The Problem
Situation No. 1:
It is now (f) p. m.
You, Major A, commanding the 1st battalion, which is now support battalion of the regiment, receive an order from the regimental commander, the body of which reads as follows:
1. The enemy has continued to retreat during the day. Our Army is pushing him to the limit. Our 2nd battalion has reached the ________ (state general line that has been reached) where it is in close contact with the enemy. The general attack will be continued all along the line tomorrow morning.
2. A redistribution of troops in the regimental sector will be effected tonight.
3. (a) The 1st battalion will relieve the 2nd battalion on the front line and be prepared to continue the attack tomorrow morning. Details of Artillery preparation, tank assistance and zero hour will be communicated later.
(b) The 3rd battalion will relieve the 1st battalion as support and take position at ________ (location of the 1st battalion). This relief will be completed by (g) o’clock p. m.
(c) When relieved the 2nd battalion will fall back to (h), reorganize and replenish ammunition, equipment and supplies. It will be the reserve battalion.
(d) Detachments of the Howitzer Company now with the 2nd battalion will remain in position and be reported to the commanding officer 2nd battalion, when the relief is effected.
(e) Details of reliefs will be arranged by battalion commanders concerned.
4. Completion of reliefs and moves will be reported to Regimental C. P. by telephone and runner.
5. Messages to Regimental C. P. at ________ (i).
Required:
Your order for the approach march and arrangements for carrying out the orders of the regimental commander.
Explanation of Letter Symbols
(f) The time at which the order of the regimental commander is received by the battalion commander. This should be before dark.
(g) The time by which the 3rd battalion should relieve the 1st battalion. This should be an hour or more after the time indicated by (f).
(h) The location to which the 2nd battalion is to march and assemble when it is relieved by the 1st battalion.
(i) The location of the regimental C. P. It should be some where in the regimental sector between the support and reserve battalions.
Procedure
The Director will distribute the sheets containing Situation No. 1 to the members of the class. He will read the situation aloud, point out the places and locations referred to and make such explanations as may be necessary.
One or more members of the class will be called upon to state his understanding of the situation and this will be continued until it is apparent that all members of the class understand it and are ready to proceed with a solution on the same basis of understanding.
Explanation
The Director: “Before going ahead with the problem I want to say a few words about the importance of this subject of approach march and deployment.
“Prior to the war we did not appreciate the necessity for extensive drill and instruction in the subject of approach march, deployment and the relief of units on the firing line. There was little literature on the subjects and what there was dealt only in glittering generalities. Once in a while a training program included the subject ‘Deployment,’ but no one took it seriously and such as we carried out, were executed in a purely perfunctory manner.
“In the training of troops for modern warfare the subject must be given the place and attention that it deserves. Troops must be trained to take up the approach march formation, and make a deployment therefrom, both day and night, over all kinds of ground. They must be trained in the methods and technique of making a relief of a force on the firing line at night and overcome the obstacles that are habitually encountered. The great danger at night is in losing direction. This results in a command getting lost and failure to get to the line of departure ready to ‘Jump off’ at H Hour.
“The failure of a single battalion in this respect may imperil a whole military operation and cost the lives of thousands of men. Unless the troops told off to make the attack are in place ready to ‘jump off’ and follow the barrage at H Hour there is not the slightest chance for success. The barrage goes on. The enemy is given time to man his positions and machine guns and the attack on that particular front is held up, usually with enormous losses. The whole attack has to be reorganized and started anew. Those of you who have had experience with an attack which was a failure know how much time is lost and how many casualties may result from such affairs.”
Procedure
The Director: “Now, let us take up the problem as it concerns our battalion. The battalion command post we will say is right here where we are standing. Just how do you visualize the distribution of the battalion, Lieutenant Wallace?”
Lieutenant Wallace: “The battalion headquarters company would be in this vicinity. Company A would be the leading company on the right; Company B would be the leading company on the left; Company C would be following Company A at a distance of say 100 yards and Company D would be following Company B at about the same distance. Each company would be in two echelons, an assault echelon of two platoons and a support echelon of one platoon, the latter following at about 50 yards. The men have taken advantage of such natural cover that exists and where there is none they have dug individual fox holes to get into. These afford a lot of cover from shrapnel fire.”
The Director: “You have given a very good picture of the formation. Are there any questions? If you do not understand all that is being said, now is the time to speak out. We must all approach the solution of the problem on the same basis to get the greatest benefit from it.”
The Director will point out to the members of the class the location of the various elements of the battalion on the ground and go into the details of the formation if it is deemed necessary.
Solution
The Director: “The requirement of the problem involves Major A’s order for the approach march. Lieutenant Ralston, what must the Major do before he is ready to issue his orders?”
Lieutenant Ralston: “He must size up the situation, arrive at a decision as to what he is going to do and then put this decision in the form of an order.”
The Director: “What is the first part of his Estimate of this Situation?”
Lieutenant Ralston: “He will determine upon his mission. I would say that the immediate mission is to relieve the 2nd battalion and that the next phase of it is to prepare to continue the attack tomorrow morning.”
The Director: “Very good. What is the next point he will consider, Captain Harvey?”
Captain Harvey: “He must consider the enemy. The enemy has been retreating before our attack for the past two days. This shows that he is inferior in strength and morale. His defense arrangements must be very much impaired and the confusion that exists behind his lines may readily be imagined. The fact that he is doggedly contesting our advance and that his retreat has nowhere broken down to the extent that we have been able to break through his lines with a deep penetration shows that he still has a lot of fight in him. As soon as it is sufficiently dark to preclude the possibility of aerial observation the enemy will begin shifting his defense elements with a view to preparations to resist our advance again tomorrow. He will be effecting a relief of his worn-out troops, shifting his machine guns to more advantageous positions, changing his artillery so as to more effectively cover the ground which we will have to pass over tomorrow if our attack is a success. All of this will consume several hours. During the period of readjustment and redistribution of troops the hostile activity and fire will naturally be very much diminished. During this same period from dusk until several hours later these same things will be happening in our lines, as you can see. Our artillery will have to be brought up to new positions for the destructive bombardment and the barrage. Our machine guns have to be placed in position to better support the riflemen. Our tanks have to be gotten up ready for the ‘jump off’ tomorrow morning and our worn-out troops on the front lines have to be relieved. It will be a period of lessened activity on both sides. During this period we will take advantage of the opportunity to effect the relief of the 2nd battalion on the line.”
(Note.—The terrain over which the approach march and the relief should now be discussed.)
The Director: “That is a very good discussion of the consideration of the enemy and our troops. Captain Hodges, what other factors enter into the estimate of the situation?”
Captain Hodges: “Our plans, I should say, the Major would want to determine on the formation that he will adopt for the approach march. He wants to arrive on the front line with his assault elements in the best possible formation to go into action. It will be more and more difficult to make changes in the formation as he approaches the location of the front lines. He will therefore start his approach march in as nearly the formation that he wants to be in when he arrives on the line.”
The Director: “You are right. In making a relief of this kind you cannot march a battalion up within the zone of rifle and machine gun fire in a column of files and then expect to get into combat formation and effect a relief properly. It simply cannot be done. You must get into your formation sufficiently far back to make sure of it and then take advantage of the various invulnerable formations to cross dangerous ground to the best advantage and with a minimum of losses. Now, Captain James, what would be your decision?”
Captain James: “To march to the front and effect the relief of the 2nd battalion as soon as possible after dusk.”
The Director: “Very good. Now all of what we have said is termed the ‘Estimate of the Situation.’ I hope you all appreciate the necessity for the battalion commander going through this process of thought before arriving at his decision and framing up his order based on it.
“We are now ready to proceed with a discussion of the Major’s order. Lieutenant Baker, what would you include in the first paragraph?”
Lieutenant Baker: “The information of the enemy and our own troops. This would include information about the enemy’s retreat all along the line during the day; of the point reached by the front lines of our 2nd battalion; of the proposed attack tomorrow morning; of the fact that the 3rd battalion will relieve our battalion tonight; of the action to be taken by the 2nd battalion after we relieve it. This is all that it would be necessary for the troops to know at this time.”
The Director: “I think you have covered the essential points. Captain Hall, what would you include in the second paragraph of the order?”
Captain Hall: “I would state my plan, to the effect that we are to relieve the 2nd battalion tonight.”
The Director: “What is the next part of the order, Lieutenant Barry?”
Lieutenant Barry: “The disposition of the troops and the orders for each element of the battalion: I would want the intelligence section of my headquarters’ company to get to the front at the earliest possible moment, secure the intelligence ‘dope’ and be prepared to take over the intelligence functions as soon as the relief is effected. I would order the section to proceed up to the C. P. of the 2nd battalion right away and instruct them to get on the job. I would also want my communications platoon to get up to the front and make arrangements to take over the communication net and the message center of the 2nd battalion. If these outfits get an early start they will be able to accomplish much before it gets dark. They should lose no time in getting to the front.”
The Director: “Lieutenant Hunt, what would you include in the orders for the companies of the Battalion?”
Lieutenant Hunt: “The Major has decided upon the formation already. There only remains the task of putting the decision into an order. I would preserve the present dispositions of the units and direct: Company A to march at —— (time), in approach march formation; designate the sector of the company; announce the guide (right or left) towards the base company; give the compass bearing of the direction of the march and to make sure that contact will not be lost with the base company will caution to that effect. I would also include in this part of the order the fact that Company A is to relieve the Assault Company of the 2nd battalion which is immediately in its front. The orders for Company B, which is to be the other Assault Company, would contain the same instructions as Company A with the addition of a sentence giving the Company a directing line in addition to the compass bearing of the line of march.
“I would include in the orders for Company C the same line of instructions as for Company A except that I would tell them the distance they are to follow Company A and the fact that they are to relieve the local support company of the 2nd battalion.
“Company D’s orders will include the same instructions contained in these for Company C except directions for them to relieve the machine gun elements of the 2nd Battalion.
“I think these instructions would be all that are necessary for the four companies of the battalion to get them started on the march.”
The Director: “You have covered the points very well. But, there are some instructions that pertain to all of the units of the battalion. These would be included in the final sub-paragraph of paragraph 3 of the order. This paragraph is denominated (x) in the order. What are they, Lieutenant Hunt?”
Lieutenant Hunt: “I should think they would include: The designation of the base Company; instructions for sending a reconnaissance officer and party of guides forward at once; designating the place where the leading elements of the battalion are to halt for the purpose of receiving final orders for the relief of the units of the 2nd battalion; designation of the place where unit commanders are to assemble to receive orders for the relief.”
The Director: “Paragraph 4 of a field order includes administrative arrangements. Can you think of anything that would be necessary to be included in that paragraph of Major A’s orders?”
Lieutenant Hunt: “I can think of nothing. That would depend upon circumstances. These administrative arrangements include: instructions for the trains—which have already been attended to; collecting station for wounded—which will be announced in a later order. It may be assumed that as soon as the advance halted that the rolling kitchen was brought up and the men given a hot meal before relieving the 2nd battalion. If such is the case the kitchen will have to be disposed of in paragraph 4.”
The Director: “What will paragraph 5 contain?”
Lieutenant Hunt: “It will contain information of the time when the present command post of the battalion will close and when and where it will next be opened.”
The Director: “We have now covered the elements of the Major’s order. Let us review them briefly:
“Paragraph 1: Information of the enemy and our own troops.
“Paragraph 2: The Major’s plan of action in general terms.
“Paragraph 3: Distribution of troops—orders for the various elements of the battalion.
“Paragraph 4: Administrative arrangements.
“Paragraph 5: Time of closing the present C. P. and when and where it will next open.
“Now, I want each member of the class to write out the battalion commander’s order on his pad. Base your order on the dispositions that we have discussed in the solution of the problem; use the 5 paragraph order system; endeavor to include all the instructions that we have included in our solution.”
Procedure
The necessary time is allowed for the preparation of the order by the members of the class. As soon as the orders are completed the Director will distribute to the class the mimeograph sheets containing the order that he has prepared as a solution to the situation.
He will read it aloud to the class and have each man compare it with the order that he, himself, has prepared.
This solution order will be as follows:
1. The enemy continued his retreat during the day. Our 2nd battalion has halted along (d)[[1]] where it is in close contact with the enemy. Details of location of units will be given later. The attack will be continued tomorrow morning. The 3rd battalion relieves our battalion before (g)[[1]] tonight. When relieved the 2nd battalion goes to the regimental reserve.
2. This battalion will relieve the 2nd battalion tonight.
3. (a) The Intelligence Section, Headquarters’ Company will proceed at once to the C. P. 2nd battalion and be prepared to take over the intelligence functions.
(b) The Communications platoon, Headquarters’ Company will proceed at once to the C. P. 2nd battalion and be prepared to take over the communications net and message center.
(c) Captain A, with Company A, will march at ____ (hour) p. m., in approach march formation in the ____[[2]] half of the regimental sector, preparatory to relieving the ____[[2]] Assault Company of the 2nd battalion. The guide will be ____[[3]] Compass bearing ____ degrees, magnetic. Contact with the ____[[3]] of Company B will be maintained.
(d) Captain B, with Company B, will march at ____ (hour) p. m., in approach march formation in the ____[[3]] half of the regimental sector, preparatory to relieving the ____[[3]] assault company of the 2nd battalion. Directing line ____ (state directing line). Compass bearing ____ degrees, magnetic.
(e) Captain C, with Company C, will follow Company A in approach march formation at a distance of 300 yards, preparatory to relieving local support company of the 2nd Battalion. Compass bearing ____ degrees, magnetic.
(f) Captain D, with Company D, will follow Company B, in approach march formation at a distance of 300 yards, preparatory to relieving the Machine Gun elements of the 2nd battalion. Directing line ____ (state). Compass bearing ____ degrees, magnetic.
(x) Company B, base company.
A reconnaissance officer from each company, accompanied by scouts and guides will be sent forward at once.
When the leading elements of the battalion have arrived at ____ (state place), the entire battalion will halt, take cover and await orders.
Company Commanders will assemble at ____ (state point) to receive orders covering the details of the relief.
4. Rolling Kitchens will join the combat train of the reserve battalion.
5. The battalion C. P. will close here at ____ (time) and open at the C. P. 2nd battalion at the same hour.
Explanation
The Director: “After issuing this order and making sure that it is understood the battalion commander accompanied by his battalion staff, runners, etc., and the remainder of the battalion Headquarters’ Company will proceed to the front. One officer will be left at the old C. P. until the troops have moved out. He will then go to the front. The Major will get in personal communication with the Commanding Officer of the 2nd Battalion, secure all the information he has of the situation and the location of the troops to be relieved. He will make such reconnaissance as is practicable and necessary to a complete understanding of the situation and then prepare his orders for the relief of the 2nd battalion.”
Procedure
The Director: “Are there any questions?”
The Director endeavors to answer any questions that may be asked.
Approach March and Deployment Card No. 1
Director’s Key
1. Conduct the class to (e) where the Terrain exercise is to begin.
2. Distribute the sheets containing Special Situation, Blue, read and explain.
3. Meaning of Sector; attacking brigade; attack formations—brigades side by side; regiments side by side; attacking brigade and reserve brigade—tandem; formation of 19th brigade.
4. Distribute sheets containing Situation No. 1, read and explain.
5. Approach march and deployment; importance of; necessity for training; training programs; failure of battalion to jump off.
6. Visualize formation of 1st Battalion. Point out relative location of units.
7. Estimate of situation; mission; enemy; own troops; terrain plans of operation; decision.
8. Order: Information of Enemy and own troops (Refer to copy of order to be submitted as solution in bringing out points of order. Make discussion along lines of solution). Plan of commander. Orders for each unit. Put in paragraph (x). Administrative arrangements. Location of C. P. Review the paragraphs of the order.
9. Have class write out order on pads.
10. Distribute sheets containing the solution (copy of Order). Read and explain. Have members of class compare their order with the solution.
11. Explain subsequent actions of Major A.
Procedure
The class is now conducted to the area supposed to be occupied by Company B. The Director will distribute the sheets containing Situation No. 2 to the members of the class.