M249 Rates of Fire:
Sustained: 100 RPM in 3-5 round burst
Rapid: 200 RPM in 8-10 round bursts
Cyclic: 650 - 850 RPM
What are the rates of fire for the M249 SAW? Sustained 100 rounds per minute, Rapid 200
rounds per minute and cyclic 650 to 850 rounds per minute
What is the use of the M240C? Coaxially mounted version
Maximum ordinate is the highest point the trajectory reaches between the muzzle of the
weapon and the base of the target. It always occurs about two-thirds of the distance from the
weapon to the target. The maximum ordinate increases as the range increases.
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.
Danger Space-The danger space is the space between the machine gun and the target where
the trajectory does not rise above 1.8 meters (the average height of a standing soldier). This
space includes the area of the beaten zone. When the machine gun is fired on level or uniformly
sloping terrain at a target less than 700 meters away, the trajectory does not rise above the
average height of a standing soldier. When targets are engaged on level or uniformly sloping
terrain at ranges greater than 700 meters, the trajectory rises above the average height of a
standing soldier, therefore, not all the distance between the machine gun and the target is
danger space.
What is the beaten Zone?Is the elliptical pattern formed by the rounds striking the ground or
the target
What is the 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.
What is Maximum Ordinate? Maximum ordinate is the highest point the trajectory reaches
between the muzzle of the weapon and the base of the target.
Respect to Ground
Grazing Fire
Plunging Fire
Respect to Target
Frontal Fire
Flanking Fire
Oblique Fire
Enfilade Fire
Respect to Weapon
Fixed Fire
Traversing Fire
Searching Fire
Traversing and Searching Fire
Free-Gun Fire
Respect to Target
Frontal Fire. Frontal fire is when the long axis of the beaten zone is at a right angle to the front of the
target. An example is when firing at the front of a target.
Flanking Fire. Flanking fire is firing at the side of a target.
Oblique Fire. Oblique fire is when the long axis of the beaten zone is at an angle other than a right angle
to the front of the target.
Enfilade Fire. Enfilade fire is when the long axis of the beaten zone coincides or nearly coincides with the
long axis of the target. This type of fire is either frontal or flanking. It is the most desirable type of fire
with respect to a target, because it makes maximum use of the beaten zone.
Respect to Weapon
Fixed Fire. Fixed fire is fire delivered against a point target when the depth and width of the beaten zone
covers the target. Fixed fire also means only one aiming point is necessary to provide coverage of the
target.
Traversing Fire. Traversing fire is fire distributed in width by successive changes in direction. The gunner
selects successive aiming points throughout the width of the target. These aiming points must be close
enough to ensure adequate coverage but not so close as to waste ammunition
Searching Fire. Searching fire is fire distributed in depth by successive changes in elevation. The gunner
selects successive aiming points in depth. The changes made in each aiming point will depend on the
range and slope of the ground.
Traversing and Searching Fire. Traversing and searching fire is fire distributed in width and depth by
successive changes in direction and elevation. Combining traversing and searching provides good
coverage of the target. Adjustments are made in the same manner as described for traversing and
searching fire.
Free-Gun Fire. Free-gun fire is fire delivered against targets requiring rapid major changes in direction
and elevation that cannot be applied with the T&E mechanism. To deliver this type of fire, the gunner
removes the T&E mechanism from the traversing bar on the tripod, allowing the weapon to be moved
freely in any direction.
What is Frontal Fire? Frontal fire is when the long axis of the beaten zone is at a right angle to the front
of the target.
What is Enfilade Fire?Enfilade fire is when the long axis of the beaten zone coincides or nearly coincides
with the long axis of the target
Area targets include-
Linear Targets (Traversing Fire) Linear targets are wide enough to require successive aiming points
delivered via traversing fire. The beaten zone effectively covers the depth of the target area.
Deep Targets (Searching Fire) Deep targets require successive aiming points delivered via searching fire.
A machine gun fire command has six elements: alert, direction, description, range, method of fire, and
command to open fire
What is the Maximum Ordinate?
Answer: The maximum ordinate is the highest point the trajectory reaches between the muzzle of the
weapon and the base of the target.
What are the classes of fire?
Answer: The machine gun fire is classified with respect to the GROUND, the TARGET, and the WEAPON.
What are four (4) fires with respect to the target?
Answer: Fires with respect to the target includes frontal, flanking, oblique, and enfilade fires.
What are four (4) fires with respect to the weapon?
Fires with respect to the weapon includes fixed, traversing, searching, and traversing and searching fires.
What are the six (6) elements of fire commands for the machine gun?
The elements of fire commands are ALERT, DIRECTION, DESCRIPTION, RANGE METHOD OF FIRE, AND
COMMAND TO OPEN FIRE.
Answer: The leader raises his arm and hand, palm outward, in front of his forehead and brings it
downward sharply.
What is a point target?
Answer: A point target requires the use of a single aiming point.
What is an area target?
Answer: An area target have considerable width and depth and may require extensive traversing and
searching fire.
Question: What are the three (3) rates of fire for a machine gun?
Answer: The three rates of fire are sustained, rapid and cyclic.
Question: What type of fire is used when engaging a deep target?
Answer: When engaging a deep target, the automatic rifleman must use a searching fire
Frontal fire occurs when the long axis of the beaten zone is at a right angle to the front of the target.
Point Targets-Fixed fire.
Enemy troops, bunkers, weapon emplacements and lightly armored vehicles.
Area Targets-Traversing and Searching Fire.
Linear Targets-Traversing Fire
Deep Targets-Searching Fire
Linear Targets with Depth-Traversing and Searching Fire
