Plunging fire

Plunging fire is a form of indirect fire, gunfire fired at a trajectory such as to fall on its target from above. It is normal at the high trajectories used to attain long 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.[1][2]

Plunging fire on a warship: the steeper angle of fire allows the shell to hit the thinner deck armor

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 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 howitzers and mortars are designed for this purpose. Machine guns and belt-fed grenade launchers may also use plunging fire.

See also

References
  1. "A State of War, Plunging Fire and Naval Construction, and more". Scientific American. 116 (13): 320–321. 1917. doi:10.1038/scientificamerican03311917-320. ISSN 0036-8733. (subscription required)
  2. Global Security, CHAPTER 5, COMBAT TECHNIQUES OF FIRE


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