• Cone of Fire: When several rounds are fired in a burst from any machine
gun, each round takes a slightly different trajectory. The pattern these rounds
form on the way to the target is called a cone of fire. This pattern is caused
primarily by vibration of the machine gun and variations in ammunition and
atmospheric conditions.
• Beaten Zone: The beaten zone is the elliptical pattern formed by the rounds
striking the ground or the target. The size and shape of the beaten zone
changes when the range to the target changes or when the machine gun is
fired on different types of terrain. On uniformly sloping or level terrain, the
beaten zone is long and narrow. As the range to the target increases, the
beaten zone becomes shorter and wider. When fire is delivered on terrain
sloping down and away from the machine gun, the beaten zone becomes
longer. When fire is delivered on rising terrain, the beaten zone becomes
shorter. The terrain has little effect on the width of the beaten zone.
• Point Targets: require the use of a single aiming point. Examples of point
targets are enemy soldiers, bunkers, weapons emplacements, and lightly
armored vehicles. Fixed fire is delivered at point targets.
• Area Targets: Area targets may have considerable width and depth and
may require extensive traversing and searching fire. These include targets in
which the exact location of the enemy is unknown. The following are varieties
of area targets likely to be engaged.
- Linear Targets. Linear targets have sufficient width to require successive
aiming points (traversing fire). The beaten zone effectively covers the depth of
the target area. Traversing fire is delivered at linear targets.
- Deep Targets. Deep targets require successive aiming points (searching
fire). Searching fire is delivered at deep targets.
- Linear Targets with Depth. Linear targets with depth have sufficient width
requiring successive aiming points in which the beaten zone does not cover
the depth of the target area. A combined change in direction and elevation
(traversing and searching) is necessary to effectively cover the target with fire
Traversing and searching fire are delivered at linear targets with depth.
GTA 07-10-001
Machine Gunner’s Card
METHODS OF APPLICATIONS OF FIRE
• Grazing Fire: occurs when the center of the cone of fire does not rise more
than 1 meter above the ground. When firing on level or uniformly sloping
terrain, the gunner can obtain a maximum of 600 meters of grazing fire.
• Plunging Fire: occurs when the danger space is confined to the beaten zone.
Plunging fire also occurs when firing at long ranges, from high ground to low
ground, into abruptly rising ground, or across uneven terrain, resulting in a loss
of grazing fire at any point along the trajectory.
• Frontal Fire: long axis of the beaten zone at right angle to front of target
• Flanking Fire: Flanking fire is firing at the side of a target
• Oblique Fire: long axis of the beaten zone at angle (<90
0
) to front of the
target
• Enfilade Fire: long axis of the beaten zone coincides or nearly coincides with
the long axis of the target; Most desirable type of fire… maximizes the effects
• Final Protective Fire/Line(FPL): An FPL is a predetermined line along which
grazing fire is placed to stop an enemy assault. If an FPL is assigned, the
machine gun is sighted along it except when other targets are being engaged.
Fire must be delivered during all conditions of visibility.
KEY MACHINE GUN DEFINITIONS
Ref: FM 3-22.68
FIXED TRAVERSING SEARCHING TRAVERSE & SEARCH FREE GUN
Cone of Fire
Beaten Zone
ENGAGING MOVING TARGETS: LEADS
SPEED RANGE OF TARGET
(Vehicle)
15
mph
300
meters
500
meters
900
meters
1/2 X
Target
length
1 X
Target
length
2 X
Target
lengths
Grazing Fire
Plunging Fire
Date: June 2002
DISTRIBUTION RESTRICTION: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
