GoPro footage released by a Ukrainian Soldier from the 3rd Assault Brigade shows a recon by fire being conducted against suspected Russian forces in the outskirts of Bakhmut.

Recon by fire is a tactical maneuver used most often by machine gunners. It involves initiating a rapid and intense burst of suppressive fire towards a suspected enemy position without prior confirmation of their presence. While this may seem like a machine gunner giving you an excuse to why he randomly throws out rounds, it's not. The purpose of recon by fire is to gather intelligence, provoke a response from the enemy, and force them to reveal their location or intentions. It's an effective tactic that often yields results when conducted by a competent gunner.

By saturating the target area with suppressive fire, machine gunners hope to deny enemy freedom of movement, gather information about potential threats in an area where they suspect the enemy is, and potentially suppress or neutralize any hostile elements the reconnaissance unveils. This tactic allows the machine gunners to gain a tactical advantage by gathering valuable situational awareness, especially if it's done prior to moving into enemy controlled territory.

During recon by fire, machine gunners rely on their stored ammunition and the sustained rate of fire to create chaos and confusion in the target area. The objective is not necessarily to eliminate the enemy but to assess their presence, draw out a response, and gather valuable information, like the position of enemy weapon systems or fighting positions. Machine gunners executing recon by fire must maintain situational awareness, communicate effectively with their team, and be prepared to adjust their tactics based on the enemy's response to them engaging in this activity. This tactical approach provides gunners with an active means of gathering intelligence.

The major drawback to this however is that tracers work both ways. You have to remember that before you conduct a recon by fire, you are giving up the position of one of the line infantry squads most important assets. This is an exchange of information with your enemy, and often this tactic may not yield results against a disciplined or better positioned enemy force. Conduct recon by fire at your own risk, and thank you for once again coming to one of my Ted Talks.

About the Author

Josh Brooks

Josh is an American writer and former USMC machine gunner with eight years of experience in ground combat arms throughout the GWOT. He is currently based in Texas and specializes in combat footage analysis and digital marketing.Follow Josh at OfficialJoshBrooks.com