Artillery observer
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An artillery observer, artillery spotter, or forward observer is a soldier responsible for directing artillery and mortar fire support onto a target. An artillery observer usually accompanies a tank o
Danish Defence artillery observer using a thermal imaging camera and a laser rangefinder
A Canadian Armed Forces artillery observer watching an artillery strike during a live fire exercise
Medieval direct line-of-sight fire
British and French artillery observers during the Battle of Langemarck, 1917
Indirect fire
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Indirect fire is shooting a projectile without relying on a direct line of sight between the gun and its target, in contrast to the case of direct fire. Aiming of indirect fire is instead performed by
Artillery observer
…for directing artillery and mortar fire support onto a target. An artillery observer usually accompanies a tank or infantry unit. Spotters ensure that indirect fire hits targets which those at a fire support base cannot see. Historically, the range of artillery steadily increased over the centuries. In the era of…
Calling and adjusting indirect artillery fire on a target unseen to the soldiers manning the guns, a modern United States example
A dial sight (panoramic telescope) for an Austro-Hungarian 8 cm FK M. 5
A United States Marine lance corporal plots the direction and elevation of a mortar before firing.