The American Kriegspiel

TIlE

A GAME FOR PRACTICING TilE

0(

ART OF \VAR UPON A TOPOGRAPHICAL MAP.

v-

DY

W. R. LIVERMORE, curliN CORPS 0'

.ENOI~&£R!

O. S. AlWT.

BOSTON nOUGHTON, MIFFLIN AND COMPANY.

New York: 11 East Seventeenth Street.

(qthi: tlibenilbc PrFtig, ~ambriblJe.

1882.

Copyright, ,879,

Bv W. R. LIVERMORE.

RIVERSIDB, CAMBRIDGB: STEREOTYPED AND PRINTBD By H. O. HOUGHTON AND COMPANY.

~mttitan

BY

CAPT. W. R. LIVERMORE,

CORPS OF ENGINEERS, U. S. ARMY.

PREFACE.

THE American Kriegsspiel, or \Var Game, has been developed from that of the Germans, its pur­ pose being to represent military operations upon a geographical or topographical map, by small col­ ored blocks, and auxiliary apparatus to which a con­ ventional meaning is assigned. AU the information which in the minor Kriegsspiel is kept in the Record of Losses and Record of the Progress of the Game is in the American Kriegsspiel expressed upon the plan itself by the position of the apparatus. Many new devices have been introduced to enable the exercise to be conducted without delay, and thus serve to diminish the labor and enhance the profit to be derived from it by professional stu­ dents, as well as to make it more attractive to those not familiar with military operations. Although the form of the game which is about to be explained has been much modified in this country during the past 'thirteen years, yet similar changes appear to have been going on in Germany; and Borne of the methods which distinguish the present

iv

PREFACE.

from the earlier forms were undoubtedly first applied to the game in its own fatherland, but it is believea that the mechanism has been much improved, and the labor-saving process more nearly perfected in America than in Germany. Wherever the same difficulties have suggested like methods of overcoming them it has been the aim of the present work, rather to assimilate the details to the German form, than to preserve that in which they were first applied in America. The" Regiments Kriegsspiel " of Lieutenant Nau­ mann approaches more nearly than any other to the Ameri~an method, and to that able work the author desires to express his indebtedness for much valuable information. The works of Verdy du Vernois, the distinguished Chief of Staff of the First Army Corps, of Meckel, Trotha and TcLischwitz of the German army, of V. Sterneck, Zipser and Mayer of the Austrian, and of Captain Baring of the Royal Artillery, have been freely consulted, and much of the statistical informa­ tion has been taken from these sources. The re­ mainder has been derived from the standard military text books and from reports of recent experiments and military operations, especially from that of the General Staff, on the War of 1870-1871, etc. The report of Lieutenant Greene on the campaigns of 1877 and 1878 has thrown much light upon several of the new problems.

PREFACE.

To Mr. William Popp, Civil Engineer, and for­ medy an officer of the Bavarian Army, the author is indebted for his first acquaintance with the game, in 1865, as well as for much valuable information in re­ gard to the method of conducting it. To Captain V. Sterneck of the Austrian General Staff, himself the author of an estimable epitome on the subject, and to the officers of all branches of the United States Service, who have aided him in developing it, the author desires to express his gratitude for their kind I suggestions. . Since the following pages have been written, tW6 other American works on the War Game have made their appearance; one by Capt. Charles 'V. Ray­ mond, of the Corps of Engineers, entitled "Kriegs­ spiel," printed at tbe Artillery School at Fortress Monroe; and the other by Lieutenant C. A. L. Tot­ ten, of the Artillery, entitled" Strategos, the Amer­ ican Game of 'Var." Captain Raymond has been one of the most prom­ inent among American officers in introducing and developing the exercise: his book describes more clearly tban any other the requirements of a proper system, and tbe course that has been taken in Ger­ many and America to fulfill them. It is not, however, intended for a text-book. " Strategos," although it is styled the" American Game of \V aI'," resembles in many respects the earlier forms of the Kriegsspiel. The distinctive

vi

PREFACE.

feature of this system consists in a series of games or " object lessons," calculated to amuse and encourage young military students, rather than to present a faithful counterpart of a battle or a campaign; it in­ cludes, also, an "Advanced Game," whose methods are very similar to those of the English translation made by Captain Baring in 1872. Neither of these works, then, cover the same ground as the present manual.

TITE AUERlCAN KHIEGSSPIEL MANUAL.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

ABBREVlA TIO~S. Order of considering.

Analysis.

Ex. - Expression.

CL - Method of calculating.

Dir. - Direction.

Pos. - Possibility.

Ef. - Effect.

Cq. - Consequence.

Es. - Result.

Op. - Operations.

Or. -

An. -

Fr.-Fire.

Ft. - IIand-fight.

Mv. - Movement.

Wk.-Work.

Tr. - Troops.

In. - Infantry.

Cay. ­ Cavalry. Art. - Artillery. Eng. ­ Engineers. N. C. ­ NOll Combatants.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Sect.

CHAPTER I.

Pat'o

CO:>DUCT O~' THE GAM.E. TAllLE I. Tnz i\pp ,uuTUS.

1 Tho apparatus. .. . .... .. .. .. ............ .... .. .... .... ........ .... ........

9

Tn! DIFPERI!'iT VAUUTIES or TnE GAMC.

2 The different vnrietie.' of the g"ule ........................................

9

'fill TAC'rICI\L rLun:. -PREPARATION.

S The tactical game. - It. "VpliC;1tiull to certain prohlems.................... 11) 4 The plo.)'o"". .... .... ........ ........ .... .... .. .......... .... .. .... .... .... 10 6 The prohlt·ID................... ........ .... ........... .... .... .... ........ II 6 8to.temcIltuf the problem ................................................. 12

~ ~\I~~~l~'~ti~~e :f':or~·~l~·n·d:"::::::::.':":::::::::::".:: ~::::::: ~: .~:::::::::: }~

9 Plan of operations..... ........ .......... .... .... .... .... .................. 13 EXERCISE AT TOS MAP.

10 Arrangement of tab I", . .

I

. .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. . .. ..

14

11 Oruer of proceeuing.. ........... ............ .... ................. ........

lb

(1.) lNDIC.'TIONS DY TROOP Lz.U>ER'.

12 Length of the move.. ...... ........ . ................................. 16 13 Iutlication. of tmop I..,ue\'!!.......... .... .... .... .... .. .... .... .... .... ... 1 j 14 Necc~~ity for silence.... .....••. .. ...• ........ .. .. .... ...•..•••.•.•......• l~ (2.) CORRECTIO"

15

0'

IXDICATIONS.

Correction of imp08:o1:ihl{' in(lira.tion~ •..... ~.............. .•............••.. IS (3.) )[ODlFICATION OF INDICATIONS.

If) Communication bf'twt'cn pJ!'J(.'r~..... .... .... .... .... •. .. .. .... .... ..•. .... 17 luCorDln.tion imparted by tllllpirf' •.••..••.. _••.•• _..... '" • •..•.. . ••••... 18 In~pc('tinn nt hostil(, pO:o'itinnd .••••••• ...•• •..•...•..•. _................... 19 ExplaJlation of indic:l.tion~....... .... .... .. .. .. . • .... . ... .... ....•... . .•... 20 EltpbnfltioTi or . . . Uh~("qul·nt purpose~............ .... ... ........•..•.•...... 21 Chll11~l':> ill (,OIl:oit'qU('1H't.' ofme!ol:o-agcs rectived .. _, _, ........... _.......... .•. 22

1

)0

19

19

.)()

~q

Exprj':"I~ion of ('hnn~t'~ jlf'rmittt·d..•.............•.......•• _........ ..•. .. ~fI

23 Wbt·n fO tra1l!'Oft'r to n. tliogle map.......... .... .••. .... .... ....••. .• .•.. .... I~'

24 Record of position"l......... .•.••... •... •... .... .... •..••. . .... .•.••...••. 21 (~.) COl[PUTATIOS OP }'IRE.

25 How to lw~in ('omputntion ................ ... ............. . 21 26 \rhat fire to ('Otnput~ ftr:-t ................................ , ............. 0.. 21 2'i Corupularion, U1aJe nuu 10".' recorded................. .................... ~1 0..

....

.

. . . . . . .

2fi Re~ult dE't{'rmine,l and rC('nrfled - intliC3.tion~ removed......... .•.•........

29

\\'Tork of couioltruction and c.le:-;truction.. .... .... .... .••.•..• .... (5.) '!O"E>lENT OP TROOPS.

30 Ordrr in which mnv(\m(lnt~ are ("on!'idt>red. ... .. .... .... .... . ... •.•. .... .... 31 llo.ud·to-hand figbts decide,1, anu lo",.s recorde-J............... ..... •......



22

~

~ 23

32 Pursuit conducted and consequences rerordcu.............................. 24

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

IX

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

l11udl1ltionB.

Chwification.

Sl'ct.

References.

PI. II. III. IV.....•..•.• Chap. 11. III.

Ex.CI.

Op.

Tr.

Ex.

Op.

Tr.

........................ 6 ,6.

3 Ex. 4 VI.

Op. Op Oro· Op. Op. Op. 01"

Tr. Tr. Tr.

Tab. 1.1'''............... 40.

Tr.

................... ... . 6. ........................ 6 ,64.

Op. Op.

Tr. 1.·r.

PI. r. n. Tah. I. to X .. 18, 40, 84, 04.

Tab. 1 .................. 38.

2

Or. f> 6 };x. I Ex. 8 Or. 9 Or.

nir.

Vir. nir.

Vir.

10 Or. 11 Or.

Tr.

Tr. Tr.

::::::::::::

39.

~'~f:::::: I~~: ........................

3 i, 38, 39.

13

Or. Or.

Dir. Dir.

Op. 01'. 01"

Tr. Tr. Tr.

Tnh. 1. (n) .. ............. 3S, 43, etc.

Tal>. 1. (b) 1'1. J I III... rhap.11.

14 Ex. 15

Or.

PO!ll:.

Op.

Tr.

Tnb. 1. (e) Tab. II. pas... Cbap. IV. 20;, etc. 246.

16

Ii IH

lU

20

21

22

2!!

21

Or. Or. Ex. Or.

Dir Dir.

Op.

Op.

Op.

Op.

Op.

Op.

Op.

Op.

Op.

Tr. Tr. Tr. Tr. Tr. T, Tr.

Tllb. 1. (Ii) .............. ~ 39,21, &1.

'l'nu. 1. (II) ..............

1'.. IJ . I.(//) . ............. 10.

Tab. J. (Ii) .............. 14.

'I'llb. J . (1/) .............. (·hop. VII. 246.

'fub. L (Ii) .............. 16, &1.

1.'uh. I. ld) .............. 17

1'1.1 .................... 4Cl,10.

PI. 1. ................... 42.

~:; 2t j

Fr.

Tab. I. (t.) .............. Tnb. 1.1j) . ............. Tab. 1. «(, {:, ii, i). Tab. III. IV. X . ,,1. IV. Tah.1. (r). Tnb. V ..... Art. Tab.!. (k). Tau . X .....

12

nir.

An.

l>ir.

Or. Or. ]>x. Ex.

Uir. Dir.

~I

Or. Or. Or.

Er. U .

2'! !:J

Or. Or.

30

31

Or. Or.

32

Or.

~;r.

('q. It.. R'.

~'r.

l·r. Wk. Fr. }'r.

Er. 'Yk.

Cq. &.

1'r.

Tr.

........................ ; ,

3~.

Chap. II. 12, 30. Chap. III.

Ch.p.IY. Y.

Vbap. IILlV. Y. X.

Ch.p. "U. l·hap. X. 145.

)lv. Mv.

• •••• a

Ft. Ft.

Tab. 1. (I)......... " .... Chop. VIII. 25. Tal>. 1. em, fi, 0). Tab. Chap. IX.

......

Tab. I. (0) . Tab. IX .... 232,2!b.

Tr.

VII. ,Ill.

x

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Subject of the Section.

Sect.

Paga

(G) COMPLETIOS OF TOE 1II0n.

33 Proceoo in i"nm~ mBnOl'r in u.uja.ccut parts............ .. ........ .....•...... ~4 34 Ajo:~i.~tnTlt:' rx:unim' DIt!.';,";:lgCtt... ..•• ..•• .... •.•. •.•• .•••. • •. ••.••. ••••••. .•• 24 :35 SUI!~estiou~ b~' pta) "r_"..... .•. . ... .. .. .... .... .... ........ .•.•..•...•..••• 25 36 Record of progre!-.'i of "'ork................ •..................••... ........ ~

I

3-1 Dil1cu~.~ion aftt'r tho ,-"Sin£' j" rnd(>lL . . . .. .••••• ••.•.... •• •• .•• •••••. .•.•••.• 33 Cal~u}atinlll'l m:llll' tll,lly ~\'llC.'n IlCcc~~~lry........................ ...... .. ... 39 D.C"IOU of the umpl,.. fiual ~~~:~i~;:~~ '~;.'"

I

.........................

INDIC.\TIOXS OF

~!IT,IT.\RY

OPERATIONS.

TOPOGR.\.PUl". -

TUE lH.\ps.

..................

~otAtion o[ IJIO\·t'Ull'lIt8...................... .••••.•.•.•.....••.•••.••• ...•

421~mn.ll copic1'l "f m:llI··· ·· · .... ..•..... ..• ........... ...... ............•... l~t)J(.li\·rlO!\

26

PUTES 1. II. III.

I,laps for thA tarticnl Ft.\mo .... ...•.. ..................

40 41

2.-> :!6

OF PROGRESS OF OPLR.\TlO~:; IN 'I'UIE.

27 :!i :.!8

43 The clock... .. .. .. .. .. .•... ................................. ........••.• ~8 44 Scores

OD \')lock~

amI. minuto warlul............ .... .. .................. .... 28 Rt:PIU:SF.!'iT.HIO"

or

TROOPS.

PL1Ti: II.

45!Side of hnttl. d;,tingui.lw.1 by ,·0101"•.•••.• .••••• ••• •• •••• " •••• •.•• .•••• • .• 46 [ufautr)" n'llre"t'lItcII by n°.11I1' hlue blocks..... ................... ....... 4i I ,\!I~uJUcd that illfantr.\' lit' ,lown ................................... o. . . . . . . . . 48 Artillery reprt". eutt·,l by reu lUlU goM or blue and glll,l.. ....••..••.••...•... 49 Cavalry reprp"':("'nft>ij by rt~tl tlll.l ~rt·t'n or blu(t and orangp .....•. , . ••• • . 50 Engine~r t!()Op~ T"PT~'cub~,1 by rc.l anu pur(lll~ or 1,lul' un,1 purpll·....... •••. 61 Ponton tr:tl11~ :Lilli bruJg('s by blark nne! }Jur}II'" hlnck~ •••...•..•.••.•...•••• 62 Td~grafJh 8uppl.v and amLulalll'(' tra.ins by hlack hlo('k~.................... 53 Ammunition hyhla('k block ~ith whit!:' :-cort!s ....•.•... I . . . . . . . . . . . . ~ • • • • • 54 U:II() of blockg to ,It'nole nuwht:r, po...;itioD, formn.tion, etc ............•...•..• 00 l'incers - cart! of hlnrk.. . ..•• .•..• ..•.......•...•...••..•...••.••..•......

I

~

31 31 :l2

:rZ

: .. 2

;32

33

3:1

:l.'l

34

;A

EXPRF.SSIO:S OF CO:o-.DlIlO:ooi OF '!'ROOPS. hlOl'k~ ('allclt ij('OT(>.~.... .... • ••• •••• .... .... .. ..... .... EXPRE:-.SIO" OF' J.. o:-.s OP POWLR. By Bcores on colorcc.l block~ nnd miuute lllarks.............. .... ..•...•..•.. }~XPRr.sSlO:\, OF FATIGUE. By flcore~ on whit4.~ blo('k~ raUl"} C0l111tt'I'l'.................................. ExPRES:-'IOS OF DlSORtH:\TZ.\TIO:\ OF TROOPS WHO llAVE DEE!'i I" ..-"\.CTJO:S.

35

t10ts on whit" blo,·k. ralie,t rllI·ck............... .•.• . .••••.....•........

36

By the 8core~ and. po..ition of ammunition hlndi.~...........................

37

By stripes or uots on

61

~V

30

JSDJC\TIO:\S OF )lO\'£)IE!'1TS, FIRE, ETC., OF TU'£; TflUOl~S.

.

56 rTbl' mctalli(': pointl·rs.................. •...••..........•.. ..•...... ..• ••.• Todices :-rbow clirf·crion and rate uf won!ll1cot. .... .... ......••••••.•.•....•. 08 .\rrows iudi(..atf1 clirC'l·tiotl Ilull naTure of fire........................ ••••.•.• 69 ImJjccs !lml arro" •• ntnbinr·1 to 110te U1"'CllIent BUll fire........ ....•.......

6;

60

29

ao

63 By

35

36

E;{PRE~SIQ:\' or TnE h~IJE OP A 1l.\~D TO-lIA!\D F.GIIT. G4: By checks, ind.ice:-o, and minute markl-\ ...................................... 313 To :\OT£ THE ~rpPL\, 0,.. A"\J.llt!'iITIO:oi

65 .

EXPRESSIO~ OP WonK OP FOIlTIFICA.TIO:\, CO:\STRtTTJO .... , A~n J)F_"'fRt'CTIO~.

66 Progr(!~s of work in time by t-irorp.o.; on fortification bh,.;k..;,.......... •...•... 37 G; :Vaturc of work h)' po... itioll nn the mul'..... ......... ............. .....•.. 37 6~ Progre:-o:4 of work of l!'.ying JII.ntnn briliJ!'(·....... .... .... ... ... • ....•...•... 3.~ 69 Progretl~ of couJiagration by blocks und. urrow~..... ...... ..•••.••.•.••. .... :1S

CHAPTER III. TIlE

rO'IPCTATrO~".

PLATE TV.

PRI~CJPL£S os WlilCIl CmfPUT.-\TIO~S ARE BASED.

;0 'Iilitary factors tm~cu on expcrirDcc ot war.... ........ .... .... .... ........ 39

TABLE Cl.... iftcation.

Sect.

3.3

35 31;

Or. Or. Or. Or.

3.

J~x.

&! 3V

l'1. Or.

40 41 42

Ex.

34

43 44 45

46 47 4q

4tl 50 01 52 li3 fit

M

Ex,' Ex. }~x.

Or. Ex. Ex. ]o;x. Or F.x. Ex. Ilx .

Op. Op. Op.

Tr. Tr. Tr.

PI. T................... '110g 3.

PI. 1...... .. ........... ·13 ,140.

1'1. 1. ................... 24.

Tr.

i'i: 'ji: (.Ii:' PI: 'iii: '(d,

~Iv.

Op. ]o;!. Wk. It. YIlI. (k, I, etc.) .... ~O,2H,t!tc.

Ft.

Cal'. Tab. VIII. (k, etc.) ...... 63, 222 to 228.

z.!6 Or.C1. Ef. 227 Or .(; 1. Ef. 2'..!S Or.(·1. LC. Ex.

2'29 An. E!. Ft. 230 An. Ef. Ft. 23l

Cl.

Ef.

2.')'2

233

.\n. An.

Cq. Ft. Cq. Ft.

234

.\n.

Ra.

B.(a).

239. Tr. PI. IV........

Tr. Tnb. IX. (a, b, r). PI. IV. :!39.

Ft.

Tr.

Tab. IX. (d, 0) .......... 219, 241, 246.

Ft.

Tr.

T"b.

RIo.

Ra.

R•.

Ft. Ft. Ft.

Tab. IX . (h) ............. 133, 211, 242­ en.v. Tub. IX. (h, ;) .......... 24~, 243.

Tr. Tab. V11. \'Ill. (e), IX .. 146,208,217,229,244.

Cl. Rs. 240 Or.Cl. R•. Ex.

241 Ex. R •.

Ft.

n.

Tr. PI. IV. Tab. IX. (a) .... 232, ~33.

Tr. Tab. IX. (b, c) ........... 163, 228, 231.

Ft.

Tr.

Tab. IX. (d, 0) .......... 64, 219, 234, 246.

242 CI.Ex. R.•.

Ft.

Tr.

Tnb. IX. (f,!i, h) . ...... 235,237. Tab. IX. (i) ............. 23i.

Tab. IX. (k)............. 03, 63, 1il, 228, 246.

Tab. IX. (I). Tab. II. C. 44,63, 6!, Hi, lil, 208.

(b). PI. 1lI. (f). Tab. II. C............... 63,126, lil, 208, 228,234,245.

235

An.

236

Zj7

An . An.

Zlll

All.

Rs

2-1l

In.

n. C. (d).

Tab.IX. 242 246.

1

Cfl.

245

m

CI. CI. Cl.

Po,.

RIo. Ft. R.