Tactics and Duties for Trench Fighting

I. Specialists

The exigencies of modern warfare, especially of trench warfare, have developed new infantry weapons. As there are several kinds of these weapons to each infantry company, the men detailed to handle them must be trained as specialists. The weapons are:

Hand grenades
Rifle grenades
Automatic-machine rifles
Rifles

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The men who use these weapons are respectively known as:

Hand grenadiers
Rifle grenadiers
A. M. R. crews
Riflemen

As a consequence of the new weapons, a company is now organized on a basis of these specialists. A typical company is patterned like that of the French, the only difference being in the number of specialists. Each of the four platoons of a company contains the same number of specialists and each platoon is divided into four sections of specialists.

Organization of a Typical Company

One lieutenant (1st and 4th platoons under 1st lieutenants; 2nd and 3rd platoons under 2nd lieutenants).

One sergeant (second in command, assistant to platoon commander).




1st Section,


22


men




2nd Section,


12


men




3rd Section,


12


men




4th Section,


11


men




 


——


 




Total


57


men × 4 = 228 men




224 rifles


 


 




64 pistols


 


 




16 automatic rifles




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Platoon—1st Section—Hand and Rifle Grenadiers

1

Sergeant, pistol and rifle.

3

Corporals, pistol and rifle.

6

Privates, 1st class, all with rifles, two of them with pistols.

12

Privates.

——

 

22

men.

2nd and 3rd Sections—Riflemen

2

Corporals, rifle and pistol.

3

Privates, 1st class, rifle.

7

Privates, rifle.

——

 

12

 

4th Section—Automatic Riflemen

1

Sergeant, pistol and rifle.

1

Corporal, pistol and rifle.

3

Privates, 1st class (automatic rifle gunners, including 1 extra).

6

Privates, rifle.

——

 

11

 

Officers

1

Captain.

3

First Lieutenants.

2

Second Lieutenants.

—

 

6

 

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The platoon is the self-contained unit with the proper proportion of all the different kinds of specialists for the assault. The reason for this is that the platoon is the largest unit that one leader can control in combat. The four platoons are alike and therefore interchangeable.

Although it is true that the specialists are particularly trained with their own weapons, all men of the company are first trained as riflemen. All specialists carry rifles, and if for any reason they cannot use their special weapon they immediately become riflemen. Also every man is trained in hand grenade throwing. This makes it possible to fill gaps in the specialists’ ranks from the riflemen. Some men also, usually to the number of the A. M. R. crews, must be trained to operate the automatic-machine rifles.

The remaining supernumeraries of the company, such as mess and supply sergeants, mechanics, cooks, buglers, etc., do not march with the company in maneuver or combat formations. Some of the above supernumeraries will be found in the captain’s headquarters, or tactical group, such as the liaison agents from the platoons, orderlies, buglers, and observers. Mess and supply sergeants, cooks, etc., remain with the regimental train 

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in rear, with the kitchen behind the artillery positions. The tactical group of the captain lives in an adjoining dugout to that of their chief in the sector. In the fight these latter are used as messengers or observers.