I not sure it wasn't the same for the other major combatants as well, everyone learned by their early errors and misconceptions and as new weapons came to the fore tactics tended to change to accomodate them.. but a slow painfull process non the less...

I did say the platoon has a maximium of 29 men, this should be a minimum: a Sergeant and 28 other ranks... it could of course have more men but this is likely closer to normal in late 1917-18...