Tactics and duties for trench fighting — John Shaqi
Tactics and duties for trench fightingBertrand, Georges Etienne
History
Tactics and duties for trench fighting
Bertrand, Georges Etienne
Intrenchments
Also the second line should be placed so that it will be out of the zone
of dispersion if the first line is the artillery target either of your
own or of hostile fire. This places the distance between the two lines
at from 150 to 400 yards. At this distance also rifle grenade fire can
be used in conjunction with an artillery preparation for a counterattack
against the first line.
The organization of the second line is the same as that of the first; in
other words, the same principles and elements of defense are used:
making employment of barbed wire, flanking fire, cover trenches, etc.
The second line is the main line of resistance and must be made as
nearly impregnable as possible. For this purpose it must be thoroughly
and completely organized.
In the support line are the reserves of the C. of R. and for their
proper shelter they should have very deep dugouts, and all the
requisites for the comfort and rest of the troops.
=Redoubts.= Behind the support line is a redoubt containing the command
post of the battalion commander. It is the last strong point of the
center of resistance and is organized for an all-around defense.
The line of redoubts is the last line of serious resistance. If the
enemy penetrates this line a breach has been made in the position at
this point.
=Boyaux and Communicating Ditches.= As we have said before trenches for
communicating purposes must be dug both in depth and laterally. We shall
call those from front to rear boyaux, and those running laterally
communicating ditches.
The number of boyaux is not fixed as that of the different lines. There
must be at least one between each support point and its center of
resistance.
Usually boyaux are used for movements in both directions. Often certain
boyaux are designated for entrance only and others for evacuation. The
numbers of the latter are usually less than the former.
In an attack all boyaux are used for movements from rear to front.
All movements to the rear while reinforcements are being brought up must
be executed in the open ground, exceptions being made in the case of
wounded.
Boyaux are important for the movement of supplies and ammunition, but
above all they are essential for reinforcements during battle. The
greater part of the troops in a sector is held in reserve in the second
and third lines. This disposition is only possible if you have good
boyaux to the front lines.
All boyaux and communicating ditches are narrow and deep. Boyaux are
wider between the second and third line than they are between the first
and second. Evacuation boyaux are usually wider than others. The trace
of a boyau must be such as to prevent enfilade fire.
At intervals of about ten yards turnouts large enough for a stretcher
are constructed in the side of the boyaux for passage of troops in
different directions. Boyaux are named and signs are put up similar to
those for streets in a city. The same name of a boyau must be kept from
the third lines to the first.
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