Second Battalion of the IX Coast Artillery Corps demonstrating the hollow square formation used in the event of a street riot. New York City, 1918. [1738×1404]

Comments

1. T0astedT0ast

   Lol I can see light machine guns and rifles but no bars or shields whatsoever, 1918 I guess

2. 1000Airplanes

   So could someone explain the tactical advantage of this formation?

3. rumbletom

   Also used by the British at the Battle Of Waterloo.

4. Fuzzycthulu

   Same thing was used in the book World War Z to kill zombies, pretty cool

5. JazzboTN

   The square is used to protect infantry from cavalry charges since the 16th century.

6. idiotsecant

   I think if you’re good with using machine guns for crowd control you probably don’t need to go through all the effort of making a fancy formation.