Fire Support Coordination Line

Intermediate 🎖️ Military / Defense

Definition

An imaginary line that says 'anything beyond this gets shot at by our artillery.' It's the invisible fence that keeps friendly fire from being too unfriendly.

Example Usage

Artillery could engage targets beyond the FSCL without coordinating with ground units.

Origin

Army artillery and infantry coordination doctrine

Fun Fact

The FSCL moves as ground units advance, which is why constant communication is critical.

Source: U.S. Army Field Manual FM 3-09.4 on Artillery Operations

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