plunging fire

American  

noun

Military.

1. artillery or other fire that strikes the ground at a steep angle, as from high ground overlooking the target or from a weapon fired at a high angle of elevation.

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Etymology

Origin of plunging fire

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

This meant it had less armour than a battleship, particularly horizontal armour against plunging fire - shells coming down from on high at a long range.

From BBC • Aug. 22, 2018

The Admiral's ordnance expert had given explicit directions to reduce the powder charges and to elevate the guns, so as to shorten the trajectory and thus to secure a plunging fire.

From Our War with Spain for Cuba's Freedom by White, Trumbull

But a plunging fire, if it misses the object aimed at, goes into the ground and is harmless.

From For Fortune and Glory A Story of the Soudan War by Paget, Walter

The northern side of this wedge was lined with heights from which the British artillery was pouring a devastating plunging fire.

From World's War Events Volume 3 Beginning with the departure of the first American destroyers for service abroad in April, 1917, and closing with the treaties of peace in 1919. by Churchill, Allen L. (Allen Leon)

There was scarce time to mark these features before the head of my column appeared, when it was filed to the left, close to the base of the ridge, for protection from the plunging fire.

From Destruction and Reconstruction: Personal Experiences of the Late War by Taylor, Richard