- published: 06 Jul 2016
- views: 2245
In modern warfare, overwatch is a force protection tactic: the state of one small unit or military vehicle supporting another unit, while they are executing fire and movement tactics. An overwatching, or supporting unit has taken a position where it can observe the terrain ahead, especially likely enemy positions. This allows it to provide effective covering fire for advancing friendly units. The term overwatch originates in U.S. military doctrine (derived from the common expression watch over).
An ideal overwatch position provides cover for the unit, and unobstructed lines of fire. It may be on a height of ground or at the top of a ridge, where a vehicle may be able to adopt a hull-down position. If the overwatching unit is in a position to fire over advancing friendly units, great care must be taken not to let fire fall short. The friendly units should be within tracer burnout (the range at which tracer rounds are visible).
Overwatch can be performed by platoons during company fire and movement, by individual armoured fighting vehicles (especially tanks) or infantry sections, in platoon fire and movement, or even by fireteams or individual soldiers, in the final stages of an assault.
Is this all that's left?
These dreams came true and slowly died.
They always said it wouldn't get any worse and I believed every word.
I can still remember those late summer nights sitting on the stones
across from the clubs in coves with ex-friends and broken bones.
It used to be so clear.
It used to feel so fucking perfect.
We were the stars in a loveless city, throwing our lives away.
Is this all that's left?
These dreams came true and slowly died.
They always said it wouldn't get any worse
and I believed every fucking word.
It was never meant to end, it was never meant to stop.
This is all that's left: broken hearts still beating,
strangled throats still screaming loud.
I can still remember those late summer nights sitting on the stones
across from the clubs in coves with ex-friends and broken bones.
Sometimes I think it would be easier to fade away,
to disconnect and leave everything behind.
It was never meant to end, it was never meant to stop.
This is all that's left: broken hearts still beating,
strangled throats still screaming loud.