_The Director_: “Captain Smith, we shall assume that you are commanding
the battalion and that Captain M, the commanding officer of the machine
gun company, is with you. What would you do when you received the
messages from your assault companies?”
_Captain Smith_: “I would send for all of the captains to report to me
at once, so that I could issue my orders.”
_The Director_: “The captains of the two assault companies are engaged
with the enemy, and it is most essential that they remain in immediate
command of their companies. The captain of the reserve company is at
some distance from Major X. While it is extremely desirable to issue one
complete verbal order to the battalion so that any misunderstanding can
be cleared up, it is not practicable to issue such an order in this
case. Captain Scott, what would you do?”
_Captain Scott_: “I would take a look at the positions of the right
assault company, the machine gun company, and the terrain, to determine
whether it would be possible to support the assaulting company by
overhead machine gun fire. I see that there is an excellent position for
the machine guns and howitzer platoon. The commanding officers of these
organizations are with me, so I at once give them the following verbal
orders:
“Company —— has encountered heavy fire from (_t_). It will attack at
(_u_) by building up a firing line at (_v_), and having a platoon
attack in the direction of (_w_). A red rocket from this platoon
will indicate the beginning of the attack.
“The Stokes mortar will lay down a barrage in front of the platoon,
advancing in the direction of (_w_). The one-pounder will be in
readiness to engage any hostile machine guns that open fire.
“The machine guns will open fire from this hill at (_u_), covering
the enemy’s position at (_t_).
“Battalion ammunition point 500 yards east of this point in edge of
woods.
“I shall remain here.”
_The Director_: “That is an excellent order. It shows that you
understand that Major X should first attempt to give assistance by the
use of his machine guns and auxiliary weapons and not by the use of his
reserve. The reserve company should not be employed as long as the
assaulting companies can overcome the resistance with the assistance of
the machine guns and auxiliary weapons. Fire power should be made to
take the place of man-power to the greatest extent that is practicable.
You have also given an excellent example of the proper coordination of
the machine guns and Stokes mortar. The ground in the direction of (_w_)
is such that the machine guns could not effectively support the platoon
advancing in that direction. The Stokes mortar, however, can search this
ground and provide covering fire for the platoon. Your ordering a red
rocket to be fired by the platoon advancing in the direction of (_w_)
shows that you understand the necessity for synchronizing the launching
of the attack and the opening of fire by the machine guns and auxiliary
weapons. However, the steps that you have taken are not adequate to
secure this. You have failed to notify the commanding officer of the
right assault company of the time that the machine guns will open fire
and have not directed him to have his platoon fire a red rocket at the
beginning of its attack.
“Captain Howe, tell us how you would notify the commanding officer of
the assault companies of your plans.”
_Captain Howe_: “I would send a written message by a runner as follows:
“Begin your attack at (_u_). The machine guns will open fire from
(_s_) at (_u_). The Stokes mortar will open fire in the direction of
(_w_) at (_u_) and will lift their fire 100 yards in two minutes for
six minutes. The one-pounders will fire on hostile machine guns.
“Your platoon, advancing in the direction of (_w_), will fire a red
rocket as a signal that it is leaving its cover and beginning the
attack.
“Battalion ammunition point in edge of woods 500 yards east of
(_s_).
“I shall remain here.”
* * * * *
=Machine Gun Co.= =Card No. 1=
=Director’s Key=
1. Make copies of the problems and the situation, one for each member
of the class.
2. Conduct the class to the point where the battalion commander
receives the messages from his assault companies.
3. Make a short talk on the employment of machine guns on the
offensive: (_a_) tasks of machine guns in general on the
offensive. (_b_) Tasks of a machine gun company of an assault
battalion. (_c_) Orders of the battalion commander to the
machine gun company. (_d_) Formation of the machine gun company.
(_e_) Communications.