The Problem
Special Situation:
A blue force operating in hostile country halts at (a) and establishes an outpost along the line (b). Support No. 2 is located at (c) with outguard No. 1 at (d); outguard No. 2 at (e) and outguard No. 3 at (f).
Situation No. 1:
You, Lieutenant A are in command of Support No. 2, consisting of your platoon and located at this point. The first section furnishes the outguards and the platoon (less 1st Section) the main body of the support. You have made the inspection of your line of observation and sent your report to the company commander.
Required:
What arrangements do you make for visiting patrols?
Explanation of Letter Symbols
(a) The location of the bivouac of the main body of the Blue force. This should be located at a central point with reference to the outpost line.
(b) Designate the general line of the Blue outpost.
(c) The location of Support No. 2. It should be located at a central point with reference to the line of outguards. (d)-(e)-(f) The location of the three outguards posted from Support No. 2.
In fitting this exercise to the ground the location of the outguards should be selected first. Care should be taken to so locate them that the ground is suitable for illustrating the tactical features that are to be brought out and discussed in the Terrain Exercise. The location of Support No. 2 should then be selected and finally that of the Blue main body. If you have had a previous Terrain Exercise covering the subject of outposts it may be convenient and advantageous to base this Terrain Exercise on the same situation and covering the same ground.
Procedure
The class is conducted to (c), the location of Support No. 2.
The Director distributes the sheets containing the Special Situation and Situation No. 1, reads them aloud to the class and makes such explanation as may be necessary. One or more members of the class may be called upon to state his understanding of the situation.
Explanation
The Director: “It is fully realized that no member of this class will ever be called upon to conduct the operations of a visiting patrol. You will, however, have to order your non-commissioned officers to do so and you must have a knowledge of how it should be gone about and whether the duty is being properly performed.
“The military text-books usually tell you that a visiting patrol consists of a non-commissioned officer and two or three men that make the rounds along the outpost line of observation at night. That is about all. It is assumed that the subject is so simple that you just naturally know it and there is nothing further to be explained. Such is not the case and before we have completed this exercise we will demonstrate it to you. Another good test of the proposition is this: Take your non-commissioned officers out on a Terrain Exercise and give them the situations that we will have today. See how many of them get away with it. I am sure you will be surprised at the results, especially with the men who have had no previous preparation for the exercise.”
Solution
The Director: “Lieutenant Williams, what is a visiting patrol?”
Lieutenant Williams: “It is a patrol consisting of a non-commissioned officer and two or three men. It is sent out from the support at intervals during the night to keep up communication between the elements of the outpost.”
The Director: “Captain Hastings, tell us just how the visiting patrol makes its rounds.”
Captain Hastings: “Let us say that the patrol is to start out from our support No. 2, which is located at this point. The patrol will go out to the right and touch upon the left outguard of Support No. 1; then pass along our own line of observation to the right outguard of Support No. 3 and then come back here.”
The Director: “Yes, that is the general procedure. The details of how the patrol is to do all of this is what we are interested in and that is what will be brought out in this Terrain Exercise. Lieutenant Wallace, what do you understand to be the specific duties of a visiting patrol?”
Lieutenant Wallace: “Included in the duties of visiting patrols may be enumerated:
“1. They bring back information of incidents that may occur along the line of observation and form a medium of exchange of information between the various elements of the outpost.
“2. In a measure, they prevent the unobserved approach of the enemy between sentinel posts. When the enemy is very active there is constant patrolling between the observation posts.
“3. They drive off small patrols.
“4. They take charge of detained persons and conduct them back to the support.”
The Director: “That is very good. Now, Lieutenant Ralston, suppose you were Lieutenant A, commanding Support No. 2. What instructions would you give regarding your visiting patrols?”
Lieutenant Ralston: “The visiting patrol is a night institution. There is little necessity for its employment in the day time, but I would not wait until dark to give my instructions regarding it. I would give orders:
“‘There is no further information of the enemy and our own troops.
“‘The second section will furnish the visiting patrols for tonight.
“‘Corporal Black, with the 4th Squad, will conduct the visiting patrols at 8 and 10 o’clock p. m.
“‘Corporal Canes, with the 5th Squad, will conduct the visiting patrols at 12 midnight and 2 o’clock a. m.
“‘Corporal Dorr with the 6th Squad, will conduct the visiting patrols at 4 and 6 o’clock a. m.
“‘Patrol leaders will go over the route of their patrols before dark.
“‘Messages to support, here.’”
The Director: “I think you have covered the necessary points.
“Are there any questions by any member of the class? If so, now is the time to clear them up.”
Visiting Patrol Card No. 1
Director’s Key
1. Assemble the class at (c) the location of Support No. 2.
2. Distribute sheets bearing the Special Situation and Situation No. 1. Read and explain. Have members of the class state their understanding of the problem.
3. Explain that no member of class will ever be required to conduct a visiting patrol, but it is necessary for them to know how it should be done. Definition of visiting patrol. Test by taking N. C. O.’s on Terrain Exercise.
4. Solution: What is visiting patrol. How it makes rounds. Duties. Orders given for visiting patrols. Any questions.