FA Terms

Laying

The process of orienting a weapon for direction

Direct lay

The weapon uses the target as the aiming reference

Indirect lay

The weapon uses something other than the target as an aiming reference

Azimuth of fire/azimuth of lay

The direction in mils that the battery or platoon is laid on when it occupies

Line of fire

The direction of the line established by the imaginary line extending through the tube’s central axis looking through the breech to the muzzle of the weapon or any line parallel to that line in the firing position

Rearward extension of the line of fire

The extension of the line of fire rearward through the howitzer

Orienting station

Point of known location and altitude on the ground with directional control

Orienting line

Line of known direction in the battery area that serves as the basis for laying the howitzers

End of orienting line

Point on the orienting line marked by a permanent or semi-permanent point or object at least 30 meters from the orienting station

Deflection

The horizontal clockwise angle measured from the LOF/RELOF to the line of the designated aiming point with the vertex of the angle at the sight

Quadrant elevation

The algebraic sum of site and the angle of elevation

Tactical fire direction

The determination of the appropriate method of fire, ammo expenditure, units to fire, and time of attack. Generally considered the art of fire direction that culminates in a fire order

Technical fire direction

The process of converting target and battery location, weapon and ammo information, and met info into firing data. Firing data consist of shell charge, fuze, fuze setting, deflection, and quadrant elevation. Considered the science of fire direction that culminates in fire commands