241. _Volley firing_ has limited application. In defense it may be used in the early stages of the action if the enemy presents a large, compact target. It may be used by troops executing _fire of position_.
When the ground near the target is such that the strike of bullets can be seen from the firing line, _ranging volleys_ may be used to correct the sight setting.
In combat, volley firing is executed habitually by platoon.
242. _Fire at will_ is the cla.s.s of fire normally employed in attack or defense.
243. _Clip fire_ has limited application. It is princ.i.p.ally used: 1.
In the early stages of combat, to steady the men by habituating them to brief pauses in firing. 2. To produce a short burst of fire.
_The Target._
244. Ordinarily the major will a.s.sign to the company an objective in attack or sector in defense; the company"s target will lie within the limits so a.s.signed. In the choice of target, tactical considerations are paramount; the nearest hostile troops within the objective or sector will thus be the usual target. This will ordinarily be the hostile firing line; troops in rear are ordinarily proper targets for artillery, machine guns, or, at times, infantry employing fire of position.
Change of target should not be made without excellent reasons therefor, such as the sudden appearance of hostile troops under conditions which make them more to be feared than the troops comprising the former target.
245. The distribution of fire over the entire target is of special importance.
The captain allots a part of the target to each platoon, or each platoon leader takes as his target that part which corresponds to his position in the company. Men are so instructed that each fires on that part of the target which is directly opposite him.
246. All parts of the target are equally important. Care must be exercised that the men do not slight its less visible parts. A section of the target not covered by fire represents a number of the enemy permitted to fire coolly and effectively.
247. If the target can not be seen with the naked eye, platoon leaders select an object in front of or behind it, designate this as the _aiming target_, and direct a sight setting which will carry the cone of fire into the target.
(_C.I.D.R., No. 17._)
_Fire Direction._
248. When the company is large enough to be divided into platoons, it is impracticable for the captain to command it directly in combat. His efficiency in managing the firing line is measured by his ability to enforce his will through the platoon leaders. Having indicated clearly what he desires them to do, he avoids interfering except to correct serious errors or omissions.
249. The captain _directs_ the fire of the company or of designated platoons. He designates the target, and, when practicable, allots a part of the target to each platoon. Before beginning the fire action he determines the range, announces the sight setting, and indicates the cla.s.s of fire to be employed and the time to open fire.
Thereafter, he observes the fire effect, corrects material errors in sight setting, prevents exhaustion of the ammunition supply, and causes the distribution of such extra ammunition as may be received from the rear.
_Fire Control._
250. In combat the platoon is the _fire unit_. From 20 to 35 rifles are as many as one leader can control effectively.
251. Each platoon leader puts into execution the commands or directions of the captain, having first taken such precautions to insure correct sight setting and clear description of the target or aiming target as the situation permits or requires; thereafter, he gives such additional commands or directions as are necessary to exact compliance with the captain"s will. He corrects the sight setting when necessary. He designates an aiming target when the target can not be seen with the naked eye.
(_C.I.D.R., No. 17._)
252. In general, _platoon leaders_ observe the target and the effect of their fire and are on the alert for the captain"s commands or signals; they observe and regulate the rate of fire. The _platoon guides_ watch the firing line and check every breach of fire discipline. _Squad leaders_ transmit commands and signals when necessary, observe the conduct of their squads and abate excitement, a.s.sist in enforcing fire discipline and partic.i.p.ate in the firing.
253. The best troops are those that submit longest to fire control.
Loss of control is an evil which robs success of its greatest results.
To avoid or delay such loss should be the constant aim of all.
Fire control implies the ability to stop firing, change the sight setting and target, and resume a well directed fire.
_Fire Discipline._
254. "Fire discipline implies, besides a habit of obedience, a control of the rifle by the soldier, the result of training, which will enable him in action to make hits instead of misses. It embraces taking advantage of the ground; care in setting the sight and delivery of fire; constant attention to the orders of the leaders, and careful observation of the enemy; an increase of fire when the target is favorable, and a cessation of fire when the enemy disappears; economy of ammunition." (Small-Arms Firing Manual.)
In combat, shots which graze the enemy"s trench or position and thus reduce the effectiveness of his fire have the approximate value of hits; such shots only, or actual hits, contribute toward fire superiority.
Fire discipline implies that, in a firing line without leaders, each man retains his presence of mind and directs effective fire upon the proper target.
255. To create a correct appreciation of the requirements of fire discipline, men are taught that the rate of fire should be as rapid as is consistent with accurate aiming; that the rate will depend upon the visibility, proximity, and size of the target; and that the proper rate will ordinarily suggest itself to each trained man, usually rendering cautions or commands unnecessary.
In attack the highest rate of fire is employed at the halt preceding the a.s.sault, and in pursuing fire.
256. In an advance by rushes, leaders of troops in firing positions are responsible for the delivery of heavy fire to cover the advance of each rushing fraction. Troops are trained to change slightly the direction of fire so as not to endanger the flanks of advanced portions of the firing line.
257. In defense, when the target disappears behind cover, platoon leaders suspend fire, prepare their platoons to fire upon the point where it is expected to reappear, and greet its reappearance instantly with vigorous fire.
SCHOOL OF THE BATTALION.
258. The battalion being purely a tactical unit, the major"s duties are primarily those of an instructor in drill and tactics and of a tactical commander. He is responsible for the theoretical and practical training of the battalion. He supervises the training of the companies of the battalion with a view to insuring the thoroughness and uniformity of their instruction.
In the instruction of the battalion as a whole, his efforts will be directed chiefly to the development of tactical efficiency, devoting only such time to the mechanism of drill and to the ceremonies as may be necessary in order to insure precision, smartness, and proper control.
259. The movements explained herein are on the basis of a battalion of four companies; they may be executed by a battalion of two or more companies, not exceeding six.
260. The companies are generally arranged from right to left according to the rank of the captains present at the formation. The arrangement of the companies may be varied by the major or higher commander.
After the battalion is formed, no cognizance is taken of the relative order of the companies.
261. In whatever direction the battalion faces, the companies are designated numerically from right to left in line, and from head to rear in column, _first company_, _second company_, etc.
The terms _right_ and _left_ apply to actual right and left as the line faces; if the about by squads be executed when in line, the right company becomes the left company and the right center becomes the left center company.
The designation center company indicates the right center or the actual center company according as the number of companies is even or odd.
262. The band and other special units, when attached to the battalion, take the same post with respect to it as if it were the nearest battalion shown in Plate IV.
CLOSE ORDER.
_Rules._
[Ill.u.s.tration: Plate III. THE BATTALION.]