From PP Flashcards
What FM’s cover Machine Gun Employment
FM 3-22.68 Crew Served Machine Guns
FM 3-21.8 (7-8) Infantry Platoon and Squad
What are the Characteristics of Fire
Trajectory Maximum Ordinate Cone of Fire Beaten Zone Danger Space
What is Trajectory
The path of the round in flight to the target. (Recoil, stability, and control of the weapon all effect the trajectory of the round.)
What is Maximum Ordinate
The highest point of the trajectory between the muzzle of the weapon and the base of the target. Occurs about 2/3 of the distance between the weapon and the target. The Maximum Ordinate increases as the range Increases.
Explain the Cone of Fire
Each round fired in a burst from the same
weapon has a slightly different trajectory.
The pattern these rounds create on the way to the target is the Cone of Fire.
How is the Cone of Fire created
Vibrations of the gun
Variations in ammunition
Atmospheric conditions
What is the Beaten Zone
The elliptical pattern formed on the ground on the target by the striking rounds and the primary way for adjusting fire.
(The length of the beaten zone changes as the range to the target increases. Sloping terrain and short range will lengthen the Beaten Zone.)
What is Danger SPace
The space between the Machine Gun and the target where the trajectory rises less than 1.8 meters (average height of a man) from the ground.
Classes of Fire
Respect to the Ground
Respect to the Target
Respect to the Weapon
What are the two fires in Respect to the Ground
Grazing Fire
Plunging Fire
What is Grazing Fire
Occurs when the center of the cone of fire rises less than 1 meter above the ground.
What is Plunging Fire
Occurs when the Danger Space is within the Beaten Zone, at longer ranges when firing from high ground onto low ground, and when firing into abruptly rising ground.
Explain Respect to the Target
The angle or orientation at which the gun is to the target.
Frontal
Flanking
Oblique
Enfilade
Explain Frontal Fire
Occurs when the long axis of the Beaten Zone is at a right angle to the front of the target or in line with the target.
Explain Flanking Fire
Occurs when the gunner is to the flank of the target.
Explain Oblique Fire
Occurs when the long axis of the Beaten Zone is at any angle other than a right angle to the front of the target.
Explain Enfilade Fire
Occurs when the long axis of the Beaten Zone coincides with the long axis of the target.
(Either frontal or flanking and is the most desired type of fire because it makes the most of the Beaten Zone.)
What are the subcategories to Respect to the Weapon
Fixed
Traversing
Searching
Traversing and Searching
Swinging Traverse
Free-Gun
Fixed Fire
Delivered against a point target when depth and width of the Beaten Zone covers the target.
(Only one aiming point is needed to provide target coverage.)
Traversing Fire
Fire distributed IN WIDTH with successive changes in direction.
(The gunner selects several aiming points throughout the width of the target.
Aiming points are close enough to provide coverage without wasting ammo.)
Searching Fire
Fire distributed IN DEPTH by changes in elevation.
(Gunner selects several aiming points.
Changes made to each aiming point depend on the range and slope of the ground.)
Traversing and Searching Fire
Fire distributed IN WIDTH AND DEPTH by changes in elevation and direction.
Swinging Traverse
Wider distance covered with distribution of fire laterally.
No change to the elevation/range.
Used against a target with great width.
Free Gun
Fire distributed against a target that requires rapid, major changes in direction and elevation that can not be achieved while using the T & E.
Application of Fire
This refers to methods used to cover a target area.
(Gunners are exposed to 2 types of targets
in the squad or platoon sector; enemy soldiers and supporting automatic weapons.
These enemy soldiers and supporting automatic weapons are the gunner’s priority targets and should be engaged ASAP.)
Types of Target Engagements
Point Target
Area Target
Linear Target
Deep Target
Engagement for Point Targets
For point targets the gunner uses Fixed Fire.
If the target moves after the initial burst the gunner follows the movement engaging the target.
Engagement for Area Targets
For an area target the gunner fires at the center mass of the target and then TRAVERSES AND SEARCHES to either flank and then reverses to the other flank.
Engagement for Linear Targets
The initial point of aim is the midpoint and then the gunner manipulates his fire to cover the rest of the target.
(The leader or AG may use reference points to make adjustments.
The reference point should lie on line with the target for the most accurate results.)
Engagement for Deep Targets
The gunner uses SEARCHING FIRE and initially aims at midpoint using single deep targets unless there is another more critical target.
(Then SEARCHES down one aiming point in front of the near end and back up to one aiming point beyond the far end.
The leader may use reference points if the gunner can not observe a deep target.)
Working as a Pair of Gunners
Support by Fire
When a pair of gunners engage area targets each gunner fires on his half of the target area.
This half is then divided up into 2 sections using midpoint references.
Both gunners distribute fire by applying direction and elevation changes for the best coverage.
Type of Fire for Point Targets
Fixed Fire
Type of Fire for Area Targets
Travers and Search
Type of Fire for Linear Targets
Traversing Fire
Type of Fire for Deep Targets
Searching Fire
Type of Fire for Linear Targets With Depth
Traverse and Search
Keys to Overhead Fires
Coordination
Communication
Situational Awareness
Overhead Fires
Overhead fire is only delivered from either
the tripod or vehicle mounts using the
T & E mechanisms.
This type of fire is used from atop
buildings, hill tops, vehicles, or any other
location that is higher than the advancing
troops and ONLY ON TARGETS BETWEEN
350 AND 800 METERS!
Gunner’s Rule
Can be applied when friendly troops are at least 350m in front of the gun position and the range to the target is 850m or less.
Lay the gun on the target with the correct sight setting.
Without disturbing the lay of the gun, set rear sight to 1,600m
Look through sights and notice where the new line of aim
Strikes the ground. This is the limit of troop safety. When the feet of the friendly troops reach this point, fires must be lifted or shifted.
Overhead Fires Safety Measures
Securely emplace tripod. Use field expedient stops to avoid dipping the barrel. Avoid overhead obstacles. Ensure crew knows safety limits. Use good reliable barrels. Refer to AR 350-63 for further guidance
Defilade Position
Defilade is when a machine gun and its crew are completely behind terrain that masks them from the enemy.
An observer controls fires from the Defilade and adjusts them accordingly.
Methods of Fire Control
Verbal Hand and arm signals Prearranged signals Personal contact Range cards SOP’S
Fire Controls SOP’s
Observations Leader checks Shift fire Mutual support Fire Return Fire Rates of Fire
Prearranged Signals
Flares Smoke Phase Lines Tracers Lulls in Fire Taps (Left/Right)
Six Elements of Fire Command
Alert Direction Description Range Method of Fire Command to Fire
Principles of Machine Gun Employment
Mutual Support Coordination Interlocking Fire Sited in Defilade Sited to Produce Enfilade Fire Cover and Concealment Economy of Ammunition
