Customer Reviews

Light Infantry Tactics: For Small Teams

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

For the layman, this is an excellent overview of basic light infantry tactics. It encompasses a broad array of the various aspects of tactics including movement, hand signals, orders, and battle drills. Even for the new infantryman, it consolidates the necessities of basic infantry stuff for squad and platoon level.
My issue with the book only comes from coming short of expectations. I had hoped it would include the basics of MOUT with the plethora of lessons learned in Southwest Asia but it did not. I was also hoping for something a little bit updated, compact, and originally organized. It is none of those, taking info and pictures right out of Army manuals (mostly FM 7-8) and for even the former infantryman, this book has nothing new to offer. It has nearly 100% of the tactics I studied 12 years ago, albeit in a slightly more condensed and slightly improved format (Army FM's are generally along 5th grade reading level and this holds the line, but with improved graphics, although the drawings seem to be lifted right out of the original manuals)There are other guides out there that are more complete and probably more up to date, but this isn't a bad compilation for the uninitiated, although it could have been smaller in size and therefore better suited for the field.

This book describes the basic skills needed to be a member of an infantry fire team. Topics discussed include hand signals, ambushes, marching formations, offensive and defensive tactics, etc., pretty much everything an infantryman needs to know about operating at the fire team/squad level other than how to fire your weapon. There is a discussion at the end of each section that applies what is learned to a real world historical situation so the reader can better understand how the principals are actually put into action. As discussed by some of the other reviewers, this book is quite basic; there is little higher level information contained within. It is geared to prepare the reader to be a member of a fire team and nothing more. There is virtually no information on higher level (platoon or company) operations, and the knowledge required of even a squad leader greatly exceeds that contained in this book. If you've served in the Army in a combat MOS or in the Marines, you probably already know (alot) more about this subject than what is contained in this book. This is a book on tactics for an individual in an infantry fire team and if this is what you are looking for, I would highly recommend it. If you want something more detailed than this, you should go elsewhere.

This tactics manual can be considered an essential book for anyone in the military, in tactical law enforcement, or in tactical simulation exercises, even to the realm of weekend paintballers. The language is much more simplified than any standard issue field manual and gives you the real 'meat and potatoes' of light infantry tactics (moving in squads, hand signals, etc.). It also provides the reader with a view of standard maneuvers, like assaults, defenses, and ambushes.

Definitely worth a read, definitely worth keeping in your pack, definitely worth using often.

The night it arrived in the mail I started reading, soon I was skimming to take in all I could in the shortest time possible. It was everything I had looked for in similar books but in a format that was easy to grasp in a short time. Without a doubt, I think this is the best book of it's kind. Whatever small unit skills you wish to master, the foundation is here: hand signals, map and compass use, attack and defense principles for individuals and small units, and even a glossary for the innevitable avalanche of military abbreviations and acronyms. Having this book will save you a lot of time and money trying to piece the same information from a collection of other books. Take it camping or hunting or paintballing and you will not be disappointed.

This book is the book to read for anyone in the armed services anywhere. I was really surprised to find how well written and easy to understand this book is. If your interested or practice tactics this is the book for you!

The book basically refers to itself as a tactical manual for the everyman--and it pretty much is. Very easy to read, comprehend and apply. Written in plain English, most of which is relayed conversationaly, easy to read. Even has pictures!

If you want a clear, concise, simple description and explanation of small group tactics this is it. No searching around FM's to find stuff, its all compiled and explained in this self contained book. I'm an independent scholar in military studies and I was physically unable to serve so I did not have a first hand opportunity to learn this very basic infantry information. I have trained martial skills for the Army and with law enforcement so I can appreciate the need for the type of clarity you'll find in this book. To those who are active I would recommend this book as an excellent reference.

Larsen served in the U.S. Army from 1985-1994 as an NCO in light infantry, air assault, and mech infantry. He's done everything from walking "permanent" point (He explains this in the book under Lessons Learned) to training the New Iraqi Army and instructing at West Point and with the 10th Special Forces Group. Larsen doesn't waste your time. Each chapter is divided up into a clear definition followed by detailed step by step parts of each tactical battle drill(TBD)of which 14 are included in the book. The table of contents reads like this:
Individual Competencies
1. Camoflauge
2. Hand & Arm Signals
3. Infantry Movement Techniques
4. Fighting Positions
5. Land Navigation
6. Communication & Procedure
Leadership Competencies
1. Troop Leading Procedures
2. Pre-combat Inspection
3. OpOrder & Warning Order
4. After Action Review
Patrolling Methods
1. Departing & Reentering the FFL
2. Traveling Methods
3. Attack Formations
4. Crossing Danger Areas
5. React to Ambush
Defensive Procedures
1. Establish a Security Halt
2. Establish an ORP
3. Establish a Patrol Base
4. Establish a Hide Position
5. Establish a Defensive Line
Offensive Operations
1. The Reconnoiter
2. The Ambush (there is lots of info on different ambushes in the appendix)
3. The Raid
4. The Attack
As a professional educator I can appreciate when a lesson is well prepared and clearly presented and Larsen has done that in this book. All terms are explained or there is a glossary in the back so if you've never read this type of material before you don't have to worry about getting lost in "Armyspeak".

Each move is explained in detail so you know why you are doing what he explains. The chapters end with a summary and a "Lesson Learned" actual example, some are his own experiences. Simple diagrams and drawings clearly highlight what is taught. If there is one negative to this book it is the 8x10 size which makes for awkward reading and lugging around...But lug it around.

I've been a long time player of wargames like paintball etc. As a team we've tried numerous tactics and devised our own procedures of combat. This book would have saved us a lot of trouble. And it would have done a much better job, too. Fun and interesting to read it provide the reader with all there is to know and more about tactics. An excellent piece of work!

individual skill #4: fighting positions not covered very well. leader skill #3: warning & operations orders needs to include a real example of what each would look like. would like to see movement and combat formations covered alot better. file, wedge, column, echlon right (left), line, vee for fire teams, squad and possibly platoon. I personally would rather have spent my money on another book and not this one.

Chris Larson as assembled and excellent work much of which follows the common statement "obvious but needs to be taught... simple but needs to be learned." For those in service and those who are "freelances" will learn much from his non complicated and straight forward approach. This is not strictly a tactical book (depending on your definition of tactics) it is however excellent fundamentals from which even the most experienced will rarely depart. To apply the material is a matter of discipline, training and review, owning the book won't help you much if you don't implement what is in it. But it is simple enough that handfull of novices could implement the contents as the step by step teaching is clear. Recommend it for those who want hands on stuff and a good read for the armchair warriors. To the authors credit he has resisted running an ad campaign for Americas equipment sellers or "what the best gun for me" and cut straight to the chase. Small groups of Militia, Survival and Independent communities who are looking for some strait forward understanding of how to organize method and movement in their security elements will benefit from this work. The book is definitely orientated to small 4 - 6 man teams with a unstated focus on the freelanced team In short it tells you what to do (freelance) without have been told what to do (command).