult for the platoon leader to control and is to be avoided.”
Lieutenant Wallace: “I note the designation of a ‘base platoon’ in Captain C.’s orders. What is the significance of that in a converging attack, such as is contemplated?”
The Director: “A Base Platoon is designated only as an aid to the initial formation of the company. During an approach march, in deploying on the line of departure and in advancing to the first firing position, the base platoon forms the guide for the company and helps ensure a coordinated attack. But as soon as enemy opposition is met, each platoon makes its own fight within its own zone of action and all consideration of the ‘base platoon’ is dropped. In action, each platoon must observe the action of adjacent units and be prepared to assist them. But the best possible aid consists in the vast majority of cases, in pushing ahead, ‘where the pushing is good’ and then threatening in the flank or rear enemy resistances holding up adjacent units.
“In this case, the ‘first firing position’ may be very close to, or even coincide with the Line of Departure, so that the base platoon designation is of especial value in the initial deployment.”
Captain Hastings: “Will the Director please discuss the personnel of the headquarters of Company C in action—its positions and formations?”
The Director: “A rifle company headquarters in action consists of:
“1. The Captain.
“2. First Sergeant, Signal Sergeant, Agents from the supporting Machine Gun unit (platoon or company), and two company runners all following in two short columns behind the captain. When halted these men take cover within reach of the captain’s voice.
“3. Two buglers, one well to the left flank observing the connecting group keeping connection with Company A and the other observing combat patrol covering the right. These buglers will report to the Captain any item of information they note.
“4. Three platoon runners, arranged in a rough triangle each between his own platoon and the company headquarters. These runners keep within call or signaling distance of the Captain and each knows always the position of his own platoon. By these runners the Captain communicates with his three platoons.
“5. Two Company runners at the Battalion Command Post. These runners keep track of the position of their own company and are prepared to take messages to it from Battalion headquarters.
“The position of Company Headquarters is such that the Captain can maintain connection with his assault platoons, observe the progress of the fight personally and especially be ready to throw his support platoon into the action when and where most needed. During the approach the Captain precedes his assault echelon. When the fire opens, Company Headquarters drops back to a position between the assault echelon and the support platoon.”
Lieutenant Wallace: “Where is the second in command of the company? There is no mention of him in the orders.”
The Director: “Yes, I am glad you noted the omission. The senior Lieutenant, or ‘second-in-command’ remains back at the Company rear echelon during a fight. Here he is responsible that ammunition is forwarded as necessary, that meals are prepared and that all men drifting to the rear are held.
“Further, as the casualties among rifle company officers are higher than in any other unit in the entire army, keeping this officer out of the fight ensures a trained officer to replace the Captain, in case the latter becomes a casualty and to reorganize the company after each battle.
“Whenever the Captain becomes incapacitated for any reason a runner is sent at once from Company Headquarters back to the rear echelon and the second in command hastens forward to take command of the company. The first sergeant or others of the personnel at Company Headquarters acquaint him with the situation. It is considered most important to have this trained officer in reserve ready to take command on short notice.”
Lieutenant Ralston: “Where will the combat patrol on the right flank march?”
The Director: “It will march well out on the right flank and rear of the 2nd platoon, so that if an enemy machine gun or patrol fires on the platoon from that direction the patrol will be in position to attack it.”
Captain Harvey: “The Director mentioned something about extra ammunition. I did not understand what was said?”
The Director: “All riflemen of the units of an assault battalion should carry an extra bandolier of ammunition when they go into action. This applies to the battalion reserve company as well as the assault companies. You can see in this case how delay would be occasioned by stopping to issue extra ammunition to the men.”
Captain Hodges: “It is noted that you give orders for the consolidation and preparation of the enemy strong point for defense as soon as it is captured. Just what is the purpose of this?”
The Director: “At this time Captain C cannot tell just what will happen when he gets into the enemy strong point. That is the objective of the attack for the time being. He would want the platoon commanders to have orders that will carry them until he can get up there and decide what to do. The Company may not stop at the strong point. If the enemy is on the run they will follow him up probably. This will depend upon the action of the rest of the battalion. In any event we will want a position on which to reorganize the company and prepare for future eventualities and by preparing the position for defense we gain such a position and at the same time we are ready to meet a counter-attack if it comes.”
Attack of Strong Point Card No. 2
Director’s Key
1. Assemble class at point designated for the assembly of platoon commanders. Distribute Situation No. 2 and explain.
2. Explain five paragraph field order.
3. Consider order for attack in detail, paragraph by paragraph.
4. Have class write out order. Collect, read and comment on solutions.
5. Comments of problem. Frontage of platoon. Explanation of base platoon. Company headquarters in action. Second in command. Covering patrol. Extra ammunition preparations for defense.
Explanation
The Director: “Before going further with the problem I want to explain to you what happens between the time the Captain issues his orders for the attack and the time that it starts.
“Having received and understood their orders, the platoon commanders go back and join their platoons. In doing so they select the route over which they are going to conduct their commands up to the line of departure for the attack.
“Each platoon commander conducts his platoon over to the right and gets it into approach formation directly in rear of and with its front as nearly parallel to the line of departure as possible. The proposition of bringing a platoon or any other unit up to a point immediately in rear of the line of departure in a column of files and making the deployment from that formation is fraught with great danger and is almost sure to result in confusion, losses and great consumption of time. The platoons must be gotten into an approach formation from which they can readily deploy on nearing the line of departure. Captain James, suppose you were commanding the first platoon. What formation would you take up in bringing your platoon up to the line of departure?”
Captain James: “I would form it in two lines or waves each consisting of one section. Each section would be in line of squad columns. From this formation I can readily deploy the leading wave in to a line of skirmishes covering the front allotted to the platoon and hold the rear wave in a line of squad columns or deploy it as the circumstances may require. In any event I have my platoon under complete control all the time.”
The Director: “I think we can all agree that your formation is correct.”
“Now, each platoon commander must get the orders to the men who are to make the attack. When the platoon arrives at a point in rear of the line of departure the platoon commanders will assemble their non-commissioned officers and scouts at a covered location near the line of departure where they can command a view of the front. Here he will explain the situation and give his orders for the attack. These orders will be issued in the regular five paragraph order form which I have already explained to you. The non-commissioned officers join their units. The leading wave is brought up and deployed on the line of departure. The scouts move out to the front. The second section is held in proper formation (line of squad columns or line of skirmishers) from 50 to 100 yards in rear of the leading wave. The platoon commanders signal Captain C that they are ready to launch the attack.
“The special weapons, machine guns and light mortars and the 37 mm. gun, are gotten to their respective firing positions and the unit commanders signal Captain C that they are ready to cover the attacking troops with their fire.
“The company support platoon is conducted to its position in rear of the second platoon and the platoon commander signals that he is ready.
“Captain C then signals the battalion commander that he is all ready to launch the attack. When he gets the signal from the battalion commander, he signals the supporting weapon commanders and the platoon commanders to proceed.
“Now, you may say that all of this sounds well in theory, but, you ask, how is it done in actual practice? What is the enemy doing all this time? I ask you to visualize the situation from the enemy point of view. What would you be doing if you were in his place? You occupy a strong point on the left of your line. You have been placed there to protect the flank and to bring machine gun fire to bear on our attacking troops to your right. The attack is progressing off to your right. The firing seems to be getting further and further to your rear. You have fears that the line is not holding. You have visions of being left to your fate. You get no information of what is taking place over there. In your own immediate front there is little doing. You see nothing to indicate what we are doing over here. You have no well defined target to fire on. A few scouts are seen off to the right oblique (scouts of Companies A and B). There is nothing in your front that would afford you a target. The scouts that you send out from the strong point run into our covering patrol and either become casualties or are driven back. Your strength does not permit sending out a reconnoitering party of sufficient strength to break through and get any real information of what is taking place in your front. You simply have to sit and wait for something to develop. I am sure if you will place yourself in the enemy’s position at this time, you must realize his situation and the conflicting thoughts that come across his mind. He is just a human as you are. He is just as much afraid. He has just the same feeling about the danger of the situation as you have, only his situation is worse than yours. He must sit and wait for something to happen while your activities and preparations occupy your thoughts and attention. You have the initiative, you lead and he must follow.
“When you consider all of these things you will see how it is possible to go about the preparation process in a comparatively deliberate manner. If you have fairly good cover from the fire and view of the enemy it is not at all difficult.
“The greatest danger in all of this is from our own side. From the impatience of our own higher commanders who think the preparations are taking too much time. Brigade and regimental commanders who are to the rear and cannot see what is going on get impatient with the apparent delays and demand that the attack be delivered at once. Even the battalion commander, who is up at the front and ought to know better, cannot see how you can possibly consume so much time getting ready.
“That is one of the valuable features of these Terrain Exercises. They illustrate and demonstrate to officers of all ranks that a certain amount of time must be allowed a combat unit to get ready to launch an attack and that they may as well sit down and take it easy until everything is ready. The war is not to be fought in a day.
“Let us take our problem as an example. Our Company (C) could be brought up and rushed into action in its attack on the enemy strong point. The rifleman would have fought it out with his bare hands, so to speak. There would be no supporting fire from machine guns, light mortars and one-pounders. It would have been a direct frontal attack, with no enveloping movement. The chances are that it would be a complete failure and the whole affair would have to be reorganized and done over again. Even if it were successful it would be accompanied by ruinous losses that would render the company totally ineffective for further combat service in the near future.
“By going about the preparations systematically, as we have done, the chances for success are infinitely greater, the losses will be very much smaller and in the long run, a lot of time saved. I hope you will all consider these things when you give orders to a unit under your command, be it a battalion or a small patrol, to embark upon a tactical undertaking. Give the commander time to perfect his preparations. Do not rush him into action until he is ready.”
Procedure
The class is now conducted up to the line of departure of the platoon. The Director distributes the sheets containing Situation No. 3.