Chapter IX: Battery Tactics (3)

------+-----+------+----+--------------+----------------------------
| No. | |Cor-| Observed. |
No. | of |Eleva-|rec-+---+---+------+
of |Sub- |tion. |tor | + | A |Height| Battery Commander’s
round.|sec- | | or |or |or | of | Orders.
|tion.| |P.S.| - | G.|burst.|
------+-----+------+----+---+---+------+----------------------------
| | | | | | |“All guns 3° more right.”
| | | | | | |“Angle of sight
| | | | | | | 20′ depression.”
| | | | | | |“Right ranging.”
| | | | | | |“Percussion.”[38]
| | | | | | |“37--36.” “Fire.”
1 | 1 | 3700 |P.S.| + | | |
2 | 2 | 3600 | “ | - |...| ... |”All guns 1° more right.”
| | | | | | |“Corrector 146.”
| | | | | | |“3650.” “One round battery
| | | | | | | fire 10 seconds.”
3 | 1 | 3650 |146 | - | A | 10′ |
4 | 2 | ” | “ | - | G | ... |”No. 2--20′ more right.”
5 | 3 | ” | “ | - | A | 15′ |
6 | 4 | ” | ” | - | A | 10′ |
7 | 5 | ” | “ | + | G | ... |”No. 5--10′ mere left.”
8 | 6 | ” | “ | - | A | 5′ |[39]
------+-----+------+----+---+---+------+----------------------------

[38]--Or “Corrector 154.”

[39]--Battery commander has now corrected his lines and has established a “belt” of fire parallel to the front of his guns, through which the infantry must pass. In this example lines are not opened out. The whole “belt” can be shifted up and down, right or left, as the subsequent movement of the enemy may dictate, and a quick rate of battery or section fire can be employed as necessary.

V.--_Example of “Section Ranging.”_
(Howitzer battery. Ranging in degrees.)

Position of battery--Under cover, supporting an infantry attack.
Target--A trench.
Battery commander issues instructions for obtaining the line of fire.
Range-takers range 3300.

LEGEND:
A = No. of Subsection
B = Elevation.
C = Projectile.
D = Corrector.
------+-------+------+-----+----+-------------------+---------------
| | | | | Observed. |
No. | A | B | C | D +--+-----+---+------+
of | | | | |+ | |A |Height| Battery
round.| | | | |or|Line.|or | of | Commander’s
| | | | |- | |G. |burst.| Orders.
------+-------+------+-----+----+--+-----+---+------+---------------
| | | | | | | | |“Trench.”
| | | | | | | | |“Angle of
| | | | | | | | | sight.......”
| | | | | | | | |“Right ranging
| | | | | | | | | lyddite.[40]
| | | | | | | | | 3rd charge.”
| | | | | | | | |“26°--23°, fire.”
1 | 1 | 26° | L |... |+ |Left | | |
2 | 2 | 23° | L |... |- | ” |...| ... |“All guns 1°
| | | | | | | | | more right.”
| | | | | | | | | “25°--24°.”
3 | 1 | 25° | L |... |+ |Right|...| ... |“No. 1--20’
| | | | | | | | | more left.”
4 | 2 | 24° | L |... |- |Line |...| ... |“Repeat.” “Time
| | | | | | | | | shrapnel.”
5 | 1 | 25° | L |... |+ | ” | | |
6 | 2 | 24° | L |... |- | ” |...| ... |“Échelon 140.”
| | | | | | | | | “24° 30′.”
7 | 1 |24°30′| T.S.|140 |? | ” | A | 60′ |
8 | 2 | ” | ” |150 |+ | ” | A | 40′ |
9 | 3 | ” | ” |160 |? |Right| A | 10′ |“No. 3--1° more
| | | | | | | | | left.”[41]
| | | | | | | | |“Corrector 154,
| | | | | | | | | one round
| | | | | | | | | battery fire.”
10 | 1 | ” | ” |154 |- |Line | G | |
11 | 2 | ” | ” | “ |- | ” | A | |
12 | 3 | ” | ” | ” |? |Left | A | ... |“No. 3--20′ more
| | | | | | | | | right.”[42]
13 | 4 | ” | ” | “ |? |Right| A | ... |”No. 4--30′
| | | | | | | | | more left.”
14 | 5 | ” | ” | “ |+ |Line | A | |
15 | 6 | ” | ” | ” |+ | ” | G | ... |“Section fire
| | | | | | | | | 40 secs.”
------+-------+----------+------+--+-----+---+------+---------------

NOTES.--With 3rd Charge 1° elevation = 85 yards.
With 3rd Charge 50% zone = 45 yards.

[40] Or “Right ranging, 3rd Charge, Corrector 150, 26°--23°. fire.”

[41] Splash of bullets visible.

[42] Splash of bullets visible.

VI.--_Example of “Single Gun Ranging.”_
(Heavy battery.)

Position of battery--Under cover.
Target--Guns in open.
Battery commander issues instructions for obtaining parallel
lines of fire.

------+-------+------+-----+----+-------------------+---------------
| No. | | | | Observed. |
No. | of |Eleva-|Pro- |Cor-+--+-----+---+------+
of |Subsec-|tion. |jec- |rec-|+ | |A |Height| Battery
round.| tion | |tile.|tor.|or|Line.|or | of | Commander’s
| | | | |- | |G. |burst.| Orders.
------+-------+------+-----+----+--+-----+---+------+---------------
| | | | | | | | |“Guns in action.”
| | | | | | | | |“Angle of sight
| | | | | | | | | --1° 30′”
| | | | | | | | | elevation.”
| | | | | | | | |“No. 1 ranging.”
| | | | | | | | |“Lyddite.”
| | | | | | | | |“6800.” “Fire.”
1 | 1 | 6800 | L | |+ |Left | | |“All guns 20′
| | | | | | | | | more right.”
| | | | | | | | |“6500.”
2 | 1 | 6500 | L | |- |Line | | |“6700.”
3 | 1 | 6700 | P.S.| |- | ” | | |“6800.”
4 | 1 | 6800 | ” | |+ | ” | | |“6700.” “Time
| | | | | | | | | shrapnel.”
5 | 1 | 6700 | ” | |+ | ” | | |“Échelon 140.”
| | | | | | | | | “6700.”
| | | | | | | | |
6 | 1 | ” | T.S.|140 |? | ” | A | 40′ |
7 | 2 | ” | ” |150 |- |Left | A | 10′ |“No. 2--30′
| | | | | | | | | more right.”
8 | 3 | ” | ” |160 |+ | ” | G | |“No. 3--20′
| | | | | | | | | more right.”
| | | | | | | | |“Corrector 146.”
| | | | | | | | | “One
| | | | | | | | | round battery
| | | | | | | | | fire.”
9 | 1 | ” | ” |146 |- |Line | A | 30′ |
10 | 2 | ” | ” | “ |+ | ” | A | 20′ |
11 | 3 | ” | ” | ” |- | ” | A | 10′ |
12 | 4 | ” | ” | “ |? |Left | A | 25′ |”No. 4--10′
| | | | | | | | | more right.”
| | | | | | | | |“Section fire,
| | | | | | | | | 40 seconds.”
------+-------+------+-----+----+--+-----+---+------+---------------

CHANGE OF POSITION.

=228.= _To advance._

1. The alternative methods are as follows, that adopted depending upon the circumstances of the moment.

i. The battery commander orders “PREPARE TO ADVANCE” and
issues his instructions to the battery leader. The
captain orders up the gun limbers followed by the first
line wagons. As these approach the position the battery
commander orders “CEASE FIRING,” “FRONT (OR REAR) LIMBER
UP.” The firing battery wagons remain on the position
and are removed under the orders of the captain.

ii. If it is proposed to advance with the firing battery
wagons the battery commander orders “WITH FIRING BATTERY
WAGONS PREPARE TO ADVANCE.” Procedure is similar to that
in i., except that the teams (or limbers, if wagons have
been unlimbered) of the firing battery wagons are sent
up in the place of the first line wagons.

iii. The battery commander orders “PREPARE TO LIMBER UP,”
and issues instructions to the battery leader and
section commanders. The guns are run back to cover by
hand and limbered up independently under the supervision
of section commanders. The captain directs the first
line wagons under charge of a non-commissioned officer
to the position of assembly (Sec. =195= (5)), and sends
up each limber to its gun as soon as he sees that
it is required. When limbered up each gun proceeds
independently to the position of assembly, where it is
formed up by the non-commissioned officer in charge of
the first line wagons. The firing battery wagons are
left on the position to be removed under the orders of
the captain as circumstances permit.

In a covered position it will generally be possible to adopt methods i. or ii.

In an open or semi-covered position a cessation of hostile fire may permit of method i., but more often it will be necessary to adopt method iii.

On occasions it may be advisable to move a portion of the battery covered by the fire of the remaining guns.

=229.= _To retire._

1. When a retirement is contemplated the battery commander informs the captain of his intentions, specifying the general direction to be followed, and, should he intend the battery to come into action again, the approximate locality of the new position. He will also give orders as to whether the first line wagons are to accompany or precede the battery in the retirement. The captain arranges for the movement of the first line wagons accordingly.

Two alternative methods of carrying out the retirement are given, that adopted depending upon the circumstances of the case, and being subject to modifications if the battery is under heavy hostile fire.

i. The battery commander orders “PREPARE TO RETIRE”
and issues his instructions to the battery leader. The
captain orders up the gun limbers, followed by the teams
(or limbers, if wagons have been unlimbered) of the
firing battery wagons. As these approach the position
the battery commander orders “CEASE FIRING,”
“REAR (OR FRONT) LIMBER UP.”

ii. The battery commander orders “TO RETIRE, PREPARE TO
LIMBER UP,” and issues any necessary instructions to
the battery leader and section commanders. A few rounds
are taken from each wagon and laid on the ground beside
the gun. The firing battery wagons are run back under
cover by hand. Their teams (or limbers, if wagons have
been unlimbered) are then sent up by the captain as
required, and the wagons driven to the position of
assembly. As soon as the battery commander sees that the
firing battery wagons are clear, he orders “CEASE
FIRING,” and the guns are run back by hand and
limbered up as in method iii., Sec. =228=.

It may sometimes be advisable to withdraw a portion of the battery covered by the fire of the remaining guns.

Should it be intended to come into action again, the captain (or a section commander), as soon as his duties allow, accompanied by the range-takers, and such other members of the battery headquarters as can be spared, proceeds to reconnoitre and select the new position.

In a covered position it will generally be possible to adopt method i.

In an open or semi-covered position a cessation of hostile fire may permit of method i., but more often it wall be necessary to adopt method ii.

REPLACEMENT OF CASUALTIES.

=230.= _Casualties on the move._

1. If during an advance or retirement a wagon becomes separated from its gun, the gun will proceed and come into action with the battery. The wagon will drive up into its place as soon as it is able to catch up, or in case of a serious breakdown, the captain will send up a wagon from the first line wagons. Till the arrival of the wagon, ammunition will be obtained from the wagon limber of the other gun of the section.

Should a casualty occur to a gun, the damage should, when possible, be made good from its wagon.

2. In mountain artillery, if a firing battery mule becomes a casualty, its load will at once be transferred to the relief mule, another relief mule to replace this one being immediately ordered up from the first line mules. It will sometimes save delay, when the distance to the position for action is short, to bring up the load by hand.

=231.= _Casualties in action._

1. The following rules refer to the immediate replacement of casualties in action. They do not preclude other arrangements being subsequently made by superior authority. (_See also_ Handbook of the gun.)

1. Casualties are replaced by the next senior as soon as circumstances permit. All ranks must, therefore, know what duties they will perform in the event of casualties occurring.

ii. If, when the battery commander becomes a casualty, the captain is not with the line of guns, the senior section commander will command until the latter arrives.

In cases where the battery commander only leaves the battery temporarily (as, for instance, when he is the senior battery commander, and takes command of the brigade while its commander is reconnoitring), the senior section commander leads the battery, the captain remaining in charge of the wagons.

iii. Men sent up to replace casualties will report themselves to the section commanders who should order such changes of duties in their detachments as they consider necessary. Section commanders must remember that the layer will probably not show any visible signs of fatigue until long after he has for the time being lost his efficiency as a layer. When firing is continuous he should be changed after about half an hour.

iv. Wounded will be sent back to the line of wagons, if it can be done without impediment to the service of the guns, from whence they will be removed to the dressing station.

2. Ammunition wagons may be ignited on being struck either by projectiles or bullets, the liability increasing with the amount of wood used in the construction of the wagons or boxes. Should a wagon be ignited by a projectile there is usually very little danger of it blowing up immediately; attempts should therefore at once be made to put out the fire, remove the ammunition from the wagon, or move the wagon away.