The leader of a fire unit, after making the decision to fire on a target, must give instructions about how to engage the target. He or she gives these instructions in the form of a fire command. A fire command for machine guns contains four basic elements: the ALERT, the TARGET, the DESIGNATION, the METHOD OF FIRE, and the command to OPEN FIRE. Examples of the four elements are given below.

1. The alert designates the gun crew that is to fire and alerts them to receive the command. The alert includes the following:

Gun crew to fire-FIRST SECTION Target alert-FIRE MISSION, with STATION-ARY TARGET, MOVING TARGET, or other additional necessary information

2. The leader gives the target designation as follows:

Direction-FRONT Target description-COLUMN OF TROOPS Range-FIVE FIVE ZERO (yd)

3. He or she designates the method of engaging by naming the method, such as TRAVERSE. The rate of fire is a part of the method of fire. The leader states the amount of fire to place on the target, such as 75 ROUNDS PER MINUTE or MEDIUM RATE.

4. The command to open fire is COMMENCE FIRING or FIRE. When a large volume of sudden surprise fire is desired, the leader may preface the command with the preparatory command, On My Command. The unit leader then waits until all gunners have located the target and aimed before giving the command of execution.

Fire control will also include any necessary adjustment corrections for machine guns, as RIGHT TWO ZERO MILS, ADD THREE MILS.

A fire command for riflemen and automatic riflemen contains six basic elements: the alert, the direction, the target description, the range, the target assignment, and the fire control.

The ALERT brings the unit to a state of readiness to receive further information. If all men or women in the unit are not to fire, the command also designates those who are to fire. If all men or women are to fire, the command for the alert is SQUAD. If only certain men or women are to fire, the names of the men or women are stated after the word SQUAD.

The DIRECTION element tells the riflemen the target direction. It may be given orally, such as RIGHT FRONT or by pointing or firing in the direction of the target. If the target is not readily visible, a reference point may be used. A reference point is some prominent terrain feature, either natural or artificial, to use to make the target easier to locate. The reference point should be well defined and easily recognized. If possible, the point should be on a line with, and beyond, the target because, in this position, it is a more accurate reference for a number of men or women firing from separate positions.

For the sake of brevity, the leader designates the reference point by the single word REFERENCE, followed by a description of the point, such as FARM HOUSE ON HORIZON. He or she should give the distance right or left. He or she may give this distance in FINGER MEASUREMENTS in which the method to use is as follows:

1. Extend your arm full length with the palm up. Point the appropriate number of fingers, beginning

Figure 3-70.-Measurement of angles by hand and fingers.

with the index finger, vertically to the reference point. (See fig. 3-70.)

2. Close one eye, sight along the outside of the index finger so one edge is on the reference point. Use the other edge of the appropriate number of fingers (one, two, three, or four) to locate the hidden target. When this method is used, the command will sound like-FROM REFERENCE POINT MOVE LEFT THREE FINGERS FIRE WHEN READY TARGET DESCRIPTION should be brief and accurate. A target maybe POINT, such as a machine gun, LINEAR, such as a line of skirmishers, or AREA, such as men or women dispersed through a clump of woods. RANGE may be announced orally or indicated by arm-and-hand signals.

TARGET ASSIGNMENT designates who is to fire at the target. If the whole unit has been alerted and if the leader desires that they all fire, then target assignments may be eliminated.

The FIRE CONTROL element normally consists of the command, COMMENCE FIRING or FIRE, plus any designation the leader desires about rate of fire, such as QUICK FIRE, FIRE FASTER, FIRE SLOWER. The following is an example of a simple fire command:

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 THREE HUNDRED TEAMS ONE AND TWO COMMENCE FIRING

APPLICATION OF FIRE

Application of fire consists of placing the fire of a unit on the desired target at the proper time and the control of the fire after that. Accurately controlled fire on the enemy has both a physical (casualty producing) and a morale effect.