What military tactic involved artillery fire moving forward in stages to support infantry advances, and at which battles was it notably employed?

• A. A rolling barrage; notably used at the Battle of Jutland
• B. A cavalary assault; notably used at the Battle of Tannenberg
• C. A creeping barrage; notably used at the Somme, Vimy Ridge, and Passchendaele
• D. An aerial bombardment tactic; notably used at the Battle of Verdun

Answer: (D)

A creeping barrage is the tactic in question. It involves artillery fire moving forward in timed increments just ahead of advancing infantry, creating a moving shield that suppresses the enemy and helps troops cross open ground. This level of coordination between gunners and soldiers required precise timing, reliable communication, and disciplined execution, because the barrage had to lift ahead of the troops without leaving gaps that could expose them to machine-gun fire or hidden defenders.

This approach was notably used at the Somme in 1916, where it helped infantry advance across heavily defended terrain after a heavy bombardment, and at Vimy Ridge in 1917, where a carefully synchronized barrage allowed the Canadian forces to seize the ridge. It also featured at Passchendaele in 1917, where advancing through mud and difficult ground relied on keeping the enemy under cover with a moving artillery curtain.