Tactical Order Small Units Trench Warfare

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Tactical Order for SmallUnits in TrenchWarfare

Wab DepabtmentDocument No 798.> 42079-^ \u25a0 Ijfficeof the Adjutant General.

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WAR DEPARTMENT,Washington May 1 1918.

The following pamphlet entitled "Tactical Order for SmallUnits in Trench Warfare," is published for the information ofall concerned(062.1 A. G O.)oedee of the Seceetaby as War :

PEYTON C MARCH,Major General, Acting Chief of Staff

Official :H. P. McCAIN,The Adjutant General.


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Table of ContentsPage.

Tactical order for small units in trench warfare 7Suggested form and headings for a battalion trench-to-trenchExplanation of the subject matter in a battalion trench-to-

Plan for occupation.

attack order 10trench attack order. 12Information of the enemy.. 12Our supporting troops 13General plan for our forces 13Zero day and zero hour. 13Limitof the zone of operations 13

Objectives : 13Artillery support... 13Orders to each company. 14Clearing-up parties.. 14Machine guns 14One-pounder guns._ 14Outlining of front 14Liaison 1515Machine guns, one-pounder guns and 3-inch Stokes mortar 15Observation 15Report

Supply.s.- 1515irculation 16

Aid stations 16Battalion commanders' headquarters 16Distribution 16


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TACTICAL ORDER FOR SMALL UNITS IN TRENCHWARFARE.Our Field Service Regulations state that the art of givingproper instructions and orders to troops is one of the mostimportant features in the exercise of the command. That fieldorders must be clear and definite that clear and decisiveorders are the logical result of definite and sure decisions andare the means of transforming the decision into action.tmust therefore follow that tactical orders is one ofthe most important features of a ourse in tactics whether it

be for a platoon a company or a battalion commander. Remembering that a platoon commander now leads a unit whichhas a greater variety of armament than did a regiment in thepast. t has its direct firing rifles its rapid fire automaticrifles and its high angle hand and rifle grenades which areformed into flexible groups that must work in perfect co-operation with each other but separately. The platoon commandercannot prepare his platoon for action nor lead it effectivelyduring the action if he is not skilled in the art of givinginstructions and orders. Much more is it true of the companyand battalion commander. Not only does the nature of theorganization and of the armament require a high degree ofskill in orders but the intense nature of the present trenchwarfare demands a perfection in preparation and execution ofthe attack that only the most detailed and exact form of orderscan satisfy.

tis a principle of leadership that in open warfare a commander should tell his subordinate commanders what he wishesdone but not how to do it That he will be successful in proportion to his capacity to present the needs of a situation tohis subordinates and obtain from them the application of thebest measures to secure them.n trench warfare not only are the methods of executionprescribed but rehearsals of the attack are conducted for thepurpose of perfecting their execution on the part of every onefrom the private up.Experience has shown in the present trench warfare ofWestern Europe with its large number of citizen soldierythat trench-to-trench attacks are only successful when everycommander prescribes for his subordinates the mode of execution of the details of preparation formation execution andsupply.Subordinates are not left to exercise their own judgmentin those matters which are capable of previous regulation forthere would result too great a variance in methods of execution. Such variation means incohesion and weakness.nconsequence we see a long field order filled with minuteinstructions on every point that is vital to a well-knit co-ordinated powerful assault.


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9ACTICALOEDEE FOE SMALL UNITS IN TEENCH WAEFAEE.The orders of the brigade commanders willbe more strictly

tactical in nature, less voluminous, but still entering intoquestions of supply as well as tactics.Regimental commanders have still less of the problems ofsupply to consider, but rather confine their orders to specifyinghow and where the regimental units willreceive and dispose oftheir supplies. The tactical execution by subordinate unitsis specified in great detail.The battalion commander is the lowest commander whoissues a formal written field order. Company and platoon commanders should take notes from the battalion commander'sorder as to the detailed instructions they must give theirsubordinates to properly carry out the battalion commander'sorder. For operations which are planned far in advance andrehearsed over prepared ground, the orders of brigade andlower commanders are built up from the practiced maneuversand merely record the conclusions reached from the repeatedrehearsals. Care must be exercised from this procedure that\u25a changes made at the last moment are placed in the writtenorder and distributed to all concerned in ample time to insurethat they know of the change and have time to carry outthe details of it before going over the top." Also the onepreparing the orders must be accurate in presenting all thedetails which had been verbally agreed to. n the followingsuggested form for a battalion attack order, the form of theopen warfare order, as presented in our Field Service Regulations, has been followed very closely.The heading and the contents of paragraphs one, two andthree have been retained. Paragraph three has been made tocontain all those details which pertain to the advance andseizure of the objective. Headings have been inserted to covermachine guns, and one-pounder or 37 mm. guns. They are nota part of the permanent armanent of a battalion but are frequently assigned to the battalion by the regimental commanderfor an attack and the battalion commander must know whatorders to give them.Paragraph four is made to contain all those matters whichapply to the occupation, and organization called consolidation"by the British) of the captured positions. These instructions are not found in open warfare attack orders as it isImpracticable to anticipate what they would be from themeagre knowledge obtained before the attack.Paragraph five includes all details of supply, individual and-collective, control of traffic to and from the new position, andcare of casualties. These subjects placed in paragrapharei our of open warfare orders.Paragraph six states where the headquarters of the battalion commander will be during the advance and in the captured position. The headquarters now comprise a varied andimportant personnel, and, as the requirements of good liaison


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10 TACTICALOEDEB FOB SMALL UNITS IN TRENCH WABFABE.

necessitate consistent communication with it, every one should1know where t can be found at all times.The order is signed and distributed as provided in theField Service Regulations.Every item included in the following form will not beincorporated in every order. Different situations will rendersome feature of t of no consequence and, where such is thecase the heading willnot be shown. Also other headings maybe desirable in some situations and where the proper need forthem exists, there should be no hesitation in using them. Thepurpose of the order is to present every essential matter ina clear and explicit manner so that t will not be neglectedor misunderstood; these qualities must not be sacrificed forbrevity.Following the order form are short explanations of thepurpose of each paragraph and sub-head but they are notfull tactical presentations of the matter which must be insertedin each. The tactical needs and purposes of each maneuvermust suggest the matter itself.SUGGESTED FORM .AND HEADINGS FOR A BATTALIONTRENCH-TO-TRENCH ATTACK ORDER.

Title.Place-Date and Hour-

Field Order No.(Reference to Map Used).Paragraph No. 1. Information of the enemy.Our supporting troops.Our flanking troops.General plan for our forces.Paragraph No. 2. Mission of the battalion.Zero day and hour.Limit of the zone of operations.Objectives.

Paragraph No. 3. a) Artillery support.Time of its opening.Rate of advance of barrage.Where and when barrage will settle.(b) Orders to each company, as to sector or direction ofadvance, information, objective, distance, and intervals.


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TACTICAL OBDEE FOE SMALL UNITS IN TBENCH WARFARE. 11(c) Cleaning up parties. Composition, mission of each.Disposition of prisoners. Mission after cleaning up.(d) Machine guns.Position.Objectives.Mission.(c) One-pounder gun or 37 mm. gun or 3" Stokes mortar.Position in the advance.Mission.Objectives.Position and duties in occupation(/) Outlining of front.1. On request of Aeroplanes.2. Hour each line will signal lights.f (g) Liaison.With the artillery.Within the battalion.Paragraph No. 4 Plan for occupation of captured ground.Order to each company as to(a) 1. Organization of ground to be held.2 Reconnaissance.Contact with the enemy.Further objectives.Patrols.Outposts.3 Liaison.Within the battalion.With neighboring troops.With colonel.With artillery.(6) Machine guns.Mission.Sites.(c) One-pounder guns or 37 mm. guns or 3" Stokes mortar.Sites.Objectives.(d) Service of observation.Enemy's line.Observation posts,(c) Reports.Munition.Materiel.To whom sent and hour.Paragraph No 5 (a) Supply. Individual equipment andsupplies Additional communication trenches to be dug orconnections to be made with trench system of old positions.Munitions. Depots to be established in jumping-off trenchand by whom.


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12 TACTICALORDER FOR SMALLUNITSNTRENCH.WARFARE.

Designatearrying parties.Materiels. Point where depot will be established and themateriels tobe assembled.Carrying parties and command.Ration and water. Amounts other than that carried bythe individualsoldier. For use preceding the advance and tobe subsequently carried forward.Carrying parties.(6) Circulation. Designating of communicating trenchesfor "forward" and "rear" traffic. For evacuation of wounded.c) First aid stations. Location of.Paragraph No.6. Position ofbattalion commander and hisheadquarters during the advance and in theconquered position.Name and rank of theBattalionCommander.How and towhom issued.

EXPLANATIONOF THESUBJECT MATTERINABATTALIONTRENCH-TO-TRENCH ATTACKORDER.The Heading, Paragraph 91, Field Service Regulations,discusses this subject at length. The title indicates thedesignation of the unit for which the order is issued; forinstance, First Battalion, First Infantry. "Place" is thelocalityin which the order isissued.The "date" is expressed byplacing the day of the monthbefore the name of the month; the year followingthe month.The hour of issuing the order and whether A.M. or P. M.follows the number of the year. Example: 6 April 17-3:20P. M. The map reference indicates the title of scale of themap which shows all theplaces and localities referred to in

the order.Information of the enemy.Paragraph 1. n thisparagraph information of the enemyis given, if there be any that is unknown to the troops andwhichis important for them toknow. Usually, in the trenchattack, the troops are so wellinformed as to the enemy intheir front that there is no necessity of including in theordersuch information.Our allies sometimes make reference toany historicalassociation attached to the day that the attack is to be made,whichit is thought may have aninspiring effect on the troops,for instance, that it is the King's birthday, oris the anniversary of a victory over the enemy. fit is known that ahostile organization is in the area tobe attacked, that hasbeen previously defeated, themention of that fact would tendtoraise themen's confidence.


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TACTICALOBDER FOB SMAIX UNITS IN TBENCH WAEFABE. 13Our supporting troops.

The information as to the troops that will support theattack and which willbe on the flanks should be mentioned.General plan forour forces.

When the unit is operating as a part of a larger force, thegeneral plan or intention of the entire force should be verybriefly stated.Paragraph 2. The mission states briefly the duty that

has been assigned the unit for execution. For instance, toattack the enemy's position from such and such point, orcommunicating trench inclusive or exclusive, to such andsuch a point, etc. Our allies give this information underIntention or Purpose. includes more than is involvedin the word objective.Zero day and zero hour.

Zero day and hour is usually not given in the written orderbut communicated later, verbally or written. However, theorder should state that the zero day and zero hour will begiven later to prevent any misconception arising in regard to itLimitof the zone ofoperations.

It is necessary to show in detail the zone in which theunit must advance in order that there may not be a misunder-standing with the other troops. This description of the zonemay be sufficiently described by the statement of the missiontaken with the description of the objectives of each sub-unitor company. It may be wise to indicate in detail the zoneof each company.Objectives.

Under this heading is given, in orderly form, the objectivethat is assigned each company. The objectives for each organization are grouped together for ease in reference and so thateach unit will thoroughly understand the designations of theothers. \Artillery support.

Paragraph 8. a) As the advance of the infantry isdependent on the protecting fire of our artillery, a brief men-


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14 TACTICALORDER FOR SMALL UNITS INTRENCH WARFARE.tion is made of the controlling features of it. Enough information should be given to ensure that the troops will know therate that they should advance, the time that each hostile trenchwill be under fire, when the barrage will,liftfrom each oneand where and for how long it will settle to protect themagainst counter attack.Orders to each company.

6 This is a very important part of the order and the datawhich enters into it should be clearly and methodically presented. The direction of advance for each company and thelimits of its sector are most necessary to secure co-ordinatedefforts. The formation of the companies as to arrangementsof platoons and of the sections in each platoon, and the distances and intervals between each, are not left to the company commanders but accurately specified by the battalioncommanders. t may be advisable to attach a drawing thatwillshow the desired formation.Clearing-up parties.

c) The original position of the clearing-up details in theadvance, the trenches and areas to be covered by each, and theorder of the procedure n accomplishing each task must beordered by the major, or otherwise their work willbe irregularand disconnected. Commanders for the various groups may bedesignated.Machine guns.

(d) The machine guns are an important element in theadvance, and for the consolidation, and their use, positionsof fire, etc. should be thought out in advance and definitelytested in order that all may know what is expected from them.One-pounder guns.

c) The same may be said of the one-pounder or 37 mm.gun as stated of the machine guns. These guns are not apart of the permanent armament of the battalion and will beattached to itonly when ordered by the regimental commander.Outlining of front./) Outlining the front is one of the forms of liaison andthe methods, time, and occasion for doing so must be specifiedby the battalion commanders, whose orders would be based onthose from higher authority.


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15TACTICAL OEDEB FOX SMALL UNITS IN TRENCH WARFARE.Xiaison.

by(g) Abattalion commander maintains communicationwiththe artillery that is supporting his addifferent meansvance, and the assaulting companies Sre given the power totofire support,make certain calls onthe artillery withrespecthence theymustbe informedas to how todo so.All the units are informed as to the means they must employtokeepin communication withthebattalion headquarters.

PLANFOR OCCUPATION.Machine guns, one-pounder gunsand 3-inch Stokes mortar.

Paragraph 4.To organize the captured position, topermanently holdit and towithstand the counter attacks which theenemy always launches, requires the same attention todetailsand to co-ordination as was for the advance.equired Theorders must present the necessities as to organization, reconnaissance and subsequent liaison in a systematic manner, followedby specific instructions tomachine guns and one-pounderor 37 mm. guns. nview of the severe barrage, which theenemy now places on lost ground, it is a common practice toholdthe advance edge of the captured areas withtheautomaticwellto the rear,and withdraw all other troops ifthat is desired theorder must state so clearly. riflesections

Observation.The service of observation must be created at once, and

ifprevious knowledge of the ground will permit, the locationfar them will be stated in the order. nany event, mentionmust be as observation thatade to the service must bedeveloped.Reports.

"Reports" must specify the kinds of supplies, as to whichInformation should be given in the organization commander sreports.Supply. Paragraph 5. a) The supplies, individual and collective,tobe carried in the advance and whichwill be sent forwardby carrying parties, must be specified, and ordered collectedand designated points named before the advance.


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16 TACTICALOEDER FOB SMALL UNITS IN TRENCH WABFAEE.Circulation.

1 (6) Previous knowledge of the enemy s trench system/ should permit of specifying those trenches in the captured posi-tion, which can be used for forward and rear movement andregulating of them, will facilitate traffic and the evacuationof the wounded.

Aidstations.(c) The location in the captured area of the first aid sta-tions must be made known before the advance.

Battalion commanders headquarters.Paragraph 6. The units of the battalion should knowwhere the battalion commanders headquarters will be duringthe advance. This may be indicated by stating its movementswith reference to some unit or relative to trench junctions inthe captured area. Also the location of the headquarters inthe organized position must be known.Distribution.

Written orders show at the end the persons to whom copieswere furnished, which ordinarily includes the commanders ofunits in the battalion, as company, machine gun and one-pounder commanders and medical officers, regimental commanders and commanders of the flanking troops. The support-ing artillery commander should receive a copy if he does notreceive the regimental commander s orders covering the sameadvance.

Tactical Order Small Units Trench Warfare

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