No. 4. Control of Fire as to Rate and Volume (Sec. 44, paras. 14-17 inclusive).—The above object lesson illustrates the principle governing the control of fire as to volume and rate, both of which are increased to get the greatest possible effect against very favourable or important targets. Many other object lessons can be devised on the Target with figures to illustrate the principles of fire control. For instance, against an enemy’s entrenchment or firing line under cover, fire at longer ranges will usually be deliberate, while against the dense line of an attack at close range or against very favourable or important targets, especially if they are fleeting, it will usually be delivered in rapid bursts and in as great a volume as possible. The relation between the rate and volume of fire and the object for which it is delivered, and the circumstances under which it is delivered, should be explained and demonstrated in connection with fire control.
No. 5. Concentration and Distribution of Fire [Sec. 44, paras. 8 and 9; and Sec. 54, para. 3 (v) to (vii) inclusive].—The broad principles which govern the concentration and distribution of fire may be illustrated by arranging figures representing troops in different formations, machine guns, etc., at various ranges on the Target, so that men can see the different kinds of targets against which fire will be concentrated or distributed. For instance, against a narrow-fronted column or machine gun fire will be concentrated, while against lines of infantry in extended order or the frontage of a defensive position fire will usually be distributed. Fire may, however, be concentrated if part of a line offers a favourable target through the men failing to keep their extension and crowding together, on the principle that fire should be concentrated against very vulnerable targets or at points where it will produce increased effect.
No. 6. Mutual Support and Covering Fire (Sec. 44, paras. 12 and 13).—The broad principles governing the application of fire in mutual support and covering fire may be illustrated by arranging simple tactical schemes on the Target in the following manner: The firers will be divided into two fire-units, as in Demonstration No. 3. They are supposed to be part of a firing line in attack. To illustrate mutual support, one unit will be represented by a line of figures on Tier B, directly in front of it. When the figures are disappeared, the unit they represent is supposed to be halted, and when they are exposed, it is supposed to be advancing. The enemy’s position will be indicated as a definite frontage in front of each unit on the scenery above Tier A, or the scenic accessories on this tier. While both units are supposed to be firing during a halt, the figures on Tier A will be exposed, denoting that one unit is advancing. The commander of the other unit will at once direct fire from part of his unit in rapid fire against the front of the enemy’s position to the front of the advancing unit, while keeping the enemy’s position to his front under fire from the rest of his unit. To illustrate covering fire, a line of figures on Tier B will represent the firing line of an attack, to which the firers are supports on high ground. The enemy’s front will be indicated on Tier A. When the figures are exposed, denoting an advance by the firing line, the supports will cover the advance by delivering heavy fire at the enemy’s position to the front of the figures.
No. 7. Fire and Movement (Sec. 44, para. 7).—The control of fire in its application to movement may, for example, be illustrated by supposing the firers to be part of a force acting on the defensive against an attacking force, represented by figures on the Target. Considerations relative to opening fire may be studied, together with the control of fire against advancing troops, with the object of obtaining increased effect at closer ranges and attempting surprise (Sec. 44, paras. 17 and 18). The rate and volume of fire in relation to movement may be demonstrated by illustrating by figures arranged on both tiers of the Target the different stages of an attack[31] in column and extended order formations from 1,600 to 600 or 400 yards range, an advance, and explaining that the rate of fire is usually deliberate when the enemy halts or takes cover, and is increased in rate and volume when his troops present favourable targets during forward movement, more especially to beat them off in the act of assaulting [Sec. 44, para. 16 (i) and (ii)].
No. 8. Organization for Fire Action (Sec. 42).—Before commencing collective field practices, the principles of organization for fire action, so far as it concerns the allotment of frontages and the division of the field of fire into separate sectors for each fire unit should be demonstrated to fire-unit commanders on the Target or on landscape targets. Platoon and section commanders
inclusive. may be practised in indicating the limits of sectors to their units, after the frontage allotted to their unit in a field of fire has been pointed out to these commanders. The limits of sectors must be indicated in the manner described in Sec. 42, para. 3, and illustrated in [Fig. 47]. The nature and details of fields of fire should be varied as much as possible to accustom unit commanders to dealing with all kinds of ground. The field of fire may be divided up into two, three, or four sectors, a different unit commander being made to indicate the limits of each sector.
(iv) Conditions of Practices.—The collective field practices on [pp. 188] to [192] inclusive may be adapted for miniature range firing on the Target by modifying the conditions as may be necessary. The conditions of practices may also be based on the ideas contained in the examples of demonstrations given in para. (iii) above. Instructors should encourage fire-unit commanders and N.C.O.’s to devise simple tactical schemes for collective field practices which, besides training officers and men in the duties of fire direction, control, and discipline, will teach them to give effect to the principles which govern the application of fire. The arrangement of the Target by men for practices to be fired by their comrades may also be used by the instructor for imparting useful practical knowledge. Special attention should be paid in these practices to firing from cover, passing fire orders, and fire discipline generally. The following examples of practices will serve as a guide to instructors with regard to conditions.
(v) Special Rules.—Practices will begin with the caution Commence, and will end with the order Cease Fire. The number, nature, and positions of targets will be unknown to firers, and must be invisible until exposed or moved. Targets may be exposed without warning any time after the caution Commence, and the order, time, and duration of exposure or movement will be unknown to firers in every case. All information which will help commanders and men to use their judgment will be given them beforehand, when the object of the practice will be explained, but no help or suggestion as to the manner in which they will carry out their duties will be told them either before or during a practice. Criticism will not be confined to the points noted in the following examples of practices, but will be general. These examples are purposely made simple, and devised as far as possible to deal with situations which may confront men in the present campaign. They may be varied by Instructors as desired.