US Army Infantry School - Doughboy Yearbook (Fort Benning, GA)

Page 39 text:

Q fel - e, AUTOMATIC RIFLE SECTION C.xv'I'.x1N R. L. l-l L7N'l'ER,, Chief of Svfiimz IST LIEUT. R. C. S.xNI1EIIs, Ilzslrzzrlm' IST l,lliL'T. C. P. CL'I.I.I-:N, lzzstruclor The methods of obtaining firing data and fire adjustments- technique of tire -are identical for both weapons as are also certain portions of the cart drill. A characteristic of the 37 MM Gun and the Mortar upon which the technique Of fire is based is that the tire of these guns can always be Observed. lnasmuch as best results are obtained by taking full advantage of this characteristic, considerable practice is necessary in obtaining data, opening fire quickly, and adjusting fire by observation. Following this principle, con- siderable field firing is included in the course of instruction for both weapons. The student officers have an opportunity at this time to practice the duties of each member of the gun crews during firing, to observe the functioning of the pieces and secure a working knowledge of their capabilities and limitations from a tactical standpoint. AUTOMATIC RIFLE SECTION In IQI6, the War Department, realizing the necessity of increasing the fire power of assault units, decided to adopt an automatic rifle and a board was appointed for that purpose. In response to a request of this board, the Browning Automatic Ride, model of IQI8, was invented in January 1917, by Mr. John M. Browning, of Ogden, Utah. - The primary mission of the automatic rifle is to increase the Ere power of the assault units-particularly the fire power of the squad. The development of this comparatively enormous fire power is dependent on training in two phases, first, marksmanship ability with the automatic rifle, second, the mechanical knowledge that enables the gunner to keep the automatic ride functioning under combat conditions.

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ONE POUNDER AND LIGHT TMTORTAR SECTION CAPTAIN W. XV. EAGLES, Clzicf of Section IsT LIEUT. H. C. Giuswow, Ilzsirirrior C.xr'rixIN J. L. CONNOLLY, Izzswm-for CAPTAIN I. F. BUTLER, Instructor IST LIEUT. F. G. BRINK, Instructor LIEUT. R. E. PowEI,I., lmlrurioz' IST LIEUT. M. B. DEP,xss, Izzsfrzzrtoz' pany, both for the parade ground zmd for combat. Qdj The drill of the squad and section, and of the platoon and company with transportation. Cej The marksmanship course for machine gun organizations. Qfj The technique of all classes of direct and indirect fire. including anti-aircraft fire. Cgb Extended order formations and the use of ground and cover. thj Barrage organization including the preparation in detail, aIId firing of a barrage of fifty or more guns. Cij Combat practice, involving the training and testing of sections and platoons for field service by means of simple exercises in which tactical situations are presented to the unit under its leader, and the combat efficiency of both demonstrated. Combat practice, introduced in the course for the Hrst time this year is its culminating and perhaps most important feature. The instruction in all phases is based upon the training regulations prepared at the School and therefore represents the latest thought on the subjects. ONE POUNDER AND LIGHT MORTAR SECTION The instruction given at the Infantry School in the 37 MM Gun and tlIe 3-inch Trench Mortar is combined in one course and represents a consolidation of the instruction given at the weapon schools in the United States and Europe during the war, with practices found to give the best results with troops during and since the War. Our present organization requires that a howitzer platoon operate both weapons and that individual members of the platoon be trained as replacements for either gun.

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RIFLE AND RIUSKETRY SECTION C.-xPT.x1N XV. G. L.xYAI.xx, Clzivf of Rifle C.XI'TIXIN 0. M. AIOORE, Iuxfrzzvtor Sertiuu C.xI'T.xIN L. B. GI..xsO0u', IlISfl'IlL'f01' CAPTAIN E. O. SANIILIN, Clzicf of Jlzrskvlry ZND LIEUT. XV. E. CRIST, Insfrzivfoi' Section IST LIEUT. G. F. HERBERT, Ill5fI'1lCf0l' ZND LIEUT. XV. R. BREwsTE1z, Ill.S'fl'lll'l'UI'. IST LIEUT. I. M. XVHAYNE, Irzstriivfoi' IST LIEUT. T. M, McL.xIIoRE, lzzslrzzflur, IST l..IEL'T. P. M. McR.'xE,. Ifzsiruvfoi' IST LIEUT. A. G. :XNDERS-ON, Iizrtrzzvfor Greater stress is laid on the latter consideration at the Infantry School. In other words. regarding the automatic rifle as a gas engine, the student is taught how to operate and care for this engine before Marksmanship is considered. Some Marksmanship ability is presupposed as the student has already completed a course in Ride Marksmanship. Therefore, stress is laid on the mechanics of the weapon, the functioning of its parts, D the methods of care, preservation and inspection and, in general, on the knowledge essential to insuring the unfailing operation of the riHe. Marksmanship, to the extent that time permits, is taught by a course on the range, which begins with the 1000-inch range work and progresses through known distance practice on the A range, and Ends its final application under simulated combat conditions of the B range during the work in Musketry.