Note 283 — THE FORMAL TACTICS OF INFANTRY. (continued 5)

According to Austrian experiments the depth of the beaten zone of a machine gun is only 1⁄3 to 1⁄2 that produced by the fire of a platoon of infantry.

[284] The following average results were obtained in experiments made at the Musketry School, while firing on infantry targets advancing alternately at quick and double time:

At ranges from 2000-1600 m. 1.72% hits

„ „ „ 1500-1200 m. 2.53% „

Firing against disappearing head targets placed at intervals of 0.60-0.70 m.:

At 600 - 800 m. 1.89% hits

„ 800 - 1100 m. 1.69% „

In firing first with an elevation of 1800, then with one of 1750 m. (the range being 2000-1600 m. and 254 rounds being expended per gun), on 50 advancing, kneeling targets, placed at intervals of 1 m. 3.10% hits were obtained and 52% figures were placed out of action in 1¹⁄₂ minutes.

In firing at the same targets for 2¹⁄₃ minutes, with an elevation of 1900 m. (304 rounds expended), the result dropped to 0.3% hits and 8.3% figures placed out of action.