Dispersion serves two purposes. The preceding pages have shown how dispersion aids concealment when vehicles are sited to take advantage of the terrain pattern. Dispersion also is the only effective way of reducing damage caused by a bombing or strafing attack made against a group of vehicles on the march, at a halt, or in bivouac.

    The distance between vehicles when dispersed depends on the situation and is a command decision.                        

Dispersion should be standing operating procedure unless the unit commander specifically orders otherwise to meet a particular situation. Vehicles are always important targets for enemy bombing and artillery attack. On the march, if the enemy is overhead, they are sure to be seen, but they can make unprofitable targets of themselves. An unprofitable target is one in which a well-aimed bomb cannot possibly knock out more than one or two vehicles.

    When vehicles are in terrain which does not restrict them to a column—as in a desert—maintain dispersion distances in width as well as in depth. This will further reduce the number of targets for an enemy bombing or strafing run.