As ever an interesting find by Mike aka Skipman.

First principles of tactics and organisation, with reference to the Field service regulations; for officers and N.C.O.'s of the New Army Special Reserve and Territorial Forces (1915)

http://archive.org/d...pleso00sleeuoft

An interesting and informative background to the Operation of the British Army, though more in keeping with 1914 - open manoeuvre warefare. However I am not sure how much use some of the information would be in 1915 for those posted to the Western Front, which time was by then, in a status of positional warfare. It is not until page 100 that "Notes on Trenches from the Experience of the Present War." that the needs of trench warfare are addressed, with 7 pages on the subject.

There are a number of references to the experiences in South Africa and the Russo-Japenese war showing the influences on the development of doctrine at that time, though I can not get my head around the anology of the Rugby Football team on page 51.The Combat Appreciation methodology is also interesting, still the principle of Aims / Factors / Courses Open / Selected Course. The use of the "fifth arm", does bring a more up to date feel to the publication, though again not sure if Arabs shooting at Spanish aircraft is a good anecdote. Supprisingly, no reference is made to the use of aircraft in the direction of artillery fire.

It is also interesting that the Artillery section details the regular army organisation of 6 gun batteries equipped with 18 pounders and 4.5 inch howitzers, rather than 4 gun batteries of the TF with 15 pounder BLC and 5 inch howitzers, given the publication is aimed at the Territorial Force.

Chapter 2 provides an insight on the mechanisms of command and control. The importance of clarity of orders is emphasised ! This should be written as if it is a cablegram costing 7/6 a word to send. Even in todays money 37p per word is still quite a good maxim for the importance.

Useful Staff Guidelines at page 44 for movement on roads.

Extracted Artillery Information:

Tactical Suh-division and Organisation of Artillery.

The artillery of an army in the fielji consists mainly of Field Artillery (R.F.A.), the bulk of which, in our army, is armed with the 18-pounder quick-firing gun. The remainder of our Field Artillery is armed with the 4.5 inch quick-firing howitzer. In a division of our expeditionary force there are nine field batteries of 18-pounders, three field batteries of 4.5-inch howitzers, and one heavy artillery battery (of four 60-pr.B.L. guns). In field batteries the gun detachments arecarried on the carriages.

There are also Horse Artillery (R.H.A.) batteries in a field army, whose role is to work in conjunction with the cavalry.The horse artillery of our army is armed with a 13-pounder quick-firing gun, and the gun detachments are mounted on horseback. In the cavalry division of our expeditionary force there are four R.H.A. batteries.—(F.S. Regs., pages15—18).

For manoeuvre, a battery (horse or field) is divided into :

—

(1). The firing battery.

(2). The first line wagons.

The " firing battery " consists of 6 guns and 6 ammunition wagons. The wagons of the firing battery always accompany its guns.

The " first line wagons " consist of 6 more ammunition wagons. These constitute the first reserve of ammunition available for replenishment, and are kept some little distancein rear of their battery when in action.

The battery is commanded by a major, who has a captain to assist him. Each pair of guns (1 and 2, 3 and 4, 5 and 6) is termed a " section," and is commanded by a subaltern. Each section consists of two sub-sections each under a sergeant (called No. 1). The usual order of march is column of route (i.e., each gunfollowed by its two wagons).

The establishment of a R.H.A. battery (War Establishment), is 5 officers, 217 rank and file (including attached), and 240 horses, and of a R.F.A. battery 5 ofl&cers, 193 rank and file, and 172 horses.—(F.S. Regs., pages 15-18).

In addition to R.H.A. and R.F.A. there are Heavy Artillery,Garrison Artillery and Mountain Batteries. As these are never used for minor tactical operations they will not

enter into the scope of this book. A brigade of Field Artillery consists of " Headquarters," 3 batteries and an ammunition column.

A brigade of Horse Artillery consists of " Headquarters," 2 batteries and an ammunition column. The ammunition column, in addition to carrying a reserve

of ammunition for 18-pounders, 13-pounders or 4.5-inch howitzers, as the case may be, all carry a reserve of smallarm ammunition.—(S.A.A.).

Ammunition of Horse and Field Artillery.

The only shell used with 18- and 13-pounder quick-firing guns is the shrapnel shell. The former weighs 171bs. 13ozs.,and contains 375 bullets; the latter lllbs. 13ozs. and contains 236 bullets. In each case the shell contains a small bursting charge of gunpowder, suflficient to open the shell, release the bullets and give enough smoke to allow the burst to be observed. They are provided with time and percussion fuses (one fuse combines both functions) which can be so regulated as to burst the cylinder at any given time, or, to burst only on impact. The bursting charge is purposely so weak that the bullets are only just liberated and continue their forward flight, opening out to an ever-increasing cone. The distance between the burst of the shell and where the bullets lose their deadly velocity, is some 200 yards. For this reason, the advancing lines of Infantry require to be this distance, or more, apart when under artillery tire. The extreme range of the 18-pounder is over 6,500 yards.

Howitzer and heavy batteries, in addition to shrapnel, carry high explosive shell filled with lyddite. Such shell are for use against materiel and artificial cover only. They are not suitable for use against personnel in the open, owing to the limited numbers of pieces into which they break up and to the very local effect caused by their explosion.

Tactical Distribution of Artillery.

On the March.—With a small force of all arms, artillery is usually kept with the main body, following the first battalion or half battalion of infantry.

In Attack.—Artillery is usually placed in positions selected by the artillery commander—after he receives orders from the commander of the troops as to the general position to be occupied by the artillery. These are usually in rear, or on the flanks of the infantry advance, the choice depending upon the guns being able to bring effective fire against the enemy's artillery without being exposed themselves.

Objects of Artillery Fire.

Artillery cannot force the enemy to retreat by its own destructive action. It is the advance of the infantry alone that is capable of producing this result. To help the infantry to maintain its mobility and offensive power by all the means at its disposal should be the underlying principle of all artillery tactics.—(F.S. Regs., page 14).

The primary objects of artillery fire should therefore be :

—

(1). To assist the movement of its own infantry.

(2). To prevent the movements of the enemy's infantry.

These objects may be furthered by :

—

(1). Inflicting losses on the enemy, and breaking down his moral.

(2). Destroying his materiel and preventing reinforcement.

(3). Reducing the resisting power of fortified localities and rendering them more easy of approach.

It is legitimate, therefore, to use artillery fire for any of these purposes, in so far as they contribute towards the end in view.

ln Defence.—The available artillery is usually distributed

over the entire length of the position. The main considerations

governing this distribution are :

—

(a) Guns must be concealed, both from aircraft and the front.

( Single guns must not be allotted to any portion of a position. Never less than a section (an officer's command). For small tactical duties a section is very frequently allotted.

© Positions should enable guns to be fired up to the very end of the defence.

(d) Gun positions should give full effect to fire from them and should be difficult for the enemy to range upon (i.e., judge distance by gun fire).

(e) They should offer no difficulties to a retirement. (F.S. Regs., page 142).

On Outpost.—Artillery are rarely allotted to an outpost line. If used at all they should command all approaches by day, and be withdrawn well behind outpost line at dusk.

In Rear Guard Actions.—As the main consideration is to delay the pursuit by making the enemy deploy prematurely, artillery are invaluable, and must take more than ordinary risks to achieve this end. They will usually do best work from flank positions.

Escorts. Artillery in Action is defended by the troops near it. If, however, it is detached for any particular purpose, an escort must accompany it. This is best provided by cavalry, or mounted infantry, but if none are available, infantry mustbe detailed. (Half company of mounted infantry or half to one company of infantry is usually sufficient for this duty, unless circumstances demand that the battery be placed in a dangerous position). This escort must not keep too close to the guns, or directly in rear, but should protect them from a flank.

Kinds of Artillery Fire

There are five kinds of artillery fire :—

(1) Frontal Fire.—When the line of fire is perpendicular to the front of target.

(2) Oblique Fire.—When it is inclined to the front of target.

(3) Enfilade Fire.—When it is parallel, or nearly so, to the front of target.

(4) Beverse Fire.—When the rear instead of the front of the target is aimed at.

(5) Indirect Fire.—When the target cannot be seen, and guns are aimed by means of calculations, from map,or by bearings. (Learn carefully pages 14 to 18,F.S. Regulations.)

Road Spaces

Artillery.

A battery of field artillery, consisting of headquarters, 6 guns, 12 ammunition wagons, and 1st line transport occupies the following road space:—6 guns and 12wagons (allowing each 20 yards of road space), 360 yards;

headquarters, 30 yards 1st line transport, 65 yards, makinga total road space of 455 yards for the battery.

In addition to the distance occupied on the march by these three arms, it is necessary to know the road space required

by the following : —

Field Artillery Brigade Ammunition Column, 570 yards

Pace

Infantry march 100 yards per minute, 1 mile in 18 minutes, or 3 miles per hour, including short halts. For all practical purposes, for short distances and at a walk,

it is sufficient to calculate that a force of all arms moves atthe rate of 100 yards per minute.

Mounted troops trot 7 miles per hour, and trot and walk 5 miles per hour.—(F.S.Regs., pages 49—51).

Timing.

In one minute the following numbers pass a given point :—Infantry in fours, 200. Section of cavalry at a walk, 120 ; at a trot, 250. Artillery guns or wagons, 6

vehicles. Therefore, if a body of infantry takes 6 minutes to pass a point, cavalry 4 minutes, and artillery 3 minutes,

Length of March

An average march for a column of all arms is 15 miles a day ; 20 to 30 miles can, however, be done if necessary. A forced march means one prolonged over the

ordinary number of hours per day without long halts