Wiktionary
n. The area that a projectile weapon (or group of weapons) can reach from a given position.
WordNet
n. the area that a weapon or group of weapons can coverr effectively with gun fire from a given position
Wikipedia
The field of fire of a weapon (or group of weapons) is the area around it that can easily and effectively be reached by gunfire. The term field of fire is mostly used in reference to machine guns. Their fields of fire incorporate the beaten zone.
The term originally came from the 'field of fire' in front of forts (and similar defensive positions, cleared so there was no shelter for an approaching enemy).
Beaten zone is a concept in indirect infantry small arms fire, specifically machine guns. It describes the area between the "first catch" and the "last graze" of a bullet's trajectory. At the first of these points, a bullet will hit a standing man in the head, at the last of these points, as the bullet drops, it will hit a standing man in the feet. Anyone standing within the beaten zone will be hit somewhere from head to foot.
The concept works best as part of a static defence with the area covered by a position plotted out beforehand. Usually the machine guns will be mounted on a tripod and indirect fire sights (such as a dial sight) fitted in addition to, or instead of, direct fire ones. Fire can then be called in by spotters to engage specific points in the guns' field of fire, even if out of sight of the machine gunners.
Overlapping machine guns, creating a crossfire, using the beaten zone concept, together with the idea of enfilading were an important part of World War I.
Beaten zone can also refer to the area that shells will usually land in when fired from an artillery piece. It is in the shape of a rectangle with the longer sides parallel to the direction of fire because artillery tends to deviate more forwards and backwards than right and left.
__NOTOC__ "Field of Fire" is the 163rd episode of the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, the 13th episode of the seventh season. The episode first aired February 10, 1999, and was written by Robert Hewitt Wolfe and directed by Tony Dow.
Field of fire or Fields of fire may refer to:
Field of Fire is the second solo album by former Television guitarist Richard Lloyd. It was released in 1986, seven years after his solo debut, Alchemy. The album was recorded in Stockholm, Sweden, backed mostly by Swedish musicians.
The liner notes state that the album is "dedicated to the lodestone". The album sleeve also includes a quote from St. Paul's epistle to the Romans (chapter 15, verse 13, NIV): "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
Usage examples of "field of fire".
We have moved the machine guns around to take advantage of that field of fire, and the rifle positions have been built up all along that area.
You'll a better field of fire, especially after Jochen makes a firing point up there.
The riders shot at anything in their field of fire: men, women, or children.
What other hex is within the field of fire and would provide a near irresistible target for revenge while also serving some practical military use?
From the raised position on its platform on the highest point of ground east of the tower, amid the fields, the weapons laser had a clean field of fire in nearly any direction.
All frequencies were silent, and so Angelo came to his feet, rifle leveled at waist height, covering his field of fire.
She found, increasingly, she could expand her field of fire, and attack the rear ranks.
Tyrion wondered if Aegon the Conqueror had felt like this as he flew above his Field of Fire.
You Starks were kings once, the Arryns and the Lannisters as well, and even the Baratheons through the female line, but the Tyrells were no more than stewards until Aegon the Dragon came along and cooked the rightful King of the Reach on the Field of Fire.