Final protective fire

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final protective fire

(DOD, NATO) An immediately available prearranged barrier of fire designed to impede enemy movement across defensive lines or areas.

As the "final" in the name implies, it is always used in that portion of the tactical plan that is reserved for when things have gone hideously wrong; it is an absolute last resort, normally involving artillery and/or heavy machine gun fire directed dangerously close to friendly defensive positions that are being overrun by the enemy.

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