SQUAD
RIGHT FRONT
SNIPER ON ROOF OF FARMHOUSE
TWO HUNDRED
JONES AND SMITH
COMMENCE FIRING
An example of a fire command using a reference
point and finger measurements is the following:
LEFT FRONT
Reference: WHITE CHURCH SPIRE
ON HORIZON, RIGHT THREE FINGERS
Target: MACHINE GUN IN BUSHES
Figure 3-70.--Measurement of angles by hand and fingers.
THREE HUNDRED
TEAMS ONE AND TWO
COMMENCE FIRING
with the index finger, vertically to the reference point.
(See fig. 3-70.)
APPLICATION OF FIRE
2. Close one eye, sight along the outside of the
index finger so one edge is on the reference point. Use
Application of fire consists of placing the fire of a
the other edge of the appropriate number of fingers (one,
unit on the desired target at the proper time and the
control of the fire after that. Accurately controlled fire
two, three, or four) to locate the hidden target. When this
on the enemy has both a physical (casualty producing)
method is used, the command will sound like-
and a morale effect.
FROM REFERENCE POINT
MOVE LEFT THREE FINGERS
FINAL PROTECTIVE LINES
FIRE WHEN READY
A final protective line is a predetermined line where
TARGET DESCRIPTION should be brief and
interlocking bands of grazing fire are placed in order to
accurate. A target maybe POINT, such as a machine gun,
stop enemy assaults. The elevation and direction of the
LINEAR, such as a line of skirmishers, or AREA, such
fire are fixed and capable of being delivered under any
condition of visibility.
as men or women dispersed through a clump of woods.
Because of irregularities in the terrain, fixed
RANGE may be announced orally or indicated by
machine gun fire cannot always produce the maximum
arm-and-hand signals.
effective grazing fire. Then the leader uses rifle fire to
TARGET ASSIGNMENT designates who is to fire
ensure that all the final protective lines are covered.
at the target. If the whole unit has been alerted and if the
Fire on the final protective line during periods of
leader desires that they all fire, then target assignments
good visibility is aimed and adjusted fire. Under such
may be eliminated.
conditions, the section leader will generally determine
The FIRE CONTROL element normally consists of
the rate of fire and may also give the order to cease firing.
the command, COMMENCE FIRING or FIRE, plus
Under conditions of poor visibility, the battalion
any designation the leader desires about rate of fire, such
order may prescribe the rates of fire. In the absence of
as QUICK FIRE, FIRE FASTER, FIRE SLOWER.
instructions, the usual rate of fire for a section on a final
The following is an example of a simple fire
protective line is the rapid rate for the first 2 minutes,
command:
then the medium rate until ordered to cease firing.
3-36