What is the main characteristic of enfilade fire?

Enfilade fire is characterized by firing along the length of a target, maximizing the effectiveness of the fire against a straight line of troops or a long structure. This method allows for a larger area of impact, as the rounds travel down the longer dimension of the target, striking multiple soldiers or structures in a line. When weapons are oriented in such a way that they are parallel to the target’s longer side, they create a significant advantage, allowing for more rounds to hit the target effectively.

This aligns well with strategic tactics since the goal is to inflict maximum casualties or damage by targeting the enemy at their most vulnerable angle. In contrast, other elements of fire positioning such as extreme angles or interlocking fields of fire focus on different tactical benefits, but they do not strictly define enfilade fire as its positioning corresponds directly to the target's long axis.