If the attack is to consist of more than one phase, that is to say, of two or more distinct advances, separate plans must be made for each.
Arrangements for the supply of ammunition, belt fittings, ammunition depôts, etc., must be made before the action commences. One Officer should be placed in charge of these arrangements.
The B.M.G.O. should remain with the Brigadier. He should provide himself with a suitable number of orderlies.
CO-OPERATION.
The necessity for co-operation between the machine guns taking part in any particular action cannot be overestimated.
Not only should the individual guns of a particular unit work upon some definite plan for mutual support, but the sections of all units that are operating together should co-operate with a view to obtaining the best results from their combined actions. This cannot be done in action unless previously practised. Therefore attention should be paid to training numbers of guns to operate together for some specific purpose.
RANGES.
The ranges fired at have varied from 15 yards (at which, in one instance, a German rush was stopped), to 2,800 yds., at which range a battery of the enemy’s field artillery was silenced. This brings out the importance of:—
1. The allowance for wind at long ranges.
2. The importance of range-taking, range cards, judging distance, visual training, reference points, etc.