General.
To command his section in accordance with orders and the tactical situation.
To select gun positions.
To observe and control fire.
To give instructions to range taker.
To act, when brigaded, under instructions of the B.M.G.O.
Supervise guns coming into action as the section officer will direct.
Be prepared to take command in the event of the officer becoming a casualty; in fact, act as the officer’s understudy.
Responsible for packing, and contents of limbered wagon·
On the march he will be in rear of it and work brake as required.
Superintend unpacking, and take command in the absence of officer and sergeant.
See that rifles and packs of Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 are put into wagon.
Have spare parts box handy.
Supervise ammunition supply and belt filling.
Direct limbered wagons as required.
Superintend filling of sandbags and cutting of brushwood.
Watch for signals from section officer.
Take place of sergeant in the event of him becoming a casualty.
No. 1 Firer.
Will personally clean and look after his gun.
Carry tripod into action, place it in position and assist No. 2 in mounting.
Repeat all orders received.
Observe his own fire.
Assists No. 1 at the gun, carries it into action and mounts it with the assistance of No. 1.
Attends to the feeding.
Watch for signals from the section officer.
Ammunition carriers.
No. 3 takes first supply to the gun assisted by No. 4 and arranges that spare parts wallet is brought up to gun position.
He is also responsible that the condenser is in position before water boils.
No. 4 takes ammunition from limber to No. 3 when a further supply is required.
Takes condenser complete, and half filled with water to No. 3.
Acts as ordered by section officer.
Takes ranges and prepares range cards.
The other No. 6, is a spare man and acts according to orders from his officer.
Remain with wagons and must act on signal from the officer. They should be taught to fill belts by hand or machine and to act as ammunition carriers.
The detachment will be formed up in two ranks six paces in rear of the wagon, facing outwards.
On the command or signal “Action,†the driver dismounts and stands to his horses. The sergeant and Nos. 5 and 6 double out to the section officer. The corporal lowers the tail-board and superintends the unpacking. The remaining numbers ground arms on the word of command of the senior number, and fall out to the wagon to perform the duties detailed above.
The corporal selects a suitable covered position for the limbered wagon, if necessary.
On the command or signal “Dismount guns,†the procedure for unpacking is reversed, and when completed, detachments fall in and take up arms by word of command.
Normally mules will be led by Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 8.
On the command “Prepare for action,†Nos. 2, 3, 7 and 8 will link their mules to those immediately in front of them.
Nos. 7 and 8 will lead Nos. 1 and 4 mules. Nos. 1 and 2 will march on the tripod and gun sides respectively of No. 1 mule and loosen straps. Nos. 3 and 4 will march on either side of No. 2 mule.
On the command or signal “Action,†No. 1 will off-load the tripod and No. 2 the gun; No. 3 will off-load the leading ammunition animal.
The corporal will select a suitable covered position for the pack animals. The other duties of the various numbers are as on pages       .
On the command or signal “Stand to,†Nos. 1, 2 and 3 will reverse the actions of off-loading. The detachment will then form up for marching.
Guns, tripods and ammunition boxes will be placed on the ground, muzzles to the front and in line, legs to rear, straps round rear legs buckled, clamps sufficiently tight to prevent legs from hanging loose when tripod is lifted. Traversing clamp sufficiently loose to enable gun to be deflected by a sharp tap with the hand on rear crosspiece, guns on right and not closer to each other than eight paces, ammunition boxes three paces in rear.
Fall in.—Detachment for the two guns will “fall in†in two ranks, five paces in front of the interval between guns, sergeant on left of front rank, corporal covering him in rear.
Front rank will be right gun detachment.
Rear rank will be left gun detachment.
Number.—As in squad drill.
Take Post.—Detachments turn outwards and double to their respective guns (sergeant and corporal on outerflanks, where they can superintend). Nos. 1 and 2 fall in on left of tripod; No. 3 on left of ammunition box. (If ground suitable these numbers should lie down.)
Nos. 4, 5 and 6 fall in, in single rank, in rear of No. 3.
The gun position and point of aim is then indicated, followed by command:—
Mount Gun.—No. 1 picks up tripod, having previously seen that both elevating screws are exposed the same distance, carries and places it in position indicated. In adjusting, he must ensure that crosshead and sights are upright, and legs clamped tight. No. 2 should so time his advance that he will arrive immediately the tripod is adjusted. He will carry gun to right side of tripod, holding rear crosspiece with left hand, gun muzzle to rear under right arm. Kneels on left knee, facing tripod, and supporting weight of gun on right knee, places it on tripod, drives in and turns down crosshead joint pin, and removes cork plug from steam escape hole.
No. 1 fixes elevating joint pin and directs gun towards the mark.
No. 2 kneeling and placing ammunition box in position.
No. 3 when he sees gun nearly mounted, will carry ammunition box forward and place it within reach of No. 2. He then retires to a position not immediately in rear of the gun.
Load.—No. 1 raises tangent sight, No. 2 passes tag of belt through feed block. No. 1 turns crank handle on to buffer spring, pulls belt to left front as far as it will go, and lets go crank handle, releases strain on belt, then turns crank handle on to buffer spring, again pulls belt to left front and lets go belt and crank handle. The gun is now ready to fire.
Single Shot Loading.—Carry out first half of loading motions, then, without touching belt, turn crank handle on to buffer spring and let go.
800 (Range).—No. 1 repeats the order and adjusts slide to elevation required.
At (Object).—No. 2 adjusts traversing clamp if ordered to by No. 1, who lays the gun, raises automatic safety catch with forefinger and prepares to fire.
When No. 1 is ready No. 2 holds up his hand.
Fire.—No. 1 presses the double button.
Cease Fire.—No. 1 releases automatic safety catch and remains steady.
Traversing Fire.—No. 1 will lay gun on flank named, press button, and tap alternately, with the hand, on the rear crosspiece in the required direction, until limit is reached.
Unload.—No. 1 lowers the sight (not the slide), turns the crank handle twice in succession on to buffer spring, letting it fly back each time on to the check lever; then presses up finger pieces on bottom pawls, No. 2 withdrawing and repacking belt in box. No. 1 clears ejector tube and lock, and releases lock spring by pressing double button.
Dismount Gun.—No. 1 removes crosshead and elevating joint pins. No. 2 replaces cork plug, passes ammunition box to No. 3, and removes gun to its original position in rear, No. 1 following with tripod, joint pins will then be pushed home, legs folded and clamped.
Mount Gun.—No. 1 crawls into position, pushing tripod forward with right hand, having first adjusted front legs by turning it over and moving legs round so that they remain in a slightly backward position over the elevating wheel.
When in the position ordered for mounting, he turns legs down and adjusts so as to secure a low, upright position of the crosshead.
No. 2 will then move into position, on his back, carrying the gun across his body, muzzle to the front. On reaching tripod he will push muzzle towards No. 1 who will assist in mounting, and insert crosshead joint pin, No. 2 inserting elevating joint pin and removing cork plug.
No. 1 will then turn into position for firing, supporting himself against the legs of No. 2.
Adjust sights, load, and fire as ordered.
Out of Action.—No. 1 will unload, Nos. 1 and 2 (in prone position) will take hold of rear leg (No. 1 with right hand, No, 2 with left), and draw gun out of action until under cover, when gun will be dismounted in the usual manner; No. 2 having drawn ammunition box back with the gun.
TESTS OF ELEMENTARY TRAINING.
1. Placed in a heap. Pass for inspection when filled.
1. Placed in a heap. Pass for inspection when filled.
The fact that the gun is mounted upon a platform and the personal factor thus reduced, results in a close grouping of fire, and practically the same results are obtained in war as in peace, the beaten zone being about half the area of that of rifle fire. This gives the following advantages:—
Surprise effect.
Observation of fire for ranging.
Overhead covering fire.
Other advantages of the machine gun are:—
Narrow frontage (a machine gun only occupying the same frontage as two infantrymen).
Difficult to locate.
Normal rate of fire about 500 rounds per minute.All-round traverse, which allows gun to be turned in any direction without moving tripod, and with little exposure.
Mobility: It can go wherever a man can go on foot.
It has, however, the following drawbacks:—
Overheating, and consequent stoppage through too prolonged fire.
Noise of firing, and steam from barrel casing reveals position.
Narrow and scattered objects are unsuitable targets.
It will be seen therefore that the machine gun is a weapon of opportunity particularly adapted for surprise effect, but not for sustained fire action.
The following methods should be used:—
Bursts of fire limited to from 10 to 20 rounds.
It is unlikely that observation will be obtained with larger bursts.
In groups of from 30 to 50 rounds, the firer pausing slightly between each group to confirm the alignment of sights.
Distributed laterally, and applied in a series of small groups, the object being to cover as wide a front as possible, with a minimum of volume. (Groups should consist of from 5 to 10 rounds only.) A belt of 250 rounds should cover a frontage of 25 yards in one minute.
For trench warfare, and against dense targets at close ranges, the traversing clamp being kept fairly loose and the gun traversed evenly and smoothly from side to side, both hands retaining their hold on the traversing handles.
When two or more guns are working together, the depth of the effective zone can be increased by ordering different elevations for each gun, both, however, using the same point of aim.
The respective depth and width of effective zones may be taken as being:—
From this it is apparent that, allowing an error of 10 per cent. in ascertaining the range, the flatness of trajectory within 800 yards will insure the target being included in the effective zone, therefore with Mark VII ammunition combined sights should not be used at less than 800 yards.
When only a section is available and the “combined sights†method does not give sufficient assurance of fire effect, “bracketing†should be used as follows:—
The range estimated, probable error determined, and the limits between which it is necessary to search with fire, the maximum and minimum elevation will be allotted to right and left gun respectively, who fire a burst and then work inwards (one higher, one lower) by altering their respective elevations 50 yards each time, eventually passing each other. If observation of the fire can be obtained, correct elevation should be immediately ordered.
With Mark VII ammunition this method would not be necessary at 1,000 yards, as with a 10 per cent. error the “combined sights†method would give a satisfactory result.
The range to nearest point of objective is taken, sight adjusted and gun laid on this point.
Sights are then set for the farthest point of the objective. This will bring the line of sight short of the aiming-point. A series of bursts are then fired, care being taken that each burst strikes just beyond the former one, but does not leave any gap between groups.
Can be employed normally from or at a commanding position, or across a valley, but not when own troops and those of the enemy are on same plane.
Range of target must be accurate. If 1,000 yards or under, angles of sight to enemy and own troops must not be less than 30 minutes. If range is between 1,000 and 1,500 yards, the angle must not be less than 60 mins.
Overhead fire should not be used at 1,500 yards and over.
The following method of sighting can be used.—
Adjust backsight to correct range of target and lay gun on mark. If gun is nearer than 900 yards, raise sight by 400 yards, and if further than 900 yards, raise sight 250 yards.
The new line of sight gives safety angles.
When heads of own troops come into line of sight, cease fire, or continue to elevate gradually, keeping pace with advance.
Firing from concealed positions at an auxiliary aiming mark.
A machine gun protractor, or graticules cut across the focal plane of prismatic glasses are most satisfactory. By this means indirect fire can be applied as easily as direct fire.
The gun may be laid by day and left until required, or by use of the “night firing box,†as follows:—
A stick is placed in the ground 10 yards in front of gun in a direct line with the target, and at night the stick is replaced by the “night firing boxâ€â€”the sights altered (but not the gun) until aligned on the lamp at the point where the lines form the true centre.
Searching and deflection can be satisfactorily carried out with this apparatus.
Range.
Aiming mark.
Fire (signalled).
Cease fire (signalled).
Changes in elevation (up or down 100), as required.
Range and differences.
Aiming mark.
Fire (signalled).
Changes in elevation (left gun up 200, right gun down 200) (or more, as required).
When Brigaded within Hearing.
The B.M.G.O. issues fire orders direct to the Nos. 1 as above.
When “differences†“by sections†are required the fire order will be as follows:—
B.M.G.O.
Range.
Target (naming right and left limits to be traversed).
“Inwards traversing.â€
Fire (signalled).
The same method is employed when laying on the centre, the caution “Outwards traversing†being given.
When brigaded within hearing orders are issued as follows:—
By B.M.G.O.:—
Range.Limits of traverse.Fire (signalled).
Range.Limits of traverse.Fire (signalled).
Range.Limits of traverse.Fire (signalled).
Range.
Limits of traverse.
Fire (signalled).
Section officer repeats limits to be traversed, and immediately issues orders respecting ground to be traversed by their own sections, corresponding to their own positions.
Range.
Aiming mark.
To “range†vertical searching.
Fire (signalled).
Ranges—bracketing.
Aiming mark.
Fire.
In many cases observation will be impossible from the gun position and it will be necessary for observers to signal results from a flank.
The following semaphore code is used in signalling the results of observation of fire:—
The signaller at the observation post should give the “call up†to show that the observers are ready. “P†and “M†may be repeated for multiples of 50 yards; thus, “PP†would mean, “Fire observed at least 100 yards beyond target.†Signals should be repeated from the gun position if this can be done without disclosing the position to the enemy.
On all occasions when guns are firing, the following signals should be used in controlling fire:—
Signal for “Action.â€â€”Both arms fully extended, raised from the sides to a position in line with the shoulders and lowered again. This motion to be repeated until it is seen that the signal is being complied with. Note.—A machine gun is said to be “In Action†when it is mounted, loaded and laid, but not necessarily firing.
Signal for “Out of Action.†Arm swung in a circular motion in front of the body.
Hand up—Gun ready to open fire.
Hand u— Preparatory to opening fire.
Hand dropped—Open fire.
Elbow close to the side, forearm waved horizontally—Cease fire.
Extracts from War Office Letter No. 9/General Number/4976 (M.T. 2), dated 14th May, 1915.
1. PERSONNEL.
The following table shows the establishment of the Service Machine Gun section to be maintained in thefollowing units:—New Armies, Reserve Units, Territorial Force Units, Colonial Contingents.
2. See paragraph 3.
2. See paragraph 3.
3. Until the Second New Army goes overseas, 2nd Reserve Infantry Battalions will all be considered as supplying one Battalion for the purposes of this Letter.
3. Until the Second New Army goes overseas, 2nd Reserve Infantry Battalions will all be considered as supplying one Battalion for the purposes of this Letter.
In draft producing units, the personnel of machine gunners will always be maintained; a reserve of men thoroughly trained in mechanism, drill, etc., must be available to fill the gaps in the service section caused by drafting.
2. AMMUNITION.
300 rounds (Territorial Force Units, Mark VI., other Units, Mark VII.) will be fired in the General Machine Gun Course by each Officer, N.C.O. and man of the existing service section or on his appointment thereto, as soon as he is fit to fire.
Exceptions:—
(a) Men who have already fired a complete course:
(b) Men who have commenced a course previously approved will complete such course.
Machine gunners of New Army Battalions, other than 2nd Reserve Battalions, will not commence the course until authority is given to do so.
Ammunition allotted to Machine Gun Sections is not to be expended for rifle firing.
4. Classification practices.
4. Classification practices.
Notes.
Part I.
1.Additional Practice.—For trench warfare, and against dense targets at close range, the “Swinging Traverse†has been found necessary. It in no way replaces the method of traversing by automatic tapping, which should still be considered the normal method. The swinging traverse is taught by teaching a man to traverse a machine gun instructional target evenly and smoothly in about 6 seconds.
Part II.
2.Practice 10.—It will be necessary to shorten the target, as 40 rounds less are allowed for in this practice. This will be done by using two 10–feet screens instead of three. Spaces will be 20 inches.
3.Practice 13.—(a) If a field firing range is not available Practice 11 will be substituted for this practice.
(b) Observation should be taken by three parties, left, right, and centre, who should change round after each firer. Section Officers should ascertain that each man has observed from each position.
4.Practice 14.—10 rounds will be fired at each of the four distances from 600 yds. to 200 yds. on the lines laid down in Musketry Regulations. These rounds will be “spaced out†before commencing the practice, and the firer will proceed to the next range on completing his 10 rounds, whether he has secured a hit or not.
Classification.
5. Machine gunners will be classified upon the result which they obtain in Practices 9 and 10, General Machine Gun Course, as follows:—
To be classified as a “1st Class Gunner†50 points.
To be classified as a “Qualified Gunner†25 points.
Points will be allotted in the classification practices on the same basis of scoring as laid down in paragraph 647, Musketry Regulations, Part I., 1909 (reprint), 1914.
Preliminary instruction in aiming and firing should be given by means of aRifle Attachment.
A very satisfactory one can be obtained at small cost from Messrs. A. G. Parker & Co., Whittall Street, Birmingham.