4. Have class write out order. Collect, read and comment on solutions.
5. Comments of problem. Frontage of platoon. Explanation of base platoon. Company headquarters in action. Second in command. Covering patrol. Extra ammunition preparations for defense.
Explanation
The Director: “Before going further with the problem I want to explain to you what happens between the time the Captain issues his orders for the attack and the time that it starts.
“Having received and understood their orders, the platoon commanders go back and join their platoons. In doing so they select the route over which they are going to conduct their commands up to the line of departure for the attack.
“Each platoon commander conducts his platoon over to the right and gets it into approach formation directly in rear of and with its front as nearly parallel to the line of departure as possible. The proposition of bringing a platoon or any other unit up to a point immediately in rear of the line of departure in a column of files and making the deployment from that formation is fraught with great danger and is almost sure to result in confusion, losses and great consumption of time. The platoons must be gotten into an approach formation from which they can readily deploy on nearing the line of departure. Captain James, suppose you were commanding the first platoon. What formation would you take up in bringing your platoon up to the line of departure?”
Captain James: “I would form it in two lines or waves each consisting of one section. Each section would be in line of squad columns. From this formation I can readily deploy the leading wave in to a line of skirmishes covering the front allotted to the platoon and hold the rear wave in a line of squad columns or deploy it as the circumstances may require. In any event I have my platoon under complete control all the time.”
The Director: “I think we can all agree that your formation is correct.”
“Now, each platoon commander must get the orders to the men who are to make the attack. When the platoon arrives at a point in rear of the line of departure the platoon commanders will assemble their non-commissioned officers and scouts at a covered location near the line of departure where they can command a view of the front. Here he will explain the situation and give his orders for the attack. These orders will be issued in the regular five paragraph order form which I have already explained to you. The non-commissioned officers join their units. The leading wave is brought up and deployed on the line of departure. The scouts move out to the front. The second section is held in proper formation (line of squad columns or line of skirmishers) from 50 to 100 yards in rear of the leading wave. The platoon commanders signal Captain C that they are ready to launch the attack.
“The special weapons, machine guns and light mortars and the 37 mm. gun, are gotten to their respective firing positions and the unit commanders signal Captain C that they are ready to cover the attacking troops with their fire.