Chapter V: Appendix

I. =Names of the Parts of Rifles--Short M.L.E., Mark III, and
Charger-Loading M.L.E.= 233

II. =Directions for Use of the Legret Aim-Teacher= 240

III. =Directions for Use of the Aim-Corrector= 241

IV. =Directions for Use of the Aiming-Disc= 243

V. =“Harmonizing” Rifles for Miniature Range Practices= 244

VI. =Scoring and Signalling= 245

VII. =Solano Target--Marks I. and II.= 248

VIII. =Solano Elementary and Instructional Targets= 250

INDEX 258

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

FIG. PAGE

DIAGRAM SHOWING A GERMAN PLAN OF INFANTRY
ATTACK IN CLOSE FORMATIONS ix

1. WIRE GAUZE ON PULL-THROUGH 5

2 AND 3. ILLUSTRATION OF TRAJECTORY, ETC. 19

4 AND 5. DANGEROUS SPACE 26

6. CONE OF FIRE 32

7. DIAGRAMS ILLUSTRATING THE DISPERSION IN DEPTH
OF CONCENTRATED COLLECTIVE FIRE AT 1,500
YARDS AND ITS DISTRIBUTION IN DEPTH BY THE
USE OF COMBINED SIGHTS 36

8. THE RELATION OF GROUND TO FIRE EFFECT 39

9. THE RELATION OF GROUND TO FIRE EFFECT 40

10. DEAD GROUND 42

11. DIAGRAMS SHOWING CORRECT AND INCORRECT
ALIGNMENT OF SIGHTS 48

12. LONG-RANGE SIGHTS 49

13. FAULTS IN AIMING 50

14. TRIANGLE OF ERROR 52

15. METHOD OF PRESSING TRIGGER WITH FOREFINGER 64

16. SHOT GROUP ILLUSTRATING RESULT OF FAULTY
TRIGGER-PRESSING 65

17. SHOWING GRIP OF RIGHT HAND, AND TRIGGER
FINGER 66

18. INSTRUCTOR ILLUSTRATING CORRECT METHOD OF
PRESSING THE TRIGGER 66

19. CORRECT METHOD OF USING AIMING-DISC 66

20. STANDING POSITION--SIDE VIEW 67

21. STANDING POSITION--FRONT VIEW 67

22. PRONE POSITION--SIDE VIEW 68

23. KNEELING POSITION--SIDE VIEW 68

24. KNEELING POSITION--FRONT VIEW 68

25. SITTING POSITION 69

26. SITTING POSITION WHEN FIRING--AIMING DOWN
STEEP SLOPE 69

27. LOADING IN STANDING POSITION 70

28. FIRING IN THE OPEN. HEADS LOWERED; OBSERVER
WATCHING FRONT 71

29. FIRING ROUND COVER--CORRECT 74

30. FIRING ROUND COVER--UNNECESSARY EXPOSURE 74

31. FIRING FROM FOLD OF GROUND--SIDE VIEW 74

32. FIRING FROM FOLD OF GROUND--UNNECESSARY
EXPOSURE 75

33. FIRING FROM FOLD OF GROUND--CORRECT METHOD 75

34. FIRING OVER CONTINUOUS COVER 75

35. FIRING OVER CONTINUOUS COVER 76

36. FIRING OVER CONTINUOUS COVER 76

37. FIRING ROUND CONTINUOUS COVER: LYING POSITION--FRONT
VIEW 76

38. FIRING ROUND CONTINUOUS COVER: LYING POSITION--SIDE
VIEW 76

39. KNEELING BEHIND COVER--POSITION WHEN LOADING 77

40. KNEELING BEHIND COVER--POSITION WHEN LOADED 77

41. KNEELING BEHIND COVER--POSITION WHEN FIRING 77

42. KNEELING BEHIND COVER--POSITION WHEN FIRING 77

43. MILITARY VOCABULARY--TERMS DESCRIBING COMMON
FEATURES OF GROUND 87

44. SIMPLE RANGE CARD FOR ATTACK 99

45. SIMPLE RANGE CARD FOR DEFENCE 100

46. EXAMPLE OF A FOREGROUND RANGE SKETCH 102

47. ROUGH SKETCH OF A FIELD OF FIRE DIVIDED INTO
OVERLAPPING SECTORS BY THE USE OF DESCRIPTION
POINTS ON DEPLOYMENT IN ATTACK 108

48. DIAGRAM ILLUSTRATING TACTICAL APPLICATION OF
FIRE 115

49. DESCRIPTION OF TARGETS--FINGER-BREADTH
METHOD 122

50. DESCRIPTION OF TARGETS--CLOCK-FACE METHOD 123

51. DESCRIPTION OF TARGETS--EXAMPLE OF FIELD OF
FIRE SUITABLE FOR EMPLOYMENT OF FINGER-BREADTH
AND CLOCK-FACE METHODS, COMBINED
WITH DESCRIPTION POINTS 124

52. HAND GRENADE, MARK I 196, 197

53. SOLANO TARGET, MARK I, ARRANGED FOR ELEMENTARY
PRACTICES BY EIGHT MEN FIRING SIMULTANEOUSLY,
SHOWING THE TARGETS NUMBERED 206

54. SOLANO TARGET--CLEAT FITTING WITH CORDS WHICH
OPERATE MECHANISM ATTACHED 206

55. SOLANO TARGET, MARK I, ARRANGED FOR GENERAL
INSTRUCTION OR FOR FIRING FIELD PRACTICES,
WITH SCENERY AND SCENIC ACCESSORIES (TYPE A),
AND WITH SOLANO FIGURES REPRESENTING TROOPS
AT DIFFERENT RANGES 207

56. SOLANO TARGET, MARK I, ARRANGED FOR GENERAL
INSTRUCTION OR FOR FIRING FIELD PRACTICES,
WITH SCENERY AND SCENIC ACCESSORIES (TYPE C),
AND WITH SOLANO FIGURES REPRESENTING TROOPS
AT DIFFERENT RANGES 207

57. LANDSCAPE TARGET ON FRAMES ATTACHED TO SOLANO
TARGET IN POSITION FOR FIRING 228

58. LANDSCAPE TARGET PRACTICES--ILLUSTRATION SHOWING
METHOD OF HARMONIZING RIFLES AND THE
SYSTEM OF MEASURING COLLECTIVE GROUPING OF
CONCENTRATED AND DISTRIBUTED FIRE 229

59, 60. SHORT MAGAZINE LEE-ENFIELD RIFLE 234, 235

61-63. CHARGER-LOADING LEE-ENFIELD RIFLE 237-239

64. LEGRET AIM-TEACHER 240

65. AIM-CORRECTOR 242

66. AIMING-DISC 243

67. SOLANO ELEMENTARY TARGET, NO. 1 251

68. SOLANO ELEMENTARY TARGET, NO. 2 252

69. A CIRCLE (3 INCHES DIAMETER) AND A TRIANGLE
(3 INCHES EQUILATERAL), SHOWING THAT THE TRIANGLE
AS AIMING AND SCORING DIAGRAM INDUCES
CLOSER GROUPING THAN THE CIRCLE BY ALLOWING
LESS MARGIN FOR BOTH VERTICAL AND LATERAL
ERRORS REPRESENTED BY THE DOTS 253

70. SOLANO INSTRUCTIONAL TARGET, NO. 1 254

71. SOLANO INSTRUCTIONAL TARGET, NO. 2 255

72. SOLANO INSTRUCTIONAL TARGET, NO. 3 256

DEFINITIONS OF TECHNICAL TERMS AND MILITARY VOCABULARY

I. DEFINITIONS.

=Aiming-Off.=--Altering the point of aim laterally, so as to give
deflection to the rifle-barrel without using the wind-gauge.

=Aiming Point.=--The point in any target at which aim is taken,
forming the extremity of the line of sight.

=Aiming Up and Down.=--Altering the point of aim vertically so
as to give more or less elevation to the rifle-barrel without
altering the sight.

=Angle of Descent.=--Angle at which the bullet falls to the
ground at the end of its flight (Figs. 4 and 5).

=Application.=--An elementary musketry practice, designed to
illustrate methods of correcting aim or sighting in accordance
with observation or signals from the butts.

=Approximation of Scoring Rings.=--Concentric rings marked on an
instructional target and possessing various values which afford
a simple means of comparing the shooting errors of individuals,
but having no relation to the vulnerable surfaces of the ordinary
service targets.

=Axis of the Barrel.=--The axis of the barrel is an imaginary
line following the centre of the bore from breech to muzzle (Fig.
2).

=Beaten Zone.=--Area of ground beaten by a cone of fire (Fig. 6).

=Bull’s Eye.=--A circular aiming-mark of varying size used in
elementary training for grouping practice, with the object of
eliminating all sources of error other than that of bad holding.

=Concentration of Fire.=--The directing of fire on one particular
portion of the enemy’s line. Its value lies in the demoralizing
effect it produces owing to the heavy loss it inflicts at the
point at which it is directed (Fig. 48).

=Covered Approach.=--Ground and natural or artificial cover which
screens movement towards an objective from the enemy’s view.

=Culminating Point.=--The culminating point is the greatest
height above the line of sight to which the bullet rises in its
flight; this is reached at a point a little beyond half the
distance to which the bullet travels.

=Dangerous Space.=--The dangerous space for any particular range
is the distance between the first catch and the first graze (Fig.
4).

=Dead Ground.=--Any ground on which troops cannot be struck by
missiles fired by defenders of a position owing to the formation
of the intervening ground (Fig. 10).

=Deflection.=--The inclination of the rifle-barrel laterally with
reference to the line of sight, counteracting the effect of wind,
drift, or other influence which tends to force the bullet out of
a straight path.

=Description Points.=--Ground and its natural or artificial
features used for indication of targets (Figs. 49-51).

=Distribution of Fire.=--The method of directing fire so that it
may be scattered over several objects (Fig. 48).

=Elevation.=--The inclination of the rifle-barrel vertically with
reference to the line of sight, necessitated by the downward
influence exercised on the bullet by the force of gravity.

=Error of the Day.=--A term used to include errors in shooting
due to miscalculation of atmospheric influences, such as wind,
temperature, etc.

=Error of the Rifle.=--Any error inherent in a rifle, independent
of any error due to the want of skill of the firer.

=Fire, Kinds of=--

=Collective Fire.=--The fire of several rifles combined for
a definite purpose under the orders of a fire-leader. Such
fire skilfully directed and well controlled may produce good
effect up to 1,400 yards.

=Converging Fire.=--Fire aimed at one target from different
points.

=Covering Fire.=--Fire delivered from the rear or flank by a
special body of troops to keep down the fire of the attacked
during the advance of the attacking body. It also includes
fire delivered by portions of a line with a view to assisting
the advance of the remainder (Fig. 48).

=Effective Fire.=--Fire which has the desired result upon the
target.

=Enfilade Fire.=--Fire which sweeps a line of troops or
defences from a flank (Fig. 48).

=Frontal Fire.=--Fire which is delivered directly to the
front.

=Grazing Fire.=--When the angle of the fall of the bullets
(see Trajectory) is the same as the slope of the ground and
the missiles sweep along its surface the fire is called
grazing (Fig. 9).

=Individual Fire.=--Fire opened without orders from a
fire-leader. On account of the difficulty of observation 600
yards may be taken as the limit of effective fire of this
nature against small targets.

=Indirect Fire.=--Indirect fire is fire directed by means of
auxiliary aiming-marks at an objective which is invisible to
the firer (Fig. 48).

=Masked Fire.=--Troops (guns or rifles) in a position whence
they could employ fire effectively against an enemy, but for
the fear of causing casualties to their comrades, are said to
have their fire masked by these latter troops.

=Oblique Fire.=--Fire directed on a target in a slanting
direction--_i.e._ not directly to the front (Fig. 48).

=Rapid Fire.=--Fire delivered as quickly as the nature of the
rifle admits.

=Reverse Fire.=--Fire so directed that the bullets strike the
target in rear (Fig. 48).

=Searching Fire.=--Searching is the term applied to
collective fire when the depth of its dispersion over a
beaten zone is increased by the use of combined sights (Fig.
7).

=Sweeping Fire.=--Sweeping fire is fire distributed laterally
(Fig. 48).

=Unaimed Fire.=--Unaimed fire is fire directed at a visible
objective which strikes another objective to the rear of it
(Fig. 48).

=Fire Control.=--Fire control is the duty of junior officers and non-commissioned officers, and consists in giving ranges to and pointing out targets to the fire-units, and seeing that their men adjust their sights to the range given. It further consists in regulating the volume of fire, the accurate passing of all orders and information, and in the cavalry and infantry the collecting of ammunition from casualties and its redistribution.

=Fire Discipline.=--The training of men so that they will instinctively carry out all orders of fire-unit commanders, and in the absence of orders adjust their sights and fire with due regard to the tactical situation.

=Fire Effect.=--The effect on the target resulting from the fire aimed at it.

=Fire Fight.=--The struggle for fire superiority.

=Fire Position.=--Positions from which fire is opened during the advance of an attacking force; during the early stages of the advance with a view to gaining ground, in the latter stages with a view to gaining a superiority of fire.

=Fire-Unit.=--A unit, the fire of which is controlled by one commander. The normal cavalry and infantry fire-unit is the troop and section respectively.

=Firing-Line.=--In extended formations the line of troops from which the main body of fire is delivered.

=Firing-Position.=--The position, standing, kneeling, lying, etc., adopted for firing, according to circumstances.

=First Catch.=--The first catch is that point where the bullet has descended sufficiently to strike the head of a man, whether mounted, standing, kneeling, lying, etc. (Fig. 4, A).

=First Graze.=--The first graze is the point where the bullet, if not interfered with, will first strike the ground (Fig. 4, B).

=Group, Grouping, or Diagram of Group.=--The pattern made on a vertical target by a series of shots fired by an individual or the pattern made on a horizontal surface by concentrated collective fire.

=Grouping.=--An elementary musketry practice designed to test and standardize holding and the accuracy of rifles, and to expose constant errors in aiming.

=Holding.=--The form of skill required in order to press the trigger without disturbing the aim.

=Inclined Sights.=--A common fault in aiming-failure to keep the sights upright.

=Line of Departure.=--The line of departure is the direction of the bullet on leaving the muzzle--_i.e._, the prolongation of the axis of the barrel (Fig. 2).

=Line of Fire.=--The line of fire is a line joining the muzzle of the rifle and the target (Fig. 2).

=Line of Sight.=--The line of sight is a straight line passing through the sights and the point aimed at (Fig. 2).

=Marking Down.=--Noting the exact position of an enemy seen to occupy ground or cover.

=Mutual Support.=--The fire of one unit directed at the enemy to cover and assist the movement of another unit (Fig. 48). Also individual soldiers working in pairs to assist each other in firing.

=Observation.=--Watching the effect of fire on the target with a view to correction or verification of sighting, either by watching for the dust thrown up by bullets or the behaviour of the enemy.

=Permissible Error.=--Error made in estimating range which does not render fire ineffective.

=Ranges, Terms applied to.=

+-------------+----------------+-----------------+------------------+
|Terms applied| Rifle. | Field Artillery.| Heavy Batteries. |
| to Ranges. | | | |
+-------------+----------------+-----------------+------------------+
| | Yards. | Yards. | Yards. |
| Distant | 2,800 to 2,000 | 6,500 to 5,000 | 10,000 to 6,500 |
| Long | 2,000 to 1,400 | 5,000 to 4,000 | 6,500 to 5,000 |
| Effective | 1,400 to 600 | 4,000 to 2,500 | 5,000 to 2,500 |
| Close | 600 and under | 2,500 and under | 2,500 and under |
+-------------+----------------+-----------------+------------------+

=Recruit (Musketry).=--A man who has not completed Table A (the
recruit’s course of musketry).

=Sector.=--A portion of frontage allotted to a fire-unit for the
purposes of observation and fire action.

=Snapshooting.=--Firing the most accurate possible shot in the
shortest possible time.

=Superiority of Fire.=--The means of pouring a more destructive
fire into the enemy than he can bring to bear on you. Under
ordinary conditions a necessity prior to the bayonet charge.

=Target, Crossing.=--A target moving across the front of the
firer obliquely or at right angles.

=Target, Service.=--The various targets of battle.

=Trained Soldier (Musketry).=--A man who has completed Table A
(the recruit’s course of musketry).

=Trajectory.=--The curved line a bullet or other projectile
follows in its flight. This is dependent on the explosion of the
charge which drives the bullet forward, gravity which draws the
bullet towards the earth, and the resistance of the air which
retards the velocity of the bullet (Fig. 2).

II. MILITARY VOCABULARY FOR INDICATION AND RECOGNITION OF TARGETS.

=Arable Land.=--Ground under cultivation other than pasture or
grass land.

=Brook.=--A small stream.

=Causeway.=--A made road or path, raised by artificial means
above the level of the surrounding country.

=Clearing.=--Where trees and undergrowth have been cut down in a
wood, so as to make an open space.

=Cliff.=--A high, steep rock.

=Col.=--A gap or break in a ridge of hills, often traversed by a
road, which thus avoids to a great extent the ascent and descent
otherwise necessary in passing from one side of the ridge to the
other. This term is also used to describe the narrow ridge often
seen joining a hill to a main chain of hills.

=Copse (or Coppice).=--A small wood, composed of young trees and
undergrowth for cutting.

=Crest-Line.=--Where the top of a hill or mountain appears to
meet the sky.

=Cross-Roads.=--The point where one road crosses another.

=Culvert.=--A watercourse arched over with brickwork or masonry,
generally under a road or railway.

=Cutting.=--An excavation through which a railway line runs.

=Dense Hedge.=--Growing closely together.

=Donga.=--A South African term, meaning a dry watercourse,
bordered by steep and high banks.

=Embankment.=--Earth banked up above the natural height of the
surrounding country, to preserve the level of a railway line.

=Fenced.=--Bounded by a fence, hedge, wall, etc.

=Fencing.=--A structure, enclosing a piece of land or separating
it from another piece.

=Ferry.=--A place where a river or other piece of water may be
crossed by means of a boat kept at the spot for the purpose.

=Fold in Ground.=--A slight hollow, caused by the regular lie of
the ground being broken by a rise or depression.

=Foliage.=--The leaves of trees, shrubs, etc.

=Ford.=--A shallow place in a stream where it may be crossed by
wading.

=Gorge.=--A rugged and deep ravine.

=Hollow.=--A depression in the ground.

=Junction of Roads.=--The point where two or more roads meet, but
do not cross one another.

=Knoll.=--A low hill standing by itself.

=Level Crossing.=--Where a road or path crosses a railway-line at
the same level.

=Marshland.=--Low-lying, wet land, covered usually with rushes
and rank vegetation.

=Moorland.=--Waste land covered with heath, and having a poor,
peaty soil.

=Nullah.=--An Indian term, meaning a dry watercourse bordered by
steep and high banks.

=Palings.=--Narrow pieces of wood nailed closely together upon
rails so as to form a fence.

=Pastureland.=--Grassland.

=Plantation.=--A small wood, composed of trees recently planted.

=Ploughland.=--Land which has recently been ploughed.

=Posts and Rails.=--A fence composed of posts, with one end sunk
in the ground, connected by rails.

=Quarry.=--An excavation from which stone has been extracted.

=Ravine.=--A deep hollow in a hill or mountain side.

=Ridge.=--Anything shaped like the back of an animal. For
instance, the highest part of a long range of hills or the
angular top of the roof of a building.

=Ridge and Furrow.=--Land ploughed in such a manner that the
ground lies alternately heaped up (ridge) and hollowed out
(furrow).

=River Bank, Right, Left.=--The right or left bank of a river is the
bank on the right or left of an observer facing down the stream.

=Saddle.=--A shallow, central dip in a ridge. The depression is
less marked than a col.

=Scrub.=--Stunted trees and bushes growing closely together.

=Shrub.=--A small bushy tree.

=Signal--Box or Cabin.=--A small building adjoining a
railway-line, from which a set of signals is controlled.

=Sky-Line.=--Where earth or sea appear to meet the sky.

=Slope, Concave.=--A slope is concave when the actual slope of a
hill offers no obstruction to an observer standing on the crest
from seeing the foot of the slope. In this case the upper slopes
of the hill are steeper than the lower slopes.

=Slope, Convex.=--A slope is convex when an observer standing on
the crest is unable, through the slope of the hill bulging out,
to see the foot of the slope. It is caused by the lower slopes
being of a steeper nature than the upper slopes, and is met with
especially in chalk downs.

=Slope, Forward.=--One that falls away in the direction an
observer is looking.

=Slope, Gentle.=--_This term explains itself._

=Slope, Reverse.=--One that falls away behind the spot where the
observer is standing.

=Slope, Steep.=--_This term explains itself._

=Spur.=--A ridge running out from a hill or from range of hills.

=Stream.=-- Any course of flowing water.

=Sunken Road.=--A road that has been cut below the level of the
surrounding country.

=Swamp.=--Land so saturated with wet bog as to be useless for
cultivation.

=Thicket.=--A small wood, composed of bushes and undergrowth.

=Track.=--An unmade path, which is marked by use.

=Undergrowth.=--Small trees, brambles, creepers, etc., in a wood.

=Viaduct.=--A road or railway carried by a series of arches over
a valley, river, etc.

NOTE.--_The figures at the hinges of pages refer to the_ SECTIONS.

MUSKETRY