In an operation, which plan uses direct fires, supported by indirect fires to engage an enemy without closing?

• A. Pursuit
• B. Direct Fire
• C. Attack by Fire
• D. Support by Fire

Answer: (C)

Attack by Fire focuses on engaging the enemy with direct-fire weapons while indirect-fire assets provide suppression and support. The idea is to strike and degrade the opponent from a distance, keeping you from having to close with them. The indirect fires hold the enemy in place, disrupt their position, and prevent them from maneuvering, while your direct-fire means deliver the immediate pressure. This combination lets you engage effectively without coming to close range.

Pursuit would require closing to contact, which isn’t the goal here. Using direct fire alone lacks the added suppression and reach that indirect fires provide. Using fires to support movement or cover (often called Support by Fire) is about protecting or enabling a maneuver, not primarily about engaging the enemy at distance with both direct and indirect fires together.