Approach March and DeploymentCard No. 2Director’s Key1. Conduct the class to the area supposed to be occupied by Company B.2. Distribute Situation No. 2; read and explain. Call upon one or more members of class to state understanding of the situation.3. Formation of Company B; cover; formation for advance.4. Make estimate of situation; mission; enemy; own troops; plan; decision.5. Purpose of directing line; meaning of base company. Loss of direction.6. Preliminary arrangements for issuing order.7. Contents of order: information of enemy and own troops; plan of commander; dispositions—detailed instructions for elements of company.8. Necessity for issuing orders.9. Reconnaissance party. Second in command.10. Write out Captain B’s order. Pass to officer at left. Criticise. Distribute solution. Compare. Collect for future examination.11. Procedure for platoon commanders. Get order down to last man of battalion.
Approach March and DeploymentCard No. 2
Director’s Key
Director’s Key
Director’s Key
1. Conduct the class to the area supposed to be occupied by Company B.
2. Distribute Situation No. 2; read and explain. Call upon one or more members of class to state understanding of the situation.
3. Formation of Company B; cover; formation for advance.
4. Make estimate of situation; mission; enemy; own troops; plan; decision.
5. Purpose of directing line; meaning of base company. Loss of direction.
6. Preliminary arrangements for issuing order.
7. Contents of order: information of enemy and own troops; plan of commander; dispositions—detailed instructions for elements of company.
8. Necessity for issuing orders.
9. Reconnaissance party. Second in command.
10. Write out Captain B’s order. Pass to officer at left. Criticise. Distribute solution. Compare. Collect for future examination.
11. Procedure for platoon commanders. Get order down to last man of battalion.
The class is now conducted to the area over which the 2nd platoon is to advance.
On arriving at a selected point the class will be halted.
The Director: “Captain James, we are now in the area over which the 2nd platoon is advancing to the front. Lieutenant Y, the platoon commander, is at this point. What do you estimate to be the approach march formation of the platoon?”
Captain James: “I will first locate the platooncommander and then designate the location of the elements of the platoon with reference to him. I think that the platoon commander would be marching at this time about midway between the assault and the support waves. The 1st Section would be marching in a line of squad columns with the right (left) squad near the directing line which is right there (indicating). It is the base section and the squad nearest the directing line is the base squad. The head of the squad columns is about 25 yards in advance of the platoon commander.
“The 2nd platoon is following the platoon commander at a distance of about 25 yards in a line of squad columns.”
Lieutenant Baker: “It seems to me that the platoon commander would be out in front of his platoon at this time.”
The Director: “The platoon commander is free to go wherever he pleases. But you must remember he has two section leaders—one for each section of the platoon. These men are supposed to be competent to do their job. The platoon commander should march where he can best direct the operations of his platoon through his section leaders. In this case I think Captain James has located the platoon leader in the proper place.
“Now having definitely fixed in our minds the location of the elements of the platoon let us proceed with the next situation.”
Situation No. 3:
You., Lieutenant Y., commanding the 2nd platoon have arrived at this point (indicate).
The 1st section is in a line of squad columns 25 yards to the front; the 2nd section is in a line of squad columns 25 yards in rear of you. For some minutes enemy shells have been falling in the area which is occupied by one of our batteries at the rate of about 4 per minute. At this moment the fire increased materially. The men have left the guns temporarily.
Required:
What do you do?
The Director distributes the sheets containing Situation No. 3 and points out to the class the extent of the shelled area. It should be in the direct line of march of the 2nd platoon.
The Director: “Captain Hall, how do you size up the immediate situation?”
Captain Hall: “Our original mission has not changed. We must continue the march to the front regardless of what the enemy does. The 2nd battalion must be relieved tonight and our battalion must make the relief. We cannot stand here and wait for the enemy’s fire to let up. It is obvious that we cannot go through the shelled area without ruinous losses. The only thing left for us to do is to go around it.”
The Director: “Those are the points I wanted to bring out. The question before us is: How are we going to get around the shelled area? What have you to suggest, Lieutenant Barry?”
Lieutenant Barry: “In the first place I will have to decide the question as to which side of the shelled area we are to use in getting around it. If the whole platoon goes around one side and the enemy fire shifts in that direction we may get caught in it and lose a lot of men. I think we would reduce our chances of loss by using both sides and having one platoon go around to the right and one to the left.”
The Director: “Lieutenant Hunt, what do you think of that proposition?”
Lieutenant Hunt: “I think it is all right. The question that arises in my mind is that of loss of control by the platoon commander and the difficulties of getting into the proper formation on the other side of the shelled area again.”
The Director: “When you consider that the platoon commander has a team of two sections each under the charge of a competent leader the difficulties are really not so great as they would at first appear. Let us decide that we are to go around the shelled area on both sides of it, a section on each side. On which side will you have the leading section go, Lieutenant Williams?”
Lieutenant Williams: “The 1st Section is the base section of the platoon—as such it is the base element of the company and the whole battalion. It is the unit on which the whole battalion is guiding its march. It should therefore go around on the —— side so that the 1st platoon can keep in touch with it and guide on it. When it gets to the other side of the shelled area it can deploy and get its —— element on the directing line again. By employing this method there will be no chance for the 1st platoonlosing connection with it. The 2nd section will go around to the ——.”
The Director: “I think your reasoning is logical and if there are no objections we will accept that method. Now the battery commander of the battery being shelled will want to know what is going on. Captain Hastings, how will you provide for this?”
Captain Hastings: “I will send a runner to him with a message giving him the necessary information.”
The Director: “Let us assume that we have arrived at the decision indicated in our discussion. How would you get the orders to the troops?”
Captain Hastings: “When we get up as far as it is safe to go I will signal the platoon to halt. And then call for the section leaders to report to me. When they get here I will give them the orders necessary for the execution of the maneuver.”
The Class is now conducted forward to the point where it is as far as it is safe to go and still avoid casualties from the enemy shell fire.
The Director: “It is considered that this is as far forward as it is reasonably safe to go. Lieutenant Y has halted the platoon and the section leaders have reported to him for orders. Now I want each member of the class to consider himself being Lieutenant Y and to write out on your pads the exact words that Lieutenant Y will say to the section leaders. Then follow this with the contents of the verbal message that you will send by runner to the battery commander.”
The necessary time is allowed for this. When the solutions are completed the Director will have one or more members of the class read aloud what they have written. The solutions are discussed and commented upon.
The Director will then distribute to the class the mimeograph slips containing the orders of Lieutenant Y and a few minutes are allowed for the members of the class to compare them with their work.
The order of Lieutenant Y will be as follows:
“The enemy is shelling the battery in our immediate front. There is no further information of our own troops.
“This platoon will go around the shelled area.
“The 1st section will go around to the —— (right) (left) side towards the rest of the battalion.
“The 2nd section will go around to the —— (left) (right) side towards the directing line.
“On arriving at the other side of the shelled area the platoon will again take up the same formation that it is in now.
“I will go in rear of the 1st platoon.”
The following message will be sent to the battery commander:
“Second Platoon Company B —— Infantry is going around your battery position to the right and left. Will deploy again on the other side of the shelled area.”
Approach March and DeploymentCard No. 3Director’s Key1. Conduct class to area over which the 2nd platoon is marching.2. Formation of 2nd platoon. Column of sections in line of squad columns. Locate each element on the ground. Location of platoon commander.3. Distribute Situation No. 3. Read and explain.4. Estimate of Situation; mission; action of enemy; decision to go around shelled area, on both sides. Base section to keep in contact with rest of battalion. Message to the battery commander.5. Conduct class to safe edge of shelled area. Write out orders and message of platoon commander.6. Distribute solution. Discuss same. Allow time to compare with work of class.
Approach March and DeploymentCard No. 3
Director’s Key
Director’s Key
Director’s Key
1. Conduct class to area over which the 2nd platoon is marching.
2. Formation of 2nd platoon. Column of sections in line of squad columns. Locate each element on the ground. Location of platoon commander.
3. Distribute Situation No. 3. Read and explain.
4. Estimate of Situation; mission; action of enemy; decision to go around shelled area, on both sides. Base section to keep in contact with rest of battalion. Message to the battery commander.
5. Conduct class to safe edge of shelled area. Write out orders and message of platoon commander.
6. Distribute solution. Discuss same. Allow time to compare with work of class.
The Class will now be conducted up to the place where the company commanders have been ordered to meet the battalion commander to receive orders for the relief of the 2nd battalion.
The Director: “This is the place where Major A directed the Company Commanders to rendezvous to receive the final orders for the relief of the 1st battalion. We assume that the troops have been halted along the line —— (indicate) where they have taken advantage of such cover as is available and are preparing individual cover where none is available.”
The Director will now distribute the sheets containing Situation No. 4.
Situation No. 4:
You, Major A, have arrived at this point. You have had a conference with the commander of the2nd battalion, made a reconnaissance of the position and determined the location of the units to be relieved.
The latter are as follows:
Company E occupies the right half of the sector with all three platoons on the firing line.
Company F occupies the left half of the sector with two platoons and a part of the third in the firing line and the remainder of the third as local support.
Company C is located in fox holes at —— (indicate the location) as battalion reserve. A part of the company has participated in the day’s action but the men are all now at the location indicated.
Company D has one platoon divided among the assault companies, and the company (less this platoon) is with the battalion reserve with guns located to cover approaches and to execute overhead harassing fire on enemy back areas.
Detachments of the Howitzer Company are in position in the platoon sectors and are to remain with the 1st battalion for tomorrow’s attack.
The battalion headquarters company has taken over the intelligence duties, the communications net and the message center.
It is now —— o’clock p. m.
The enemy occupies the —— (give general location of front lines).
There is considerable shelling throughout the area and occasional bursts of machine gun and rifle fire along the entire battle front.
Your company commanders are assembled here in accordance with the instructions contained in your last order.
Required:
Your orders and instructions.
The Director will read the situation aloud, make such explanations as may be necessary and point out the places mentioned. One or more members of the class will be called upon to state their understanding of the tactical situation at this time.
The Director: “Lieutenant Wallace, we have now to consider the orders and instructions that Major A would issue to his assembled Company commanders. What is the first thing you would put into the Major’s order?”
Lieutenant Wallace: “The Major has been out to the front and made a personal reconnaissance as far as practicable. He has interviewed the Commander of the 2nd battalion and the officers of his staff who have detailed information as to the situation. He ought to have pretty definite information of just how the different elements of the 2nd battalion are disposed. He should give his Company Commanders all of this information in the first paragraph of the order. We note that this information is all contained in Situation No. 3.”
The Director: “What would you include in the next paragraph of the order, Lieutenant Ralston?”
Lieutenant Ralston: “My plan, to the effect that our battalion is to relieve the 2nd battalion.”
Captain Harvey: “But we are going to do more than that. We are going to make the attack tomorrowmorning. It seems to me that the Major would include in the order all the instructions he wants to give the Company Commanders not only for the relief, but for the attack also. What do you think about that, sir?”
The Director: “The Major would certainly not let his Company Commanders get away without giving them all the instructions possible regarding the part they are to play in the attack tomorrow morning. But there are several things that he must get from higher up before he can complete his plans for the attack and give them to his Company Commanders. He must know the time the attack is to begin. He must know about the artillery preparation and the rate of advance of the rolling barrage. He must have information regarding the cooperation of the tanks. While he is waiting for this information, which he momentarily expects, he will go ahead and issue his orders for the relief. Then if the other essential information is not at hand by the time the Company Commanders must join their companies, he will issue as much of the attack order as possible and leave the rest to go out later. He certainly will not let his Captains get away until they have all the instructions it is possible to give them up to the time it is necessary for them to leave—the arrangements to continue the attack tomorrow morning.”
Captain Harvey: “Those are the points I wanted to know about.”
The Director: “Now, Captain Hodges, what is the next part of the order?”
Captain Hodges: “The tactical dispositions. Orders for each element of the battalion. Designate therelieving unit and the unit to be relieved. For example: ‘Company A will relieve Company E.’ This same form will pertain with all the elements of the battalion.”
The Director: “Just how much detail would you include? To what extent would you go in prescribing the formation of the company when the relief is completed? For instance: Company E has all three platoons in the assault echelon at this time. Would you want Company A to do the same and hold out no company supports?”
Captain Hodges: “Now, that is quite a point. I had not thought of it. I might assume that Captain A would take up the proper formation without my specifying it, but to make sure I believe I would add another sentence or two and specify the formation. I should say he ought to have two platoons in the assault echelon and one held out as local support. I think it would be better to specify that. There would be less chance for a misunderstanding. I would also give these same instructions to the Captain of Company B.”
The Director: “I think you are right. It will certainly do no harm. In any event you have no doubt as to what you want done. Now, what about the machine gun company, Captain James? You will note that there is only one platoon up on the lines now. The rest of the company is back with the reserve with their guns covering the approaches and set up for overhead fire on back areas. Do you want to leave them that way?”
Captain James: “No, sir. I think I would need the supporting fire of all the machine guns in the‘jump off’ tomorrow morning. I would assign one platoon to support Company A and the company (less 1 platoon) to support Company B. I think that would be better. If the attack goes over with a good gain in ground tomorrow morning the machine guns will not be able to keep up with it, and the Major will have an opportunity to make an adjustment of their position in the battalion. I certainly would want the advantage of their fire in the ‘jump off.’”
The Director: “I think you are right. Let us decide on that disposition.”
The Director: “Now, there is another point I want to bring out at this time. You have pictured in your own mind this formation and advance of one battalion of Infantry and the relief and retirement of another. Along side of you to the right are two other battalions going through the same process. The same is happening to your left and all along the line. Behind you there are other battalions effecting reliefs. There are batteries of artillery and transport vehicles, innumerable. In other words the back area of a force in action is crowded with troops. There is much activity effecting reliefs, getting up supplies and ammunition and evacuating the wounded.
“The enemy is doing these same things. His back areas are just as crowded as our own. He is no better off than we are in this respect.
“It is our job to interfere with him as much as possible—to prevent or curtail movement, and inflict losses on him. The wounding or killing of one man by harassing fire will have no effect on the outcomeof the war, but if we can kill and wound a thousand every night it will in time have its effect.
“The enemy can get away from artillery fire by avoiding shelled areas but he cannot get away from rifle and machine gun harassing fire for he never knows when and where it is going to come.
“If there is sufficient small arms ammunition available and it can be gotten up to the riflemen and machine gunners on the front lines the back areas of the enemy can be made a perfect ‘hell-hole’ by means of systematic harassing fire.
“Many of the men whom our men will relieve tonight will have ammunition in bandoliers with them. By having our men take over this ammunition and expending it tonight we can get a big increase in fire over the enemy back areas. Our ammunition supply for tomorrow will not be impaired. The men being relieved will be re-supplied when they get back to the regimental reserve. I think arrangements should be made for this procedure by the Major.”
The Director: “The Major has made arrangements with the Commanding Officer 2nd battalion as to when the command of the sector is to pass to the 1st battalion. He will now have to tell his company commanders when their full responsibility is to devolve upon them for their respective sectors within the battalion. What would you do about that, Lieutenant Baker?”
Lieutenant Baker: “When a relief is made in larger commands the orders state the hour when the command is to pass to the relieving troops. But ina case like this I judge that it passes when the relief is completed. In order to make sure that the point is understood I would specify:
“‘Command of company sectors will pass when reliefs have been completed.’”
The Director: “I think that would be a good idea.”
Lieutenant Baker: “There is another point that should be included in the order. Let us say I am Captain B. My company is relieving Company F on the lines. The Captain of Company F either has not received definite orders as to what he is to do on being relieved or has overlooked the instructions in the confusion. It seems to me that it might be well for the Major to tell us just what Major B’s instructions are as to that point. It might save a lot of confusion in getting the 2nd battalion troops disengaged and out of the battalion sector. It might save a lot of casualties from men wandering around in the darkness for my section and squad leaders to be able to tell the men they are relieving just where to go.”
The Director: “I do not know that such instructions have a place in the regular order form. But I see no objection to putting it in. It can do no harm I am sure.
“Now, the Major will want to know when the reliefs have been completed and he will give instructions to that effect. He will then announce the location of the battalion command post and this will complete the details of the order.
“Now, I want each member of the class to write out Major A’s orders for the relief of the 2nd battalion.”
The necessary time is allowed for this. Whencompleted the Director will call upon one or more of the members of the class to read his orders aloud and comments are invited from other members of the class.
The Director will then distribute the mimeograph sheets containing the Major’s order and an opportunity will be given the members of the class to compare the work with the solution presented.
The Major’s order will be as follows:
“The enemy occupies (describe the enemy’s front line in the necessary detail in the light of information gained by the Major’s reconnaissance).
“Our 2nd battalion is in close contact all along the line. Troops are disposed as follows in the battalion sector:
“Company E, right half of sector, with all three platoons on the line. Right of company at —— (describe location).
“Company F, left half of sector, with two platoons and part of the third on the line and the remainder as local support. Left of company at —— (describe location).
“Company G is located at —— (indicate location of company).
“Company H has one platoon divided among the assault companies and the company (less 1 platoon) is in the battalion reserve with guns now located to cover approaches and execute overhead harassing fire in the enemy back areas.
“This battalion will relieve the 2nd battalion.
“The Headquarters’ Company will relieve the Headquarters’Company, 2nd battalion, and take over the duties pertaining thereto.
“Company A will relieve Company E in the right sector with two platoons in the assault echelon and one as local support.
“Company B will relieve Company F in the left sector with two platoons in the assault echelon and one as local support.
“Company C will relieve Company G as battalion reserve.
“Company D will relieve Company H, one platoon will support Company A and the company (less 1 platoon) will support Company B.
“Detachments of the Howitzer Company are to remain with the battalion. Company commanders will confer with the commanders of detachments in their respective sectors and arrange for the support of their special weapons. Men of Companies A and B will take over from the men of Companies E and F whom they relieve, all ammunition in bandoliers, which will be expended to keep up harassing fire during the remainder of the night, with a view to curtailing movement within the enemy lines. Company D will take over surplus ammunition from Company H and expend it for the same purpose. The regular ammunition supply will be reserved for the action tomorrow.
“Command of company sectors will pass when reliefs have been completed.
“When relieved, troops of the 2nd Battalion are to fall back to the line —— (describe).
“Report when reliefs are effected.
“Battalion C. P. at ——.”
Approach March and DeploymentCard No. 4Director’s Key1. Conduct class to the point where the company commanders have been ordered to assemble to meet the Major.2. Distribute Situation No. 4, read aloud, and make necessary explanations.3. Contents of Order: Information of enemy obtained by reconnaissance and reports; plan of commander; question of including orders for attack also; zero hour; artillery preparation; progress of barrage; tactical dispositions; orders for each element of command; orders for machine gun units; when command passes; action to be taken by troops when relieved.4. Have members of class write out the Major’s order. When completed distribute the mimeograph sheets containing the solution. Read orders and compare.
Approach March and DeploymentCard No. 4
Director’s Key
Director’s Key
Director’s Key
1. Conduct class to the point where the company commanders have been ordered to assemble to meet the Major.
2. Distribute Situation No. 4, read aloud, and make necessary explanations.
3. Contents of Order: Information of enemy obtained by reconnaissance and reports; plan of commander; question of including orders for attack also; zero hour; artillery preparation; progress of barrage; tactical dispositions; orders for each element of command; orders for machine gun units; when command passes; action to be taken by troops when relieved.
4. Have members of class write out the Major’s order. When completed distribute the mimeograph sheets containing the solution. Read orders and compare.
Situation No. 5:
Just as the order for the relief is completed, you, Major A, receive the following message from the regimental commander:
“No further information of the enemy.
“The general attack will be resumed tomorrow morning at 5.00 o’clock. Your battalion will attack in regimental sector.
“Mission: To pierce enemy position and assist division in penetrating the position.
“Zone of action: No change.
“Line of departure: (Describe in detail).
“The attack will be preceded by 30 minutes’ artillery preparation. The advance of the infantry will be preceded by a rolling barrage. Rate of advance of barrage 100 yards in 4 minutes.
“Station for slightly wounded at ——.
“Regimental C. P. no change.”
Required:
What orders do you give?
The Director will distribute the sheets containing Situation No. 5, read the situation aloud and explain the message from the regimental commander. One or more members of the class will be called upon to state his understanding of the situation.
The Director: “Let us visualize the situation. The Major has been expecting to receive just such a message from the regimental commander. As a matter of fact he anticipated it when he made the estimate of the situation before issuing his first order for the approach march before dark. He ordered his formation for the approach march so that when the order for the attack came there would be few changes necessary. By his foresight and knowledge of infantry tactics he now has his battalion in the proper formation to make the relief of the 2nd battalion and when this is accomplished he will have his units properly disposed to make the attack tomorrow morning. In other words, the Major started his attack when he made his initial dispositions. And this must be so in every case. When you get into the infantry area of a battle you must get your troops into a formation from which they can make an attack or repel an enemy counter-attack and you must keep them in that formation. That is why the subject of approach march and deployment is so important and that is why troops must be so thoroughly trained in it. Duringthe war the subject was given little attention in our divisions. The British and French instructors brought nothing of it over from the other side. They had communication trenches as lanes of approach and gave little heed to the open warfare end of the game. The American divisions soon realized the necessity for thorough training and the most successful ones were those that spent many of their nights with units from battalions to brigades chasing through the woods, up hill and down dale, practicing the approach march formation. I am sure that when you consider the proposition seriously and visualize what can happen in a situation such as we have had to do with today you will realize the necessity for thorough training in the subject.”
The Director: “Now let us consider what must be included in the Major’s order for the attack. Captain Hall, what have you to suggest for the first paragraph?”
Captain Hall: “The Major has already given the company commanders everything he knows about the enemy. He has a little additional information to the effect that the general attack all along the line will be resumed tomorrow. This will be included in the first paragraph of the order.”
The Director: “That is all that is necessary. Our second paragraph is a much more complicated affair. What have you to suggest to go into it?”
Captain Hall: “The first thing would be the time of the attack. The orders from regimental headquarters say 5.00 o’clock. That will be included inthe order. We have a definite mission for the battalion. To pierce the enemy position and assist our division to penetrate the position—that is, to make a break through, if possible. In order to do this we have got to drive hard. There is no change in the zone of action of the battalion; it remains the same as it was for today. The line of departure should be given. The information about the artillery preparation and the rolling barrage should be included. I think that is about all that must go into paragraph two of the order.”
The Director: “Yes. But you have skimped over two very important points without the explanation they deserve. These are the line of departure and the information about the artillery preparation and the rolling barrage. Let us go into these things a little more in detail.
“The division staff has made arrangements for the artillery preparation to come down along a certain line, and stand there for a period of thirty minutes. Then the barrage will begin to advance at exactly 5.00 o’clock. Unless we have a definite line of departure some parts of our front line may work their way to the front and be caught under our own barrage and you can see what would happen. In case any men do work forward during the night on reconnaissance they must get back a little before 4.30 so as not to get caught under the barrage.”
Lieutenant Barry: “I appreciate all the Director has said. But we have to keep up a reconnaissance during the night to keep in contact with the enemy. He might pull his lines back during the night and if he had decided to make a general retreat we wouldlose touch and with it a lot of time in conducting the pursuit. I think some of our patrols would have to take a chance on getting back so as not to lose contact. Then, too, if the enemy had pretty definite information that our artillery preparation is coming down on a certain line and we have no men out in front he may move his machine gun squads a little to the front and avoid the barrage altogether and be ready to receive our attack when our first wave goes over the top. If I were commanding one of those assault companies I would keep my front thoroughly patrolled during the night and keep my scouts right up in the enemy’s lines until a minute or two before the barrage comes down. I would have them beat it back a hundred yards and take a chance on escaping from the barrage. As soon as they are out of the way I would then have my special weapons and riflemen keep up a fire on any enemy troops that showed themselves trying to get to a position in front of where the barrage is coming down.”
The Director: “That is all very interesting. Those are important points that we must not lose sight of in our operations against an active and crafty enemy. He will pull all kinds of stunts on you and you have to be just a lap ahead of him to best him. All of this shows the great necessity for combat training. We must have patrol leaders and scouts that know the importance of all these things and know how to go about them. We hear so much about the technical branches and the high order of training that is required. If there is any training more difficult thanthat of the ‘doughboy’ I have yet to see it. Take the training of patrol leaders and scouts for the single phase of infantry combat that we have just been discussing. I leave it to you if there is anything more technical and difficult in the training of soldiers. If these men fail the whole military operation falls down and may be an utter failure. A half dozen machine guns on a battalion front that have moved forward a few yards and escaped the barrage will be able to hold up a whole battalion. So let us not neglect the training of our scouts.
“If the enemy should fall back during the night our scouts will follow him up and keep in touch with him, word will go back to the battalion and on back to the division so that arrangements can be made to alter the plans. In that case the battalion commander will order a general advance to keep in contact.”
The Director: “Lieutenant Hunt, what would you include in paragraph 3 of the Major’s order?”
Lieutenant Hunt: “The detail orders for each element of the battalion, giving the designation of the organization and the particular part that it is to play in the operation. There will be orders for Company A, the right assault company; Company B, the left assault company; Company C, the battalion reserve, and Company D, the machine gun company. Then the orders for the elements of the Howitzer Company hold off to support the attack. I believe that would complete paragraph 3 of the order.”
The Director: “What would you include in paragraph 4, Lieutenant Williams?”
Lieutenant Williams: “I would include the location of the station for slightly wounded. I do not know of anything else.”
The Director: “And paragraph 5 would contain what?”
Lieutenant Williams: “The location of the regimental and battalion command posts.”
The Director: “I think we have discussed everything that must be included in the battalion order. If you will compare all of this with some of the battalion orders you, as Company Commanders, received in France, you will see how sadly lacking some of them were. What we want to do is to prevent a repetition of those conditions and that is why we are devoting our time and attention to these things now. We want to be prepared to solve these problems if the time ever comes when we have to do so again.”
The Director: “Now, I want each member of the class to write out the Major’s order on his pad. See how much of the details that we have discussed you can get into the order.”
Sufficient time is allowed for the purpose.
After the orders have been completed the Director will distribute the mimeograph sheets containing the order and one or more of the members of the class will be called upon to read his order and follow with the corresponding paragraph of the solution.
The order will be as follows:
“There is no further information of the enemy. The general attack all along the line will be resumed tomorrow.
“Our battalion will attack at 5.00 o’clock a. m.
“Mission: To drive hard, pierce the enemy position and assist our division in making a penetration of the position.
“Zone of action: No change.
“Line of departure: (Describe line in detail.)
“The attack will be preceded by 30 minutes artillery preparation. The advance of the infantry will be preceded by a rolling barrage. Rate of advance of barrage 100 yards in 4 minutes.
“Company A will attack in the right (left) half of the battalion sector.
“Company B will attack in the left (right) half of the battalion sector.
“Company C will be battalion reserve and follow at a distance of about 300 yards. One squad will be sent to the (east) and one to the (west) boundary of the battalion sector to maintain connection with adjoining units.
“Company D will support the attack of Companies A and B in accordance with previous instructions.
“Elements of the howitzer company in each company sector will support the attack.
“Station for slightly wounded at ____ (indicate).
“Plan of signal communication: No change.
“Command posts:
“Regiment: At ____ (indicate).
“Regiment: At ____ (indicate.)”
Approach March and DeploymentCard No. 5Director’s Key1. Distribute sheets containing Situation No. 5. Read and explain. Have one or more members of class state his understanding of the situation.2. Explain situation. Prepared to receive order for attack. Formation from the time of taking up the approach march. Training of troops in approach march formation.3. Discuss Major’s order. Information of enemy; information of our own troops; time of attack; mission of battalion; line of departure; artillery preparation.4. Details of solution. Necessity for designating line of departure. Artillery barrage. Scouting and patrolling. Keeping contact with the enemy.5. Necessity for infantry combat training.6. Paragraph 3 of the order: Orders for each element. Assault companies; battalion reserve; machine gun company; howitzer elements.7. Paragraph 4 station for slightly wounded.8. Paragraph 5 of order. Signal communications and location of C. P.’s.9. Have class write out order. Distribute solution. Have one or more members of class read their order and compare it with the solution.
Approach March and DeploymentCard No. 5
Director’s Key
Director’s Key
Director’s Key
1. Distribute sheets containing Situation No. 5. Read and explain. Have one or more members of class state his understanding of the situation.
2. Explain situation. Prepared to receive order for attack. Formation from the time of taking up the approach march. Training of troops in approach march formation.
3. Discuss Major’s order. Information of enemy; information of our own troops; time of attack; mission of battalion; line of departure; artillery preparation.
4. Details of solution. Necessity for designating line of departure. Artillery barrage. Scouting and patrolling. Keeping contact with the enemy.
5. Necessity for infantry combat training.
6. Paragraph 3 of the order: Orders for each element. Assault companies; battalion reserve; machine gun company; howitzer elements.
7. Paragraph 4 station for slightly wounded.
8. Paragraph 5 of order. Signal communications and location of C. P.’s.
9. Have class write out order. Distribute solution. Have one or more members of class read their order and compare it with the solution.
The Director: “When the battalion commander has finished giving his orders the Company Commanders will go back to their respective companies and the Major will go to his command post. By this time the company reconnaissance parties should be back at their companies and ready to guide the various elements up to the lines where they are to make the reliefs.
“The Company Commander will assemble his officers and non-commissioned officers and go over the whole situation with them and issue the orders for the company. This order will conform to the fiveparagraph system; will contain the essential elements of the Major’s order and detailed instructions for each element of the company.
“The Company Commander will then conduct his company to the front in such formation as to take advantage of the natural cover afforded and so as to be as invulnerable as possible to the enemy’s fire.
“The details of the actual relief will depend upon the cover available and what the enemy is doing to interfere with it.”