
Tactics, Volume 1 (of 2). Introduction and Formal Tactics of Infantry
by W. Balck
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About This Book
The translation of this book was undertaken at the instance of Major John F. Morrison, General Staff, who desired to make use of it in the course in tactics in the Army Service Schools.It is an epitome of the interpretation and application of tactical principles in the various armies, discussed in the light of the tactical views and methods prevailing in Germany, and amplified by numerous examples from military history.The professional value of this book to all officers of our Regular Army and Militia who are endeavoring to gain a working knowledge of tactics, is so obvious that any comment wo...
Chapters (662)
- TACTICS Volume I--Introduction and Formal Tactics of Infantry
- TRANSLATOR’S PREFACE.
- PREFACE.
- CONTENTS.
- ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THIS TRANSLATION.
- INTRODUCTION.
- 1. WAR.
- 2. STRATEGY AND TACTICS.
- 3. THE METHOD OF INSTRUCTION.
- 4. DRILL REGULATIONS.
- THE FORMAL TACTICS OF INFANTRY.
- I. ORGANIZATION AND EQUIPMENT.
- 1. THE IMPORTANCE AND EMPLOYMENT OF INFANTRY.
- 2. THE TACTICAL UNIT.
- 3. ORGANIZATION.
- 4. INTRENCHING TOOL EQUIPMENT.
- 5. THE LOAD OF THE INFANTRYMAN.
- II. THE FORMATIONS.
- 1. THE ISSUE OF ORDERS.
- 2. THE PURPOSE OF FORMATIONS. COMPARISON BETWEEN LINE AND COLUMN.
- 3. THE COMPANY.
- 4. LENGTH OF PACE AND MARCHING.
- 5. MOVEMENTS OF THE COMPANY IN LINE.
- 6. THE COLUMNS OF THE COMPANY; MOVEMENTS IN COLUMN; FORMATION OF LINE.
- 7. THE BATTALION.
- 8. THE REGIMENT AND THE BRIGADE.
- 9. EXTENDED ORDER.
- 10. SUPPORTS. (Pars. 222-228 and 341 German I. D. R.).
- 11. COMPARISON BETWEEN CLOSE AND EXTENDED ORDER.
- III. THE POWER OF FIREARMS AND EXPEDIENTS FOR MINIMIZING LOSSES.
- A. THE POWER OF FIELD ARTILLERY.
- 2. THE LIGHT FIELD HOWITZER.
- 3. THE HEAVY FIELD HOWITZER.
- 4. EXPEDIENTS FOR MINIMIZING THE EFFECT OF FIRE.
- 5. THE RESULTS OBTAINED BY ARTILLERY AGAINST VARIOUS TARGETS.
- B. INFANTRY FIRE.
- 2. THE EFFECT OF “S” BULLETS ON MATERIALS.
- IV. THE EMPLOYMENT OF INFANTRY FIRE.
- 1. FIRE DISCIPLINE.
- 2. FIRE CONTROL AND FIRE DIRECTION.
- 3. SELECTION OF THE LINE TO BE OCCUPIED.
- 4. THE STRENGTH OF THE FIRING LINE.
- 5. ASCERTAINING RANGES. (Pars. 78-98, 190 and 191 German I. F. R.).
- 6. SELECTION OF A TARGET AND TIME FOR OPENING FIRE.
- 7. PAUSES IN THE FIRE.
- 8. KINDS OF FIRE.
- 9. REAR SIGHT ELEVATIONS AND POINTS OF AIM.
- 10. COMMANDS.
- 11. THE OBSERVATION OF THE FIRE.
- 12. THE EFFECT OF FIRE.
- 13. LOSSES IN ACTION.
- 14. THE MORAL EFFECT OF FIRE.
- V. DEPLOYMENTS FOR ACTION.
- 1. NORMAL PROCEDURE.
- 2. CONCENTRATION, DEVELOPMENT, AND DEPLOYMENT FOR ACTION.
- 3. THE BATTALION, THE REGIMENT, AND THE BRIGADE.
- 4. DISTRIBUTION IN DEPTH AND FRONTAGE OF COMBAT FORMATIONS.
- 5. COMBAT ORDERS.
- 6. COMMUNICATION ON THE BATTLEFIELD.
- 7. LOCAL RECONNAISSANCE OF THE INFANTRY. (Pars. 305, 319, 355, 363 and 376 German I. D. R.).
- 8. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE TERRAIN.
- VI. MACHINE GUNS.
- 1. DEVELOPMENT OF THE ARM.
- 2. THE POWER OF MACHINE GUNS.
- 3. INFANTRY VERSUS MACHINE GUNS.
- 4. MACHINE GUNS IN GERMANY.
- 5. GOING INTO POSITION.
- 6. THE FIRE FIGHT.
- 7. MACHINE GUNS IN OTHER COUNTRIES.
- 8. THE EMPLOYMENT OF MACHINE GUN BATTERIES.
- VII. INFANTRY VERSUS CAVALRY. (Par. 451 German I. D. R.).
- The Charge of the French Cuirassiers of the Guard at Vionville.
- Provisions of Various Regulations.
- VIII. INFANTRY VERSUS ARTILLERY.
- 1. THE PASSAGE OF INFANTRY THROUGH ARTILLERY LINES.
- 2. THE ADVANCE UNDER ARTILLERY FIRE.
- 3. FIRING ON ARTILLERY IN POSITION
- IX. THE ATTACK.
- 1. THE SURPRISE.
- 2. THE RENCONTRE. (Pars. 315-317 and 352-361 German I. D. R.).
- X. THE ATTACK ON AN ENEMY DEPLOYED FOR DEFENSE.
- 1. LESSONS OF WAR.
- 2. THE CONDITIONS UPON WHICH SUCCESS DEPENDS.
- 3. PREPARATION OF THE ATTACK.
- 4. THE COÖPERATION OF INFANTRY AND ARTILLERY IN BATTLE.
- 5. THE POINT OF ATTACK.
- 6. ENVELOPMENT. (Pars. 392-396 German I. D. R.).
- 7. REMOVAL OF PACKS.
- 8. THE EMPLOYMENT OF MACHINE GUNS.
- 9. THE CONDUCT OF THE ATTACK.
- 10. THE ASSAULT.
- 11. THE USE OF THE SPADE IN ATTACK. (Pars. 157, 313, 339, 380 and 381 German I. D. R.).
- 12. THE EMPLOYMENT OF RESERVES. (Pars. 294, 295, 366, 388, 393, 427 and 436 German I. D. R.).
- 13. THE CONDUCT OF THE LEADERS IN ACTION.
- 14. UNITED ACTION VERSUS TACTICAL MISSIONS.
- XI. THE DEFENSE.
- 1. THE PASSIVE DEFENSE
- 2. THE DEFENSE SEEKING A DECISION.
- 3. FORTIFYING THE POSITION.
- 4. THE CONDUCT OF THE DEFENSE.
- 5. THE COUNTER-ATTACK.
- XII. THE RETREAT. (Par. 426 German I. D. R.).
- XIII. CONTAINING ACTIONS.
- THE DELAYING ACTION AND THE HOLDING ATTACK.
- XIV. THE INFANTRY COMBAT ACCORDING TO VARIOUS DRILL REGULATIONS.
- THE AUSTRIAN DRILL REGULATIONS OF 1903.
- THE FRENCH DRILL REGULATIONS OF 1904.
- THE BRITISH DRILL REGULATIONS OF 1905.
- THE JAPANESE DRILL REGULATIONS OF 1907.
- THE RUSSIAN DRILL REGULATIONS OF 1907.
- THE SWISS DRILL REGULATIONS OF 1908.
- XV. THE EXPENDITURE AND SUPPLY OF AMMUNITION.
- 1. HISTORICAL SKETCH.
- 2. REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE SUPPLY OF AMMUNITION IN THE VARIOUS ARMIES.
- 3. WHAT DEDUCTIONS MAY BE MADE FROM THE REGULATIONS OF THE VARIOUS ARMIES.
- INDEX.
- INDEX OF EXAMPLES FROM MILITARY HISTORY.
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