What is "suppressive fire"?

Suppressive fire is defined as fire directed at an enemy position to interfere with their ability to effectively return fire or carry out maneuvers. The primary purpose of suppressive fire is to create a level of chaos or confusion for the enemy, temporarily diminishing their effectiveness and enabling friendly forces to advance or reposition with reduced risk of being targeted.

In a tactical context, this type of fire allows friendly units to maneuver safely, essentially keeping the enemy's head down and reducing their capacity to engage or respond to friendly actions. It is a crucial component of combined arms operations, ensuring that while one element engages with the enemy, others can take advantage of the suppressive effects without facing immediate retribution.

The other options do not capture the essence of suppressive fire as effectively. While supporting friendly maneuvers and engaging only stationary targets can be part of a broader tactical plan, they do not convey the specific intent and impact of suppressive fire. Targeting only enemy vehicles is also too narrow a definition, as suppressive fire can be directed at various types of targets, not just vehicles, but rather where the enemy is positioned to inhibit their response.