Battalion Drill Raymond Rammeloo 16 March 2019 Battalion

Battalion Drill Raymond Rammeloo 16 March 2019

Battalion Drill for Infantry • W. J. Hardee: Rifle and Light Infantry Tactics, 1855 • Title Fourth: School of the Battalion is the same for all later editions • Free text on Google Books Volume I & Volume II • For infantry = BIBLE • For horse troops = knowledge of strength/weakness of infantry • For foot artillery = basic drill as infantry

Today’s topics 1. 2. 3. Structure of Hardee’s Infantry Tactics The basic formations of a battalion Selected movements between these basic formations Questions and (short) discussions welcome.

Structure of Hardee’s Infantry Tactics 1. 2. 3. 4. Formation & Instruction of a Battalion School of the Soldier [So. S] School of the Company [So. C] Instruction for Skirmishers School of the Battalion [So. B] Volume II What is Hardee’s? A handbook on how to teach soldiers how to fight as an infantry battalion. Written for the instructor. Based on centuries of experience.

Basic formations CLOSE ORDER in line in column by the flank (moving only) SKIRMISH ORDER in line in column (the reserve only) by the flank (firing & moving) Today’s focus is on changing formation in close order. Note: position of Officers/NCOs often different in same formation when at a halt, marching or firing.

Formation of a company in line • Example = a functional small company Captain + 1 st Sergeant + 2 nd Sergeant + 16 Men In the manoeuvres: “Right guide” • Guide = Captain In the manoeuvres: “Left guide”

Formation of a battalion in line • Example = functional small battalion 4 Companies (with small Color Guard) + Colonel + Adjutant + Sergeant-Major 4 th company 3 rd company 2 nd company SM 1 st company A 8 paces ≤ 30 paces • Guide = color-bearer So. S no. 38: no color guard if < 5 companies.

Formation of a “full” battalion in line 4 th company 3 rd company 2 nd company 1 st company 12 paces SM ≤ 30 paces 3 paces A 8 paces

Formation of a company in column • Difference from line? Positions of Captain + Sergeants 2 paces • Guide = Sergeant on left or right

“Column of companies at full distance right in front” Formation of a battalion in column • Differerent with line? → Position of Captains + Sergeants ? ? 3 rd company 2 nd company A SM 4 th company 15 -20 paces 6 paces 1 st company • Guide = Sergeant of company at head of column (left or right)

Movements between basic formations • LINE ↔ COLUMN • LINE→ flank → COLUMN & • LINE ↔ flank • COLUMN → flank → COLUMN • LINE → flank → LINE COLUMN → flank → LINE • March by the flank is an intermediate manoeuvre only.

LINE → COLUMN • From: • To: battalion in line of battle column of companies at full distance, right in front • Hardee’s So. B no. 68 and following • Note: from a halt and to a halt • Many other options for columns: • distance (full, half, closed in mass), • width (by division, company, platoon) and • directions (on any company, front, rear, by inversion).

LINE → COLUMN of companies at full distance, right in front Commands Colonel: Captains: By company, right wheel (caution companies to wheel to the right) MARCH <Such> company – HALT Left – DRESS FRONT

LINE → COLUMN of companies at full distance, right in front Step 1 – Colonel: By company, right wheel • Captain moves to front of his company • Captain cautions his company to wheel to the right • First Sergeant takes his place SM By company, right wheel A

LINE → COLUMN of companies at full distance, right in front Step 1 – Colonel: By company, right wheel SM right wheel A

LINE → COLUMN of companies at full distance, right in front Step 2 – Colonel: MARCH • Company breaks to the right as per So. C no. 173 • Right front rank man faces to the right • Captain move beyond left flank end point • Company wheels on fixed pivot SM A MARCH

LINE → COLUMN of companies at full distance, right in front Step 2 – Colonel: MARCH SM A

LINE → COLUMN of companies at full distance, right in front Step 3 – Captains: <Such> company – HALT Third company HALT Fourth company HALT Second company HALT First company HALT 3 paces SM 3 paces A

LINE → COLUMN of companies at full distance, right in front Step 3 – Captains: <Such> company – HALT • Left guide advances to Captain & Captain aligns him on the right man • Right guide aligns on right man SM A

LINE → COLUMN of companies at full distance, right in front Step 4 – Captains: Left – DRESS SM A

LINE → COLUMN of companies at full distance, right in front Step 4 – Captains: Left – DRESS SM A

LINE → COLUMN of companies at full distance, right in front Step 5 – Captains: FRONT SM FRONT A

LINE → COLUMN of companies at full distance, right in front Step 5 – Captains: FRONT A SM

LINE → COLUMN of companies at full distance, right in front Result – A column of companies at full distance, right in front A SM • “the guides not in the direction will readily come into it when the column is put in march” (So. B no. 73)

COLUMN → LINE • From: • To: column of companies at full distance, right in front battalion in line of battle, to the left • Hardee’s So. B no. 390 and following • Note: from a halt and to a halt • Other options to form a line, facing in different directions relative to the column: on the right, forward, faced to the rear.

COLUMN → left into LINE Commands Colonel: Left into line, wheel MARCH => Captains: <Such> company – HALT Right – DRESS FRONT Colonel: Guides - POSTS MARCH

COLUMN → left into LINE Step 1 – Colonel: Left into line, wheel • Right guide of First Company takes post on the alignment, assured by Lt. Colonel (or Adjutant) Left into line, 4 th company 3 rd company 15 -20 paces A SM wheel 2 nd company 1 st company 6 paces

COLUMN → left into LINE Step 1 – Colonel: Left into line, wheel A SM

COLUMN → left into LINE Step 2 – Colonel: MARCH => Captains: MARCH • Left front rank man faces to the left, touching left guide • Company wheels to the left as per So. C no. 239 • Captains turn to observe A SM MARCH MARCH

COLUMN → left into LINE Step 2 – Colonel: MARCH => Captains: MARCH A SM

COLUMN → left into LINE Step 2 – Colonel: MARCH => Captains: MARCH A SM

COLUMN → left into LINE Step 3 – Captains: <Such> company – HALT Fourth company HALT Second company HALT SM First company HALT A Third company HALT 3 paces

COLUMN → left into LINE Step 3 – Captains: <Such> company – HALT • Captains align on the left front rank man of the company on their right • Captain of first company remains in place A SM

COLUMN → left into LINE Step 4 – Captains: Right – DRESS • Companies dress up between their Captain and left front rank man • First company dresses in man opposite right guide Right – DRESS A SM Right – DRESS

COLUMN → left into LINE Step 4 – Captains: Right – DRESS A SM

COLUMN → left into LINE Step 5 – Captains: FRONT A SM FRONT

COLUMN → left into LINE Step 5 – Captains: FRONT • Correct alignment: Colonel, Adjutant, Sergeant-Major return to their places in line SM A

COLUMN → left into LINE Step 6 – Colonel: Guides – POSTS • Guides return to their places in line • Captains and First Sergeants momentarily make space for this SM A Guides - POSTS

COLUMN → left into LINE Step 6 – Colonel: Guides – POSTS SM A

COLUMN → left into LINE Step 6 – Colonel: Guides – POSTS SM A

COLUMN → left into LINE Step 6 – Colonel: Guides – POSTS SM A

Summary LINE ↔ COLUMN • Colonel commands the change of formation • By company, left wheel • Left into line, wheel • Change of formation by wheeling by company from a halt • Pivot of the wheel is the man who faced left or right • Captains halt and align their companies • Sergeant (left or right guide) = basis in column • Captain = basis in line • Into line only: Colonel adds “Guides – POSTS”

LINE ↔ flank • March by the flank = parallel to front • Companies are arranged in battalion in LINE or COLUMN • Men in each company are arranged in rank & file = “in line” • Manoeuvring by the flank • for a company = always “from line” • for a battalion = from either LINE or COLUMN

Formation of a company in line • Ranks front and rear • Files numbered one, two • Every man = front/rear + one/two (F 1, F 2, R 1, R 2) F 2 F 1 R 2 R 1 • Instructor: “Count - TWOS”

LINE → by the right flank • So. C no. 135 & So. S no. 325 • Instructor: Company, right – FACE • Front rank: face to the right, then double • Rear rank: face and side step to the right, then double • Captain steps out & First Sergeant replaces him • File closers side step to 2 paces from rear of company

LINE → by the right flank • Front rank: face to the right, . . . • Rear rank: face and side step to the right, . . . F 2 F 1 R 2 R 1

LINE → by the right flank • Front rank: • Rear rank: . . . , then double F 2 F 1 R 2 R 1

LINE → by the right flank • File closers side step to 2 paces from rear of company F 1 F 2 R 1 R 2 R 2 R 1 F 2 F 1 2 paces

Formation of a company by the right flank F 1 F 2 R 1 R 2 R 2 R 1 F 2 F 1 2 paces • Guide = First Sergeant • File leaders preserves their distance and follow in path of guide

Formation of a battalion by the right flank • Last Sergeant covers Captains in file • Sergeant-Majors takes step from Adjutant, who takes step from leading First Sergeant ? A SM 6 paces

LINE → flank • From: • To: battalion in line of battle battalion by the right flank • Hardee’s So. B no. 722 → So. C no. 136 → So. S no. 352 (single rank) • Example of principles working through the Tactics • Note: from a halt and to a halt • One option: by the left flank

LINE → by the right flank Commands Colonel: Battalion. Right – FACE • Movement = same as for a company + Staff takes positions

flank→ LINE • From: • To: battalion by the right flank battalion in line of battle • Hardee’s So. B no. 732 → So. C no. 146 → So. S no. 360 (single rank) • Note: from a halt and to a halt • Options: left right forward FRONT on the right, by file into line by company into line

by the right flank → LINE Commands Colonel: FRONT Movements same as for a company + Staff takes positions in line.

by the right flank → LINE Instructor: FRONT F 1 F 1 F 2 F 2 R 1 R 1 R 2 R 2

by the right flank → LINE • Each man fronts by facing to the left. . . • . . . at the same time, the doubled men quickly move into their places F 2 F 1 R 2 R 1

by the right flank → LINE • Next, rear rank closes to its proper distance • Captain + Sergeants return to their places in line F 2 F 1 R 2 R 1

by the right flank • From: • To: → COLUMN battalion by the right flank column of companies at full distance, right in front • Hardee’s So. B suggested in Article Ninth (to pass a defile) & as lesson with no. 722 → So. C no. 153 • Note: in marching

by the right flank → COLUMN of companies at full distance • From this. . . A SM

by the right flank → COLUMN of companies at full distance • . . . to this! A SM

by the right flank → COLUMN of companies at full distance Commands Colonel: By companies, into line – MARCH Guide left • Example = one single company Captain: By company, into line – MARCH Guide left

by the right flank → COLUMN of one single company • Step 1 – Captain: By company, into line – MARCH • Captain faces his company & First Sergeant marches straight F 1 F 1 F 2 F 2 R 1 R 1 R 2 R 2 By company, into line – MARCH

by the right flank → COLUMN of one company • Men take double quick to take their places in line • Rear rank follows front rank F 1 F 1 F 2 F 2 R 1 R 1 R 2 R 2

by the right flank → COLUMN of one company • Men take double quick to take their places in line • Rear rank follows front rank F 1 F 2 R 1 R 1 R 2 R 2 R 1 R 2 F 1 F 1 F 2

by the right flank → COLUMN of one company • Men take double quick to take their places in line • Rear rank follows front rank • All take the step from the First Sergeant & eyes front F 2 F 1 F 2 R 1 R 2 F 1 R 2 R 1

by the right flank → COLUMN of one company F 1 R 1 F 2 F 2 F 1 R 2 R 1

by the right flank → COLUMN of one company F 1 F 2 F 1 R 2 R 1 F 2 R 2 R 1 F 1 R 2 F 2 R 1 F 1

by the right flank → COLUMN of one company F 2 F 1 R 2 R 1 F 1 R 2 F 2 R 1 F 1

by the right flank → COLUMN of one company R 2 F 2 R 1 F 1 • Step 2 – Captain: Guide left • As soon as the companies are formed • Captain takes his position before the center Guide left

by the right flank → COLUMN of one company F 2 R 1 F 1 R 2 F 2 R 1 F 1 • Note: basis of alignment = right, until company is formed. Second Sergeant takes place and takes over guiding upon command. R 2 • Step 2 – Captain: Guide left • As soon as the companies are formed • Captains before the center

by the right flank → COLUMN of companies at full distance • Result = a column of companies at full distance, right in front A SM

LINE → flank → COLUMN → LINE • From: • Via: • To: battalion in line of battle battalion by the right flank column of companies right in front battalion in line of battle • What are the commands? • Note: If doing the above movements at a halt, companies of different sizes collide. Why?

Summary • Structure of Hardee’s Tactics • Basic formations: line, column, by the flank • Selected manoeuvres between basic formations • • • LINE → COLUMN: COLUMN → LINE: LINE → flank: flank → LINE: flank → COLUMN: By company, right wheel – MARCH Left into line, wheel – MARCH Battalion, right – FACE FRONT By companies, into line – MARCH

Extra material • “Full” company in line • Formation of a company by the left flank

Formation of a “full” company in line Captain + 3 Lieutenants + 5 Sergeants + 4 Corporals + 28 Men 2 nd platoon 1 st platoon 3 rd section 4 th section 2 nd section 1 st section 13 inches 2 paces 2 nd 3 rd 4 rd 3 rd 5 th

Formation of a company by the left flank • From a company in line • Instructor: Company, left - FACE F 2 F 1 R 2 R 1

Formation of a company by the left flank F 2 F 1 R 2 R 1 • Step 1 – Each man faces to the left • Rear rank also side steps to the left with the facing • Captain steps out & First Sergeant replaces him

Formation of a company by the left flank F 1 R 2 R 1 F 2 F 2 R 1 F 1 R 2 R 1 F 2 • Step 2 – Numbers 1 double on numbers 2 in front of them • Second Sergeant leads with Captain on his right