The following would thus suffice for defending a front of 1000 m.:
Firing line 1000 men
Replacement of casualties 200 "
Flank protection (2 companies) 400 "
Reserve 800 "
Total 2400 men
Hence, 2.4 rifles per meter of front would be available
for defense.
The defense is decided by a successful counter-attack made by the reserve, whereas the attack requires an additional force to cover and assure the assembling and re-forming of the troops. The greater force is naturally required by the attacker, who must be stronger than the defender at the moment when the assault is made. The following would be required for making an attack on a front of 1000 m.:
Firing line 1200 rifles
Replacement of casualties (1/2) 600 "
Flank protection 400 "
Reserve 2000 "
-
Total 4200 rifles
This would be equivalent to 4.2 rifles per meter of front.
These figures can only serve as a very general guide, of course, and should be considered minima.
The number of troops required for attack or defense must be determined
separately for each individual case. At Lovtcha, 25 battalions, 92
guns, and 15 sotnias were not considered too large a force for attacking
8000 Turks with only 6 guns. At Gorni Dubniac, 3 infantry divisions of
the Guard, with 90 guns, attacked 6 weak Turkish battalions having only
4 guns. After the first two unsuccessful assaults on Plevna, the Russians
overestimated the strength of the enemy. Osman Pasha's force was estimated
at 80,000 men, and, consequently, during the September assaults,
90,000 men and 400 guns were deemed necessary to attack barely 40,000
Turks and 60 guns.
