Preparing For Battle: Learning Lessons In The US Army During World War I by Lieutenant Commander Glen T. Cullen

Author:Lieutenant Commander Glen T. Cullen [Cullen, Lieutenant Commander Glen T.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: History, Military, World War I, Europe, Great Britain, General, Germany, France
ISBN: 9781782897835
Google: gJlvCwAAQBAJ
Publisher: Pickle Partners Publishing
Published: 2014-08-15T05:01:58+00:00

Doctrinal Publications

If an Army officer only read professional journals of the time, he could surmise that cavalry does not play an important role in siege warfare, motor transport had significant tactical advantages, machine guns were highly effective, aircraft played an increasingly important role, and the rolling barrage proved successful supporting advancing infantry. But the War Department had its own vision for fighting a modern war which was delineated in its doctrinal publications.

How did the Army’s doctrinal publications address these issues? The Field Service Regulations (FSR) published in 1918 devoted significant attention to the traditional employment of cavalry--”by using the cavalry as a mass to engage and defeat the enemy’s cavalry.” {105} This is not surprising since many officers considered cavalry operations appropriate for potential conflict in the United States. Cavalry was still considered the branch of choice for reconnaissance. “Reconnaissance in the theater of operation is best made by the cavalry” {106} according to the FSR. The FSR also supported reconnaissance by aero squadrons “to discover turning and enveloping movements, the position and strength of the enemy’s reserve, artillery positions and movement of cavalry” {107} in addition to identifying key terrain features and the movement of combat or field trains in the enemy’s rear. Movement in the rear was important to commanders because it could indicate the reinforcement of weak or strong points or even retreat. The FSR briefly hinted at a counter-air mission by the statement that airplanes could be used to “prevent hostile aerial reconnaissance” though no further discussion of offensive operations was warranted. {108} Despite the preference for cavalry, aircraft possessed advantages over cavalry. Aircraft clearly had the edge in speed, surveillance radius, and the ability look deep into the enemy’s rear. Remarkably, despite the advances in aircraft technology and recommendations by observers the FSR and the Drill Regulations for Signal Troops (.DRST) (aircraft were assigned to the Signal Corps) did not address offensive employment of aircraft in a fighter, pursuit, or bomber role.

Another noteworthy omission was the use of motor transport. Though the advantages of increased mobility and decreased support were documented by exercises conducted by the US Army and experience in Mexico during the Punitive Expedition, the FSR, Infantry Drill Regulations (IDR), and the Drill and Service Regulations for Field Artillery (DSRFA) did not mention the tactical employment of motor transport. In fact, the majority of information contained in the FSR, IDR, and DSRFA concerned procedures for the drilling and handling horses. Only the DRST mentioned motor vehicles but the discussion was limited to instruction on its care and operation.

The FSR and IDR did not sufficiently discern the employment of the machine gun. The Army was concerned that counter fire from enemy artillery made machine guns too vulnerable. Accordingly, machine guns were therefore best employed for short periods to gain the element of surprise. The IDR further stipulated that machine guns should not commence fire until the infantry attack was under way and that machine guns should not be assigned to the firing line so that “fire directed against (machine guns) is not likely to fall upon the firing line.

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