What is the diference between supressive fire and grazing fire?

Question

I'm talking about a Sgt. telling his men to lay down some fire what dos he say?

Answer 1

Well to suppress fire is to shoot in their general area to suppress the enemy, ok well I kinda used the word in the meaning, so to word it better, to make them duck or hide, which will give you time to advance because they cant fire if they are hiding behind a wall or a corner of a building. If say they had a squad that was going to flank (come from the enemies side) at the same time as they are suppressing fire, when the flanking squad would come up they would adjust fire and shoot further away from the enemy so they dont accidentally shoot a friendly. Make sense?? If not, sorry

Answer 2

Suppressive fire-- fire designed to fix an enemy in place to facilitate the manuevering of friendly forces.

Grazing fire--sustained fire aimed approximately 1 meter off the ground. Usually employed by crew served weapons (M60's, M2's etc) in a defensive position.

The two are not mutually exclusive; Suppressive fire can be grazing fire.

Answer 3

Supressive fire is firing at a spot or zone. Grazing fire is a line of fire about a meter high, often used by machine gunners in a side to side motion against oncoming hoards.

Answer 4

I think suppressive is to fire around and at the enemy to stop them from firing back and grazing is light suppressive fire. I don't know for sure.

Answer 5

I have huindreds of books on military subjects, but have not heard of 'grazing fire'. Perhaps it stops cows eating grass.

Suppressive fire is designed not to necessarily kill the enemy, but to stop him shooting back, for instance you might 'suppresss' anti-aircraft fire while you bomb and airfield.

A 'grazing shot' is one that 'clips' you, bouncing off or just touching you but not striking you with full force.

Answer 6

Grazing fire covers a broad area by maintaining constant fire at about knee high level.

Suppressive fire is fire massed at a specific target.