14. Volume of Fire.—In deciding on the volume of fire to be directed against the enemy at any particular time, a commander should consider chiefly the tactical situation, the target presented, the effect it is desired to produce, the range, and the state of the ammunition-supply.
15. Rates of Fire.—The rate of fire will always be regulated carefully according to tactical requirements.
(i) Slow Desultory Fire may disturb the enemy’s aim, but it is opposed to principles of surprise.
(ii) Deliberate Fire.—The rate of deliberate fire should not exceed six rounds a minute.
(iii) Rate when Working in Pairs.—Soldiers working in pairs for observation and mutual support (Sec. 47, para. 4) may each fire about three rounds a minute.
(iv) Rapid Collective Fire.—In rapid collective fire the rate will vary according to the visibility of the aiming-mark, the range, and the standard of training a man has reached. With a distinct aiming-mark within about 1,000 yards a well-trained man should be able to fire from twelve to fifteen rounds per minute without serious loss of accuracy.
16. Use of Rapid Fire.—(i) Rapid fire should be considered as a reserve of power to be used when the occasion demands it. It must never be used except when occasion most fully justifies it, otherwise serious waste of ammunition will result. Rapid fire must combine accuracy with rapidity, and never degenerate into a wild expenditure of ammunition at the fastest possible rate. If rapid fire is ordered, each man will fire at his own best rate for combining rapidity with accuracy.
(ii) Rapid fire may be employed generally when it is necessary to beat down the enemy’s fire quickly; when covering the withdrawal of other troops; when pursuing an enemy with fire; when meeting cavalry attacks; and when good targets are exposed. In attack, rapid fire is employed by all troops as final preparation for the assault. In defence, it is employed to beat off an enemy in the act of assaulting (Practices Nos. 5 and 6, p. 228).
17. Short Bursts of Fire.—(i) The effect of surprise by a sudden burst of accurate fire from an unexpected quarter is very great. Short bursts of rapid fire, followed by pauses, favour observation of results, and give time for the adjustment of sights. They also facilitate the control of fire in critical situations.
(ii) The duration of such bursts must be strictly controlled, and limited to the requirements of the occasion, for if rapid-fire is continued for any length of time, it excites and exhausts the troops, and leads to waste of ammunition. In order to insure control and facilitate the passing of orders, the number of rounds to be fired may be named, as, for instance, ten rounds fire, or rapid fire.