‘Employment of the Gruppe in surprise fire’

General - Lmg gunners & Schützen cannot conduct a fire fight over a long period of time. An effort should always be made, therefore, so that they may go into position & fire without being discovered.

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Victory comes to the one who fires the largest number of well-aimed shots against his enemy in the shortest time.

After an action of brief duration or as soon as the purpose of the fire is attained, the lmg & Schützen take cover. If necessary, they move to another position.

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These changes in position must be made under cover; otherwise they will be worthless. Fire pauses should be utilised for improving the position.

If the terrain permits or the Schützen have dug in, the opening of fire is always prepared under cover.

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Not until then do the Schützen & lmg gunners go into position for fire by surprise. Every moment which is not used to good advantage weakens the fighting power of the unit.

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The conduct of a surprise fire attack is divided into preparation & execution. The initial preparation includes all activities which may be conducted under cover (e.g. designation of targets, sight setting, distribution of extra ammunition etc).

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The execution includes the occupation of positions & actual firing.

The amount of ammo to be used in rapid fire may be ordered if it can be foreseen that the amount prescribed is adequate to attain fire superiority or to accomplish the object of the firing.

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When a lmg fires through a gap in the line, it should be located behind the centre of the gap & the distance from the gun to the gap should be less than the width of the gap.

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Overhead fire with the rifle & lmg is undertaken only when the weapons are located on high ground immediately above the troops over which the firing is directed.

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The employment of rifle fire must always be determined by the terrain & situation.

Using Schützen in surprise fire, the Gruppenführer from a covered position points out the targets to them before the beginning of the fire & indicates the range & the target.

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At the commands ‘Stellung’ (‘Positions’), ‘Feuer frei’ (‘Fire at will’) the Schützen move to the firing position, thrust rifles forward, push safety to the ‘off’ position & open fire.

Easily recognisable targets may be pointed out under cover.

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If it is not possible to designate the target while the men are under cover, the Gruppenführer first lets them occupy their firing positions & then designates the target.

Fire may be opened by arm signal, a command or whistle.

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During pauses in the firing, every Schütze & lmg gunner must inspect independently his weapon & ammo.

By questioning his men, the Gruppenführer finds out the amount of ammo on hand.

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Source

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