Classes of Fire

Question 1

3 Classes of Fire

Answer 1

1. Respect to the Ground
2. Respect to the Weapon
3. Respect to the Target

Question 2

Classifications of Fires with Respect to the Ground

Answer 2

Grazing and plunging fire

Question 3

Grazing fire

Answer 3

Automatic weapons achieve grazing fire when the center of the cone of fire does not rise
more than 1 meter above the ground. Maximum = 600m for M240B and M249.

Question 4

Plunging fire

Answer 4

Plunging fire occurs when there is little or no danger space from the muzzle of the weapon to
the beaten zone.
→ It occurs when the weapons:
▪ Fire at long range
▪ When firing from high ground to low ground
▪ When firing into abruptly rising ground
▪ When firing across uneven terrain

Question 5

Classification of Fires with Respect to the Target

Answer 5

1. Enfilade Fire
2. Frontal Fire
3. Flanking Fire
4. Oblique Fire

Question 6

Enfilade fire

Answer 6

Enfilade Fire occurs when the long axis of the beaten zone coincides or nearly
coincides with the long axis of the target. It can be frontal fire on an enemy column
formation or flanking fire on an enemy line formation. This is the most desirable
class of fire with respect to the target because it makes maximum use of the
beaten zone.

Question 7

Frontal fire

Answer 7

Frontal Fire occurs when the long axis of the beaten zone is at a right angle to the front
of the target.

Question 8

Oblique fire

Answer 8

Gunners and automatic riflemen achieve Oblique Fire when the long axis of the
beaten zone is at an angle other than a right angle to the front of the target.

Question 9

Flanking fire

Answer 9

Flanking Fire is delivered directly against the flank of the target.

Question 10

Classification of Fires with Respect to the Weapon:

Answer 10

1. Fixed
2. Traversing
3. Searching
4. Traversing and Searching
5. Swinging Traversing
6. Free Gun

Question 11

Fixed fire

Answer 11

Fixed Fire is delivered against a stationary point target when the depth and width of
the beaten zone will cover the target with little or no manipulation needed.

Question 12

Traversing fire

Answer 12

Traversing disperses fires in width by successive changes in direction, but not
elevation. It is delivered against a wide target with minimal depth

Question 13

Searching fire

Answer 13

Searching distributes fires in depth by successive changes in elevation. It is
employed against a deep target or a target that has depth and minimal width, requiring
changes in only the elevation of the gun.

Question 14

Traversing and searching fire

Answer 14

This class of fire is a combination in which successive changes in direction and
elevation result in the distribution of fires both in width and depth.
→ It is employed against a target whose long axis is oblique to the direction of fire.

Question 15

Swinging traverse

Answer 15

Swinging Traverse Fire is employed against targets that require major changes in
direction but little or no change in elevation.
→ Targets may be dense, wide, in close formations moving slowly or away from the
gun, or vehicles or mounted troops moving across the front.

Question 16

Free Gun

Answer 16

Free Gun Fire is delivered against moving targets that must be rapidly engaged with
fast changes in both direction and elevation.

Question 17

2 types of targets in application of fire

Answer 17

1. Enemy Soldiers

2. Supporting Automatic Weapons