STUDIES IN COMBAT PRINCIPLES
1st ARTICLE
(NOTE: As space permits, this paper plans publication of a series of
studies in Minor Tactics designed to assist the private soldier to
qualify for his duties in field maneuvers or combat# They are based
on Training Regulations. Keep these articles and study them#)
The "approach march" is that part of a combat daring which the Infan
try is coming onto the battlefield, before it reaches the point where the
fire of the enemy can be returned with rifle and automatic rifle# The In«£
fantry during this approach march takes up a formation which will reduce
losses and permit it to deploy quickly# Squads are in squad columns,skir
mish line or part of section columns* Distances or intervals between men
are not less than five yards, unless it be night, or in woods, or in a fog,
when distances and intervals are reduced* A squad which is part of the
leading section is prereeded by its scouts*
During the approach march, squad leaders (l) guide on the section
leader and (z) study the ground to the front for ditches, folds in the
ground and other cover leading towards the enemy. The 2nd in command of
the squad, when the squad is in squad column, is in rear of it* He pre
vents straggling and insures the orderly advance of the squad# fl/hen the
squad is in skirmish line, the 2nd in command is usually in line; but if
necessary to prevent straggling, the 3quad leader may direct him to march
in rear of the squad. If the squad leader is absent or becomes wounded,
the 2nd in command takes charge of the squad.
"When necessary to pass through enemy artillery or long-range machine
gun fire, the squad leader may be ordered to reform his 3quad at a certain
point beyond the area under enemy fire* In this case the squad moves, for
the time being, independently of other squads. If there is cover, the squad
leader works his equad along this cover to the nlace it is to bo reformed*
If there is no cover, he works his squad across the open place by moving
by bounds, one or two men at a time.
Vilhen enemy fire makes the section halt, the squad leader should get
his squad under cover. For cover he must pick out some ditch, she!1 hols,
fold of the ground, or similar protection vduch is r.cartvu If he moves too
far he will get mixed up with neighboring squads*
He then studies the ground in front especially for ways of gelt
to the line of scouts. The scouts will usually be somewhere to the
and the firing line will usually be built up cn this line of eooutn«
mg up
fro ni'
uk on
ordered to form a firing line on
a!
no of scouts, the squad leads* dees
3. ea -ing his ent ir e s qu ad al e ng
'hen L-y either sending forward
+:
'lev
or oy moving tiie
so, if there ;s a way with enough or\or, by
it; if there is not enough cover tor that,
one or two men at a time until they .ere s. hi
whole squad forward in short rushes,,
The method of sending one or tve men forward at a tine over fire-swept
called "advance by inf litre tier," If the scouts are already out,
ground is
the automatic rifleman is usu
f ii st
then tiie substitute autc
rifleman. The squad leadei usual.y io.Ucrv& next, leaving the second in com
mand to send up the rifle greaadi»f and other riflauen in the order named.
Hie second in command is the Iasi. to g,o forward.
Squad column is usually tl:e best formation for approaching along a
covered way.
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