TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE Italic text is denoted by _underscores_. Footnote anchors are denoted by [number], and the footnotes have been placed at the end of the book. A superscript is denoted by ^, for example 15^x or 12^{th}. A subscript is denoted by _{x}, for example a_{2} or CHCl_{3}. Basic fractions are displayed as ½ ⅓ ¼ etc; other fractions are shown in the form a/b, for example 1/25. All changes noted in the ERRATA on page vii have been applied to the etext. Some minor changes to the text are noted at the end of the book. MACHINE-GUN TACTICS BY CAPTAIN R. V. K. APPLIN, D.S.O. 14th (King’s) Hussars LONDON HUGH REES, LTD., 119 PALL MALL, S.W. 1910 PRINTED BY HAZELL, WATSON AND VINEY, LD., LONDON AND AYLESBURY. PREFACE This book, which was begun five years ago, is now published because I feel that, with all its faults, it may bring into greater prominence the latent possibilities of the machine gun, and the vital necessity for the most complete organisation and tactical training of the detachments. I desire to express my great indebtedness to Captain C. O. Place, D.S.O., Royal Engineers, who undertook the work of editing and preparing the book for the press at a moment’s notice on my sailing for India. R. V. K. APPLIN. R.I.M.S. “NORTHBROOK,” _December 1st, 1909_. CONTENTS CHAP. PAGE I. DESCRIPTION AND ORGANISATION 1 II. GENERAL PRINCIPLES 28 III. WITH INDEPENDENT CAVALRY 57 IV. WITH PROTECTIVE CAVALRY 86 V. EMPLOYMENT WITH INFANTRY 105 VI. EMPLOYMENT WITH INFANTRY (_cont._) 130 VII. IN FORTRESS WARFARE 144 VIII. IN MINOR OPERATIONS 161 IX. MACHINE GUNS OF DIFFERENT COUNTRIES 187 LIST OF PLATES AND DIAGRAMS FACING PAGE MACHINE GUN ON ADJUSTABLE TRIPOD BEHIND COVER. FRONT VIEW 224-5 MACHINE GUN ON ADJUSTABLE TRIPOD BEHIND COVER. VIEW FROM REAR 224-5 MAP OF PORT ARTHUR 266 PAGE DIAGRAM TO SHOW THE ZONE BEATEN BY 50 PER CENT. OF BULLETS 5 DIAGRAM TO SHOW THE DISPERSION OF BULLETS 6