Army Direct Fire Accuracy: Precision and Its Effects on the Battlefield

One of the common practices of modern warfare is the development of new weapons based upon advances in technology. As these weapons evolved during the twentieth- century, the United States Army witnessed significant improvements in the accuracy of its direct fire weapon systems; soldiers who fired rifles, armored guns, and antitank missiles experienced an increased ability to hit what they were aiming at and do so at greater ranges. Understanding the factors driving the Army to develop precision weaponry is key to this analysis; in addition to providing an efficient means of executing warfare, the Army is subject to external pressures from the American public to limit collateral damage and fratricide. Innovations in Army direct fire weapon systems will have a significant impact on the way future wars will be fought, especially when these advances are combined with the accuracy of precision indirect fire assets from the Army and precision-guided munitions from the Air Force. These changes will affect individuals, units, and in several ways the entire Army as it evaluates its tactics, doctrine, and organizational structure in the midst of developing increasingly accurate direct fire weapon systems.

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