MG Employment Flashcards
What are the classes of fire?
Respect to the ground
Respect to the weapon
Respect to the target
What are the characteristics of fire?
Trajectory Maximum Ordinate Cone of Fire Beaten zone Danger Space
What is trajectory?
The path of the fired round in flight to the target
What is the maximum ordinate?
The highest point of the trajectory between the the muzzle of the weapon and the base of the target.
When does the max ordinate occur in the trajectory?
About 2/3 of the distance between the muzzle of the weapon and the target
Explain 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?
By vibrations of the gun, variations of ammo, and atmospheric conditions.
What are the two ways to determine round impact?
The beaten zone
Tracer rounds
What is danger space?
Space between gun and target where trajectory rises less than 1.8 m(average height of man) from the ground.
What are the two types of fire 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 m off the ground
What is plunging fire?
Occurs when the Danger space is within beaten zone. Occurs at longer ranges when firing from high ground onto low ground and when firing into abruptly rising ground
What are the 6 classes of fire in respect to the weapon?
Fixed Traversing fire Searching fire Traversing and searching fire Swinging traverse Free gun
Define fixed
Delivered against point target when depth and width of the beaten zone covers the target. Only one point of aim needed to provide target coverage.
Define traversing fire
Fire distributed in WIDTH with successive changes in direction. The gunner selects several aiming points throughout the width of the target that are close enough to provide coverage without wasting ammo.
Define searching fire
Fire distributed in DEPTH by changes in elevation. Gunner selects several points of aim. Changes to aim points depend on range/slope of ground.
Define traversing and searching fire
Fire distributed in WIDTH and DEPTH by making changes in elevation and direction. Provides good coverage of target.
Define swinging traverse
Wider distance covered with distribution of fire laterally. No changes in elevation or range. Targets usually have great width.
Define Free gun
Fire distributed against a target that requires rapid major changes in direction or elevation that is difficult with the T&E.
What are the 4 types of fire in respect to the target?
Frontal fire
Flanking fire
Oblique fire
Enfilade fire
Define frontal fire
Occurs when long axis of target is at right angle to the front of the target or inline with the front of the target.
Define Flanking fire
Occurs when long axis of the beaten zone is at rt angle to front of target or inline with front of the target
Define oblique fire
When the long axis of the beaten zone is at any angle other than a right angle or inline with the front of the target.
Define enfilade fire
Occurs when long axis of beaten zone coincides with the long axis of the target. Either frontal or flanking
What class of fire in respect to the weapon is used for point targets
Fixed
Class of fire in respect to the weapon for area targets(or linear with depth)?
Aim center mass and traverse and search to either flank and then reverses to other flank
Target engagement for linear targets?
Initial point of aim is midpoint, use traversing fire