The Problem
Situation No. 1:
You, Captain A, are commanding Company A, the unit assigned to occupy the area (u) in the right (left) of the battalion sector. You have Major A’s order to proceed with your task with the least practicable delay.
Required:
What do you do?
Procedure
The Director will distribute the sheets containing Situation No. 1. He will read it to the class and make such explanation as may be necessary.
The Director: “Captain Harvey, what steps do you take to get your company up to the front?”
Captain Harvey: “I have with me one runner from each of my platoons and two runners from Company Headquarters. I will send the platoon runners back with a verbal message to their respective platoon commanders to bring the platoons up. I will have one of my company runners to go to the (indicate place) with a message to platoon commanders to halt their platoons there and report to me here. I think that is all that would be necessary to get the platoons up and assemble the platoon commanders here to receive orders.”
Solution
The Director: “All right. We will assume that you have sent the platoon runners back for the platoons and that one of your company runners has gone back to the rendezvous point. What are you going to do between now and the time the platoon commanders report to you for orders?”
Captain Harvey: “I am going to make a personal reconnaissance of the area assigned to my company, size up the situation, arrive at a decision as to how I am going to occupy the area and dope out my orders for the platoon commanders.”
The Director: “That is the proper procedure. Captain Hodges, in what ways may the company be distributed in an area of this kind?”
Captain Hodges: “In the first place there are three lines included in the area. The first is the local security or line of observation—the outpost line; next is the firing line which is the line of defense of the area—where the fight will take place if the enemy attacks; next is the support line. The company must cover all three of these lines. There are several methods of deployment available. The company may be deployed with two platoons each covering the outpost line and firing line and one platoon on the support line. In this case each platoon furnishes the outguards covering its own front. The company may be deployed with two platoons on the firing line only and one platoon on the support line; in this case the outguards would be furnished by the support platoon. The company may be deployed with one platoon on the outpost line; one on the firing line and one on the support line. Again it may be deployed with the platoons side by side each platoon covering all three of the lines. In this case each platoon furnished the outguards covering its own front.”
(Note.—The Director will draw these four formations out on the ground and explain them to the class.)
The Director: “Considering the four methods of deployment which one would you employ in the organization of this area, Captain James?”
Captain James: “I would favor the first method where we have two platoons covering the outpost line and firing line and one platoon on the support line. Each platoon to furnish the outguards covering its own front.”
The Director: “What factors lead you to favor this deployment?”
Captain James: “By deploying in this manner we have two complete combat groups each responsible for its own outguards and its firing line. We have a third combat group on the support line located in the interval between the two forward groups so that it is readily available for counter-attack in case the enemy should penetrate the line on our front. Unity of command is preserved and there will be little intermingling of men of different units. Each platoon commander has a definite problem to solve. I think it is by far the best method.”
The Director: “Do you see any objections to the second method of deployment, Lieutenant Baker?”
Lieutenant Baker: “I should say that it is about the same as the first method. The thing that I do not like about it is the proposition of taking the outguards from the support platoon. I like the idea of having each combat group being responsible for its whole front. In addition to dividing responsibility for the defense of the area occupied it weakens the support platoon and makes it just that much less effective for counter-attack work.”
The Director: “What objections have you to the third method—the platoons in echelon one behind the other?”
Lieutenant Baker: “When the outguards fall back on the firing line you have the proposition of an intermingling of men of the two platoons. That will cause endless confusion and destroy the unity of command.”
The Director: “Any objections to the fourth method?”
Lieutenant Baker: “I can conceive of circumstances where this method might be employed to advantage. For example: In woods or in rough, difficult terrain. I do not think it would be employed in an area such as we now have under consideration.”
The Director: “We seem to be pretty well agreed that the first method should be employed. Now what considerations will affect your decision as to the area to be included in each of the two combat groups, Captain Hall?”
Captain Hall: “The battalion commander has assigned the elements of the machine gun company to certain positions to cover the front. I would build my combat groups around this distribution and take advantage of the fire that they are able to produce.”
The Director: “Lieutenant Barry, where would you locate the Company C. P.?”
Lieutenant Barry: “The C. P. should be in such a position that it can be easily reached and found by the runners. It should be so arranged that the enemy will not be able to observe the runners entering and leaving. I would say that it should be located in the area lying between the combat groups and the support platoon.”
Explanation
The Director: “The Major indicated the firing line and support line of the battalion center of resistance and designated the area for Company A to organize and hold. We have decided to organize it with two platoons on the firing line, each furnishing its own outguards and each forming a combat group; and one platoon on the support line. The 1st battalion advanced posts are holding the enemy back and there is every reason to expect that they will be able to continue to do so for sometime yet.
“The location of the machine guns, the 37 mm. guns and the light mortars in the area are known.
“It will be necessary for Captain E to assign the platoons, two to the firing line and one to the support line, and give necessary instructions regarding the work to be undertaken. These instructions will not go into any more detail than is absolutely necessary. In any event they must not be such as will take the initiative away from the platoon commanders. The platoons are given their missions. It is then up to the platoon commander to execute them. This initial order is intended merely to get the work started. It must give the platoon commanders sufficient detail for them to go about their reconnaissance and plan for the organization of their combat groups and the defensive preparation of the ground they are to occupy. The defensive position as it appears finally is not the result of any one order. It is a gradual growth planned and executed from day to day. The first elements may be only a line of individual ‘fox holes’ dug by the men. These are connected up and finally form a short section of trench here and there. As the position is studied more in detail it will become apparent where other defensive utilities should be constructed in order to add to the strength of the position. All that Captain A should include in his order at this time is sufficient detail to get the work started.”
Procedure
The Director: “We have sized up the situation and arrived at a decision. It is now necessary to put that decision into an order. We assume that the platoons have arrived at the rendezvous and the platoon commanders have reported to you here for orders.
“Now I want each member of the class to write out the order that he would give at this time. You may omit the first paragraph;—information of the enemy and our own troops. It would be much the same as that contained in the Major’s order. We will assume that you have already given that to the platoon commanders. Start your order with paragraph 2.”
When all the members of the class have completed their work the sheets will be collected and again distributed, making sure that no officer gets his own paper back again.
The Director will call upon one or more members of the class to read the order he has in his possession and it will then be discussed.
When all of this discussion is finished the Director will distribute the mimeographed sheets containing a copy of the Captain’s order. Each member of the class will receive his solution back again and compare it with the solution submitted by the Director.
The Order
2. This company will organize and hold the front from —— to ——.
3. (a) Lieutenant M, with the 1st platoon, will organize and hold the right half of the company area from —— to ——.
(b) Lieutenant O, with the 2nd platoon, will organize and hold the left half of the company area from —— to ——.
(c) Lieutenant P, with the 3rd platoon will constitute the local support and will be posted on the support line in the vicinity of ——.
(x) Combat groups will furnish the out guards for their respective fronts.
4. Battalion Aid station at ——. Other administrative arrangements later.
5. Company C. P. at ——.
Defensive Position Card No. 1
Director’s Key
1. Assemble class at (x). Distribute sheets containing problem, read and explain. Call on one or more members of class to state their understanding of tactical situation.
2. Passive defense. Explain progress of action and necessity for a halt. Prepare to ward off enemy attacks.
3. Factors in selection of position, communication and observation. Reasons for distribution in depth. Defensive areas: combat groups; strong points; centers of resistance; subsectors and sectors. Definition of each.
4. Distribute sheets containing Situation No. 1. Read and explain. Get company up. Message to platoon commanders. Rendezvous for company.
5. Reconnaissance. Size up situation. Methods of distribution of company. First, second, third, fourth, advantages and disadvantages of each.
6. Decision to use first method. Explain what must be included in order. Avoid details. Give platoon commanders their job and let them go to it.
7. Each member of class write out order. Collect and distribute. Hand out mimeograph sheets containing order. Compare work with solution.
Procedure
The class is now conducted to the area to be occupied by the 1st platoon and which is to be organized into a combat group.