Which term describes using firepower from a fixed position to cover another unit's maneuver?

• A. Final protective fires (FPF)
• B. Support by fire (SBF)
• C. Line of departure (LD)
• D. Clear

Answer: (B)

The situation tests how firepower is used to enable another unit to move. When one unit stays in a fixed position and uses its weapons to hold, suppress, or disrupt the enemy, it creates a safe corridor for the maneuver of a nearby unit. This is exactly what support by fire describes: fires are delivered from a fixed position to cover the movement of a different unit, allowing that unit to advance or maneuver while the firing unit remains in place and coordinated with the plan. It’s about providing deliberate, suppressive fire to shape the battlefield for your partner’s movement, not about joining the advance yourself.

Final protective fire is a defensive tool meant to stop or deter enemy actions at a chosen position, often in response to a threat or during a specific phase of defense; it’s not primarily about enabling a specific unit’s move. Line of departure is simply the starting point for a unit’s maneuver, not a fire-support concept. Clear isn’t about fire support at all; it means to remove obstacles or ensure an area is free of hazards.