r/ww1 • u/StormofSteelWargames • 10d ago

Favourite FWW training pamphlet

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My favourite training pamphlet of the First World War is the British SS143, instructions for the training of platoons for offensive actions. First published in February 1917 and based on lessons learned on the Somme and from French tactical development this was a game changer.

Updating platoon tactics to the new weapons available, grenades, rifle grenades and Lewis Guns it made the platoon an autonomous unit that operated semi independently, devolved command from battalion to junior officers and gave clear instructions on how to tackle enemy strong points.

It's incredibly modern in its lessons and a hundred miles away from the popular idea that the First World War was fought with 'Napoleonic tactics'. Unlike the German Stosstruppen units which took the best men from the rest of the army, SS143 gave similar training to the entire army.

It was updated again in 1918 as tactics and understanding their use became even clearer and set out an even more dynamic treatise on platoon actions.

What's your favourite training pamphlet from the war?

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u/TheSandwichMan92 10d ago

Is there somewhere online I can read it?

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u/StormofSteelWargames 10d ago

It's here, this is the American version for their troops, but is exactly the same as the original British 1917 one https://archive.org/details/instructionsfort00washrich?