368 Mobility in Modern ATmies

Transcription

1 367 18~itoria(. MOBILITY IN MODERN ARMIES. SEVERAL very interesting papers on this subject have recently appeared in the Army Quarterly, Fighting Forces, the B.A.S.o. Journal and other periodicals. Military writers emphasize that the aim of modern generalship is liberty of action, which is secured by three great tactical forcesthe power to hit, to guard, and to move. Railways are a great help strategically, but cannot assist much in the actual deployment on the field of battle. The distinguishing feature of the late war was the petrol engine: at the commencement of hostilities we had 200 petrol-driven vehicles and at the Armistice 118,000. One of the first efforts at mechanicaiization was when General Gallieni used 4,000 taxi-cabs to convey troops in support of General Manoury's sixth army, and motor-buses conveying troops were common features behind our lines in France. Motor-lorries were also used for the conveyance of shells, stores, etc., and tractors were employed to move heavy guns. At present, however, soldiers appear to be thinking of a mechanicalized force composed of infantry, artillery and tanks. The French are developing lilechanicalization: one of their ideas is to form a division legere automobile. Certain cavalry divisions ha~e been converted into light mechanical divisions consisting of cavalry, artillery and infantry carried in motorlorries, and armoured cars. On the outbreak of hostilities the light divisions will move forward as advanced guards; the main body of troops in the rear will be carried in lorries which will be guarded by flank guards of cross-country machines, tanks or tracked armoured cars., If the mechanicalized light divisions can penetrate the enemy's front to a depth of 100 miles within a few hours of the declaration of war, it is thought that mobilization of the enemy forces will be seriously affected.,the light divisions will have to live on the enemy country until their own more slowly mobilizing infantry can close up behind them. They will have to be ready to move at a moment's notice and administrative units will be convoyed by mechanicalized troops. It is also considered possible that a rapidly moving mechanicalized, force might prove of great assistance during enemy air rtljds by capturing the ground organization of an air force before this had succeeded in destroying the moral of civilians in the administrative centre of the country raided. It is calculated that the mobility of an air force is from 150 to 300 miles according to the machines employed, but if its ground organization has to be moved in lorries under war conditions the daily

2 368 Mobility in Modern ATmies increase in range of the force may be limited to 100 or even 50 miles. It is unlikely that an ordinary infantry force could prevent an enemy air force from effecting its object of destroying the moral of the civil government: a mechanicalized force might save the situation. ' A few blow holes or broken bridges would stop a force carried in ordinary lorries; moreover, a mechanicalized force confined to roads is very vulnerable to air attacks. The road thus becomes the governing factor of mobility and mui!lt be dispensed with by the use of tracked or cross-country vehicles. Tracked machines' have already accomplished journeys of over 3,000 miles across country at 3n average speed of 130 miles a day. The 3-ton lorry with solid tyres can only be used on roads but a 30-cwt. lorry with giant pneumatic tyres can get over difficult ground which is quite impracticable for machines with solid tyres. The drawback to the giant pneumatic is its first cost, but its service compensates for the increased expenditure. In 1925 demonstrations were given at Aldershot of a Hathi tractor, a Renault six-wheeled 30-cwt. subsidy type of lorry, a 15-cwt. tender, and a water-tank (160 gallons) trailer. The Hathi tractor can cross uneven ground and negotiate a ditch; the Renault lorry can travel on roads at rates varying from 2'4 to 13'4 miles per hour, and across country at 2'4 to 8 miles per hour.,the 15-cwt. tender is typical of the smaller road carrier required for goods or ambulance purposes. The 160-gallon water-tank trailer IS intended to supply water for troops carried on mechanicalized units.. It is fitted with a pump for filling the tank from any available stream, also with a clarifier. The water is drawn off from taps at the rear of the trailer, and can be sterilized by' treatment with chlorine or chloramines. In the manoouvres last year the mobile force of the Wessex Commander, owing to its composition, did not attain the mobility which the directing' staff anticipated. It is now clear that horses must be eliminated from a mechanicalized column: this necessitates mechanicalization of first-line transport. Troops must be carried in homogeneous and efficient vehicles, and careful reconnaissance of all country and available roads must be made not only by commanders,but also by R.A.S.C. officers well versed in the inherent difficulties of mechanical transport. A mechanicalized or tractor-drawn unit cannot be used unceasingly. '1'he crews of the vehicles are human, and the strain of driving is often greater than that of marching, and troops carried in motor-waggons may be almost as much exhausted from the combined effects of cold and petrol fumes as if they had marched. In his speech on March 15, 1926, when introducing the Army Estimates, the Secretary of State for War said that the future of mechanicalization was full of difficulties which must be gradually studied before any definite policy could be reached. Horses must be eliminated from mechanicalized columns. Until a

3 Mobility in ModeTn A.Tmies 369 satisfactory type of machine could be evolved which had commercial possibilities the cost of mechanicalizing large forces would certainly prove prohibitive. There was no vehicle in general commercial use which met army requirements. This point has been stressed by many writers on mechanicalizatlon. The replacement of man and animal by a machine is sound in land warfare, but it is upon the proportion of the replacement that opinions differ. The knotty problem is how far we should carry the process of mechanicalization. We must be able to apply the equipment of our daily, life to the necessities of war. The tracked vehicle is not a commercial implement at present, but such a vehicle would be very useful in our colonies where roads are few. We can also imagine that at home a lorry which could go straight to the crops over any kind of ground and deliver direct to the retailer or consumer would save both time and money. When a force is completeiy mechanicaltzed the difficulties mentioned by Major Ritchie's correspondent do not arise. The idea is to have vehicles of as uniform type as possible, so as to maintain a regular pace without strain on' the machines. The mechanicalized columns will have to be self-maintained for varying periods and uniformity of type is essential, as the carriage of spare parts must be reduced to a minimum. When motor transport of the ordinary type used in the late war is associated with marching columns difficulties as regards pace must arise, but it seems not unlikely that a motor vehicle capable of proceeding at two to three miles per hour without undue strain on the engine will soon be available., In any case the type selected will have to be one employed in civil life and for which large manufacturing centres already exist. A mechanicalized force confined to roads is an impossibility under conditions of modern warfare and cross-country vehicles are absolutely essential. ' During the 1st Divisional Exercises carried out in August, a trial was made with the Morris six-wheeled motor lorry and with larger lorries on the Kegresse (semi-track) principle ; both vehicles did well and negotiated deep mud. The six-wheeled vehicle was more comfortable for the troops,did not destroy the road surface so much and when not tracked was quicker on the roads. The rate of movement of the infantry was increased by taking.6 to 7 'lb.; off the man and transferring this load' to the fast-moving mechatiicalized, vehicles. " Embussing" infantry was found more suitable for strategical than for tactical movements. The chief difficulty was the carriage of horses and mules without which infantry at present cannot function in the field. For tactical purposes, if infantry are moved in motor vehicles it appears essential to mechanicalize completely the first line of transport. ' While infantry continue to march, the' tendency seems to be ~owards the provision of mechanicalized cross-country vehicles for (1) machine gum;, and u '

4 370 Mobility in Modern Armies (2) for the Lewis guns used fo~ anti-aircraft work, aud also to make use of a mobile vehicle for divisional and brigade headquarters and for report centres. Whether they have mechanicalized vehicles at their disposal or not, brigade, battalion and even company commanders still seem to regard horses as essential for cross-country reconnoitring. Mechanicalized vehicles can bring the machine guns of a brigade or a unit to a certain rendezvous,but the best positions for the guns can be most quickly discovered by mounted officers. In September, tests were carried out at Weaver's Down, near Liphook, with a number of the Morris six-wheeled motor lorries, which were used in the Aldershot Divisional Exercises. On arrival at Weaver's Down the vehicles were fitted with the adjustable metal tracks, which couple the two pairs of rear driving wheels, and were then tested on gradients of from 1-3 to 1-2'2, and on surfaces varying from loose sand to heather. The ascents and descents were made successfully, and bog land and soft sandy patches on the fiat were negotiated without help. For ditches, light collapsible wheel-track bridges, carried on the lorries, were used, and these obstacles were crossed without much difficulty. On October 12, a further demonstration was given by the experimental branch of the R.A.S.C., with a column of six-wheelers over broken ground to the east of Chobham ridges and across the manceuvre area that stretches between the Basingstoke Canal, east of Frimley and the N ormandy Pirbright road. Over heather the column climbed gradients of 1 in 3i, took hairpin bends on a loose surface of sand, turned corners on a slope that tilted the lorry 30 to 35 degrees out of the perpendicular, and trundled through marsh and bog. In the column there were twelve Morris sixwheeled light lorries, a Morris six-wheeled motor car, two Thornycroft medium six-wheelers and a Guy and a Rarrier of similar type. All the lorries are capable of carrying three tons on the road and two tons across country. The Morris six-wheeler lorry is now being produced commercially for sale in the Dominions and at home; it can average thirty miles per hour on the road and slow down to the pace of infantry. The Morris sixwheeled motor car has been designed to serve the G.O.C. of a division 01' corps for reconnaissance, and as it travelled wherever a horse might go, it seems likely that it may combine the duties now distributed over a car and a charger. Looking into the future one may' see :- (1) A completely mechanicalizedstriking division making. a dash into enemy country for a specific purpose, but as the division advances there may be enemy forts left unreduced, or centres existing from which enemy forces may raid the country between the attacking division and the main force mobilizing more slowly in its rear. In these circumstances wounded men will have to be left under the Red Cross or be taken with the advancing division and then seiit back to the main army by aeroplane or in convoys, guarded by mechanicalized troops, as opportunity offers.

5 Mobility in Modern Armies 371 (2) A large army with its transport ~Ultably mechanicalized for cross country work. Such a force would be able to move away from roads; but would require expert drivers with a knowledge of map reading and an eye for country. From the medical point of view it would be essential to secure a vehicle in which wounded could be carried in comfort and a type such as the six-wheeled vehicle bas been suggested as likely to meet medical requirements. The drivers of the R.A.M.C. vehicles would have to be trained by the R.A.S.C., but on the outbreak of war they should be handed over to the D.M.S. for employment as rf~quired with medical units. Light front line repairs could be carried out by these trained men, and each field ambulance and motor ambulance convoy would probably be provided with a repair wagon carrying the necessary outfit. In the circulllstances we have visualized there would be no place for the ordinary car and doctor-driver, except possibly at bases and on the lines of communications. Beyond railhead special transport and highlytrained drivers would be required. The special medical problems in front of railhead associated. with a mechanicalized army require to be thought out, and some assistance is givenby the experiences in the advance to.victory during the late war. It was then noted that C.C.S.s were much further back than in previous battles, and this difficulty was accentuated by the rapidity of the advance, which is likely to be even more marked when an army is mechanicalized and the fighting troops carry less weight. During the advance ambulance trains ran with less regularity, and at times there were long gaps between the more advanced medical units and the nearest railhead. The railheads did not advance as rapidly as the troops, and the question arose whether it was best to push C.C.S.s in advance of railheads and have two stages of road transport through C.C.S.s to railheads, or to retain the C.C.S.s at railheads only and bring the wounded back by one long road journey on cars. "As a rule the latter alternative was adopted, but in that case advanced operating centres were established either in field ambulances or in advanced C.C.S.s for urgent cases and for those unfit for long road transport." 'fhe care of wounded enemy prisoners, and possibly the medical charge of sick civilians in towns and villages, had also to be considered when estimating the medical requirements. C.C.S.s were sometimes allotted for the care of civilians alone. During the advance to victory damage to roads prevented the motor ambulance convoys from working rapidly and uninterruptedly, but it is probable that tbe convoys when mecbanicalized would be able to move more freely. T.be carriage of severely wounded men in motor vehicles across country is not to be lightly contemplated, but tbis would probably be for only comparatively short distances where roads were destroyed. Following on tbe advance of tbe 2nd Army beyond Messines and the Paschendale ridges there was a wide area of devastation between the divisions of the Army and the O.C.S.s, and transport of wounded was

6 372 Mobility in Modern Armies extremely difficult. Wounded had to be carried long distances by hand to main dressing stations. During the September operations of the 2nd Army, advanced dressing stations were merely collecting posts at which wounded were loaded on wheeled conveyances for transport to the dressing station., There would be no horse transport with an army completely mechanicalized, and long carriage by hand being very exhausting, wheeled stretcher carriers would be a great help in bringing the wounded from the regimental aid posts to the collecting posts, or advanced dressing stations, where the motor transport from the field ambulances would assemble and carry the wounded to the main dressing stations, reinforced with surgical teams for the treatment of urgent. cases. From the main dressing stations cases capable of transport would be carried to the C.C. S.s at railhead. The walking wounded station, if formed, would be in the neighbourhood of the advanced dressing station and wounded would be.carried by motor lorries straight to the C.C.S.s. Normally the A.D.S. is supposed to be about two miles from the R.A.P.s, and this is quite far enough for hand or wheeled stretcher carriage; the M.D.S. about three miles behind the A.D.S. and the C.C.S. about five miles from the M.D.S. But if the advance were twenty miles, whioh is quit.e possible with a mobile army, then the wounded would, have to be carried about fifteen miles by the motor ambulance convoys to reach the C.C.S.s. Motor ambulances in the late war travelled about six miles per hour, and seriously wounded Iren would have a journey of from two to three hours from the M.D.S. to the C.C.S. It would probably be advisable to have a rest station about half way, formed by the light sections of the C.C.S., so that severe cases could receive attention should this be found necessary. If the advance continued for a few days the light sections of the C.C.S.s would be moved up and take over the wounded in the M.D.S.s, which would then move forward with the troops. ' The employment of the C.C.S.s in echelon and grouping them in pairs, or threes, as suggested in R.A.M.C. training, would have obvious advantages in the case of a rapid advance accompanied by many casualties. Motor ambulance convoys would also be required for 'evacuating C.C.S.s, strung out in front of railhead, which would advance slowly at first and be subject to considerable pressure for the supply of food and ammunition to the troops. We have put forward these elementary, and we fear rather crude, remarks in the hope of stimulating some of our contributors to write in detail on the medical arrangements likely to be required for an army with mechanicalized transport, operating both in a friendly and in an enemy country, in advance and in retreat.