Manual of Military Training Part 16

To Fire by Clip

=192. CLIP FIRE.=

Executed in the same manner as =fire at will=, except that each man, after having exhausted the cartridges then in the piece, =suspends firing=. (For Krag rifle see par. 704.) (148)

To Suspend Firing

=193.= The instructor blows a =long blast= of the whistle and repeats same, if necessary, or commands: =SUSPEND FIRING.=

Firing stops; pieces are held, loaded and locked, in a position of readiness for instant resumption of firing, rear sights unchanged. The men continue to observe the target or aiming point, or the place at which the target disappeared, or at which it is expected to reappear.

This whistle signal may be used as a preliminary to =cease firing=.

(149)

To Cease Firing

=194. CEASE FIRING.=

Firing stops; pieces not already there are brought to the position of load; those not loaded, are loaded; sights are laid, pieces are locked and brought to the order.

=Cease firing= is used for long pauses, to prepare for changes of position, or to steady the men. (For Krag rifle see par. 705.) (150)

Commands for suspending or ceasing fire may be given at any time after the preparatory command for firing whether the firing has actually commenced or not. (151)

The Use of Cover

=195. Individual instruction; things to be impressed upon the recruit.= The recruit should be given careful instruction in the individual use of cover. (152)

It should be impressed upon him that, in taking advantage of natural cover, he must be able to fire easily and effectively upon the enemy; if advancing on an enemy, he must do so steadily and as rapidly as possible; he must conceal himself as much as possible while firing and while advancing. While setting his sight he should be under cover or lying p.r.o.ne.

=196. Practice in simulated firing from behind hillocks, trees, etc.; firing around right side of concealment.= To teach him to fire easily and effectively, at the same time concealing himself from the view of the enemy, he is practiced in simulated firing in the p.r.o.ne, sitting, kneeling, and crouching positions, from behind hillocks, trees, heaps of earth or rocks, from depressions, gullies, ditches, doorways, or windows. He is taught to fire around the right side of his concealment whenever possible, or, when this is not possible, to rise enough to fire over the top of his concealment.

When these details are understood, he is required to select cover with reference to an a.s.sumed enemy and to place himself behind it in proper position for firing. (153)

=197. Evil of remaining too long in one place; advancing from cover to cover by running, crawling, etc.= The evil of remaining too long in one place, however good the concealment, should be explained. He should be taught to advance from cover to cover, selecting cover in advance before leaving his concealment.

It should be impressed upon him that a man running rapidly toward an enemy furnishes a poor target. He should be trained in springing from a p.r.o.ne position behind concealment, running at top speed to cover and throwing himself behind it. He should also be practiced in advancing from cover to cover by crawling, or by lying on the left side, rifle grasped in the right hand, and pushing himself forward with the right leg. (154)

=198. Action when fired on while acting independently.= He should be taught that, when fired on while acting independently, he should drop to the ground, seek cover, and then endeavor to locate his enemy.

(155)

=199. Proper advance and effectiveness of fire of greater importance than cover.= The instruction of the recruit in the use of cover is continued in the combat exercises of the company, but he must then be taught that the proper advance of the platoon or company and the effectiveness of its fire is of greater importance than the question of cover for individuals. He should also be taught that he may not move about or shift his position in the firing line except the better to see the target. (156)

Observation

=200. Importance of observation; training of recruit.= The ability to use his eyes accurately is of great importance to the soldier. The recruit should be trained in observing his surroundings from positions and when on the march.

He should be practiced in pointing out and naming military features of the ground; in distinguishing between living beings; in counting distant groups of objects or beings; in recognizing colors and forms.

(157)

=201. Training in mechanism of firing line and estimating distance.= In the training of men in the mechanism of the firing line, they should be practiced in repeating to one another target and aiming point designations and in quickly locating and pointing out a designated target. They should be taught to distinguish, from a p.r.o.ne position, distant objects, particularly troops, both with the naked eye and with field gla.s.ses. Similarly, they should be trained in estimating distances. (158)

SCHOOL OF THE COMPANY

=202. Captain responsible for instruction of officers and noncommissioned officers.= The captain is responsible for the theoretical and practical instruction of his officers and noncommissioned officers, not only in the duties of their respective grades, but in those of the next higher grades. (159)

=203. Formation of company in double rank, according to height; division into squads.= The company in line is formed in double rank with the men arranged, as far as practicable, according to height from right to left, the tallest on the right.

The original division into squads is effected by the command: =COUNT OFF=. The squads, successively, from the right, count off as in the School of the Squad, as explained in par. 153, corporals placing themselves as Nos. 4 of the front rank. If the left squad contains less than six men, it is either increased to that number by transfers from other squads or is broken up and its members a.s.signed to other squads and posted in the line of file closers. These squad organizations are maintained, by transfers if necessary, until the company becomes so reduced in numbers as to necessitate a new division into squads. No squad will contain less than six men. (160)

=204. Division of company into platoons.= The company is further divided into two, three or four platoons, each consisting of not less than two, nor more than four squads. In garrison or ceremonies the strength of platoons may exceed four squads. (161)

=205. Designation of squads and platoons.= At the formation of the company the platoons or squads are numbered consecutively from right to left and these designations do not change.

For convenience in giving commands and for reference, the designations, =right, center, left=, when in line, and =leading, center, rear=, when in column, are applied to platoons or squads.

These designations apply to the actual right, left, center, head, or rear, in whatever direction the company may be facing. The =center squad= is the middle or right middle squad of the company.

The designation "So-and-so's" squad or platoon may also be used.

(162)

=206. a.s.signment of platoons; a.s.signment of guides.= Platoons are a.s.signed to the lieutenants and noncommissioned officers, in order of rank, as follows: 1, right; 2, left; 3, center (right center); 4, left center.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Plate II]

The noncommissioned officers next in rank are a.s.signed as guides, one to each platoon. If sergeants still remain, they are a.s.signed to platoons as additional guides. When the platoon is deployed, its guide, or guides, accompany the platoon leader.

During battle, these a.s.signments are not changed; vacancies are filled by noncommissioned officers of the platoon, or by the nearest available officers or noncommissioned officers arriving with reenforcing troops. (163)

=207. Post of first sergeant, quartermaster sergeant and musicians.= The first sergeant is never a.s.signed as a guide. When not commanding a platoon, he is posted as a file closer opposite the third file from the outer flank of the first platoon; and when the company is deployed he accompanies the captain.

The quartermaster sergeant, when present, is a.s.signed according to his rank as a sergeant.

Enlisted men below the grade of sergeant, armed with the rifle are in ranks unless serving as guides; when not so armed they are posted in the line of file closers.

Musicians, when required to play, are at the head of the column. When the company is deployed, they accompany the captain, and perform the duties laid down in par. 272. (164)

=208. Certain movements executed by company and by platoon as prescribed in Schools of the Soldier and the Squad.= The company executes the =halt=, =rests=, =facings=, =steps=, and =marchings=, =manual of arms=, =loadings=, and =firings=, takes =intervals= and =distances= and =a.s.sembles=, =increases= and =diminishes intervals=, resumes =attention=, =obliques=, resumes the direct march, preserves alignments, =kneels=, =lies down=, =rises=, =stacks=, and =takes arms=, as explained in the Schools of the Soldier and the Squad, subst.i.tuting in the commands =company= for =squad=.

The same rule applies to platoons, detachments, details, etc., subst.i.tuting their designation for =squad= in the commands. In the same manner these execute the movements prescribed for the company, whenever possible, subst.i.tuting their designation for =company= in the commands. (165)

=209. Depleted company led as platoon.= A company so depleted as to make division into platoons impracticable is led by the captain as a single platoon, but retains the designation of company. The lieutenants and first sergeant a.s.sist in fire control; the other sergeants place themselves in the firing line as skirmishers. (166)