MG Employment Flashcards
what is trajectory?
is the path of round in flight to the target, recoil, stability and control of the weapon will affect the trajectory on the round
what is MAX ordinate?
is the highest point of trajectory between the muzzle of the weapon and the base of the target, it occurs 2/3 of the distance between the weapon and the target, Max ordinates increases as range increases.
what is cone of fire?
each round fired in burst from the same weapon has slightly different trajectory, the pattern these rounds create on the way to the target is called cone of fire, the cone of fire is created by the vibration of the guns, various in ammo and atmospheric condition.
what is beaten zone?
is the elliptical pattern formed on the ground on the target by striking rounds. 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 zone?
is the space between the machine gun and the target where the trajectory rises less than 1.8 m from the ground
3 types of classes of fire
respect to the ground, target and weapon
4 types of respect to the target?
frontal
flanking
oblique
enfilade
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. plunging fire occurs at longer ranges, when firing from high ground onto low ground, and when firing into abruptly rising ground.
6 types of respect to the weapon?
fixed traversing searching traversing and searching swinging traverse free-gun
what is overhead fire?
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
what is defilade position?
defilade is when a machine gun and it’s crew are completely behind terrain that masks them from the enemy.
what are the advantages?
crew has some cover and concealment
some freedom of movement
controlwand supply are easier to accomplish
hidden from enemy observation
what are the disadvantages?
rapidly moving targets are hard to engage.
close targets are nearly impossible to engage.
final protective fires do not apply.
communication of direction and elevation can be difficult.
what are the methods of fire control?
verbal hand and arm signal prearranged signals personal contact range cards SOP observation fire leaders check return of fire rate of fire shift fire
prearranged signals
flares phase lines smokes tracers brevity codes lulls in fire taps
2 types of application of fires
enemy soilders and supporting auto weapons
what is 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.
flanking fire
occurs when the gunner is to flank of the target
what is point target?
for point target the gunner uses fixed fire.
what is area target?
for an area target the gunner fires at the center mass of the target and than traverse and search
what is linear target?
the linear point of aim is the midpoint and than the gunner manipulates his fire to cover the rest of the target.
what is the review of the application of fire?
point target - fixed fire area target - traverse and search linear target - traversing deep target - searching linear target with depths - traverse and search
what are the employment techniques?
accurate, sustainable, safe, suppressive ,timely and deadly fires.
what is observation adjustments
observation is placed to the rear of position along the gun target line
what is fire control, but is not limited to:
leaders and soilder planning designation of targets midpoint n flanks signals rates of fire
what is prearranged signals?
flares, smokes, phase line, tracers, brevity codes,lulls in fire, taps
6 elements of fire commands
alert direction description range method of fire command to open fire
principal of MG employment
mutual support coordination interlocking fire sited in defilade aired to produce enfilade of fire covered and concealment economy of ammo
