TARGET ENGAGEMENT

The gunner engages targets throughout his sector. He must know how to effectively engage all types of targets either by himself or in conjunction with another gunner.
Single Shooter.

(1) Point Target. When engaging a point target, use fixed fire. If the target moves after the initial burst, adjust fire onto the target by following its movement.
(2) Area Target. When engaging an area target, fire in the center of mass, then traverse and search to either flank. Upon reaching the flank, reverse direction and traverse and search in the opposite direction.
3) Linear Target. When engaging a linear target, traverse to distribute fire evenly onto the target. Cover the entire width of a linear target. The initial point of aim is on the midpoint. Then manipulate fire to cover the rest of the target.
(4) Deep Target. When engaging a deep target, use searching fire. Initially aim on the midpoint of a deep target unless another portion of the target is more critical or presents a greater threat. Then search down to the front of the near end and back up to the far end
(5) Linear Target with Depth. When engaging a linear target with depth, use traversing and searching fire. Begin engagement at the midpoint of the target unless another portion of the target is more critical or presents a greater threat. Traverse and search to the near flank, then back to the far flank.

Two or more Shooters.

(1) Area Targets. When using a pair of shooters to engage area targets, the shooter on the right fires on the right half, and the shooter on the left fires on the left half. The point of initial aim and adjustment for both shooters is on the midpoint. After adjusting fire on the center of mass, both shooters distribute fire by applying direction and elevation changes that give the most effective coverage of the target area. The right shooter traverses to the right, applies the necessary amount of search, and fires a burst. He traverses and searches up and down until the right flank of the area target has been reached. The left shooter traverses and searches to the left flank in the same way. Both shooters then reverse the direction of manipulation and return to the center of mass, firing a burst after each combined direction and elevation change.
(2) Linear Targets. When using a pair of shooters to engage a linear target, the target is divided at midpoint with the shooter on the right of the target firing on the right half, and the shooter on the left of the target firing on the left half.
(a) Both shooters aim on the midpoint initially. After adjusting on the midpoint, the shooter on the right traverses right, firing a burst after each change in direction until the rounds impact beyond the right flank (this ensures complete target coverage). The shooter on the left traverses to the left flank in the same way the shooter on the right did. Both shooters then reverse their directions and return to the midpoint. The shooter must select aiming points for each burst rather than "spray" the target area.
(b) If one part of the target is a greater threat, fire can be concentrated on the greater threat by dividing the target unevenly.
(3) Deep Targets. When using a pair of shooters to engage a deep target, the initial point of aim is also on the midpoint for both shooters. Normally, the shooter on the right has the near half and the shooter on the left has the far half. Since enfilade fire is being used, they do not adjust on the midpoint of the target, because the long beaten zone compensates for any range errors. After the initial burst, the shooter on the right searches down to the front of the near end of the target, and the shooter on the left searches up to beyond the far end. Both shooters then reverse their direction of search and return to the midpoint.
4) Linear Target with Depth. When using a pair of shooters to engage a linear target with depth, the initial point of aim and the extent of manipulation for both shooters is the same as those prescribed for linear targets.

PREDETERMINED FIRES

Predetermined fires organize the battlefield. They allow the team to select potential targets or target areas that will most likely be engaged or that have tactical significance. This includes dismounted enemy avenues of approach, likely positions for automatic weapons, and probable enemy assault positions. The shooters do this by using sectors of fire, final protective lines, or a principal direction of fire and selected target areas. This preparation maximizes the effectiveness of the team during good as well as limited visibility. It enhances fire control by reducing the time required to identify targets, determine range, and manipulate the weapon onto the target.

TERMINOLOGY

Several terms are associated with predetermined fire that every team member needs to know.

Sector of Fire: A sector of fire is an area to be covered by fire that is assigned to an individual, a weapon, or a unit. Support weapons are normally assigned a primary and a secondary sector of fire.

Final Protective Fire: An FPF is an immediately available prearranged barrier of fire to stop enemy movement across defensive lines or areas.

Final Protective Line: An FPL is a predetermined line along which grazing fire is placed to stop an enemy assault. If an FPL is assigned, the support weapon is sighted along it except when other targets are being engaged. An FPL becomes the support weapon’s part of the final protective fires. An FPL is fixed in direction and elevation; however, a small shift for search must be employed to prevent the enemy from crawling under the FPL and to compensate for irregularities in the terrain. Fire must be delivered during all conditions of visibility.

Principal Direction of Fire: A PDF is a direction of fire assigned priority to cover an area that has good fields of fire or has a likely dismounted avenue of approach. It also provides mutual support to an adjacent unit. Support weapons are sighted using the PDF if an FPL has not been assigned. If a PDF is assigned and other targets are not being engaged, support weapons remain on the PDF. A PDF has the following characteristics.
(1) It is used only if an FPL is not assigned; it then becomes the support weapon’s part of the unit's final protective fires.
(2) When the target has width, direction is determined by aiming on one edge of the target area and noting the amount of traverse necessary to cover the entire target.
(3) The shooter is responsible for the entire wedge-shaped area from the muzzle of the weapon to the target, but elevation may be fixed for a priority portion of the target.
Grazing Fire: A good FPL covers the maximum area with grazing fire.
Dead Space: The extent of grazing fire and the extent of dead space may be determined in two ways. In the preferred method, the support weapon is emplaced. A member of the team then walks along the FPL while the gunner aims through the sights. In places where the member's waist (midsection) falls below the gunner's point of aim, dead space exists.

Primary Sector of Fire: The primary sector of fire is the area to be covered by an individual or unit.
Secondary Sector of Fire: The secondary sector of fire is the same area covered by the same individual or unit after it has moved to a different location.

Alright you’re bored but now you have the basics of weapons employment. Now you need to bring it all together. The key to all of this is your weapons trajectory, cone of fire and beaten zone. Combining multiple weapon fires using these three basic weapon characteristics with the above procedures you can lay a wall of plastic no one can get through.

My recommendations:

Know your team weapons and capabilities.

Your support weapon should be the least accurate weapon on the team with the highest rate of fire and greatest ammunition capacity. This increases the cone of fire and beaten zone. In addition because of the area the support weapon can cover and its rate of fire, should the gunner be hit another team member must take over operation of the weapon. The team should plan engagements to provide support to and maneuver around the support weapon.
Assign each team member a principal field of fire or sector to cover. This means the smallest effective fighting unit is two people. You must always have 360 degree coverage.

Exploit every opportunity to employ enfilading fire. This is a force multiplier and an excellent way to achieve fire superiority as the enemy must maneuver while under fire to bring his weapons to bear or risk shooting his own.
Exploit grazing fire whenever possible. It removes the enemy’s freedom of movement.

Practice OODA (Orient, Observe, Decide, Act). A poor plan violently executed in a timely manner is more effective than a great plan executed late.