MCWP 3-16.1 Artillery Operations.pdf - Marine Corps Community ...

Artillery Operations ___________________________________________________________________________________________ G-17
laser range finder—A device which uses laser
energy for determining the distance from the
device to a place or object. (JP 1-02)
lateral spread—A technique used to place the
mean point of impact of two or more units 100
meters apart on a line perpendicular to the guntarget
line. (JP 1-02)
laying—The process of orienting a weapon for
direction.
list of targets—A tabulation of confirmed or suspect
targets maintained by any echelon for informational
and fire support planning purposes. See
also target list. (JP 1-02)
lot—Specifically, a quantity of material all of which
was manufactured under identical conditions and
assigned an identifying lot number. (JP 1-02)
low angle fire—Fire delivered at angles of elevation
below the elevation that corresponds to the
maximum range of the gun and ammunition concerned.
(JP 1-02)
Marine air-ground task force—The Marine
Corps principal organization for all missions
across the range of military operations, composed
of forces task-organized under a single
commander capable of responding rapidly to a
contingency anywhere in the world. The types of
forces in the Marine air-ground task force
(MAGTF) are functionally grouped into four core
elements: a command element, an aviation combat
element, a ground combat element, and a
combat service support element. The four core
elements are categories of forces, not formal
commands. The basic structure of the MAGTF
never varies, though the number, size, and type of
Marine Corps units comprising each of its four
elements will always be mission dependent. The
flexibility of the organizational structure allows
for one or more subordinate MAGTFs to be
assigned. Also called MAGTF. See also aviation
combat element; combat service support element;
command element; ground combat element;
Marine expeditionary force; Marine
expeditionary force (forward); Marine expedi-
tionary unit; special purpose Marine air-ground
task force; task force. (JP 1-02)
main battle area—That portion of the battlefield
in which the decisive battle is fought to defeat the
enemy. For any particular command, the main battle
area extends rearward from the forward edge of
the battle area to the rear boundary of the command’s
subordinate units. (JP 1-02)
maneuver—1. A movement to place ships or aircraft
in a position of advantage over the enemy. 2. A
tactical exercise carried out at sea, in the air, on the
ground, or on a map in imitation of war. 3. The
operation of a ship, aircraft, or vehicle, to cause it to
perform desired movements. 4. Employment of
forces on the battlefield through movement in combination
with fire, or fire potential, to achieve a
position of advantage in respect to the enemy in
order to accomplish the mission. (JP 1-02)
mark—In artillery and naval gunfire support, to
call for fire on a specified location in order to orient
the observer/spotter, to indicate targets, or to
report the instant of optimum light on the target
produced by illumination shells. In naval operations,
to use a maritime unit to maintain an immediate
offensive or obstructive capability against a
specified target.
marking fire—Fire placed on a target for the
purpose of identification. (JP 1-02)
mass—1. The concentration of combat power.
2. The military formation in which units are
spaced at less than the normal distances and
intervals. (JP 1-02)
maximum rate of fire—The rate of fire that a
weapon can continue for a short period without
seriously overheating.
meteorological data—Meteorological facts pertaining
to the atmosphere, such as wind, temperature,
air density, and other phenomena which
affect military operations. (JP 1-02)
mil—A unit of measurement for angles. There
are 6400 mils in a complete circle.