What does traversing fire allow a gun to do?

Traversing fire allows a machine gun to engage multiple targets within a beaten zone effectively. This technique involves moving the gun's line of fire horizontally while maintaining a steady rate of fire. By doing this, it maximizes the area affected by the gunfire, ensuring that more targets can be engaged simultaneously within the same general area of fire. This is particularly useful in situations where enemy forces are spread out or moving within a defined space, as it capitalizes on the machine gun's ability to suppress and potentially neutralize multiple threats quickly.

The ability to cover a wider area enhances the gunner's effectiveness on the battlefield, allowing for comprehensive coverage against advancing infantry or vehicles. It is an essential tactic in providing suppressive fire and maintaining battlefield dominance.