Chapter VIII: Brigade Tactics

=180.= _General instructions._

1. The brigade is the tactical unit. Its commander is responsible for reconnoitring and selecting positions for the batteries composing the brigade, for the method of occupying them, and for the allotment of zones, tasks, or objectives to each battery within the limits of the orders he has received.

2. When the brigade commander finds it necessary to change the objective of one of its batteries he should inform other batteries whom it may concern.

Should it become necessary to open fire on a target outside the area allotted to him, he must be careful to report the circumstances to the divisional artillery commander.

As changes of target entail fresh ranging and consequently some loss of fire effect, they should not be lightly ordered.

3. The brigade commander exercises general control over the expenditure of ammunition, but the ranging, the method of engaging an objective and the rate of fire should be left in the hands of battery commanders. The brigade commander may, if in close touch with a battery commander, give him precise orders as to the nature and rate of fire; otherwise he should only interfere if he has convinced himself that the fire of a battery is ineffective, or unsuited to the tactical situation.

=181.= _Reconnaissance._

1. As soon as the brigade commander has received his orders, which should include full information as to the tactical situation and the intention of the divisional artillery commander with regard to the action of his batteries, he communicates them to his battery commanders, and informs them if they are to accompany him during his reconnaissance.

=As a rule, he should then seek out the commander of any infantry with which he is to co-operate, and obtain from him full information as to his intended action.= (_See also_ Sec. =153= (7).)

2. Before proceeding to reconnoitre with a view to selecting the most suitable positions from which to carry out the task allotted to him, the brigade commander should indicate to the brigade leader the pace and general direction of the advance.

If he is unable to direct the brigade to any definite spot near its probable position in action he should select a point or series of points, if possible marked on the map, which the brigade is to pass in its advance and at which he can communicate to the brigade leader any necessary instructions as to its further movements.

If the brigade commander thinks it necessary to supplement this system of intercommunication he may be accompanied in his reconnaissance by a few additional men to direct the brigade at doubtful points. These men will join the brigade when it reaches them unless they receive orders to the contrary.

In carrying out his reconnaissance the brigade commander should be accompanied only by such men as are essential for the purpose and for communication between himself and the brigade, the remainder of the headquarters with the telephone wagon following at the head of the brigade.

A natural eye for country, and previous training will materially assist him in coming to a decision as to the best position to be occupied. At the same time he should be well ahead of his batteries, so that he may have as much time as possible to reconnoitre the position before they arrive.

3. The selection of an observing station, which is not likely to be readily recognized as such by the enemy, which affords cover to the observing officer and his assistants, from which the tactical situation can be watched, and which offers facilities for intercommunication with the infantry and the batteries should be one of the brigade commander’s first cares. This position should be occupied and the enemy observed by himself or another officer from the earliest possible moment.

4. In selecting the position for the batteries the first consideration is that they should be able to carry out the task allotted to them. If this task involves bringing fire to bear over an extensive area, it may be advisable to divide the area into zones, and to select positions for the batteries, which will ensure each of them observing a different zone.

5. The extent to which dispersion, combined with concealment, may be possible, must depend partly on the ground available and partly on the amount of dead ground that can safely be left near the guns.

The further a position is in rear of a crest the greater become the difficulties of command or of a change to a position in which direct fire is possible, and the greater must the interval be between units. On the other hand greater immunity will be obtained from hostile fire, of which oblique or enfilade fire is the most dangerous.

At a distance of 400 yards from the crest it is doubtful if the enemy’s searching fire would be effective.

6. A position with rising ground behind and with a wood or rising ground in front has the advantage that concealment can be obtained without sacrificing spaces for observation, since the battery commanders can observe and control the fire from a position in rear. In such a position special arrangements for the replenishment of ammunition will be necessary, if concealment is to be maintained.

7. The following points, some of which must often be left to battery commanders to decide, are also important:--

i. A good platform for the guns.
ii. The position and cover available for wagon lines.
iii. If the position is under cover the shell must be able
to clear the crest at all ranges at which fire is likely
to take place (_See_ See. =121=).
iv. The position, if not behind cover, should give a clear
view over the sights not only of the target, but also of
all ground on to which fire may have to be turned.
v. The approaches should facilitate the supply and
replenishment of ammunition.

=182.= _Leading._

1. Having due regard to the urgency of the tactical situation the leader’s aim is to bring the brigade to its position for action without being discovered by the enemy and with as little distress as possible to the teams. Correct utilization of the ground is, therefore, important.

To judge whether troops moving by a certain route will be concealed or not from ground which the enemy may be occupying requires experience and a good eye for country.

2. The brigade leader should keep well to the front to get early information as to the brigade commander’s intentions, and to reconnoitre the routes between the various points which the brigade is to pass in its advance (_See_ Sec. =181= (2)). The brigade guide will follow and conform to the directions he receives from the brigade leader.

The number of men required to maintain communication between the brigade guide and the brigade leader may sometimes be reduced if the latter selects intermediate points, which the brigade is to pass in its advance and at which any necessary changes of direction or formation can be communicated to the brigade guide.

3. The brigade leader should try to avoid ground, such as a dusty road, which would be likely to give indication of movement to a vigilant enemy. He will sometimes have to make up his mind whether to make a long detour to ensure concealment or to risk detection by moving over a sky line. If he selects the latter alternative he must decide, according to his knowledge of the situation, in what formation he should move.

To take advantage of local conditions, column of sections or even column of route may often be retained until close to the position, but changes of formation and flank movements within view of the enemy should be avoided and line or double échelon is then the most suitable formation.

4. The procedure of each battery need not be identical. Each battery leader, while employing the formation that appears most suitable, must conform as far as possible to the general direction and pace of the brigade.

In passing through obstacles where only a few passages exist, no battery or section should increase its proper frontage, if by so doing it will interfere with troops on its flank.

5. When artillery is obliged to move through other troops, notice should be sent to their commander so that an opening may be made.

6. Movements under fire should be carried out as rapidly as is consistent with steadiness and a proper regard for the horses and equipment. Modern equipments are complicated and delicate and care must be taken that guns are not moved over rough ground with unnecessary rapidity.

7. Battery commanders should ride at the head of the brigade when in column, so as to be ready to join the brigade commander quickly.

=183.= _Ground scouts._

1. Ground scouts are mounted men, whose duty it is to precede the brigade and ascertain whether the ground is suitable for its movement, to point out obstacles, and to look for and indicate the best points of passage. Artillery should never manœuvre without them.

In mountain artillery dismounted men are employed as ground scouts and the gunners detailed to act as pioneers may often be used for this purpose.

2. The number of scouts employed must depend upon the nature of the ground and the rapidity with which the movement is to be made. In ordinary circumstances one man per battery is sufficient, but when a single battery is moving fast over difficult ground, two or more scouts may with advantage be sent out; one man can then halt to point out a passage while the others explore further on.

3. Ground scouts must be told the original direction of the movement, but they must be careful to keep an eye on their batteries so as to conform to any change in pace or direction, and must avoid exposing themselves to view on high ground or against the sky line.

They must be sufficiently far in advance to give ample warning of obstacles, but never out of sight of their batteries. As a rule they should not be less than 200 or more than 500 yards to the front.

4. If the ground is boggy or otherwise impassable, a scout will halt and raise his right arm perpendicularly; he will then make for whatever point appears practicable, indicating the direction in which the brigade or battery should move. If the ground within view in front and on either side is quite impracticable, a scout will face the brigade, raise his right arm, and ride in to report.

5. Ground scouts must be careful not to ride on to the position on or behind which the brigade is about to come into action.

=184.= _Occupation of a position._

1. The brigade commander, having completed his reconnaissance, will send an officer back to meet the brigade. This officer will point out the position of the brigade commander to the battery commanders, who at once ride on to receive their instructions. He will direct the telephone detachment to the brigade observing station and, if ordered to do so, the remainder of the headquarters, and will lead the brigade in the required direction.

2. The brigade commander should first point out the areas to be observed by each battery or the objectives for their fire, and his own observing station. He should then give orders as to the positions for the batteries and whether they are to occupy “_positions in readiness_,” “_positions in observation_,” or to open fire without delay.

A “_position in readiness_” implies that a battery is limbered up under cover, but that all possible alternative positions in the immediate neighbourhood have been reconnoitred and preparations made for their occupation.

The actual positions for the guns should be determined, aiming points, reference points, and observing stations selected, and arrangements made to watch the situation.

A “_position in observation_” implies that a battery is in action, concealed as much as possible, that it is ready to open fire, and that it is watching all ground within the zone allotted to it.

3. In deciding whether he will occupy positions in observation or retain all or any of his batteries in readiness, the brigade commander will be guided by the principles laid down in Sec. =147=, bearing in mind that to commit his batteries to action prematurely may, upon the development of the tactical situation, necessitate a change of positions and consequent delay in opening fire.

4. The extent, to which detailed instructions for the occupation of the position can be given will vary, but, as a rule, some latitude should be allowed battery commanders in the choice of the actual sites for their batteries.

If, however, the position is a covered one, confusion and delay will be avoided if the brigade commander indicates generally the positions for the battery observing stations. This difficulty does not arise in the case of howitzers, where observation can take place from immediately in front of the battery.

5. The brigade commander’s orders to battery commanders should in every case include instructions as to opening fire.

If the batteries are to come into action, the brigade commander decides by which of the two following methods he will occupy the position.

6. _Ordinary method._--The adjutant or other officer leads the brigade to the position, taking care not to arrive too close to it before the battery commanders have completed their reconnaissance and marked the line of fire. If necessary, he must check the pace or even halt the brigade under cover.

The subsequent procedure is as described in Sec. =193=, unless the advance into action is to be simultaneous, in which case the adjutant or other officer himself gives the order to advance when he sees that all is ready.

To facilitate the leading of the brigade, the brigade commander may, if he thinks desirable, mark the line of fire for the centre of the brigade by placing the brigade serjeant-major about 200 yards in rear of his own position, or by any other method so long as the officer leading the brigade understands it.

7. _Special method._--The brigade commander selects the preliminary position (_See_ Sec. =193= (7)), and the adjutant or other officer guides the brigade to it.

The battery commanders select the exact positions for their batteries and then proceed as laid down in Sec. =193= (8).

The batteries come into action independently by their own commander’s order.

=185.= _Intercommunication service._

Communication between brigade and battery commanders should be established immediately on coming into action, and it is the duty of the battery commanders to see that it is so established. The adjutant is responsible for organizing the communications between the brigade observing station and their points. (_See_ Secs. =149=, =246= and =247=.)

Instructions regarding field artillery telephone equipment and drill for its use are contained in “Training Manual--Signalling.”

=186.= _Allotting objectives and ranging._

1. The extent of front which a battery can cover is given in Sec. =214= (2). As a general rule it is better to increase the rate of fire rather than add to the number of guns engaging any given objective.

2. If the batteries of a brigade are in action close together, and the objective is sufficiently broad, it would usually be desirable to divide it into suitable widths and allot one to each battery.

The batteries of the brigade may, however, be dispersed in order to obtain the advantages of enfilade, oblique or cross-fire as well as for the sake of concealment. Or it may be desired to cross the fire of the whole or a portion of the guns of the brigade with those of another brigade for the same purpose. In such cases special arrangements may be necessary to enable each battery to obtain the range. The principle of economy of force still applies, and when once the fire of the desired number of batteries has been made effective an increased volume of fire should be obtained by the increasing rapidity of fire of the batteries engaged rather than by the introduction of fresh batteries.

3. When the probable objectives are dispersed, the extent to which oblique or cross-fire can be secured, and the facilities for observing its effect will be the principal factors in deciding which battery shall engage any particular target, and the latitude to be allowed its commander in the selection of other objectives.

4. It will be of great assistance in allotting objectives it conspicuous features and prominent points are given names, and all concerned made acquainted with them.

5. One method of pointing out objectives is to describe them with reference to some prominent point, making use of the figuring of the face of a clock. This point is termed the “_reference point_” and must not be confused with the “_aiming point_.” (_See_ Sec. =120=.)

The reference point being considered to be the centre of the face of the clock, the direction of any object with reference to it can be indicated by the figuring of the face thus:--

Reference point--Chimney of cottage on Green Hill.
Nature of objective--Artillery in action behind hedge,
flashes visible.
Left extremity of objective--2.30 o’clock, 3 degrees.
Extent of objective--4 degrees 30 mins.

In Fig. 28, A is the left of the objective, AB its extent, C is the chimney of the cottage on Green Hill.

Having pointed out the objective and its extent as above, it can be allotted to batteries by naming a number of degrees and minutes for each to engage. Thus:--

Reference point. Chimney of cottage on Green Hill.
Left battery. From 3° to 4° 30′.
Centre battery. From 4° 30′ to 6°.
Right battery. From 6° to 7° 30′.

Changes of objective can be indicated in the same manner.

6. Another method of indicating targets is by means of panorama sketches. (_See_ Sec. =244= (2).)

Each battery having prepared sketches of the enemy’s position forwards two copies to the brigade commander, who letters all prominent points on the sketches in such a way that the same letter refers to the same point on each sketch. The duplicates are returned to the batteries, and the brigade commander can then refer to any target or locality with reference to the letters on the sketches.

Thus:--“Target H” or “crest of hill, 3 o’clock, from Wood B”. The brigade commander having a copy of the sketch from the position of each battery, can at once tell which battery is best able to engage any target, also whether all batteries can concentrate fire on any particular spot or not.

=187.= _Observation and control._

1. Responsibility for watching the tactical situation and redistributing the fire of his batteries in accordance with the progress of the fight rests with the brigade commander.

To maintain touch with the situation a position near the commander of the infantry brigade or other body with whom the artillery is acting has many advantages. (_See_ Sec. =149=.)

2. If the brigade commander is unable to accompany the infantry commander himself, it will usually be advisable to detail an officer with the necessary means of communication to do so. The duty of this officer will be to keep the brigade commander informed as to the position of the infantry and as to the localities from which the hostile fire is most damaging. (_See_ Sec. =149= (4) (5).)

3. If the batteries of the brigade are dispersed the brigade commander can usually only indicate fresh targets by means of telephone, signalling or messenger. Such instructions may be amplified by the use of panoramic sketches. (_See_ Sec. =186= (5) (6).)

=188.= _Change of position._

1. During the fight, the brigade commander should endeavour to have fresh positions and the best lines of advance to them reconnoitred. In the event of an advance to a new position being ordered, the procedure is as far as possible the same as described in Sec. =181=.

2. Before going forward himself, the brigade commander will send word of his intention to the battery commanders, indicate the general direction of the advance, and give orders when it is to commence, and if all the batteries are to move together or not. The subsequent procedure is similar to that described in Sec. =184=.

3. In the case of a retirement, the adjutant precedes the brigade and selects the new positions. He is accompanied by one or more range-takers from the batteries if they can be spared and by sufficient men of the brigade headquarters to guide the brigade commander to the position. He will communicate the dispositions to the battery captains.

=189.= _Night firing._

(_See also_ Secs. =164= and =199= (3).)

1. In favourable circumstances a fairly effective fire can be achieved, both in attack and defence, at close and effective ranges.

2. The use of searchlights is confined to defensive action, and is referred to in F.S. Regs., Part I, Sec. 140. In addition to their use as fixed beams, as therein stated, they may be used to search for targets.

Up to 3,400 yards under favourable conditions of atmosphere and background a well-defined target can be picked up, but not an ill-defined one. Movement, however, can be detected and ranging can be carried out at this distance.

3. Before moving guns into positions by night the following arrangements should be made:--

i. The roads or tracks leading to the gun positions should be thoroughly reconnoitred by those who will lead the guns.

ii. The route should be marked where required by patches of white, bundles of straw, or anything else that will be visible.

iii. The actual gun positions should be carefully marked and the bearing of the line of fire taken. In doing this every precaution must be taken not to give any hint to the enemy of the intended occupation.

iv. The officers concerned should be furnished with orders in writing notifying the time of moving off from rendezvous, order of march, route they are to follow, and time of opening fire.

4. Care must be taken to prevent limbers or teams of a battery which has occupied its position clashing with batteries or other troops which are still advancing.

5. All ranks must understand that no lights or smoking are allowed, and that the occupation of the position as well as the entrenching must be carried out as silently as possible.

Steps should be taken to deaden the noise of wheels and jingling of harness as far as possible.