[Sidenote: Additional signals]
Signals are necessary when your line has commenced the fire fight but
from there on few commands are necessary; there are so few things
that can be ordered, the time for maneuver and instruction is past.
One or two of those given might be dispensed with and one for fixing
bayonets should be added; possibly there are one or two others that
should be added.
[Sidenote: Observing fire effectiveness]
We have discussed how to obtain fire superiority; how may we
know when we have it, if the volume of the enemy’s fire remains
practically the same? Company and platoon commanders must watch for
the effect of the enemy’s fire, where his bullets are striking. If
the hostile bullets are going wild, some striking far short, others
way high, and very few are effective, you have fire superiority;
that is the time to gain distance to the front. On the other hand,
although you may be suffering no loss, you see that the enemy’s
bullets, well massed, are striking, say 50 yards in your front; you
have no fire superiority; the enemy has simply underestimated the
range and your advance will bring you into the center of his beaten
zone. But this is your opportunity to gain fire superiority. Your men
are suffering little or no loss, should be less affected and should
do better work. If this opportunity is well utilized you will gain
fire superiority.
[Sidenote: Observing fire effectiveness]
When you have fire superiority you must push the advance, take full
advantage of your opportunity; if you temporarily lose it, suspend
the advance until you regain the necessary superiority.
[Sidenote: Distribution of fire]
Fire properly distributed is one essential to gaining fire
superiority. Proper distribution means it is placed _on_ the target
and on all of the target, not just one part. Placing our fire on the
target requires that our men be at least fair shots, have their nerve
and know the range. To cover all the target rather than concentrate
on a part is not easy and to attain practical efficiency in this
requires skill and practice.
In the deployment for battle the division is generally given a
specific mission, the division commander assigns to each brigade its
part of the task, and so on down to the battalion, company, platoon
and even squad.
[Sidenote: Distribution of fire]
There is little involved in the larger units except the tactical
skill to know how to use the larger units to gain the required end;
dividing the terrain is easy. It is difficult with the commanders
of the smaller units; the division of the target generally becomes
harder the smaller the subdivision. The major must divide his target,
say between two companies, and do it so that there can be no mistake
on the part of the captains as to just what part each is to cover.
The company commander must then divide his section among his platoons
and the latter often among the squads.
[Sidenote: The captain’s problems]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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