FIRE SUPPORT Meaning and
Definition
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Fire support refers to the military assistance provided through various means to combat units during operations, aimed at enhancing their capabilities and effectiveness in achieving their mission objectives. It primarily involves the use of indirect firepower, including artillery, mortars, naval gunfire, tactical air support, or other similar heavy weapons systems. The purpose of fire support is to provide combat units with additional firepower, suppress enemy positions, destroy or neutralize enemy targets, and ultimately increase the chances of mission success.
Fire support plays a crucial role in modern warfare by delivering an array of lethal and non-lethal effects on the battlefield. It includes actions such as providing accurate and timely artillery or air strikes, conducting intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations to detect enemy positions, assessing the tactical situation, coordinating direct fire support with maneuvering forces, and executing battlefield shaping operations.
Furthermore, fire support involves a comprehensive planning and coordination process, starting from target selection and prioritization, determining appropriate weapon systems, calculating firing solutions, conducting risk assessments, and ensuring the safety of friendly forces. It requires close collaboration and effective communication between the fire support unit and the supported combat units to ensure effective and efficient employment of firepower.
Overall, fire support serves as a critical tool for commanders to shape the battlefield, protect friendly forces, and defeat the enemy by leveraging the capabilities of various heavy weapons systems in a coordinated and synchronized manner.
Etymology of FIRE SUPPORT
The word "fire support" has its roots in military terminology.
The word "fire" originated from the Old English word "fȳr", which can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic word "*fūr" and the Proto-Indo-European word "*péh₂wr". It referred to the phenomenon of combustion and the resulting flames and heat produced.
The term "support" emerged from the Latin word "supportare", which is a combination of "sub" meaning "under" and "portare" meaning "to carry". It originally referred to physically holding or carrying something beneath or providing assistance.
When combined, "fire support" as a military term refers to the military action of providing direct or indirect fire to assist friendly forces.
