You, Lieutenant A, commanding the flank guard, and marching at the head of the support, are approaching this road fork. The flank guard is now marching abreast of the interval between the reserve of the advance guard and the head of the main body of the column on the (a)-(b) road. There has been no contact with the enemy.
Required:
What action do you take?
Procedure
The Director reads over the problem and makes such explanation as may be necessary.
The Director: “Captain Harvey, how do you size up the situation at this time?”
Captain Harvey: “The mission of the flank guard is the protection of this flank of the column marching on the (a)-(b) road, and provide for its uninterrupted progress. The enemy has been reported out on this flank (pointing). He will naturally take advantage of roads leading towards the Blue column to facilitate his operations. The road we are approaching leads from the direction of the enemy and must be watched until our main column has passed the danger point. We are marching abreast of the interval between the advance guard and the main body of our main column. This road will have to be watched until the main body passes beyond it. The road space occupied by the main body of the column would be about 2,900 yards, including field train of the regiment and excluding the combat train of the 1st brigade. The column will pass a given point at the rate of about 88 yards per minute. It will therefore take about 32 minutes for the main body to pass.
“My decision would be to send a patrol out on the road to the —— (direction).”
The Director: “Your estimate seems to cover the necessary points and I think we can agree that you have arrived at the proper decision. Just a mention of this ‘Estimate of the Situation.’ It is a logical process of thought involving the elements just mentioned by Captain Harvey, terminating in a tactical decision. This is what you have to do in the solution of all tactical problems. The patrol leader does it in every move of his patrol. The platoon as a flank guard requires the same process on the part of the platoon leader. The company commander, as commander of the advance party of an advance guard, must consider these same elements in the conduct of his covering detachment. It is the same with the battalion commander, the regimental commander, and on up to the commander of a division. When you are presented with a tactical situation for solution, figure out all the elements of it; your mission, your situation with respect to the enemy, the influence of the terrain, and then arrive at a clean-cut decision as to what you are going to do. Captain Hodges, what would be the strength of the patrol?”
Captain Hodges: “I would make it one squad. I think that would be about right.”