Machine-Gun Tactics

by R. V. K. Applin

In the first case the squadron with scouts in front will move in column of troops ready to wheel into line for the attack. The machine guns should move in line immediately in rear of the rear troop and as close as possible, so as not to be seen from the front. The subsequent action of the machine guns must of course depend on the method of attack of the squadron and the nature of the country; but the objects in view will be (1) to support the attack by fire up to the moment of the collision, and then to bring fire to bear upon the retreating enemy and prevent their rallying; (2) to take up a position to cover the retirement of the squadron and enable it to re-form if worsted in the encounter. It is likely that if the first object is successfully attained and the fire of the section brought to bear on the enemy’s squadron, from any range under 800 yards, for only 30 seconds, the effect on the closed body of horsemen, whether in column or line, would be such as to throw them into considerable confusion at the moment of the charge, while any attempt to charge the guns, even by a second squadron, must be abortive and result in disaster. The squadron leader should have arranged beforehand with his machine-gun commander to manœuvre with a view to this co-operation, and will give the signal a few moments before wheeling into line to attack, when the machine guns will gallop out to the most suitable flank, and come into action as rapidly as possible so as to enfilade the enemy’s advance. The moment the charging squadrons mask the fire of the guns, they must remount and gallop to a fresh position in anticipation of the pursuit, in order to bring fire to bear on the retreating enemy and prevent a rally; or to cover the retirement of the squadron and enable it to rally and reform. The effect of his fire and the success or otherwise of the first collision will enable the section commander to decide instantly which of these two actions will be necessary. It will be seldom that the country is so flat that some feature cannot be found giving a good field of fire or commanding a road, or bridge, or other defile by which the enemy must retreat, or which they must pass in pursuit, and the use of such features will greatly assist the action of machine guns. Although both guns will fire together before the collision, their subsequent action must be made in mutual support, one gun firing while the other races to a new position from which it can overtake and flank the retiring enemy, so that, if possible, one gun is always firing at effective range while the other is moving. In the same way, if covering the retreat of their own squadron, one gun will fire while the other retires to a second position and in turn covers the retirement of the first. The guns must not hesitate to separate widely in order to obtain unseen the best possible positions from which to fire, but must always be able to support each other. If the country is much broken, opportunities will be found for concealing the gun in a position from which to enfilade the pursuing cavalry at short range, or for bringing a cross fire to bear from both guns on a defile. Such an opportunity skilfully utilised, when the range has been accurately taken, and fire reserved until the main body is within close range (600 yards or less), should be so decisive in its result as to check the pursuit altogether and possibly turn defeat into victory, if the retiring squadron has had time to re-form and is in a position to launch a counter-attack at this moment.

To make full use of machine guns with a squadron, it is necessary for the squadron leader thoroughly to understand their power and capabilities, and to anticipate their action and the result likely to ensue; otherwise he will be unable to do more than passively accept their support, and will fail to reap the advantage of their principal characteristic—their ability to surprise and their power suddenly to overwhelm with fire a superior body of troops.

Should the enemy’s squadron be reinforced or be so superior in numbers that an attack appears inadvisable, it may be possible with the assistance of machine guns to equalise matters by concealing the guns in a donga or behind a ridge, a clump of trees, or group of rocks, and then manœuvring the squadron so as to draw the enemy across the front of the guns at close range. The best method of doing this is to lead the squadron, formed in column of troops, past the cover selected at a sharp pace, the guns being concealed on the outer flank or behind the rear troop as circumstances may require. As the squadron passes the selected spot, the machine guns will be dropped; and the squadron at the same moment wheeling into line towards the enemy, will hide the guns from view until they are concealed by the cover.

The gun horses and the rest of the detachment not actually required to fire the guns should move on with the squadron, so that no indication is given the enemy that the guns are not still with the squadron. If this manœuvre is successfully accomplished, it will not be difficult to draw the enemy across the guns at close range. It is a manœuvre well worth practice in peace, but an opposing squadron should always be used to try to detect the guns and thus ensure that the concealment is properly carried out.

We will now suppose a case where the enemy takes up a defensive position and the contact squadron has to force its way through. The squadron leader’s method of attack must entirely depend on the strength of the position, the force holding it, and the natural features of the country in the immediate vicinity; and on his plan of attack must depend the details of the action of the machine guns. The general principles governing their employment will remain the same, however much they may vary in the method of carrying out: the first is to supplement the rifle fire of the squadron so as to enable as many men as possible to remain mounted, while holding the enemy to his position; and the second is to gain superiority of fire for the squadron at the time and place selected by the squadron leader. We will suppose the position to be strong and the enemy to possess machine guns, and that the squadron leader’s plan is to hold the enemy to his position by a vigorous frontal attack, while he turns the weaker flank. To do this he may decide to use his guns for the containing attack supported by a troop, or to use his squadron for the containing attack and his guns to turn the flank. Having machine guns in position against him, it might be advisable to choose the latter course, because machine guns are less effective against a skirmishing line of attackers, while his own machine guns are more effective if they can gain the flank or rear of the enemy’s position and thus enfilade them, and any movement of mounted troops to repulse the turning movement, or take their attackers in flank, will afford the machine guns an opportunity for decisive fire action. Should the machine guns or one of them succeed in stalking the led horses of the enemy, their action will probably be decisive, as nothing affords a machine gun such an easy and effective target as the horses of a dismounted squadron, while the effect of fire on them is to render the squadron immobile and to place them out of action as cavalry altogether.

The method of attack will probably be as follows. Scouts (dismounted) having been sent forward to reconnoitre and draw fire to disclose the extent of the position, two troops dismounted and widely extended will advance to the attack and open a heavy fire and push the attack as hotly as possible; at the same moment one troop (mounted) will move slowly round the flank which it is not intended to attack, keeping wide of the position and closed up, and in signalling communication with the squadron leader. This will probably draw attention to this flank, and the troop should report by signal any movement made by the enemy to check them. Rapid fire should now be ordered all along the line, and the troop on the flank should wheel and open out towards the enemy, but not approach within range if it can be avoided. Under cover of this demonstration, the machine guns with the remaining troop will work round the flank selected for attack, the guns being concealed on the outer flank of the troop and using every bit of cover possible to prevent being seen. Scouts must precede them, and the troop should screen their movements and engage the enemy with fire if opposed. Engagement with the enemy should be avoided as far as possible until the place selected for attack is reached, and the position turned. Even now the machine guns must avoid opening fire with the troop, and must endeavour to find a position from which an enfilading fire can be brought to bear at close range. Under cover of the surprise caused by the sudden burst of machine-gun fire, the second gun must push farther round to the rear, and try to fire on the led horses or catch the enemy’s guns on the move, for they will certainly be moved to meet this fresh attack. If the horses cannot be reached, the second gun must seek the best position to bring a reverse fire in support of the first gun; and unless a really good target is obtained, fire should be reserved until the first gun is discovered and attacked, when its intention to retire must be the signal for a burst of heavy fire which must be kept up until the first gun is in a fresh position and ready to open fire to cover the retirement of the second.

This action will enable the squadron leader to use the troop feinting on the other flank, which he will have recalled on the first sign of firing by the flank attack, in order to reinforce the point where the attack can be pressed home.

The machine guns must avoid engaging those of the enemy, while always endeavouring to catch them limbered up, i.e. when changing position or while coming into or going out of action, for then they are most vulnerable. The situation at the moment of the flank attack is this: The front of the position is attacked by a strong but widely extended firing line which overlaps the flanks and compels a strong defensive firing line to check its advance. If the defender decides to put his machine guns into position here and to reserve half the squadron for defence of the flanks, the great extension of the attack renders their fire of little effect as long as the attack utilises cover and advances by rushes from the right or left of sections; on the other hand, if he decides to put the squadron into the firing line and to use his machine guns to protect his flanks, he has either to divide his guns or wait till he can see which flank is threatened, and he cannot ignore the troop which is moving against one. Consequently, he must either be weaker than the flank attack—in which case it is likely to succeed; or he must withdraw troops from his position to strengthen the threatened flank—in which case there should be no difficulty in pushing home the front attack with the aid of the extra troop; while the position of the machine guns on the flank and rear should render his retirement from the position very costly. In all probability the threat of turning a flank either by mounted troops or by machine guns will compel the enemy to abandon the position in the case of a minor engagement between squadrons—especially where a counter-attack is rendered impossible by the strength of the frontal attack.

When touch has been gained by the contact squadrons and the enemy found in force, they will either be compelled by superior numbers to fall back or they must be at once supported; in either case the advanced guard will now become engaged and will endeavour to break through the advanced guard of the enemy, or, if in touch with the main body of the enemy’s cavalry, will endeavour to prevent him breaking through till their own Cavalry Division comes up.