Lieut.  X, commanding the advance party, calls up all his non-commissioned officers and explains the situation to them.  He then says:  “Sergeant Mason, take 4 men and move out on that road (pointing) as the point.  At crossroads and road forks semaphore W.W. and I will indicate the direction.  The remainder of these two platoons will be the advance party.  I will be with it.  Move out.”

You are Sergeant Mason.

(a) What instructions, and information do you give the point before you reach crossroads 554?

After passing crossroads 561 about 300 yards one of your men reports about a squad of hostile cavalry on the road south of road fork 544, 1500 yards east of you.

(b) What do you do?

Problem II:  An Advance Guard Connecting File: 

Situation as in preceding problem.

After the advance party has moved out about 100 yards, Captain Y, commanding the support, says:  “Smith, you take Jones and move out as connecting file.”  After Smith and Jones have moved about 100 yards, he says:  “Donnelly, you take Burke and move out as connecting file.”  You are Donnelly.

(a) What instructions do you give Burke before reaching crossroads 554?

After passing crossroads 561 you go about 150 yards without seeing the connecting file in rear of you.

(b) What do you do?

Problem III:  An Advance Guard Flank Patrol: 

Situation as in preceding problem.

On arriving at crossroads 561 Lieut.  X commanding the advance party calls up Sergeant Clifford and says:  “Sergeant, the point has just reported a squad of hostile cavalry about a mile down this road (pointing toward road fork 544).  Take your squad and scout down this road.  I will take the next road to the left leading to Hunterstown.  Rejoin me on that road.”

You are Sergeant Clifford.

(a) What formation do you adopt for your patrol?

Nothing happens until you arrive near road fork 544, when you hear firing from the woods southwest of you.  This fire is not directed toward you.  There is evidently about a squad firing.  You can see no enemy in any direction.

(b) What do you do?

Problem IV:  Platoon as an Advance Party: 

General situation same as before.

You are Lieut.  X commanding the advance party.  You have arrived near the small orchard southeast of road fork 535.  A sharp fire is suddenly opened from the woods to the southeast, apparently from a squad or small platoon.

(a) Give your orders and dispositions.

After firing about a minute the fire of the enemy stops.  You move out into the road and can see no sign of your point or connecting files.  The support is closing up on you.

(b) What do you do?

Visibility Problems: 

(a) Can a man on hill 712 see a man at crossroads 554 in Hunterstown? (Disregard trees.)