Unit 3 - Military weapons

Word

Example

firearm

A firearm is any weapon that uses gunpowder to fire a projectile

infantry firearm

Infantry firearms are designed for use by soldiers on foot in combat situations

rifle

A rifle is a long-barreled firearm with rifled grooves inside the barrel

handgun

A handgun is a small firearm designed to be held and operated with one hand

shotgun

A shotgun fires a shell that contains multiple small projectiles

submachine gun

A submachine gun is a firearm that can fire bursts of ammunition automatically

assault rifle

The assault rifle is a selective-fire weapon designed for infantry combat

machine gun

A machine gun is a fully automatic firearm capable of sustained fire

semi-automatic firearm

A semi-automatic firearm fires one round per trigger pull without the need to manually reload

bolt-action rifle

The bolt-action rifle requires the shooter to manually operate the bolt between shots

magazine

The magazine is a container that holds cartridges ready for firing

cartridge

A cartridge consists of a bullet, powder charge, and casing

bullet

The bullet is the projectile that is fired from a firearm

caliber

Caliber refers to the diameter of the bore of a firearm, usually measured in millimeters or inches

muzzle

The muzzle is the front end of the barrel of a firearm

trigger

The trigger is the part of the firearm that the shooter pulls to fire it

barrel

The barrel is the long metal tube through which the projectile travels when fired

stock

The stock is the part of the firearm that is held against the shoulder for stability

breech

The breech is the rear part of the firearm's barrel where the cartridge is loaded

firing pin

The firing pin strikes the primer of the cartridge to ignite the powder

hammer

The hammer is part of the mechanism that strikes the firing pin in some firearms

ejection port

The ejection port is where spent cartridges are expelled from the firearm

safety

The safety is a mechanism that prevents the firearm from firing unintentionally

muzzle velocity

Muzzle velocity refers to the speed at which a bullet leaves the barrel of a firearm

recoil

Recoil is the backward movement of a firearm when it is discharged

rate of fire

The rate of fire refers to how fast a firearm can discharge rounds, often measured in rounds per minute

stoppage

A stoppage is any malfunction that prevents a firearm from firing

misfire

A misfire occurs when the firearm fails to discharge a round when the trigger is pulled

jam

A jam is a situation where a round becomes lodged in the firearm, preventing it from firing

ammunition

Ammunition refers to the supply of bullets or shells for firearms

round

A round refers to a single unit of ammunition, including a cartridge

ballistic

Ballistics is the study of the motion of projectiles and the forces acting upon them

fire selector

A fire selector allows the shooter to choose between semi-automatic, fully automatic, or burst fire modes

reloading

Reloading is the process of putting new ammunition into the firearm's magazine

loading

Loading involves inserting a round into the chamber of a firearm

ejecting

Ejecting refers to the process of expelling a spent cartridge from the firearm

muzzle flash

Muzzle flash is the visible burst of light and fire produced when a round is discharged

iron sights

Iron sights are the basic open sights on a firearm used for aiming

scope

A scope is a device attached to the firearm to provide magnification for better targeting

reflex sight

A reflex sight uses a red dot or other reticle to aid aiming quickly

night vision sight

Night vision sights enhance targeting in low-light conditions

safety mechanism

The safety mechanism prevents a firearm from firing unintentionally

clear

To clear a weapon means to ensure it is free of ammunition and ready for inspection

chamber

The chamber is the part of the firearm that holds the cartridge before firing

firearm malfunction

A firearm malfunction is a failure of the firearm to operate correctly, often requiring repair

barrel length

Barrel length influences the accuracy and velocity of the round fired

chambering

Chambering a round involves placing it into the chamber of the firearm

muzzle brake

A muzzle brake is a device that helps reduce recoil by redirecting the gases produced when firing

Full Metal Jacket (FMJ)

Full Metal Jacket ammunition features a soft core encased in a harder shell to improve penetration

hollow point

Hollow point bullets are designed to expand upon impact, increasing damage to the target

artillery

Artillery refers to large-caliber guns used in warfare, such as cannons and howitzers

howitzer

A howitzer is a type of artillery that is designed to fire shells at both high and low angles

field gun

A field gun is a type of artillery piece used in mobile operations on the battlefield

mortar

A mortar is a short-barreled artillery piece used for firing shells at high angles

anti-aircraft gun

An anti-aircraft gun is designed to shoot down enemy aircraft

cannon

A cannon is a large-caliber artillery piece that uses gunpowder to fire shells

artillery shell

An artillery shell is the projectile fired by an artillery weapon, such as a howitzer

breechloader

A breechloader is an artillery piece where the shell is loaded into the rear of the barrel

muzzleloader

A muzzleloader is an artillery piece where the shell is loaded from the front of the barrel

recoil mechanism

The recoil mechanism absorbs the shock caused by the firing of large artillery pieces

fire control system

The fire control system helps calculate the proper trajectory for artillery fire

artillery ammunition

Artillery ammunition includes shells, charges, and fuses used in large-caliber weapons

fuze

A fuze is the device that initiates the detonation of an artillery shell

shell casing

The shell casing is the outer shell of an artillery projectile that holds the explosive charge

shell fragmentation

Shell fragmentation occurs when the shell explodes, scattering debris across the target area

artillery piece

An artillery piece refers to any type of large-caliber weapon used for firing shells

elevation angle

The elevation angle determines how high the artillery piece must be aimed to hit a target

trajectory

The trajectory is the path followed by a shell after it is fired from the artillery

shell velocity

Shell velocity refers to the speed at which a shell travels after being fired

range of fire

The range of fire is the maximum distance an artillery piece can shoot a projectile

gun carriage

The gun carriage is the wheeled platform that supports the artillery piece

field artillery

Field artillery is mobile artillery designed for use in active combat on the battlefield

heavy artillery

Heavy artillery includes large-caliber guns used to fire at long ranges

anti-aircraft missile system

An anti-aircraft missile system is designed to target and destroy enemy aircraft

anti-tank missile system

The anti-tank missile system is used to destroy or disable enemy tanks and armored vehicles

surface-to-air missile (SAM)

A surface-to-air missile (SAM) is designed to be launched from the ground to intercept aircraft

heat-seeking missile

A heat-seeking missile tracks the heat emitted by an aircraft's engine to guide itself

guided missile

A guided missile is a type of missile that uses guidance systems to accurately reach its target

launcher

The launcher is the device that fires missiles from a stationary or mobile platform

radar-guided missile

A radar-guided missile uses radar to detect and home in on its target

target acquisition radar

The target acquisition radar helps identify and track potential targets for missile systems

anti-aircraft gun system

The anti-aircraft gun system uses large-caliber guns to shoot down enemy aircraft

SAM launcher

A SAM launcher is used to fire surface-to-air missiles to defend against aerial threats

armor-piercing missile

An armor-piercing missile is designed to penetrate the armor of tanks or armored vehicles

tank killer

The tank killer missile is specifically designed to destroy enemy armored vehicles

guidance system

The guidance system controls the path of the missile to ensure it reaches its target accurately

warhead

The warhead is the explosive part of the missile designed to destroy the target

missile launch pad

A missile launch pad is where the missile is positioned and fired from

homing device

The homing device is used by a missile to lock onto its target

multiple launch system

A multiple launch system can fire several missiles in quick succession

firing range

The firing range is a designated area where missiles are launched for testing or combat purposes

interceptor missile

An interceptor missile is designed to neutralize incoming threats, such as enemy missiles

launching platform

A launching platform is the vehicle or structure from which missiles are fired

countermeasure

Countermeasures are used to confuse or disrupt the guidance systems of incoming missiles