Solutions to Short Problem 8
From the 'Infantry School Mailing List'
The first volume of the Infantry School Mailing List, which rolled off the press in 1931, offered readers a set of sixteen short tactical problems. On 3 July 2026, The Tactical Notebook published the eighth of these.
This article provides both of the author’s solution published with the problem. So, if you would like to play your way through the series, please engage the exercise before reading this post.
PUBLISHED SOLUTION TO PROBLEM NO. 8
(1) The section leader of the leading section 1st Platoon intends to continue the attack to the north, since he is being closely backed up or supported by friendly troops in rear.
(2) The platoon leader 1st Platoon, intends to leave a portion of the rear section on the small hill at A to keep the gap open and fire on X, and with the rest of the platoon to continue the advance to the north. This advance will be for a limited distance only, unless other friendly troops follow the platoon. Forward platoons making a penetration should not press on so far as to get beyond supporting distance from the rest of the company. He notifies the company commander of the situation and of his actions.
(3) The platoon leader, 2d Platoon intends to send his rear section forward up the wooded ravine to attack the enemy post at X in flank and rear, assisted by his leading section, capture it and widen the breach.
(4) The company commander intends to send the 3d Platoon under cover to the vicinity of A, and then move to the left and become the left assault platoon, leaving the 2d Platoon to reduce X, reorganize and become the company support. The procedure described is termed infiltration.
(5) With partly trained troops the 1st Platoon leader would move his platoon to the vicinity of A from which he will keep open the gap and assist by fire in the attack on X. The 2d Platoon leader intends to use his rear section to attack X in flank and rear. The company commander intends to move the 3d Platoon forward along the covered approach to a position from which it can assist the attack on X, the company to resume its attack to the north after X is reduced and the company reorganized. Commanders of partly-trained troops should avoid difficult maneuvers and pay particular attention to the matter of control.
Sources
‘Infantry Problems’ Infantry School Mailing List (Fort Benning: US Army Infantry School, 1931) Volume 1 (1930-1931) page 43 (Internet Archive)
The Internet Archive preserves scans of microfilmed copies of all thirty volumes of the Infantry School Mailing List. However, it catalogs them under the heading of the Infantry School Quarterly, which succeeded the Mailing List in 1947. (Internet Archive)
The Hathi Trust provides links to scanned-from-paper copies of some, but far from all, issues of the Infantry School Mailing List (Hathi Trust)
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