The importance of enfilade .........

retread · 14 June 2009, 05:15 PM

Although perhaps more relevant to the ground war this is a nice graphic demonstration of capability and tactics with a Maxim machinegun.

YouTube - The Story of Maxim gun

retread · 14 June 2009, 05:41 PM

I see this video had already been posted under Aircraft in a thread dealing with machinegun ammunition. Sorry, I won't fall asleep in class again.

retread · 16 June 2009, 05:44 PM

As a late aside if you have watched the video and saw the devastating effect of flanking fire keep in mind that it was fundemental doctrine that wherever possible create interlocking fields of fire in which two or more machine guns would cover the the same ground , enfilating from opposite sides.
It reminds me of a comment directed toward General R.E. Lee by the commander of his artillery prior to the battle of Fredricksburg. " General, a chicken couldn't cross that field and survive it."

bristol scout · 29 June 2009, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retread

As a late aside if you have watched the video and saw the devastating effect of flanking fire keep in mind that it was fundemental doctrine that wherever possible create interlocking fields of fire in which two or more machine guns would cover the the same ground , enfilating from opposite sides.
It reminds me of a comment directed toward General R.E. Lee by the commander of his artillery prior to the battle of Fredricksburg. " General, a chicken couldn't cross that field and survive it."

The quote is correct retread--but the artillery officer was answering a request made by General Longstreet--on the need for another gun to be cited at a critical spot--the reply to Longstreet was " General, we cover that ground now so well that we comb it as with a fine tooth comb. A chicken could not live on that field when we open on it"

'THE CIVIL WAR' By SHELBY FOOTE--Vol2 Fredericksburg to Meridian.

Cheers,
Dave.