In artillery terms, what does "range" measure?

In artillery terms, what does "range" measure?

• A. The maximum effective range of the weapon.
• B. The angular deviation from the firing line.
• C. The straight-line distance from the firing unit or observer to the target.
• D. The time elapsed from fire mission initiation to impact.

Answer: (C)

Range is the straight-line distance from the firing unit or observer to the target. This distance is the key factor used in the fire-control solution to determine the appropriate elevation and aiming data so a round reaches the target. It is not about how far a weapon can shoot at its best (that’s maximum effective range), nor about how much the shot deviates from the line of aim (angular deviation), nor about how long it takes for a round to reach the target (time of flight). In practice, knowing the range lets the artillery team select the correct ballistic solution and place rounds on target.

Range is the straight-line distance from the firing unit or observer to the target. This distance is the key factor used in the fire-control solution to determine the appropriate elevation and aiming data so a round reaches the target. It is not about how far a weapon can shoot at its best (that’s maximum effective range), nor about how much the shot deviates from the line of aim (angular deviation), nor about how long it takes for a round to reach the target (time of flight). In practice, knowing the range lets the artillery team select the correct ballistic solution and place rounds on target.