The Problem
Situation No. 1:
You, Captain E, are in command of Company E, which is now the advance guard, and has been designated to form the outpost for the night. Your company is in advance guard formation on the road.
Required:
The action you, Captain E, take and the orders you issue.
Procedure
The members of the class are assembled at (m) (see explanation of symbols), where the battalion is to halt for the night.
Explanation
The Director: “Before taking up the problem for solution I want to make a few remarks on the subject of the protection of a body of troops while in bivouac, and to review briefly the duties and formation of an outpost.
“As a command on the march protects itself from surprise by covering detachments called advance guards, flank guards and rear guards, so also does a command at a halt protect itself by a system of covering detachments denominated outposts.
“Duties.—Like advance guards on the march, the outpost is charged with the duties of observation and resistance.
“Specifically these duties are:
“1. To protect the main body so that the troops may rest undisturbed.
“2. In case of attack, to check the advance of the enemy long enough to enable the main body to make dispositions to meet him.
“3. To reconnoiter the enemy, prevent his reconnaissance and give timely warning of the approach of hostile bodies.
“Subdivisions.—The outpost is divided into two general lines. The first, which is called the ‘line of observation,’ does the watching for the enemy and prevents his small bodies from getting any information about our troops or annoying them. The second is a ‘fighting line,’ which holds off larger bodies.
“These lines must cover the front and flanks of the troops at rest. The ‘watching line’ must be so located that the watchers out in front will be able to see the enemy before he gets close enough to do damage. The ‘fighting line’ must be so located that it will have what we call a ‘good field of fire;’ that is, the ground in front must not be such that it will hide the movements of the enemy and allow him to get within effective rifle range without coming under our fire.
“Formation.—The formation of an outpost may best be described by referring to an outstretched hand.
“Hold your left hand in front of you with the thumb and fingers extended and pointing to the front, palm of hand down.
“The wrist will be the location of the troops in camp or in bivouac.
“The knuckle joint of the second finger will be the location of the reserve of the outpost. This is the body of troops that is held out of the fight until the direction of the enemy’s main attack is developed, when it is thrown in to meet it, or to make what we call a ‘counter-attack.’ In very small outposts this reserve is usually omitted.
“The second joints of the fingers and thumb will mark the positions occupied by the ‘supports.’ These are the fighting troops and they occupy the fighting line of the outpost. From these supports, small detachments, which we call ‘outguards,’ are sent to the front.
“The first joints of the fingers and thumb will mark the positions of the outguards. These are classified as pickets, sentry squads and cossack posts. A picket consists of two or more squads and is posted so as to cover the most important route by which the enemy may come. The sentry squad consists of one rifle squad. The cossack post is composed of a non-commissioned officer and three men.
“The tips of the fingers and thumb will mark the line of the sentinels. These are the ears and eyes of the outpost system.
“The sentinels are sent out to the front from the outguards. A picket posts one double sentinel post for each of its squads. Each sentry squad is charged with maintaining one double sentinel post. The cossack post maintains a single sentinel who is posted nearby.
“Are there any questions?”
Procedure
The Director will endeavor to answer any questions that may be asked by the members of the class. After all questions have been cleared up, the Director will hand a copy of the problem to each member of the class. A few minutes are allowed for them to read it and get oriented.
The Director: “Please give me your attention while we go over the problem.”
The Director reads the problem aloud, each member of the class following from the copy in his possession. The direction of places mentioned are pointed out.
The Director: “Lieutenant Hunt, give a brief statement of the tactical situation as you understand it.”
Lieutenant Hunt states his understanding of the tactical situation. As he proceeds, the Director makes such explanations as may be desirable. One or more additional members of the class may be called upon to state their version of the situation. All of this is for the purpose of fixing the elements of the problem in the minds of the members of the class and prevent any subsequent misunderstanding of them.
Solution
The Director: “Lieutenant Barry, what do you estimate the mission of our battalion to be?”
Lieutenant Barry: “We are an element of the force sent out to cover the concentration of the Blue forces and prevent the enemy from interfering with it.”
The Director: “We have not yet gained contact with the enemy. Why do we halt at this time?”
Lieutenant Barry: “There may be one or more reasons for it. In the first place, we are a detachment of a larger force (our regiment), and it is probable that before we started out, instructions were given our battalion commander to halt in this locality, so as to be on the general line of all the covering troops.”
The Director: “That is correct. Our battalion must conform to the general plan of the operation.
“Before going further let us consider the process by which our battalion commander arrived at his decision to halt and make the disposition indicated in his order. He has sized up the situation with respect to his mission, the enemy, our own troops; considered the plans of action open to him and the enemy; and the terrain. Based on all of this he decides to halt for the night with the advance guard as the outpost and the other companies bivouacking as indicated in the order. Now, let us see how well this order conforms to the form laid down in Field Service Regulations. Captain Hall, what are the elements of an order as applied to the halt of a command on the march?”
Captain Hall: “The first part contains information of the enemy and our own troops. The next is the plan of the commander in general terms. In this case it is merely to halt for the night, with the added sentence to the effect that march conditions cease. Next comes the tactical dispositions in which each element of the command is given orders as to just what it is to do. The last section of this paragraph tells what action is to be taken in case the enemy should make an attack. Then comes the disposition of the trains or administrative arrangements, and finally the location of the battalion C. P. is indicated by telling where messages are to be sent. All of this is included in the order, and I should say that every essential point has been covered satisfactorily.”
The Director: “Lieutenant Baker, why is Company E detailed to furnish the outpost?”
Lieutenant Baker: “It is the general rule that troops are detailed on covering duty for a period of twenty-four hours. Company E has been our advance guard for today’s march. If the battalion continues the march again tomorrow morning, another rifle company will be detailed to form the advance guard. It will get into advance guard formation before it reaches Company E’s outpost line, and when the advance guard support crosses the line of outpost supports it assumes responsibility for the protection of the column, the outpost troops are withdrawn and take their proper place in the column. Then, too, the advance guard is in the best position to continue the protection of the battalion. It has merely to change its formation from an advance guard to that of an outpost, which involves the least marching on the part of the troops.”
Procedure
The Director: “We will now go forward to the point where the support of the advance guard is halted on the road. How far would that be, Captain James?”
Captain James: “I should say that the support should be about 500 yards in advance of the main body of the battalion.”
The class is now conducted about 500 yards down the road to the place where the support of the advance guard is supposed to be halted.
The Director: “Before proceeding further with the problem it is necessary for us to decide upon the formation of the advance guard at this time. Just what do you think the formation would be, Captain James?”
Captain James: “The support would be right here in column of squads on the road. It would consist of the company (less one platoon and two connecting files). About 400 yards farther down the road would be the advance party, consisting of one platoon, from which there would be a point of one squad, about 150 yards farther to the front.”[[9]]
The Director: “I think we can all agree on those dispositions and proceed to the solution of our problem based on them. Now, let each member of the class consider himself to be Captain E, commanding the advance guard. You have attended the assembly of officers at the head of the main body and received the major’s orders. You have now returned to the company and are ready to go ahead with your part of the operation, that of posting the outpost. Just how are you going about the task that has been allotted to you? Captain Hodges, tell us what you would do.”
Solution
Captain Hodges: “I would first send a runner to Lieutenant M, commanding the advance party, telling him to report to me here. While waiting for Lieutenant M to come back I would size up the situation and decide upon my tactical dispositions.”
The Director: “What would be your primary dispositions?”
Captain Hodges: “I would have a line of supports on which I would employ one platoon and one section and a reserve consisting of the rest of the company.”
The Director: “That would be a reasonable disposition. How many supports would you have Captain Harvey?”
Captain Harvey: “I would have three supports—one on the main road and one at a suitable interval on each side of the road. There would be a section in each support.”
The Director: “Lieutenant Ralston, do you agree with that disposition?”
Lieutenant Ralston: “No, sir. It seems to me that two supports would meet the situation better. In the first place, this main road is the route on which any considerable force of the enemy must advance after dark, and I would want to cover it with a relatively strong force. I would put one support on the road and have it extend over to the right for a sufficient distance to cover the front and the immediate right flank. It would extend its front to the left of the main road. I would have support No. 2 off to the left to cover that flank.[[10]]
“Support No. 1 would consist of one platoon and No. 2 of one section.”
The Director: “Explain why you extend the front of your support No. 1 to the left of the road?”
Lieutenant Ralston: “So that the boundary line between supports will not fall on the road. One man must be made responsible for the covering of this main road, and if I make it the boundary line between supports, even if I include it in the front of one of them, it will be more or less neglected. But if I extend the front of support No. 1 beyond the road to the left, I am reasonably sure that it will be taken care of properly.”
The Director: “That is the point I wanted to bring out. I hope that all the members of the class see it. We have now to decide upon the troops to be designated for each of the supports. What would be your decision as to that, Lieutenant Wallace?”
Lieutenant Wallace: “I would have the first platoon, which now forms the advance party, form support No. 1 which will be posted on this main and cover the front from that —— (indicating right boundary of front) to that —— (indicating left boundary of front). The first section of the second platoon would form support No. 2. It would be posted at —— and cover the front from —— to ——.”
The Director: “That seems to be a reasonable disposition. Where would you have your reserve?”
Lieutenant Ralston: “I would have it posted at ——.”
The Director: “There is one point on which we have not yet touched. That is the matter of the covering of the posting of the outguards. What would you do about that, Captain Hastings?”
Captain Hastings: “I would let each support cover the posting of its own outguards. I believe they can do it better and more efficiently than any detachment that may be made from the rest of the company for the purpose.”
The Director: “Let us now assume that Lieutenant M has arrived and you are all ready to issue your orders. Just how would you go about it, Lieutenant Williams?”
Lieutenant Williams: “I would assemble the officers, platoon sergeants and section leaders in front of the company. I would give the command: 1. Company, 2. ATTENTION, and follow with AT EASE. I would then say: ‘Let me have your attention.’ I would issue my orders as follows:
“‘Small detachments of the enemy have been reported at (h) and (i) (indicating where the places are). Our 3rd Battalion is halted for the night at (k). Our regiment (less 2nd and 3rd Battalions) is halted for the night at (l). Our battalion halts for the night at (m) (point out location). March conditions have ceased.[[11]]
“‘This company furnishes the outpost along the (n) (point out general line).
“‘Lieutenant M, with the first platoon, will form support No. 1, which, posted on the road at ——, will cover the front from —— (inclusive) to —— (inclusive).
“‘Lieutenant N, with the second platoon (less one section), will form support No. 2, which, posted at ——, will cover the front from —— (exclusive) to —— (inclusive).
“‘The remainder of the company will be posted at —— as reserve.
“‘The rolling kitchen will be with the reserve. Meals will be cooked and distributed to the supports.
“‘Messages to the reserve.’”
Procedure
The Director: “You will note that the order given by Lieutenant Williams follows the form of the five paragraph order and covers all essentials. Are there any questions?”
Lieutenant Hunt: “It seems to me that we are imposing on the first platoon. They have been on advance party duty all day, and now we propose to keep them on front-line observation duty all night.”
The Director: “If the platoon had had any serious contact with the enemy during the day, it would have been proper to bring it back to the reserve, but they have just been marching along on the road. They have had practically no flank patroling to do and are in just as good shape as the rest of the company. I can see no reason for not detailing them for support duty tonight. The platoon is out in front, near the place where it is to be posted.
“Any other questions? There appear to be none.
“Now I want each member of the class to write out, on his pad, the order of Captain E. Try to get the proper form and wording for each sentence in it and cover the points brought out by Lieutenant Williams in his solution.”
The necessary time is allowed for this. The solutions are collected and redistributed. One or more members of the class may be called upon to read the solution in his possession and comment upon the wording and form of the order.
The Director will then distribute slips of paper containing the order of Captain E as given. This is done in order that each member of the class may compare his work with it and that the situations following and their solution may be based on it.
Outpost Card No. 1
Director’s Key
1. Prepare copies of the problem and Situation No. 1, also the solution to Situation No. 1, a copy for each member of the class.
2. Conduct the class to the point on the road where the battalion is halted and where it will bivouac for the night.
3. Make short talk on the protection of troops in bivouac and the formation and duties of outposts: (a) How a command protects itself at a halt; (b) Duties of outposts; (c) Subdivision of outposts; (d) Formation of outposts (illustrate by reference to outstretched hand), main body, reserve, supports, outguards, sentinels.
4. Distribute sheets bearing problem and Situation No. 1.
5. Read problem aloud and question members of the class on the tactical situation: mission of battalion; why halt; estimation of the situation; elements of field order; compare with battalion commander’s order; why Company E for outpost.
6. Conduct class to point where support of advance guard is supposed to be.
7. Discuss formation of advance guard. Each man now consider himself as being Captain E.
8. Discuss formation of outpost: Primary dispositions; number of supports; why support on main road; boundaries of support front; location of supports; location of reserve; covering posting of outguards.
9. Final solution of problem: Preliminaries; order of Captain E; five paragraph order; why first platoon forms one support.
10. Have members of class write out order. Collect solutions and redistribute them. Distribute copies of Captain E’s order. Read and discuss solutions.
Procedure
The class is now conducted to the point on the road where the advance party is supposed to be halted.
The Director: “We are now at the point where the first platoon, which is the advance party of the advance guard, is halted. Lieutenant M has joined his platoon and is ready to proceed with the execution of the task allotted to him.”