Manual for Noncommissioned Officers and Privates of Cavalry of the Army Part 35

When the foregoing method of rus.h.i.+ng, by running, becomes impracticable, any method of advance that carries the attack closer to the enemy, such as =crawling=, should be employed.

The charge corresponds to that described =in the squadron=.

When a leader in command of a platoon or section receives an order or signal to rush, he should cause his men to suspend firing and to hold themselves flat but ready for a sprinter's start. He selects the point, as far as possible with reference to cover, to which he intends to carry his unit forward. He then gives the command "=RUSH=," springs forward, and running at full speed about three paces ahead of his men, leads them in the rush. Arriving at the position he has selected, he throws himself p.r.o.ne, and the men drop on either side of him. All crawl forward to good firing positions, considering the cover also, and the leader gives the necessary orders for resuming the fire. The latter will include giving the range again, the length of the rush being subtracted from the sight setting ordered at the last position.

The original platoon and section divisions of the troop in the firing line should be maintained, if possible, and should only be broken up if the mingling of reinforcements renders it unavoidable.

Upon joining the firing line, officers and noncommissioned officers accompanying a reinforcement take over the duties of others of like grade who have been disabled, or they distribute themselves so as best to exercise their normal functions. Conditions vary and no exact rules can be prescribed. It is essential that all a.s.sist in mastering the increased difficulties of control.

FIRE.

=657.= Ordinarily rifles are loaded and extra ammunition in bandoliers is distributed before the troop deploys for combat. In close order the troop executes the firings at the command of the captain, who posts himself in rear of the center.

Firings in close order are exceptional.

=658.= =Signals during fire action=: The voice is generally inadequate for giving commands during firing, and must be replaced by signals of such character that proper fire direction and control are a.s.sured (par. 989). To attract attention signals must usually be preceded by the whistle signal (short blast). A fraction of the firing line about to rush should avoid using the long blast signal as an indication to =suspend firing=. Officers and men behind the firing line can not ordinarily move freely along the line, but each must depend on the other's watchfulness, in addition to his own, and make use of prescribed signals (par. 997, Cav. Drill Reg., 1916). All should place themselves so as to see their immediate superiors and subordinates.

The bugler with the captain a.s.sists by observing the enemy, the target, and the fire effect, and by watching for and transmitting commands.

The effect of fire and the influence of the ground in relation thereto, and the individual and collective instruction in marksmans.h.i.+p are treated in the =Small-Arms Firing Manual=.

=659.= =Volley fire= has limited application. It has a moral effect both on the troops employing it and on those subjected to it. It may be employed to restore control. 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 especially posted on the flank or in a dominant position in rear of an attacking force for the purpose of aiding the advance by so-called _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, if used, is executed habitually by platoon.

=660.= =Fire at will= is the cla.s.s of fire normally employed in attack or defense.

=661.= =Clip fire= has limited application. It is princ.i.p.ally used (_a_) in the early stages of combat to steady the men by habituating them to brief pauses in firing; (_b_) to produce a short burst of fire.

FIRE DIRECTION.

=662.= When the troop is large enough to be divided into platoons, it is impracticable for the captain to command it 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.

The captain directs the fire of his troop 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.

FIRE CONTROL.

=663.= In combat the platoon is the _fire unit_. From 20 to 35 rifles are as many as one leader can control effectively.

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 point as the situation permits or requires (par. 141); 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.

When the target can not be seen with the naked eye, he designates an aiming point (by one of the methods described in par. 141 if necessary) and orders fire upon it, first announcing the proper sight setting to correct the error of aim.

In general, =platoon leaders= observe the target and the effect of the fire and are on the alert for the captain's commands; they observe and regulate the rate of fire. The =file closers= watch the firing line and check every breach of fire discipline. =Chiefs of section= transmit commands when necessary, observe the conduct of their sections and abate excitement, a.s.sist in enforcing fire discipline, and partic.i.p.ate in the firing unless otherwise directed by the =platoon commanders=.

The best troops are those that submit longest to fire control. To avoid or delay such loss of control should be the constant aim of all.

Fire control implies the ability of the commander to stop the firing, change the sight setting and target, and resume a well-directed fire.

FIRE DISCIPLINE.

=664.= Fire discipline implies, besides an unquestioning habit of obedience to commands, 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; proper understanding of orders as to target designation; 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. Orderly and regular methods on the part of leaders aid fire discipline. Self possession and a confident tone in giving commands and instructions are indispensable.

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.

=665.= To create a correct appreciation of the requirements of fire discipline, men are taught that the rate of fire, having constantly in view the available ammunition supply, 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.

=666.= In attack, ammunition must be used with extreme caution in order that the highest rate of fire may be employed at the halt preceding the a.s.sault and in pursuing fire.

=667.= 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 a vigorous burst of fire. In defense the available ammunition supply is not ordinarily so limited as in the attack.

=668.= For communication between the firing line and the reserve or commander in rear certain signals are prescribed (par. 997). In transmission their concealment from the enemy's view should be insured. In the absence of signal flags the headdress or other subst.i.tute may be used.

RANGES.

=669.= For convenience of reference, ranges are cla.s.sified as follows:

0 to 600 yards, close range.

600 to 1,200 yards, effective range.

1,200 to 2,000 yards, long range.

Over 2,000 yards, distant range.

The distance to the target must be determined as accurately as possible and the sights set accordingly.

Aside from training and morale, this is the most important single factor in securing effective fire at the longer ranges.

Except in a deliberately prepared defensive position, the most accurate and only practicable method of determining the range, in absence of a suitable mechanical range finder, will generally be to take the mean of several estimates made independently.

_Estimation of ranges._--Five or six officers and men, selected from the most accurate estimators in the troop and designated as _range estimators_, should be specially trained in estimating distances.

Whenever necessary and practicable, the captain a.s.sembles the range estimators, points out the target to them, and adopts the mean of their estimates. The range estimators then take their customary posts.

When a range is announced, the men at once set their sights to correspond, and whenever practicable an examination of the pieces is made in order to verify the sight setting.

(_C. C. D. R., No. 1, Apr. 26, 1917._)

Firing is delayed as long as possible for three reasons, viz: (_a_) At the extreme ranges little damage can be done on the enemy, and ineffective firing always encourages him; (_b_) halting to fire delays the advance, and the great object to be accomplished is to close in on the enemy where you can meet him on better terms; (_c_) plenty of ammunition will be required at the decisive stage of the fight, and it is very difficult to send extra ammunition up to the firing line.

=Therefore never fire until ordered to do so, and then never fire more than the number of rounds designated. Never fire after the command "cease firing" is given.=

Ammunition in the bandoleers will ordinarily be expended first. Thirty rounds in the right pocket section of the belt will be held as a reserve, to be expended only when ordered by an officer.

Soon, however, it will be necessary to halt and open fire on the enemy in order to cause him some loss, to make his riflemen keep down in their trenches, and to make them fire wildly. It is probable that at this time and until you arrive much closer you will not see any of the enemy to fire at. You may not even see any trenches nor know just where the enemy is. Your higher officers, however, with their field gla.s.ses and the messages they receive, will know. Each troop will be a.s.signed a certain front to cover with its fire. =Therefore be careful to fix your sights at the designated range and fire only at the designated target.= This means team work in firing, which is one of the most important elements of success.