Читать книгу Terrain Exercises - William H. Waldron - Страница 12

A few minutes are allowed the members of the class to look over the situation. It is then read aloud and the necessary explanations made.

The Director: “Lieutenant Williams, what is the formation of Company C, at the time the battalion commander’s order is received by Captain C?”

Lieutenant Williams: “The formation would depend upon the cover available, the distance from the front line and the class of fire it is being subjected to. In this case I should say that the company will be in dispersed formation either in squad columns or platoon columns. I would prefer the platoon columns because they are more easily controlled. I think I would have each platoon in a platoon column. The first and second platoons would march abreast with an interval of at least 40 yards with the third platoon marching about 50 yards to the rear and opposite the interval between the first and second. Company headquarters would be in the lead.”

The Director: “That seems to be a very good formation under the circumstances.”

(Note.—The Director should prepare an answer to this question based on the lay of the ground.)

“How do you arrive at the interval of 40 yards between the two leading platoons?”

Lieutenant Williams: “That is about the minimum distance to avoid casualties in more than one column from the burst of one shell and it is about the maximum distance for control and visibility in the woods.”