Which term refers to using fire support from a fixed position to secure maneuver by covering adjacent areas?

• A. M27
• B. Support by fire (SBF)
• C. Final protective fires (FPF)
• D. Forward edge battle area

Answer: (B)

Support by fire means placing fires from a fixed position to enable a unit’s maneuver by actively covering the adjacent areas the force intends to move through. The fixed base of fire suppresses or denies the enemy in those approaches, creating a protected corridor for the maneuver element to pass, flank, or advance with reduced risk. Because the firing position doesn’t move, the shooter provides a stable, predictable shield that the advancing unit can rely on as it closes with or bypasses threats in the vicinity. This approach is about shaping the battlefield to allow movement, not about stopping an enemy at a specific point. It differs from final protective fires, which are aimed at preventing a penetration or stopping an enemy at a designated location, and from FEBA concepts, which define where the battle area begins rather than describing a fire support method.