Editing Plunging fire (section)

{{Short description|Indirect gunfire fired at a high angle trajectory to fall on to a target or enemy,}}
[[File:Plunging fire on armoured warships (Warships To-day, 1936).jpg|thumb|Plunging fire on a warship: the steeper angle of fire allows the shell to hit the thinner deck armor]]

'''Plunging fire''' is a form of [[indirect fire]], where gunfire is fired at a [[Trajectory of a projectile|trajectory]] to make it fall on its target from above. It is normal at the high trajectories used to attain long [[Range of a projectile|range]], and can be used deliberately to attack a target not susceptible to direct or [[grazing fire]] due to not being in direct line of sight.<ref>{{cite journal|title=A State of War, Plunging Fire and Naval Construction, and more|journal=Scientific American|volume=116|issue=13|year=1917|pages=320–321|issn=0036-8733|doi=10.1038/scientificamerican03311917-320|bibcode=1917SciAm.116..320. }} {{Subscription required}}</ref><ref>[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/3-22-68/c05.htm Global Security, CHAPTER 5, COMBAT TECHNIQUES OF FIRE]</ref>

In [[naval warfare]], plunging shellfire was theoretically capable of penetrating an enemy ship's thinner deck [[armor]] rather than firing directly at a warship's heavily [[Vehicle armour#Ships|armored]] side.

Plunging fire in terrestrial warfare allows attacking a target not in direct line of sight, for example over the brow of a hill engaging in a [[reverse slope defence]]. [[Artillery]] weapons such as [[howitzer]]s and [[Mortar (weapon)|mortars]] are designed for this purpose. [[Machine gun]]s and belt-fed [[grenade launcher]]s may also use plunging fire.

The [[Vickers machine gun]] was used for [[indirect fire]] against enemy positions at ranges up to {{Convert|4500|yd|m|0|abbr=on}} with Mark VIIIz ammunition. This plunging fire was used to great effect against specific features or points of interest that might be observed by a forward observer, or zeroed in at one time for future attacks, much to the surprise and confusion of the enemy.

The [[Australian Army]] still trains specialist infantry units, called Direct Fires Support Weapons DFSW teams, to perform an indirect sustained fire role with the [[FN MAG|MAG 58 GPMG]], fitted with a C2A2 Support Weapons Sight<ref>{{Cite web |title=C2A2 Support Weapons Sight – Hall & Watts Defence Optics |url=https://www.hallandwatts.com/products/c2a2-support-weapons-sight/ |access-date=2023-11-11 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=4 June 2007 |title=Contract Notice View - CN18255: AusTender |url=https://www.tenders.gov.au/Cn/Show/bc8e155e-9bf2-9124-69e6-57daa9554110 |access-date=2023-11-11 |website=www.tenders.gov.au}}</ref> - similar to a mortar sight.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.contactairlandandsea.com/adf_weapons_pt1.pdf |title=WEAPONS OF THE ADF Handy Reference Guide Part 1 – Revision 2 {{!}} Contact Air, Land & Sea |publisher=CONTACT Air, Land & Sea |date=24 February 2016 |edition=2nd Revision |location=Australia |pages=8 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=MAG58 {{!}} Australian Army |url=https://www.army.gov.au/equipment/small-arms/mag58 |access-date=2023-11-11 |website=Australian Army (army.gov)}}</ref> In this role the MAG 58 can fire a beaten zone up to a range {{Convert|3000|m|mi|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Maj Thomas |first=Russell B. |url=https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/tr/pdf/AD1071020.pdf |title=Infantry Magazine |publisher=[[Department of the Army]] |editor-last=Eno |editor-first=Russell |edition=Number 4 |series=October–December 2017 |volume=106 |pages=19–21 |language=en |chapter=An Infantryman Down Under }}</ref>

<!--please place entries alphabetically by Weapon system name-->== See also ==
* [[Top-attack]]
* [[Ballistic coefficient]]
* [[Grazing fire]]