Machine Gun Flashcards
Automatic riflemen use assault fire in close combat, which is firing without the aid of sights using hip, shoulder, and underarm positions. What is a consideration for automatic riflemen using assault fire?
Aim low and walk fire upwards.
Fire distributed in width and depth by successive changes in direction and elevation is known as ____.
Searching and traversing
Distributed fire is delivered in width and depth such as at an enemy formation. Concentrated fire is delivered at a point target such as an automatic weapon or an enemy fighting position. What determines how machine gun fire is applied at these targets?
Target type or activity
_____ occurs when the long axis of the beaten zone is at an angle other than a right angle to the front of the target.
Oblique fire
What are the rates of fire for the M249 squad automatic weapon?
Sustained: 50RPM in 6-9 round bursts
Rapid: 100RPM in 6-9 round bursts
Cyclic: 850RPM
Gunners can use this technique of fire when there is sufficient low ground between the machine gun and target area of the maneuver friendly force.
Overhead
What are the six fires in respect to the machine gun?
Fixed Traversing Searching Traversing and searching Swinging traversing Free gun
Fire commands are given to deliver fire on a target quickly and without confusion. What are the six elements of fire commands for the machine gun?
Alert Direction Description Range Method of fire Command to fire
When several rounds are fired in a burst from a machine gun, each round takes a slightly different trajectory. The pattern these rounds form on the way to the target is called the _____.
Cone of fire
Gunners can conserve ammunition and reduce barrel changes by using the _____ rate of fire once the enemy has been suppressed.
Sustained
What are the four classifications of fires with respect to the target?
Frontal
Flanking
Oblique
Enfilade
______ fire is employed against targets requiring major changes in direction but little to no change in elevation.
Swinging traversing
What type of fire is employed against a deep target or a target having depth and minimal width, requiring only changes in elevation of the gun?
Searching fire
_____ fire occurs when the long axis of the beaten zone is at a right angle to the front of the target.
Frontal
What is fixed fire?
Fixed fire is delivered against a stationary point target when the depth and width of the beaten zone covers the target with little or no manipulation needed.
What is a field expedient technique used to define sector limits and may provide the lay of the FPL or predetermined targets along a sector?
Aiming stakes/base stakes
_____ occurs when there is little or no danger space from the muzzle of the weapon to the beaten zone. It occurs when weapons fire at long range, when firing from high ground to low ground, when firing into abruptly rising ground, or when firing across uneven terrain, resulting in a loss of grazing fire at points along the trajectory.
Plunging fire
_____ fire is delivered against moving targets, rapidly engaging with fast changes in both direction and elevation.
Free gun
What is the highest point the trajectory reaches between the muzzle of the weapon and the base of the target?
Maximum ordinate
_____ 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.
Enfilade fire
What are the rates of fire for the M240 medium machine gun?
Sustained: 100RPM in 6-9 round bursts
Rapid: 200RPM in 10-13 round bursts
Cyclic: 650-950RPM
What are the rates of fire for the M2 heavy machine gun?
Sustained: 40RPM in 6-9 round bursts
Cyclic: 450-550RPM
What is the weight of the Mk19 machine gun?
140.6 lbs
What are the rates of fire for the Mk19 machine gun?
Sustained: 40RPM
Rapid: 60RPM
Cyclic: 325-375RPM
What are the characteristics of fire?
Line of sight Burst of fire Trajectory Maximum ordinate Cone of fire Beaten zone Danger space Surface danger zone
What is line of sight?
An imaginary line drawn from the firer’s eye through the sights to the point of aim.
What is a burst of fire?
A number of successive rounds fired with the same elevation and point of aim when the trigger is held to the rear.
What is trajectory?
The curved path of the projectile in its flight from the muzzle of the weapon to its impact.
What is the beaten zone?
The elliptical pattern formed when the rounds within the cone of fire strike the ground or target.
What is the danger space?
The space between the muzzle of the weapon and target where trajectory does not rise above 1.8 meters including the beaten zone.
_____ were developed for each weapon and are defined as the area in front, back, or side of the muzzle of the weapon providing a danger to friendly forces when the weapon is fired.
Surface danger zones
When does max ord occur?
About two-thirds of the way to the target.
An effective beaten zone contains ___% of rounds.
85
What shape is the beaten zone?
Oval or cigar shaped
What are the three classes of MG fire?
Respect to the ground
Respect to the target
Respect to the machine gun
What are the types of fire with respect to the ground?
Grazing fire
Plunging fire
Overhead fire (Dead space)
What is the ideal type of fire with respect to the target?
Enfilade fire
What are the types of targets?
Point
Area
What type of fire is used against point targets?
Fixed
What type of fire is used against area targets?
Traversing
Searching
Swinging Traversing
What determines the distribution and concentration of fire?
The size and nature of the target
What are some types of predetermined machine gun fire?
Final protective fire Final protective line Principal direction of fire Grazing fire Dead space Primary sector of fire Secondary sector of fire
What are the leader initiated methods of fire control?
Verbal Arm and hand signals Prearranged signals Personal contact Range cards Standard operating procedures
What are some gun team initiated methods of fire control?
SOP Observation Check Mutual support Fire Return fire Shift fire Rate of fire
What are the types of fire commands?
Initial
Subsequent
Abbreviated
Doubtful elements and corrections
What do subsequent fire commands comprise?
Direction and elevation
Rate of fire
Fire command
Termination
When is a range card prepared?
As soon as the gunner occupies his fighting position.
What should usually be the first target reference point listed on a range card?
The final protective line/fire
Automatic weapons achieve _____ when the center of the cone of fire does not rise more than one meter above the ground.
Grazing fire
