Chapter X: Ammunition Supply

=232.= _General instructions._

1. The necessity for an ample supply of ammunition for guns and rifles makes the position of wagon lines and ammunition columns in action a matter of great importance.

2. The object to be kept in view therefore is that the various échelons should be so situated on the march that when an engagement takes place it may be possible to arrange for a regular supply of ammunition from rear to front to replace that expended in action.

The supply from ammunition columns is not necessarily restricted to troops of their own division or brigade; any troops are to receive ammunition on demand during an action, from any column which may be at hand.

3. The work of replenishment is divided between:--

i. Units with the fighting troops.
ii. Units on the line of communication, working under the
inspector-general of communications.

4. The artillery ammunition available with the fighting troops is distributed in action as follows:--

i. The firing battery.
ii. First line wagons. (Mtn. Art., 1st line mules.)
iii. Brigade ammunition columns.
iv. Divisional ammunition columns.

Details regarding the amounts carried for the various types of ordnance are shown in “War Establishments.”

=233.= _Ammunition supply within the battery._

(_Wagon supply._)

1. The supply of ammunition will be, as a rule, first from the wagon body and next from the wagon limber. When the ammunition in the wagon body is exhausted it will be unlimbered and run out of the way, and the limber will be run back till its axletree is in line with that of the gun.

The captain is responsible for maintaining the supply of ammunition in the battery.

_Mountain artillery._--The battery supply of ammunition is carried on 8 ammunition mules, of which 2 accompany the firing battery and 6 go with the 1st line mules. The supply of ammunition will be from the first pair of boxes with the firing battery, while the ammunition in the second pair of boxes will be kept as a reserve, and only used in emergency.

(_Limber supply._)

2. It may sometimes be necessary for the guns of a firing battery to leave the wagons and trust to the ammunition in the limbers. The horses will then be unhooked from the limbers as soon as the limbers have reversed, and the limbers will be placed in position by hand on the right of the guns, poles to the front, axletrees of limbers in line with, and 6 inches from, the axletrees of the guns.

In the case of horse artillery taking part in a cavalry action, or of field artillery, when limbered up, being charged by cavalry, it may be necessary to draw ammunition from the limbers without unhooking. The battery commander orders “WITHOUT UNHOOKING LIMBER SUPPLY,” and on coming into action, the limber is halted 5 yards in rear of the trail eye, the team facing to the rear.

In either case if the wagons arrive, they will not be brought up to the firing battery, unless specially ordered, but will be halted in such a position as to be available for the next move, when, if required, the wagon limbers may be substituted for the gun limbers.

=234.= _Replenishment of ammunition._

1. When the captain becomes aware, either by personal observation or by the receipt of information from the battery that ammunition is required, he will send or order forward the first line wagons.

2. It is his duty to arrange how the wagons can best be brought up to the firing battery and to inform section commanders of his proposed arrangements.

If the battery is not under a heavy fire, and there is no danger of disclosing the position of guns hitherto undetected by the enemy, the wagons can be driven into position on the right of the guns, the teams subsequently hooking into the empty wagons and taking them back to the wagon line.

Sometimes it may be feasible to push forward a few wagons from the first line wagon position to a point nearer to the battery, from which the replenishment of ammunition can be carried out by hand, using ammunition carriers.

3. Whenever the brigade commander, or battery commander if acting independently, considers that the tactical situation or the position the guns will occupy, make it desirable to have more ammunition with the guns than is contained in the six wagons, he may order the first line wagons to accompany the battery into action. In this case the first line wagons follow the firing battery wagons. The latter form up and unhook in the usual manner; the former halt as close as possible in rear of the guns, unlimber, and the limbers return with the gun limbers.

_Mountain Artillery._

When the ammunition in the first pair of boxes is becoming exhausted, the captain orders up one mule per subsection from the 1st line; these will be sent up under a N.C.O.

The reserve numbers take off the full boxes and load up the empty ones, while No. 5 takes out any rounds that may be unexpended from the first pair of boxes, placing them under the lid of one of the second pair.

The mules with the empty boxes will be led back to the 1st line by the N.C.O. who brought them up. If the firing battery mules are separated from the 1st line, six more ammunition mules will then be sent under a N.C.O. to join them.

In order that the battery may always move with two full pairs of boxes per subsection in the firing battery, the captain will see that one ammunition mule per subsection loaded with a full pair of boxes accompanies the firing battery mules, when the order to limber up is given. The partly empty pair of boxes will be loaded upon the mule sent up for the purpose, which will then join the 1st line.

The ammunition in partly empty boxes will be redistributed so as to keep as many full boxes as possible, and mules with empty boxes will be sent to the ammunition column to replenish.

=235.= _Brigade ammunition columns._

1. Brigade ammunition columns form an integral part of the artillery brigades to which they belong. Besides supplying ammunition, they form a reserve in men, horses, and _matériel_ to the batteries of their brigade. If necessary their own efficiency must be sacrificed to make good losses in the batteries. In cases of emergency help should also be extended to batteries of other brigades.

2. Brigade ammunition columns usually march in the rear of the fighting troops of their division, or brigade in the case of a cavalry brigade not allotted to a cavalry division. =When an action is probable a non-commissioned officer from the ammunition column should accompany the headquarters of the artillery brigade for purposes of intercommunication=.

3. The position of the columns during a battle will normally be regulated by artillery brigade commanders in accordance with the instructions of divisional artillery commanders. It may sometimes be necessary for the higher commanders to issue special orders as to their positions and as to the units they are to supply. The positions selected should offer facilities for intercommunication and movement, and should be about a mile in rear of the battery wagon lines.

4. On arriving at the position allotted him the commander of a brigade ammunition column will inform the commander of the artillery brigade of his arrival, and place himself in communication with the units he receives orders to supply. He will provide the commander of the infantry brigade ammunition reserve and each battery wagon line commander with an orderly, who is to be used only in connection with ammunition supply. One of the mounted men with the battery wagon line should also know the position of the column and the best way to it.

5. If troops are scattered, it may be necessary to distribute the sections of the ammunition column in order to bring the reserves of ammunition nearer the troops engaged. Commanders of sections will then deal direct with wagon line or infantry brigade ammunition reserve commanders, keeping the brigade ammunition column commander informed of the issues made by them.

6. On receipt of a message that ammunition is wanted, the column commander will send forward the number of wagons or carts demanded (under an officer if possible) the orderly who brought the message being used to guide them to their destination. The ammunition is then either transferred from the full to the empty vehicles, or an exchange of vehicles is effected. If the latter procedure is adopted, it will be necessary to transfer men’s cloaks and equipment from one set of wagons to the other.

If the position of the wagon line or infantry brigade ammunition reserve is much exposed, the empty vehicles should be withdrawn and the transfer of ammunition carried out under cover.

7. Indents on ammunition columns are unnecessary. Receipts will be prepared by the officer handing over the ammunition for the number of full wagons or carts issued from the column, and will be signed by the officer receiving them, who is responsible for seeing that they contain what he requires.

The account of rounds fired by any unit during an action is not the affair of the brigade ammunition column commander. Such accounts must be kept under the orders of the commander of the unit.

_Field artillery (howitzer) brigade ammunition columns, and ammunition columns with mountain or heavy batteries._

8. The procedure of field artillery (howitzer) brigade ammunition columns and ammunition columns with mountain or heavy batteries, will, as regards artillery ammunition, be similar to that laid down in the foregoing paragraphs.

_Horse artillery ammunition columns._

9. The procedure of horse artillery ammunition columns, as regards the provision of gun ammunition to batteries will be carried out as far as possible on similar lines to those laid down in paras. 1 to 7 above. (_See also_ Sec. =176=.)

=236.= _Divisional ammunition columns._

1. Divisional ammunition columns form part of the divisional artillery. They are under the immediate orders of divisional artillery commanders. Normally, their position on the line of march is regulated by divisional headquarters, but may, if necessary, be fixed by army or general headquarters.

2. Each divisional ammunition column consists of four sections, of which the first three carry small arm and 18-pr. ammunition and the fourth ammunition for the howitzer brigade and heavy battery.

3. When an action is imminent sections of the divisional ammunition columns will be ordered to form reserves of ammunition at convenient points, which will also be the refilling points for such sections. (_See_ Sec. =237= (4).) The position of these points will be fixed by divisional headquarters, if necessary under instructions from army headquarters, and should usually be about two miles in rear of brigade ammunition columns.

4. The divisional ammunition column commander should establish his headquarters at the rendezvous selected for the divisional ammunition park. (_See_ Sec. =237= (4).)

It is his duty to ascertain the position of this rendezvous if this information is not sent to him, and to arrange for the replenishment of ammunition within the limits specified in such orders as he may have received from the divisional artillery commander.

5. Each commander of a section which is detached will notify his arrival at his destination to the divisional artillery commander and to the divisional ammunition column commander, and will also send an orderly to open communication with each brigade ammunition column which he is to supply.

6. The supply of ammunition from these sections to brigade ammunition columns will be carried out on the same principles as those laid down for brigade ammunition columns and batteries, ammunition being sent forward to the brigade columns in the vehicles belonging to the divisional columns.

7. There are no divisional ammunition columns for the cavalry division or army troops.

=237.= _Ammunition reserves on the line of communication._

1. The ammunition held in reserve on the line of communications is divided between ordnance depôts and ammunition parks. The proportion of ammunition to be held at each depôt is determined by the inspector-general of communications in accordance with the instructions he receives from general headquarters.

2. The inspector-general of communications is responsible that the ammunition reserves are pushed up by means of the railway and parks to within reach of the fighting troops.

3. During an action, the ammunition park will be sent forward to a rendezvous as directed by the inspector-general of communications under instructions from general or army headquarters. This rendezvous should be placed sufficiently far behind the fighting troops to ensure freedom of movement to the latter.

As a rule the best position for the headquarters of the ammunition park will be at railhead or corresponding locality but either the commander of the park or his representative will be required at the rendezvous, which will also be the headquarters of the divisional ammunition column. (_See_ Sec. =236= (4).)

4. From the rendezvous sections or portions of sections will be sent forward to the refilling points (Sec. =236= (3)) to replenish sections of the divisional ammunition column in accordance with the demands of the divisional ammunition column commander, who is responsible for regulating the amount of ammunition sent forward from the parks to refill these sections.

In favourable circumstances it may be possible to refill brigade ammunition columns direct from park vehicles.

After reaching the rendezvous the movements of the ammunition park for a cavalry division and for a cavalry brigade (with attached troops) not allotted to a cavalry division will normally be regulated by the headquarters of the cavalry formations concerned under instructions received from general headquarters. Ammunition parks for these troops carry ammunition direct to brigade ammunition columns or to regiments, &c., as may be convenient.

5. Ammunition required to replenish ammunition parks will be demanded by park commanders through the headquarters of the inspector-general of communications, who is responsible that the ammunition required to refill the parks is sent to suitable localities on the railway.

6. An artillery officer is allotted to each ammunition park who is responsible for seeing that the lorries forwarded to the various refilling points contain the nature of ammunition required. In order to carry out this duty he should, during an action, locate himself at the rendezvous.