USMC - Machine Gunnery Questions
and Answers | Latest Version |
2025/2026 | Correct & Verified
What is the primary purpose of a machine gun in a defensive position?
✔✔To dominate likely enemy avenues of approach with sustained fire.
How does a machine gun support maneuver elements in offensive operations?
✔✔By providing suppressive fire to allow movement under cover.
What is grazing fire?
✔✔Fire that travels close to the ground and is parallel to the terrain.
Why is enfilade fire considered the most effective type of fire?
✔✔Because it strikes the enemy along the longest axis of their formation.
What is the beaten zone in machine gunnery?
✔✔The elliptical area where rounds impact due to dispersion.
1
,Why must a gun team understand the concept of dead space?
✔✔To adjust fire or reposition to cover areas that cannot be hit directly.
What is the purpose of a tripod for the M240B?
✔✔To provide stability and increase accuracy during sustained fire.
Why is a sector of fire assigned to each machine gun team?
✔✔To ensure complete coverage of the battlefield and prevent gaps.
How is the range to a target determined in machine gunnery?
✔✔By using range estimation techniques, laser rangefinders, or known distance markers.
What is a fire command?
✔✔An order given to initiate, adjust, or cease machine gun fire.
Why is the M122A1 tripod preferred for the M240B in defensive setups?
✔✔Because it offers solid support and better control for long bursts.
2
, What does “interlocking fires” mean in a defensive plan?
✔✔Overlapping fields of fire that prevent enemy movement through gaps.
Why is traversing and searching important during machine gun fire?
✔✔To cover a wide area and engage multiple targets at varying distances.
What is the role of the gunner in a machine gun team?
✔✔To operate the weapon and place effective fire on target.
What does the assistant gunner do during live fire?
✔✔Feeds ammunition, observes impacts, and calls out adjustments.
Why must the team leader stay alert during all firing drills?
✔✔To supervise performance, give fire commands, and control the rate of fire.
How is sustained rate of fire different from rapid rate of fire?
✔✔Sustained is used for prolonged engagements, while rapid is for short bursts of high volume.
3
and Answers | Latest Version |
2025/2026 | Correct & Verified
What is the primary purpose of a machine gun in a defensive position?
✔✔To dominate likely enemy avenues of approach with sustained fire.
How does a machine gun support maneuver elements in offensive operations?
✔✔By providing suppressive fire to allow movement under cover.
What is grazing fire?
✔✔Fire that travels close to the ground and is parallel to the terrain.
Why is enfilade fire considered the most effective type of fire?
✔✔Because it strikes the enemy along the longest axis of their formation.
What is the beaten zone in machine gunnery?
✔✔The elliptical area where rounds impact due to dispersion.
1
,Why must a gun team understand the concept of dead space?
✔✔To adjust fire or reposition to cover areas that cannot be hit directly.
What is the purpose of a tripod for the M240B?
✔✔To provide stability and increase accuracy during sustained fire.
Why is a sector of fire assigned to each machine gun team?
✔✔To ensure complete coverage of the battlefield and prevent gaps.
How is the range to a target determined in machine gunnery?
✔✔By using range estimation techniques, laser rangefinders, or known distance markers.
What is a fire command?
✔✔An order given to initiate, adjust, or cease machine gun fire.
Why is the M122A1 tripod preferred for the M240B in defensive setups?
✔✔Because it offers solid support and better control for long bursts.
2
, What does “interlocking fires” mean in a defensive plan?
✔✔Overlapping fields of fire that prevent enemy movement through gaps.
Why is traversing and searching important during machine gun fire?
✔✔To cover a wide area and engage multiple targets at varying distances.
What is the role of the gunner in a machine gun team?
✔✔To operate the weapon and place effective fire on target.
What does the assistant gunner do during live fire?
✔✔Feeds ammunition, observes impacts, and calls out adjustments.
Why must the team leader stay alert during all firing drills?
✔✔To supervise performance, give fire commands, and control the rate of fire.
How is sustained rate of fire different from rapid rate of fire?
✔✔Sustained is used for prolonged engagements, while rapid is for short bursts of high volume.
3
