Field Zero
The gunner uses the same procedures as for 12.7-meter zeroing except that he places the rear sight on the range to the target. The recommended range is 500 meters. Ensure the front sight adjustment tool is used to unlock the front sight adjustment strap to make adjustments.
What is Setting the Sights
This term defines the curved path of a single projectile as it flies through the air from muzzle to target.
What is Trajectory
Fire delivered on a point target. Little or no manipulation is required. After the initial burst the gunner will follow any change or movement of the target without command.
What is Fixed Fire
The long axis of the beaten zone is at a right angle to the long axis of the target.
What is Frontal
If machinegun fire is to be effective it must be evenly distributed over the entire target.
What is Distribution Of Fire.
The gunner assumes a good stable position and fires bursts of 6 to 8 rounds at the center base of the target and notes where the burst strikes.
What is BURST
This refers to the number of rounds in a trigger pull. This is determined by the shape and size of the target, ground formation, and ammunition supply.
What is BURST OF FIRE
1.Fire distributed against a wide target requiring successive changes in the direction of the gun.
2.Fire distributed in depth by successive changes in the elevation of the gun.
What is Traversing Fire.
What is Searching Fire
Delivered against the flank of a target.
What is Flanking
The process of moving the machinegun between bursts, so that fire is distributed over a wide, deep, or oblique target.
What is Manipulation.
If the center of the beaten zone is to the left or right of the target, he corrects for windage. He adjusts the windage accordingly.
What is CORRECTION FOR WINDAGE
Simply the point on the ground where the cone of fire falls.
What is the BEATEN ZONE
Fire delivered against moving targets which must be quickly engaged and which require rapid changes in both direction and elevation.
What is Free Gun
The long axis of the beaten zone is at an angle, but not a right angle, to the long axis of the target.
What is Oblique
Targets with a width or depth no greater than the beaten zone for the ground that they are located on are considered point targets. The command for this type of fire is fixed.
What is Point Target
If the center of the beaten zone is high or low in relation to the target, he corrects for elevation. Because determining that relationship is difficult, the gunner relies on trial and error to gain sufficient experience in making reliable estimates. He makes corrections in the same manner as 10-meter zeroing
What is CORRECTION FOR ELEVATION
is an area within the maximum range of a weapon which cannot be covered by fire or observation from a particular position because of intervening obstacles, the nature of the ground, the characteristics of the trajectory, or the limitations of the pointing capabilities of the weapon.
What is Dead Space
Employed against targets which require major changes in direction but little or no change in elevation. Targets may be dense, of considerable width, in relatively close formations moving slowly toward or away from the gun, or vehicles or mounted troops moving across the front
What is Swinging Traverse
The long axis of the beaten zone coincides or nearly coincides with the long axis of the target. This class of fire is either frontal or flanking and is the most desirable class of fire with respect to the target, because it makes maximum use of the beaten zone.
What is Enfilade
The techniques used to ensure even distributions of fire on wide targets are determined by several factors.
What is Wide Targets
After making corrections for windage and elevation, the gunner fires confirming bursts of 6 to 8 rounds. If the target is not hit, he repeats the procedures. Once the impacts are on target, the gunner will maintain his position to ensure the gun remains the same while the adjustments are being made, windage first, followed by elevation. Use the front sight adjustment tool to lock the front sight retaining strap in place after adjustments are made.
What is CONFIRMATION
This is the area from the muzzle, out to and including the beaten zone, where a standing man (measured as 1.8 meters tall) will be hit, somewhere on his body, by some part of the cone of fire. This figure of 1.8 meters is used as an estimate of the height of a standing man in tactical planning.
What is THE DANGER ZONE
Fire delivered both in width and depth by changes in direction and elevation. It is employed against a target whose long axis is oblique to the direction of the fire.
What is Traversing and Searching Fire
1.Fire approximately parallel to the ground where the center of the cone of fire does not rise above 1 meter. When firing over level or uniformly sloping terrain, the maximum extent of grazing fire obtainable for the M240B is approximately 580 meters.
2.Fire in which the angle of fall of the rounds, with reference to the slope of the ground, is such that the danger space is practically confined to the beaten zone and the length of the beaten zone is materially shortened.
1. What is Grazing Fire
2. What is Plunging Fire
The techniques used to ensure that there is even fire distribution when engaging deep the length of the target determines targets.
What is Deep Targets