Terrain ExercisesWaldron, William H. (William Henry)
History
Terrain Exercises
Waldron, William H. (William Henry)
Tactics
(_d_) Captain B, with Company B, will march at —— (hour) p. m., in
approach march formation in the right (left) half of the regimental
sector, preparatory to relieving the right (left) assault company of the
2nd battalion. Directing line —— (state directing line). Compass bearing
—— degrees, magnetic.
(_x_) Company B, base company.
A reconnaissance officer from each company, accompanied by scouts and
guides will be sent forward at once.
4. Rolling kitchens will join the combat train of the reserve battalion.
You have returned to your Company.
_Required_:
What action do you take?
Procedure
The Director will read the situation aloud, make such explanations as
may be necessary and point out the area occupied by Company B. One or
more members of the class may be called upon to state his understanding
of the situation.
_The Director_: “Lieutenant Williams, what do you understand to be the
formation of Company B at this moment?”
_Lieutenant Williams_: “I would say that the company would be in
approach march formation. There would be two platoons, let us say the
1st and 2nd, in the assault echelon and one, the 3rd, in the support
echelon. All three of the platoons would at this time be deployed in two
waves, a section of three squads in each wave. I think each section
would be deployed in a line of skirmishers while at a halt. The company
headquarters would be here, about midway between the assault echelon and
the support echelon.”
(Note.—Lieutenant Williams will point out the location of the
various elements of the Company on the ground.)
_The Director_: “Why do you think the Company would be deployed in a
line of skirmishers at this time?”
_Lieutenant Williams_: “When the company halts the men will want to take
advantage of existing cover. If there is little cover available, as in
this case, each man will dig himself in—he will dig a ‘fox hole’ big
enough to give him some cover. Shell holes will be improved along their
forward lips to give cover and if large ones are available as much as a
half squad may occupy one of them. Another reason for the support
battalion deploying into a line of skirmishers when it halts for any
length is this: If the enemy should make a counter-attack and break
through our assault battalion, and the companies of our support
battalion are ‘dug in’ in a line of skirmishers they are in position to
meet him without any change in the formation. Everything is all set and
ready to receive the counter-attack.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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