Trouble Understanding Enfilade and Defilade?

Question

Okay, I need some help please from someone who is very familiar with military tactics. I am not sure I have correctly understood the meaning of enfilade fire and defilade. Please tell me if my descriptions are correct. If they are not, please correct me and explain my mistakes.

If a group of soldiers were walking single file along a north-south road, heading south, and a machine gunner was either north or south of their position, and in the middle of the road, they would be subject to enfilade fire, meaning they would be being hit straight on, either from the front or from the back. Powerful ammunition might pass through several men who were standing one in front of the other. Is that correct?

Defilade simply means that troops are in a position where the enemy does not have a clear line of fire. For example, a line of troops along a wall would be in defilade if the enemy machine gun was around the corner from them, at a 90 degree angle to them. Is that correct?

Thank you.

Additional Details

Also, please don't trouble yourselves with cutting and pasting an answer, or giving me a link, since I have already read a great deal about it. I am trying to get clarification because I don't know if I have understood what I have read correctly.

Also, can you please tell me what the name is if the theoretical north to south formation mentioned above is proceeding toward the south, and the machine gun is to the west or to the east so that it can fire along the length of the line, hitting men in the sides?

Thank you for your help.

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

Close. enfilade is correct, and the troops are advancing in a column. Defilade is usually used for the forward slope of a hill, and you are subject to either plunging fire from the top of the hill, or indirect fire from artillery using high angle fire from the reverse slope. Fire being received from the left or right is described as flank. As a matter of interest, a column being attacked with plunging fire {the enemy controls the high ground} is the worst possible scenario. That is why a moving column must have a point guard, a rear guard, and skirmishers right and left to warn of impending ambush. You might want to look into the term L shaped ambush. That delivers both flank and enfilade fire and is deadly.

Source(s):

USMC, retired

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

Thanks very much. Why can't the experts explain it plainly like you do??

Thanks as well to the others who answered. I appreciate you taking the time to help me out.

Answer 2

Sounds right to me.

I'm not sure I get what you are saying, but I'm guessing you are talking from the 'flanks'.....

Answer 3

Yes, you have the terms right. Another point is that a prepared fighting position for a tank will have only the turret above the berm, and the tank is said to be in hull-down deflilade. The tank commander normally rides in "name tag defilade," i.e., the name tags on the bdu would be below the rim of the hatch.

I was not taught any particular nomenclature for being hosed down by automatic fire perpendicular to your line of advance.

Source(s):

Army Reserve infantry officer 1976-1979