Part II AUTOMATIC RIFLE MARKSMANSHIP Training Regulations, No. 150-30 SECTION I. General provisions.. III. Preparatory range training. IV. Range practice.... V. Personnel to fire-Courses to be fired-Qualification. VI. Records and reports... VII. Competitions... VIII. Combat use of the automatic rifle. IX. Advice to officers in charge of automatic rifle instruction. Section I GENERAL PROVISIONS Paragraphs 1-9 10-24 25-38 39-67 68-76 77-79 80-86 87-93 .94-100 1. Scope. This regulation prescribes rules and regulations applicable to the general subject of automatic rifle marksmanship. 2. Object. The object of this regulation is to provide a thorough and uniform system of conducting automatic rifle marksmanship training in the military service. 3. Outline of training.-a. Training in automatic rifle marksmanship consists of the following phases: (1) Mechanical training. (2) Preparatory range training. (3) 1,000-inch range practice. (4) Known distance range practice. b. A thorough course in rifle marksmanship should precede training in automatic rifle marksmanship. (See TR 150-5 and 150-10.) c. Phases (1) and (2) above may be taken up concurrently, and should be followed in order by (3) and (4). 4. Methods of instruction. a. The methods of instruction to be followed are prescribed in detail in Sections II, III, and IV. b. Instructors in automatic rifle marksmanship should be familiar with the methods and procedure observed in training in rifle marksmanship. c. Before commencing a course in automatic rifle marksmanship instructors and assistant instructors should familiarize themselves with Section IX. d. For general data, stripping and assembling, functioning, care, and cleaning of the automatic rifle, see TR 320-25, Part One, this Chapter. 5. Duties of commanders.-a. The duties of higher commanders in connection with training in marksmanship, the automatic rifle, are similar to those prescribed in TR 150-10. b. In addition to the duties referred to in the preceding subparagraph, the following duties are also prescribed: (1) (a) The company commander will require all men in his company before firing to qualify both in the mechanical training prescribed in Section II and the preparatory range training prescribed in Section III. (b) He will see that all guns are kept in good condition, especially during 1,000-inch firing when the entire squad is using one gun. (c) He will select from the men who have fired the automatic rifle for record those who will be assigned as automatic riflemen. In making these selections, it must be borne in mind that the automatic rifle operates by fire power only; that its fire equals that of several rifles; and that it should, therefore, be in the hands of the best shots. (2) The platoon leader will examine all automatic rifles in his platoon to determine whether or not they are serviceable. Sights will be aligned and the proper functioning and adjustment of the recoil mechanism, trigger mechanism, and the gas ports verified. Magazines will be examined. 6. Automatic rifle practice season.-a. The corps area or department commander will designate a period of not less than 2 weeks for automatic rifle target practice. This period should normally follow the regular rifle practice season at an interval of not more than 2 weeks. b. The automatic rifle practice season for units of the National Guard and Organized Reserves will be of such duration and ordered at such times as may be best suited for effective training. 7. Individual classification of automatic riflemen. -a. Automatic riflemen are classified as expert automatic riflemen, automatic rifle sharpshooters, automatic rifle marksmen, and unqualified, according to the proficiency exhibited in record practice. b. The unqualified class includes all persons on the rolls of an organization at the close of practice season who fired a record course and failed to qualify as automatic rifle marksman, or better, and all who for any reason did not fire. 8. Insignia. All enlisted men who qualify in record practice with the automatic rifle will receive the same insignia as are prescribed for qualification with the rifle. 9. Minimum standard of proficiency. In order to be classed as proficient in automatic rifle training every company or like organization must qualify as automatic rifle marksman, or better, at least 80 per cent of all persons who fired a qualification course during the season's practice. 22 23 24 Outline of lesson on general data, field stripping and assembling. Outline of lesson on stripping and assembling of trigger mechanism. Outline of lesson on functioning.. Outline of lesson on stoppages and immediate action. Outline of lesson on care of the automatic rifle, and points before, during, and after firing (B. D. A.).. Examination on mechanical training..... 10. Object.—Mechanical instruction is designed to give the soldier such training as will insure his ability to maintain the continued successful mechanical operation of the automatic rifle. A rifle is of no use tactically, unless it works successfully mechanically. 11. When taken up.-Mechanical training precedes 1,000-inch range practice. It may be carried on concurrently with the preparatory range training prescribed in Section III. 12. To whom applicable. Each man who is to fire the 1,000-inch range practice takes the entire mechanical training. 13. Organization of class.—In the company or platoon, all enlisted men are combined into one class under officer-instructors. Each sergeant supervises his own section as assistant instructor, and each corporal acts as instructor for his squad. 14. Method of instruction. -a. To secure uniformity, instruction is given to the entire class at one time. b. The instructor prefaces his discussion with a brief general lecture leading up to the specific subject in hand. He then makes detailed explanations and demonstrations as he proceeds. c. The instructor again explains the work covered in the lecture, while one man in each squad performs it. The other members of the squad observe the work of this man. d. Each member of the squad then repeats the work, checked by the others. This is continued until all men are proficient and able to perform the particular operation. e. As squad leaders deem certain men proficient, they examine them and report their qualification to the platoon leaders. 15. Equipment.-a. The equipment required for each lesson is listed in the paragraph outlining that lesson. b. A classroom equipped with a blackboard and platform for the instructor is desirable. Seats are provided for the entire class, and one table per squad sufficiently large to permit the entire squad to be grouped around it while working on the automatic rifle. 16. Classroom regulations. --a. The following regulations will be observed in the classroom: (1) Force will not be used in stripping or assembling. (3) The trigger mechanism is not stripped and assembled blindfolded. b. (1) Force. The rifle is so constructed that it can be taken apart and reassembled without the use of force. Most of the parts are designed to prevent wrong assembling. When difficulty arises in stripping and assembling, it is due to error on the part of the soldier. The use of force will result only in damage to the rifle. (2) Time. The practice of stripping and assembling against time serves no useful purpose and results in burring and damaging parts. As men become more familiar with the rifle, skill is gradually developed and lost motion eliminated. In stripping, the men are taught to lay the parts out in the proper sequence for assembling, and should so thoroughly learn the mechanism of the rifle that taking it apart and putting it together are matters of second nature. (3) Trigger mechanism. The purpose of stripping and assembling blindfolded is to train men to be able to do these operations at night. As the trigger mechanism is not a part of field stripping, it will rarely ever be stripped at night, even in action. Breakages in the trigger mechanism are very rare. 17. Division into lessons. a. Mechanical training is divided into six lessons and an examination: (1) General data, field stripping and assembling (par. 18). (2) Stripping and assembling of the trigger mechanism (par. 19). (3) Miscellaneous lesson (par. 20). (4) Functioning (par. 21). (5) Stoppages and immediate action (par. 22). (6) Care of the automatic rifle (par. 23). (7) Examination (par. 24). b. The first five lessons are taken up in the sequence named. Instruction in the sixth may be given at any time during the training. The examination is given after all six lessons have been completed. 18. Outline of lesson on general data, field stripping, and assembling.-a. The following equipment is provided for instructional purposes: (1) Equipment for the instructor: Automatic rifle. Spare parts kit (complete). (2) Equipment for the squad: Same as for the instructor. b. The instructor covers the following points in his preliminary talk: (1) Name and type of weapon. (2) Cooling system. (3) Operation. (4) Magazines. (5) General data. (6) Positions and rates of fire. c. The first five points are explained in detail in TR 320-25, Part One, this Chapter. d. The automatic rifle can be fired from any position prescribed for the service rifle. Due to its weight, it is fired from the prone position from a rest whenever possible Although it is capable of firing 150 rounds per minute, semiautomatic fire, the best results will be obtained when the rate is from 40 to 60 rounds per minute. |