1. As Maj A: action is to either stand up the Bn's artillery or (if a 1918 US marine Bn doesn't have much of its own) beg/borrow/steal more from the division in order to carry out my orders. This is well into the war and we're worried the enemy might be about to hit us hard; now is not the time for a raid on so small a scale it can proceed without at least a whirlwind bombardment. Orders to Cpt B are to organise a trench raid in force: (what by this point is hopefully) standard procedure, identifying marks removed from all men's uniforms, everyone loaded to bursting with grenades (do we call them bombs in this war or is that only the British?), knives and wirecutters, time in contact with the enemy to be measured in seconds not minutes if at all possible. Target location is his call but should be determined as early as possible so the artillery can be prepared.
2. As Cpt B: action is to determine a suitable location, feed it back, firm up the artillery plan and scrounge up whatever's best from the mess tents for anyone who'll volunteer to go on the raid rather than having to be ordered. Orders to Lt Y are to get a platoon's worth of men together for a trench raid at that location in time with the cover the artillery will allow him. Depending on how gung-ho I'm feeling and how favourable the terrain (heh, as if) and weather are, may order that a smaller, secondary raid be launched by no more than a section on a different part of the line, immediately before the bombardment. You never know, might catch them napping.
3. As Lt Y: action is to get men together, fed and watered, and briefed on the plan. Specifics - can we crawl out into no-man's land beforehand or do we need to wait for the bombardment? One group or several? - dependent on the lie of the land, the weather, the amount of artillery support we can expect and our estimate of the enemy's disposition. Presumably he'll be awake, alert and in force wherever we go, so that'll be fun.
I like the diversion. That would be my play. Hit a good raid backed by artillery to draw attention, and a small party sent to a picked location and backed by some 81mm mortars so they can get in real close and try and nab a PW. Once one has a PW, prearranged signal to withdraw is a colored flare. Flares to lift artillery/mortars should also be prearranged.
A lot of the decision games published in Tactical Notebook come from the Infantry School of the 1930s. Many of the same people who wrote those problems also wrote the case studies in Infantry in Battle.
I have a Hard Bound copy somewhere... read years ago.
I recall the deliberate attack using a machine gun battalion as indirect fire. I of course had MG theory like us all, I would have liked to have attended the course ( I think it was called Small arms master ... something).
I think the concept needs to be revisited and refreshed, in particular if we find ourselves in urban or positional, static warfare. I think men being committed is at the end after its cleared by fires or IDF.
The infantry will despise not closing, the feedback from Ukraine doth not discourage them.
I remember training even just a couple of years ago raising a caution on “sweep over the objective.” Ok- now what’s on that objective important enough to walk on it? Because if you haven’t taken casualties before you will now. <
This got mixed reactions, as they were scouts they’ll listen...
I think the Russian preferred way of artillery is the arm of decision and infantry supports has a lot to be said for it.
Let’s have a look at the Ukrainian counteroffensive; 143 square miles taken for 50,000 dead.
That’s 350 dead per square mile.
Close with the enemy will remain the Koran unfortunately for some people until they suffer enough.
1. As Maj A: action is to either stand up the Bn's artillery or (if a 1918 US marine Bn doesn't have much of its own) beg/borrow/steal more from the division in order to carry out my orders. This is well into the war and we're worried the enemy might be about to hit us hard; now is not the time for a raid on so small a scale it can proceed without at least a whirlwind bombardment. Orders to Cpt B are to organise a trench raid in force: (what by this point is hopefully) standard procedure, identifying marks removed from all men's uniforms, everyone loaded to bursting with grenades (do we call them bombs in this war or is that only the British?), knives and wirecutters, time in contact with the enemy to be measured in seconds not minutes if at all possible. Target location is his call but should be determined as early as possible so the artillery can be prepared.
2. As Cpt B: action is to determine a suitable location, feed it back, firm up the artillery plan and scrounge up whatever's best from the mess tents for anyone who'll volunteer to go on the raid rather than having to be ordered. Orders to Lt Y are to get a platoon's worth of men together for a trench raid at that location in time with the cover the artillery will allow him. Depending on how gung-ho I'm feeling and how favourable the terrain (heh, as if) and weather are, may order that a smaller, secondary raid be launched by no more than a section on a different part of the line, immediately before the bombardment. You never know, might catch them napping.
3. As Lt Y: action is to get men together, fed and watered, and briefed on the plan. Specifics - can we crawl out into no-man's land beforehand or do we need to wait for the bombardment? One group or several? - dependent on the lie of the land, the weather, the amount of artillery support we can expect and our estimate of the enemy's disposition. Presumably he'll be awake, alert and in force wherever we go, so that'll be fun.
Oh, and then to actually go on the damn raid. Probably shouldn't forget to specify that bit.
I like the diversion. That would be my play. Hit a good raid backed by artillery to draw attention, and a small party sent to a picked location and backed by some 81mm mortars so they can get in real close and try and nab a PW. Once one has a PW, prearranged signal to withdraw is a colored flare. Flares to lift artillery/mortars should also be prearranged.
Have you read “Infantry in Battle” 1939 - Marshall was behind its publication. WW2 army went to war on it.
A lot of the decision games published in Tactical Notebook come from the Infantry School of the 1930s. Many of the same people who wrote those problems also wrote the case studies in Infantry in Battle.
I have a Hard Bound copy somewhere... read years ago.
I recall the deliberate attack using a machine gun battalion as indirect fire. I of course had MG theory like us all, I would have liked to have attended the course ( I think it was called Small arms master ... something).
I think the concept needs to be revisited and refreshed, in particular if we find ourselves in urban or positional, static warfare. I think men being committed is at the end after its cleared by fires or IDF.
The infantry will despise not closing, the feedback from Ukraine doth not discourage them.
I remember training even just a couple of years ago raising a caution on “sweep over the objective.” Ok- now what’s on that objective important enough to walk on it? Because if you haven’t taken casualties before you will now. <
This got mixed reactions, as they were scouts they’ll listen...
I think the Russian preferred way of artillery is the arm of decision and infantry supports has a lot to be said for it.
Let’s have a look at the Ukrainian counteroffensive; 143 square miles taken for 50,000 dead.
That’s 350 dead per square mile.
Close with the enemy will remain the Koran unfortunately for some people until they suffer enough.
Me? I want to commit men only as needed.