Definition

1. Noun:
   • Mortar fire intended to destroy or neutralize enemy weapons: "Countermortar fire" is a specific military term for artillery fire, typically from mortars or other weapons, directed at enemy mortar positions to destroy them or suppress their ability to fire.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The battalion commander ordered countermortar fire to silence the enemy's position.
  • Effective countermortar fire requires accurate intelligence on the enemy's location.

Advanced Usage

• "to call for countermortar fire": to request artillery support specifically to target enemy mortar units.
  • The forward observer called for countermortar fire after pinpointing the enemy's launch site.

Variants and Related Words

• Counter-battery fire (n): A broader term for artillery fire aimed at destroying or neutralizing the enemy's artillery weapons and positions, which includes countermortar fire as a subset.
• Suppressive fire (n): Fire intended to degrade the performance of an enemy force, which may be the goal of countermortar fire.

Synonyms

• Counter-battery fire: Artillery fire directed against enemy artillery.
• Neutralizing fire: Fire intended to make a target temporarily ineffective.

Related Phrases

• Counter-fire mission: A military operation or order whose objective is to engage enemy firing positions.

Noun

1. mortar fire intended to destroy or neutralize enemy weapons