Machine-Gun TacticsApplin, R. V. K. (Reginald Vincent Kempenfeldt)
History
Machine-Gun Tactics
Applin, R. V. K. (Reginald Vincent Kempenfeldt)
Machine guns
where _h_ = difference in _feet_ of height between guns and target;
R = range in yards.
(2) When target is not visible from immediate vicinity of guns, _m_
may be found from the following formula:
[Illustration: DIAGRAM V
(a_{1} × OG + a_{2} × OT)/GT
Where a_{1} is the angle of sight from O to G; a_{2} is the angle
of sight from O to T.]
Angles of elevation are read plus, angles of depression minus; T
being the target, G the gun, and O the observer.
Before firing it is necessary to ascertain that the trajectory will
clear the intervening crest--_i.e._ see that the angle of slope to
the top of crest is less than the angle of Q.E. at which the gun is
likely to be fired. If there is an obstacle some distance in front
of the guns, to ascertain if the trajectory will clear it make a
liberal estimate of the range to the obstacle and ascertain if the
quadrant elevation to be fired at is greater than that which would
be required to hit the obstacle.
If it is possible to place a mark to aim at near the crest with a
given elevation which will ensure the fire striking the target,
this will much simplify indirect fire, but the combination of
circumstances required to enable this to be done will not often be
found.
When all is ready to open fire the battery commander will take up a
position from which to direct it, and will give the orders to open
and cease fire and name the guns or sections to fire. The section
commanders will watch the fire effect of their guns and give the
orders necessary for correcting elevation or direction. The battery
captain will assist the commanding officer by noting the fire
effect.
It will be seen from the foregoing that considerable practice is
required to enable indirect fire to be efficiently carried out; but
the results obtained in covering the advance of infantry and thus
enabling them to push up quickly to close range, without the delay
and exhaustion caused by a prolonged fire fight, will more than
repay the time spent in perfecting machine-gun detachments in this
duty.
SUMMARY OF GENERAL PRINCIPLES
_With Cavalry._--To enable it to retain its mobility and do away
with the necessity of dismounting whole squadrons for fire action.
To give it greater power both in attack and defence, and enable
small detachments to hold important strategical or tactical points.
To act as escort to artillery and to assist in the pursuit.
_With Infantry._--To cover the first advance with fire. In attack
they should be held back until the last reserve has been thrown in,
when they must be used to bring an overwhelming fire to bear on
the point selected for assault. Owing to their narrow beaten zone
and great accuracy, they can safely fire over the heads of prone
infantry within 100 yards of the position. A Japanese officer who
commanded a machine-gun battery at the battle of Mukden said on one
occasion he “continued this fire until their attacking infantry
were within 30 metres of the enemy’s position.”[6]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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