Which term refers to routing or directing fires to funnel enemy movement along a specific path?

• A. Line of departure (LD)
• B. Canalize
• C. SBF
• D. Forward edge battle area

Answer: (B)

Canalize means to guide and concentrate fires to channel enemy movement along a defined path. By shaping the battlefield so the enemy must move through a specific corridor, you can mass your fires where you expect them to travel, making their advance more predictable and easier to stop. Achieving this involves placing weapons to create overlapping sectors of fire on the chosen route, using terrain and obstacles to physically constrain movement, and coordinating suppression so the enemy stays within the funnel as they advance. The result is a controlled, narrow avenue that elevates the effectiveness of your fires and reduces exposure for your forces.

Line of departure is simply the starting point from which fires or maneuver begin, not about directing movement. Forward edge battle area defines the area in front of the main line of resistance, acting as a boundary rather than a tactic. Support by fire refers to using fires to support another element, not specifically to shaping the enemy’s path. Canalize best captures the idea of directing enemy movement into a deliberate path where you can apply concentrated, predictable fires.