Читать книгу Terrain Exercises - William H. Waldron - Страница 13

The Director: “Captain Hastings, let us assume that you are Captain C. You have received the orders of the battalion commander. What is your mission?”

Captain Hastings: “To attack the enemy’s strong point enveloping its left.”

The Director: “In sizing up the situation what points would you consider?”

Captain Hastings: “I would consider the enemy’s position, and if possible, go to a point where I can make a personal reconnaissance of it. I would consider the route by which I can get my company up to the point where I can make the attack and select the line of departure for the company. I will then decide upon my plan of maneuver and the formation of the company for attack.”

The Director: “In other words, you will make an Estimate of the Situation and upon this you will base your decision and in turn your orders?”

Captain Hastings: “Yes, sir. That is the idea.”

The Director: “I want to emphasize the necessity for this process of sizing up the situation on the part of all officers charged with a tactical operation. If you come to a decision without doing so you may be right and you may be wrong. The chances are greatly in favor of the latter. If you stop and consider the elements of the problem as outlined by Captain Hastings the chances are that you will be right. In any event you have the odds on your side. Lieutenant Wallace, what troops have been designated to support your company?”

Lieutenant Wallace: “A part of the machine gun company and a howitzer platoon.”

The Director: “You will note that these two units have been ordered to support your attack. They are not attached to your company. What do you understand to be the difference between a supporting unit and an attached unit?”

Lieutenant Wallace: “An attached unit becomes an integral part of the force and is subject to its commander’s orders. A supporting unit receives its orders, not from the commander of the force being supported, but from another source, usually a common superior.”

The Director: “That is right. I hope you all note the distinction. It is the rule, however, that the supporting unit must work with the unit that it is supporting in every way possible so as to insure teamwork in the accomplishment of the common mission.”

“Lieutenant Ralston, how would you get your instructions to your platoon leaders, who are back with the company?”

Lieutenant Ralston: “I have a runner with me from each of the three platoons. I would send these runners back to their respective platoons to tell the platoon commanders to report to me at ___________” (Lieutenant Ralston would indicate where the platoon commanders are to report.)

The Director: “Let us assume that you are Captain C. Just what would you say to the runners?”

Lieutenant Ralston: “I would call the platoon runners to me and say:

“‘Do you see that ___________?’ (Designating a tree or other well defined object.) ‘Each platoon runner will deliver this message to his platoon leader—Platoon leaders will join Captain C at once at ___________ (Place). Repeat the message.’”

The Director: “All right. Now let us assume that the platoon runners have started back to their platoons, what would you do now?”

Lieutenant Ralston: “I would go over to the right to make a personal reconnaissance of the enemy strong point, select my line of departure for the attack and get the ‘line-up’ of the supporting weapons.”

The Director: “That would seem to be the reasonable thing to do.”

The Class is now conducted over to the right, to a point about the center of the line of departure for the attack.

The Director: “Captain Harvey, let us assume that you have come to this point. You have with you the commanders of the machine gun company, Captain D, and the Howitzer platoon, Lieutenant Z. You decide that the line of departure for your attack shall be along here (indicating). What instructions would you give to Captain D and Lieutenant Z?”

Captain Harvey: “I would indicate to them where I want the machine guns, light mortars, and one-pounders to be located to support the attack.”

The Director: “You would tell exactly where to place the weapons, would you?”

Captain Harvey: “Yes, sir.”

The Director: “Captain Hodges, do you agree with that solution to the problem?”

Captain Hodges: “No, sir, I do not. It seems to me that it would be better for Captain C to indicate to Captain D and Lieutenant Z the dispositions that he proposes to make—where the line of departure is to be and the direction of the attack. Then to leave it up to those officers to select the firing positions for the weapons. I think Captain C would verify the positions selected, but he would at least give the men who are supposed to be the experts an opportunity to use their knowledge of the subject.”

The Director: “I think you are right. I believe in requiring every man to do his job. These officers have been ordered to support the attack. It is up to them to select the position where they can get the best fire effect with their weapons and to get them into position ready to do business.”

“What precautions would you take to indicate the place where the platoon leaders are to assemble, Captain James?”

Captain James: “I would send one of my company runners to the assembly point and order him to tell the platoon leaders to wait there for me.”

The Director: “I think that is a wise precaution. You do not want to take a chance on anything going wrong and failing to effect an assembly of the platoon leaders.”

“Now, let us consider how the attack is to be made. What would be your tactical dispositions, Captain James?”

Captain James: “I would attack with one Platoon (the first), advancing directly against the enemy strong point, and another (the second) working around the enemy’s left flank and enveloping it. I would hold the remaining platoon (the third) as company support.”

The Director: “Where is your line of departure?”

Captain James: “My line of departure would be along here. The right of the first platoon would be (indicate). The left of the second platoon will be (indicate). Each platoon will cover about 150 yards of front. The third platoon will follow in rear of the second platoon as company support.”

The Director: “That seems to be a logical disposition. Now having decided all of this you should give the information to Captain D and Lieutenant X so they can go about the task of selecting positions for their weapons. How would you do this, Lieutenant Baker?”

Lieutenant Baker: “Assuming that Lieutenant Z and Captain D have been with me all the while, I would say:

“‘My first platoon will attack with its right about (indicate). The second platoon with its left about (indicate). Each will cover a front of about 150 yards. Select your firing positions to cover the attack.’

“That is all that should be required. Before issuing final orders for the attack I would verify the positions selected.”