What is the primary goal when engaging a group of targets with a machine gun?

The primary goal when engaging a group of targets with a machine gun is to maximize effective fire within the beaten zone. This concept refers to the area where the projectiles fired from the machine gun are expected to impact, ensuring that a high volume of fire is effectively directed towards the intended target area. The beaten zone is crucial in machine gun employment, as it accounts for the dispersion of rounds, allowing operators to cover a wider area and increase the likelihood of hitting multiple targets.

Focusing fire only on the nearest target may result in underutilizing the machine gun's capabilities, as it doesn't take advantage of the weapon's ability to deliver sustained suppressive fire across a broader target area. Ensuring all targets are engaged equally may lead to less effective fire and potentially waste ammunition, as not all targets deserve equal treatment based on their threat level. Alternating fire between targets, while useful in some scenarios, may not always maximize the potential of the machine gun, as it could disrupt the fire consistency needed to dominate a specific area or suppress enemy advancements. Therefore, maximizing effective fire within the beaten zone is essential to achieve dominance in the battlefield and ensure mission success.