Definition
Shooting at the enemy not necessarily to hit them, but to make them too terrified to pop their heads up and shoot back. It's the military equivalent of 'stay in your lane,' but with bullets.
Example Usage
Second squad laid down suppressive fire while first squad maneuvered to flank the enemy position.
Origin
Emerged as formal doctrine during World War I when covering fire became systematized in infantry tactics
Fun Fact
Suppressive fire accounts for the vast majority of ammunition expended in combat, yet rarely hits anyone—its goal is psychological dominance, not marksmanship.
Source: Infantry tactics and doctrine
Related Terms
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