442ndRCT Soldier's Forum

FM 7-10 Infantry Rifle Company, Infantry Regiment
18 MAR 1944

77. COMMAND POST. The company command post is located
in rear of the organized defense area of the support
platoon. It should be in defilade and concealed from aerial
observation. Covered and concealed routes to the front
and to the rear are desirable to facilitate communication
with the platoon leaders and the battalion command post.

A position near the topographical crest is generally of
greater value than one on the military crest. The former
position affords the unit defilade immediately upon the
initiation of its withdrawal. Fires are opened at extreme
ranges (rifles and automatic rifles, 800-1,200 yards) in
order to force the enemy to deploy and to make time
consuming
preparations for attack. (See fig. 12

Supplementary positions for all-around defense to the
flanks and rear are constructed and provision is made for
shifting part of the platoon to these positions. They
should be located as close to the forward positions as the
terrain permits. On flat terrain, riflemen can shift their
fire to the rear from their primary individual emplacements.
Wherever possible, natural cover, drainage lines,
ditches, and other defilade are used for movement to supplementary
positions.

(2) Within the assembly area, squad areas are allotted;
each should be large enough to prevent congestion. Individuals
take cover in ditches and other defilade. If no
natural cover is available, foxholes are dug for shelter
from artillery fire and aerial bombardment.

129. COMMAND AND OBSERVATION POST. The platoon
leader stations himself where he can best observe the
front and flanks of his area and can signal his squad
leaders. His position should afford nearby cover for messengers
and defiladed routes to the company command
post. The platoon sergeant is near the platoon leader.

The men retire from cover to
cover, taking advantage of defiladed routes.

194. DISPLACEMENT

After locating the general position area,
he selects a cover position nearby, and by signals or messenger
directs the squads or sections to move to the cover
position. Squad leaders conduct their squads to the designated
point. In moving forward all squads make use of
available cover, concealment and defiladed routes.

c. 60-mm mortars. Firing positions selected for the mortars
must -
(1) Be defiladed from hostile view.

203. OCCUPATION AND ORGANIZATION OF FIRING
POSITIONS.

b. Light machine-gun section.


(2) Natural cover, drainage lines, ditches and other defilade
are used for communication and movement to alternate
and supplementary positions.

Simon, looks like you win the cookie.

Lieutenant

If you can tell me the etymological root of the word... You might win a cookie

And bonus points if you can tell me why it makes sense.

Is it a chocolate chip cookie?

Sure... I'll send a e-raincheck for one at the next event I'm at. Redeemable for a cookie of your choice

LOL forgot about this... Anyways.

Lieu means place in French and tenant means holder. So technically when you use it as a means of "The Warmaster's Lieutenants" or something like that its someone who can take the place. Hence its use like that. But what makes it more ironic is the purposes of Lieutenants in Napoleonic tactics and where they stand. They most certainly serve a purpose in a line of battle, but if you look at how they conduct themselves during a battle in their appointed places (The 1st Lieutenant commanding the 1st section, the 2nd Lieutenant the 2nd section) they will get no full command authority unless the Captain goes down or for some odd reason the company breaks and they take command of their sections. Just like Sergeants and Corporals, The 1st Lieutenant was literally the 1st Lieutenant from right to left along the line, just like the 1st Sergeant and 1st Corporal, 2nd Sergeant/Corporal, etc.