Definition

Noun: * Preparation fire: Artillery or other gunfire directed at an enemy position with the primary purpose of weakening its defenses, destroying fortifications, neutralizing personnel and weapons, and disrupting communications before a planned infantry or armored assault begins. It is a tactical military term for fire intended to "prepare" the battlefield for an attack.

Usage

This term is used exclusively in military contexts to describe a specific phase of an offensive operation. It is a technical term found in doctrinal manuals, after-action reports, and historical analyses of battles.

Examples

• The battalion commander ordered preparation fire on the hilltop bunker complex for thirty minutes prior to H-Hour.
• Effective preparation fire can significantly reduce casualties during the subsequent assault phase.
• The artillery regiment commenced preparation fire at dawn, targeting known enemy machine-gun nests and command posts.

Advanced Usage

• As part of a sequence: Preparation fire is a distinct tactical action that typically follows reconnaissance and precedes the assault (the main attack). It may be followed by or combined with a "barrage" to cover the advancing troops.
• Distinction from other fires: It is different from "harassing fire" (intermittent, disruptive fire) or "counter-battery fire" (fire aimed at enemy artillery). Its objective is directly tied to enabling a specific, imminent ground assault.

Variants and Related Words

• Preparatory bombardment: A near-synonymous phrase, often used when referring to large-scale use of artillery or aerial bombing.
• Softening up (informal/military slang): A less formal term for the same concept.
• Barrage: A curtain of sustained artillery fire. A preparation fire may involve a barrage, but a barrage can also be used for other purposes (e.g., a blocking barrage).

Synonyms

• Preparatory bombardment
• Preliminary bombardment
• Softening-up fire

Antonyms

• Assault fire: Fire delivered during the assault itself, often directly in support of advancing troops.
• Defensive fire: Fire delivered from a defensive position to repel an attack.

Noun

1. fire delivered on a target in preparation for an assault