mounted upon a sled which forms the firing frame. On the march, this
sled is placed on a wheeled carriage, from which it must first be
detached (10-15 seconds) before the gun is used; in exceptional cases,
the gun can be fired from the wheeled carriage.
The gun commander is mounted. Two of the gunners are seated on the axle
chest of the carriage, their carbines buckled to the gun carriage; two
are seated on the limber chest, their carbines slung over their backs.
When surprised by a direct attack, all the men that can be spared form
as skirmishers in the intervals between the guns of the machine gun
battery. The machine gun can be served by a single man. The water in
the jacket need not necessarily be renewed when the gun is fired for a
short time only.
The machine guns can be used on any terrain passable for infantry. When
detached from the wheeled carriage they can even surmount considerable
obstacles. In action, they present no larger target than skirmishers
fighting under similar conditions, and are capable of offering more
resistance than infantry.
The sled can be carried or drawn by the men for short distances. The
ammunition, placed in belts holding 250 rounds each, and packed in six
boxes, is similarly drawn on an ammunition sled. If the conditions
permit, the guns may be drawn by horses.
The “fighting battery” consists of six guns, formed into three
platoons, and an ammunition platoon (three ammunition wagons and one
store wagon); the combat train consists of officers’ and other led
horses. The field train consists of one baggage wagon, one ration
(commissary) wagon, one forage wagon, and a second store wagon.
[Illustration: Machine Guns in Germany.
Lead Team Hitched to Gun.
Carrying the Machine Guns.]
The movements and gaits of a machine gun battery are the same as those
of a field battery: the order in line, at close or extended intervals,
in which the guns are abreast, the intervals between them, measured
from center to center, being 5 and 17 paces, respectively. The order in
line, at extended intervals, is used in moving to the front or rear;
the order in line, at close intervals, for assembly, for movements in
that formation, for parking, and for parade. The section column[290] is
the principal maneuver formation on the battlefield; it is employed as
an assembly formation on a road, and as route column. (Par. 320 German
F. S. R.). In section column the guns follow each other at a distance
of four paces. In addition to this column, a column of platoons is
used, in which the platoons follow each other at a distance of 22
paces. (This may be reduced to 6 paces).
[290] The guns are placed in rear of each other, the ammunition
wagons and other vehicles bring up the rear. _Translator_.
A machine gun battery has available 87,300 rounds of ammunition (10,500
rounds with each gun and 8100 rounds in each ammunition wagon, or a
total of 14,550 rounds per gun), which may be drawn forward to the
firing position upon sleds, in boxes holding 250 rounds each. The
ammunition wagons are refilled from the ammunition wagons of the light
ammunition columns of the cavalry division and from the wagons of the
infantry ammunition columns marked with a red stripe, which carry
ammunition for machine gun units. A reserve machine gun is carried with
the ammunition column.
The machine gun battery combines high infantry fire power
(approximately equivalent to that of the skirmishers of a German
cavalry regiment, armed with carbines, or to that of 4-6 platoons of
infantry)[291] with instant readiness for firing, and a mobility which
enables it to follow the mounted arms anywhere. The chance of producing
a sudden fire effect within a short space of time must be especially
utilized, and, therefore, an endeavor should be made to put entire
machine gun batteries into the first line. The employment of single
guns is precluded owing to the danger of breakdowns, and the employment
of platoons is especially proper on the defensive as well as in action
at short range.
[291] A German cavalry regiment at peace strength numbers from 552
to 576 sabers: a platoon of infantry (on a peace footing) numbers
from 48 to 53 men.
In making a comparison between a cavalry regiment and a machine gun
battery, it must be borne in mind that horse holders are deducted
from the strength given for a cavalry regiment. _Translator_.
[Illustration: Order in Line
(extended intervals).]
[Illustration: Column of Platoons
(closed up).]
[Illustration: Section Column.
(Route Column).]
[Illustration: Explanation of Symbols used:]
[Illustration: Order in Line
(close intervals).]
The duties of machine guns naturally grow out of their tactical
advantages. Their fire power should be saved for decisive moments, when
the development of strong fire power at short ranges is requisite, and
when the available time and the situation do not permit of pushing
infantry into action. The machine gun batteries, which constitute
an independent arm, and which are assigned to cavalry and infantry
divisions, are best adapted for these duties.
The heavy matériel and the teams designed for rapid movements make the
machine gun battery less suited for employment in infantry combat,
where such a high degree of mobility is not so necessary. In the
battle on the Shaho an employment of machine guns by platoons in
the first line, came about quite naturally. The guns prepared the
assault, reinforced weak points, and supported the advance. In Germany,
provisional machine gun companies consisting of six two-horse machine
guns, driven from the carriage (these guns cannot be fired from their
carriages), have been adopted for this purpose. These machine gun
companies are principally an auxiliary weapon of the infantry, and,
distributed by platoons to the battalions, or sent into action as a
single unit by the regimental commander, they serve the purpose of
augmenting the fire of the infantry.
Movements at increased gaits are possible in exceptional cases only;
as a rule, the guns follow the infantry at a walk, and in combats
terminating in a defeat, it may frequently be impossible to keep them
from falling into the hands of the enemy. The permanent assignment of
machine guns to battalions does not seem to be advisable.
5. GOING INTO POSITION.
The principles which govern the reconnaissance and occupation of a
position by field artillery are applicable also to machine guns.
The tactical situation determines whether the guns should move
into position under cover or in the open. As a rule, the interval
between two adjacent machine guns in line is 17 paces; but the proper
utilization of favorable cover does not preclude posting the guns close
together. It may likewise be advantageous to post the guns in echelon
on the flanks.
In action the carriages remain, as a rule, in the nearest cover in
rear of the line. The advance from this point is effected by the men
carrying or dragging the detached guns and ammunition sleds; under
certain circumstances, it may also be advisable to have the guns
or ammunition sleds drawn forward by single horses (mounts of gun
commanders). On level ground the ammunition platoon and the wheeled
carriages of the machine guns take post in rear of and as close as
possible to the guns. Whether the two groups are combined, or whether
the machine gun carriages should occupy the nearest, and the ammunition
wagons the more distant cover, depends upon the available cover. The
commander of the machine gun carriages sends full ammunition sleds
to the firing line at an early moment and has empty boxes and belts
brought back.
[Illustration: A Machine Gun Platoon Crawling Into Position.]
[Illustration: Range Finder. A Machine Gun Platoon in Position.]
[Illustration: A Machine Gun Platoon Intrenched.]
6. THE FIRE FIGHT.
The machine gun. squad consists of one gun commander and four
gunners, numbers 1-4; number 2 is the gun pointer. The gun commander
sees that the gun is set up for the prone, sitting, or kneeling fire
position, according to the terrain, supervises the service of the
gun, which can be served in any position of the body, and removes all
obstructions that interfere with its effective use. The gun pointer
handles the gun, _i.e._, he loads it, sets the sight, aims and fires
it. No. 3, who lies to the right of the gun pointer, assists the
latter in these duties, places a box of ammunition on the right of
the gun, and feeds the ammunition belt into the slot. When necessary,
he takes the place of the gun pointer. No. 1 lies in rear of the gun
pointer, keeps his eye on the battery and platoon commanders, and
transmits their orders to the gun commander and gun pointer. No. 4
has charge of the replenishment of ammunition; he takes cover or lies
down 20 paces in rear of, or on a flank of the gun.
The range finders, without special orders to that effect, measure
the range to targets as they appear, or to fixed points, and call
it out to the battery commander. The battery commander designates
the target, the range, and the kind of fire to be used. The platoon
commanders assign a section of the target to each of their guns,
designate the elevation that is to be used, and supervise the service
of the guns; they are especially held responsible that the fire
is directed upon the proper target. Platoon commanders constantly
observe through their field glasses the strike of the bullets and
the enemy. The commander of the gun carriages is charged with their
supervision; he constantly sends forward ammunition, and, when
necessary, men and matériel, into the firing position. When the
detached guns change position, he follows the movement under cover
with the gun carriages, bringing them as close to the firing position
as possible.
After machine gun batteries had been employed at maneuvers as an
auxiliary arm of the cavalry, they did especially good work in the
fights in Southwest Africa,[292] where they were not opposed by
artillery.
[292] _Militär-Wochenblatt_, 1904, Nos. 136, 139 and 140.
Through their ability to follow a skirmish line into the densest
thickets, they were a valuable support to the infantry in the close
country in which the African fights took place, where artillery of
necessity had to fail owing to absence of a clear field of view. It
was demonstrated, however, that the machine gun squads became so
engrossed in the work of serving their guns that supporting troops
had to guard them against surprise.
In the engagement at the =Waterberg=, the machine guns did splendid
work in meeting, with an effective volley fire, the sudden, energetic
attacks made by the Hereros against the flank and rear of the
Germans. In two critical moments, during the attack against the left
flank of the advance guard, and during the attack made with a yell
against the right and rear of headquarters, it was principally due
to the machine guns that the enemy, who had come within short range,
was repulsed. Participants of this fight believed that the Hereros
did not dare to make a real attack when machine guns went into action
against them. It had been impossible to avoid using single machine
guns. Just as the enemy was making an attack upon the 11th Company,
machine gun No. 3 (2nd Machine Gun Battery), which had done splendid
work, broke down. This was the only case of jamming that occurred.
Although exposed to a galling hostile fire, the gun commander managed
to change barrels in 30 seconds, and then to resume the firing. The
2nd Machine Gun Battery expended 20,775 rounds of ammunition; the
expenditure of the different guns varied between 7350 and 120 rounds,
according to the part taken by them in the action. The ammunition
supply was certain and steady; no shortage of ammunition, not even a
temporary one, occurred anywhere.
7. MACHINE GUNS IN OTHER COUNTRIES.
=Switzerland.= In 1892 Switzerland began to organize four mounted
Maxim machine gun companies, which were assigned to the weak
cavalry brigades (consisting of six troops[293]) on account of the
defensive role of the Swiss cavalry and the lack of batteries of
horse artillery. Three machine gun companies were assigned to the
fortifications on the St. Gotthard and one to St. Moritz for the
purpose of augmenting the fire of the advanced positions belonging to
those fortifications, and to cover the approaches thereto.
[293] Eskadrons.
A Maxim machine gun company consists of 6 officers, 105
non-commissioned officers and privates, 99 horses (24 pack horses
and 24 draft horses), 8 guns mounted on tripods, and 7 vehicles (two
of these are two-horse supply and baggage wagons, one four-horse
field forge with field kitchen, 4 two-horse ammunition wagons, each
carrying 15,520 rounds of ammunition). The guns and the ammunition
are carried on pack animals. A packed gun horse carries a load of 108
kg. inclusive of 5 kg. of oats. An ammunition horse carries a load
of 123 kg. inclusive of 5 kg. of oats and 8 ammunition boxes (each
holding 250 rounds, or a total of 2000 rounds weighing 90.5 kg.). A
machine gun company of eight guns is divided into four platoons, each
consisting of two guns and four ammunition horses, and the combat
train, consisting of four ammunition wagons and the field kitchen.
Every gun is commanded by a “gun chief,” and two of the five men
belonging to the gun squad are horse holders. After the command
“halt” has been given, 1-1¹⁄₂ minutes are required to get the gun
ready for firing. The company carries 5940 rounds of ammunition for
each gun.
[Illustration: Switzerland.
Machine Gun and Ammunition Horse.
Gun Commander and Gun Ready to Fire.]
Route column from line is formed by the guns moving successively
in the proper direction, the two ammunition pack animals following
directly in rear of the gun to which they belong. The company takes
up a road space of 150 m. For movements off the road the company may
move in “mass,” or with the platoons in “combat formation.” When
in “mass” the platoons, each in route column, are abreast, with
intervals of 10-20 paces between them. When the platoons are in
“combat formation,” the two guns of each are placed abreast at equal
intervals.
[Illustration: Platoon In Route Column.]
The three machine gun companies assigned to the line of
fortifications consist of two to three platoons, each of four guns.
A platoon consists of 2 officers and 60 non-commissioned officers
and privates. The men are armed with rifles and equipped with alpine
sticks. “Gun carriers” (_Waffenwarte_) carry the gun basket, which
weighs 33 kg. The weight of the water in the jacket is only 1 kg.
“Ammunition carriers” (_Munitionswarte_) carry the ammunition in
specially constructed frames, each man carrying 500 rounds.
Kinds of fire: “_Fire by a single gun_” is employed at the opening of
an action to drive away patrols and reconnoitering officers, when it
is not desired to betray the presence of machine guns to the enemy.
“_Volley fire_” is the usual fire employed by machine guns and
corresponds to the volley fire of infantry. After the target and the
elevation have been designated, the platoon commander directs that
fire he opened by calling the name of the gun pointer who is to fire.
A pause is made after every series of 20-30 shots, which is used to
make necessary corrections.
As soon as the proper elevation has been determined, “_rapid fire_”
is opened. In this the _guns of a platoon fire alternately_. The fire
is delivered in series of 100 rounds, and the time during which one
of the guns is not firing is utilized by the non-commissioned officer
with it to examine and oil the mechanism.
The “_fire at will_” (continuous fire) of the machine guns
corresponds to the magazine fire of the infantry. _All the guns fire
simultaneously_ series of 50 to 100 rounds, interrupting the fire for
a moment at the end of each series for the purpose of examining and
oiling the mechanism; then they resume the fire with a new series of
50 to 100 rounds. On account of the great expenditure of ammunition
entailed, and also in order to prevent the premature deterioration
of the matériel, fire at will is used in exceptional cases only, for
example, when danger is imminent, or when favorable opportunities
offer.
“_Progressive fire_” may be employed against narrow, deep targets,
when the range could not be accurately determined. It may also be
employed for searching an area 100-200 m. deep.
=Austria= has begun to organize _cavalry and mountain machine gun
batteries_ consisting of four guns each. The machine gun Model 7
(_Schwarzlose_), with pack animal equipment, has been adopted. The
gun horse carries 500, and each of the two ammunition horses, 1500
rounds of ammunition. During mobilization two ammunition horses
are to be added for each gun. Mountain machine gun batteries are
similarly organized; each ammunition horse carries 2000 rounds of
ammunition. On the gun itself, and on the gun frame, 44 belts, each
holding 250 rounds, or a total of 11,000 rounds, are carried.[294]
[294] The Schwarzlose machine gun weighs 18 kg. exclusive of frame
and the water in the jacket. (The Maxim weighs 28 kg.).
The formations employed by the cavalry machine gun batteries are the
order in line (at close intervals), the combat order, and the route
column.
The mountain machine gun batteries, carrying guns and ammunition
upon pack horses, are equipped with tripod and basket mounts. These
machine gun batteries combine the system of mounting and carrying
employed by the Swiss cavalry and mountain machine gun companies.
Three pack animals are employed to transport each gun with its
ammunition. The gun squad consists of three men. Officers and
non-commissioned officers are mounted; the other men of the battery
are not. Unpacking the guns, posting them, and getting them in
readiness for firing, is managed in a similar manner as in the Swiss
machine gun companies.
The gun adopted for _infantry machine gun batteries_ is the light and
simple Schwarzlose machine gun, Model 7.
Springs Parts of breech Screws & Pins Weights
Maxim 14 35 52 27.5 kg.
Schwarzlose 1 11 13 17.5 „
Tripod mounts and pack animal transportation are necessary in view
of Austrian theaters of war. The batteries consist of four machine
guns.
“The great length of modern battle fronts, and the gaps and local
combats along the latter, would seem to make a distribution of
machine guns along the entire front desirable. Attention is thereby
directed to organizing the machine guns to be employed with the
infantry as ‘Regimental Machine Guns.’ Such an organization would
best ensure the training of this new arm for the infantry combat and
the prompt attainment of an understanding of its employment.
“In the cavalry, the difficulties of organizing, training, and
employing machine guns are considerably greater than in the infantry.
These difficulties are best overcome by organizing the machine guns
assigned to cavalry into independent batteries, and placing them at
the disposal of the higher cavalry commanders.
“In determining upon the size of the machine gun batteries attached
to infantry, an attempt should be made to combine minimum size with
adequate fire effect and maximum mobility. Two machine guns would
seem to be almost the maximum number that should be posted at one
point in an infantry action. From a tactical point of view, it is,
moreover, undesirable to post a greater number at one point, because
gun shields, steam, etc. would frequently form too prominent a
target, for the hostile artillery to forego firing on it promptly and
with telling effect.
“In connection with the desire for more than two machine guns in each
infantry and Jäger organization--about two guns per battalion--the
tremendous increase in ammunition trains should be considered. It
would also be well to bear in mind that we have, as a matter of fact,
not even become accustomed to the numerous ammunition columns of our
rapid fire artillery.
“In the cavalry, the necessity of dividing a machine gun battery
for the purpose of assigning the parts thereof to brigades, and
of assigning machine guns to reconnaissance and other independent
detachments, must be reckoned with. When we bear in mind that single
machine guns are to be used only in exceptional cases, the machine
gun battery intended for the cavalry cannot well be made smaller than
four guns.”[295]
[295] _Streffleur_, January, 1908, p. 114, et seq.
=England.= During the =Boer war= 1-2 machine guns mounted on a high
carriage were assigned to each of the British battalions. These guns
were unsuited to employment in an infantry combat and were quickly
silenced. The campaign demonstrated that these guns could frequently
not be used, and that they stood idle in rear of the line. They were
not combined into detachments for the purpose of supporting the
attack, as should have been done, until the engagement at =Pieters
Hill= (27th Febr., 1900). On account of the long range at which these
guns came into action, the effect of their fire was indeed very
small, but, nevertheless, its moral effect impaired the steadiness
of the Boer aim. Since the great fire power of these guns can be
brought into play only when several of them are employed together,
it is not a good plan to assign single guns to cavalry regiments for
the purpose of supporting the dismounted line in action. Only the
commander of the entire force, and not each battalion commander,
is able to judge where the employment of machine guns would be
advantageous. The proposal to assign machine guns to the artillery
was not followed, as it was justly feared that the machine guns would
then be assigned tasks to which they were not adapted.
At the present time, each battalion has a machine gun platoon
consisting of two guns. Both guns with their tripods, and a portion
of the ammunition, are transported on one wagon drawn by two horses.
They are in addition equipped with a two-horse ammunition cart. The
complement consists of 1 non-commissioned officer, 15 privates, 1
saddle horse, and 4 draft horses.
Each battalion of mounted infantry has a machine gun platoon which is
similarly organized. Each of the four vehicles of this platoon is,
however, drawn by four horses. In addition, this platoon is equipped
with six machine gun pack saddles for transporting the guns on pack
animals. The complement consists of 1 officer, 1 first sergeant, 23
privates, 16 saddle horses, and 16 draft animals.
The machine gun platoon of a cavalry regiment consists of only
one gun, which is carried on a four-horse wagon, and a four-horse
ammunition wagon. The platoon is equipped with three pack saddles.
The complement consists of 1 officer, 1 non-commissioned officer, 13
privates, 11 saddle horses, and 8 draft horses.
The following ammunition is carried by the British machine gun
platoons:
======================+========+==========+==========+========
| | In the | In the |
|With the|ammunition| Division | Total
| organ- | column |ammunition| No.
|ization.| of the | column. |rounds.
| |F. A. Bns.| |
----------------------+--------+----------+----------+--------
Infantry M. G. P. | 11,500 | 10,000 | 10,000 | 31,500
Mtd. Infantry M. G. P.| 19,500 | 10,000 | 10,000 | 39,500
Cavalry M. G. P | 19,500 | 10,000 | 10,000 | 39,500
----------------------+--------+----------+----------+--------
=Japan= and =France= seem to have decided to follow the British in
assigning machine gun platoons to regiments. In =Japan=, soon after
the outbreak of the =Russo-Japanese war=, the Guard, the 1st, 2nd,
3rd, 4th and 6th Divisions, and the two independent cavalry brigades,
had machine gun batteries consisting of 6 guns each. During the
winter 1904-5, 320 machine guns were gradually placed in position,
singly and by platoons, in the fortifications on the Shaho.