CHAPTER XVI

THE RIFLE IN WAR 324-336 Location of firing line with respect to geographical and military crests 324 The skyline 324 Grazing effect and plunging fire 324 Firing line in retreat or in delaying actions 324 Location of supports with respect to firing line 324 Defilade on reverse slopes. Formations of supports 324-325 Position fire in attack and in defense 325 RELATIVE VULNERABILITIES OF DIFFERENT FORMATIONS UNDER AIMED AND UNDER SWEEPING FIRE OF SMALL ARMS 325-326 Effects of oblique and enfilade fire 326 Squad and platoon columns. Successive thin lines 326-327 Formations in approaching combat position. Proper time for deployment 326 Effect of slopes on vulnerability 326-327 Deployment of squad and platoon columns 326-327 ADVANCE UNDER SHRAPNEL FIRE 327-329 Area covered by burst of shrapnel 327 Vulnerability of lines of skirmishers and of squad columns 327-328 Effect of oblique and enfilade fire, errors in range, direction and burst 327-328 Squad columns, when employed 328 Vulnerability of lines of platoon columns 328 Use of successive thin lines, advantages and disadvantages 328-329 Slow, controlled fire. Rapid fire. Volley fire 329 Maximum and minimum rates of fire 329 Tendency of troops to fire rapidly 329 Ranges at which fire is opened in attack and in defense. Firing on cavalry and artillery 329-330 Number of rounds to fire. Density of firing line 330 Effect of visibility of target and prominent landmarks on dispersion and distribution 330 Methods of designating and identifying indistinct targets 330-331 Use of combined sights. Battle sights 331 Targets for attacker and for defender 331 Concentration of fire on critical points. How accomplished 331 Assignment of fronts. Covering the enemy’s line with fire 331-332 Overlapping and switching fire. Platoon sectors 331-332 Too great refinement to be avoided 332 DUTIES OF PERSONNEL IN A FIRE FIGHT. Major. Captain. Chief of Platoon. Platoon Guide. Squad leader 332-334 Orders of the Captain 334 A CATECHISM OF THE RIFLE IN WAR 334-336