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Strafing is the practice of attacking ground targets from low-flying aircraft. The term is usually applied to attacks with aircraft-mounted automatic weapons, but may be applied to attacks with bombs, though not high-level bomb delivery. By extension the term is sometimes applied to the firing of non-airborne automatic weapons while moving.

Strafing is frequently referred to as "Ground attack".






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Strafing is the practice of attacking ground targets from low-flying aircraft. The term is usually applied to attacks with aircraft-mounted automatic weapons, but may be applied to attacks with bombs, though not high-level bomb delivery. By extension the term is sometimes applied to the firing of non-airborne automatic weapons while moving.

Strafing is frequently referred to as "Ground attack". Although the earliest use of military aircraft was for observation and directing of artillery strafing was frequently practiced in World War I
World War I

World War I, or the First World War , was a global military conflict which involved the Great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies of World War I and the Central Powers....
. Eddie Rickenbacker
Eddie Rickenbacker

Edward Vernon Rickenbacker was an United States fighter aircraft Flying ace in World War I and Medal of Honor recipient. He was also a race car driver and automotive designer, a government consultant in military matters and a pioneer in air transportation....
 attacked a German artillery train at the Battle of St. Mihiel. World War II
World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a Participants in World War II, including all of the great powers, organised into two opposing military alliances: the Allies of World War II and the Axis powers....
 saw the advent of the ground-attack aircraft specifically designed for the task of strafing. Many such aircraft also utilised non-strafing attack methods such as bombs or rockets.

Less commonly, the term can used to describe high-speed firing runs by fast boats or other high-speed naval craft using smaller-caliber weapons and targeting other craft or the shoreline, or to describe high-speed firing runs by land vehicles.

Etymology

The word is an adaptation of German
German language

German is a West Germanic languages, thus related to and classified alongside English language and Dutch language. It is one of the world's world language and the most widely spoken mother tongue in the European Union....
 strafen, to punish, specifically from the World War I
World War I

World War I, or the First World War , was a global military conflict which involved the Great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies of World War I and the Central Powers....
 humorous adaptation of the German catchphrase "Gott strafe England
Gott strafe England

During World War I, "Gott strafe England" was a slogan used by the Germany Army . The phrase means "May God punish England". It was created by the German-Jewish poet Ernst Lissauer , who also wrote the poem Hassgesang gegen England ....
".

Gaming

This term has been adopted by certain gamer
Gamer

Historically, the term "gamer" usually referred to someone who played role-playing games, wargaming, or those who are virgins. More recently, however, the term has grown to include players of video games....
s to mean "sidestepping", primarily in first-person shooter
First-person shooter

File:Freedoom aaa.pngFirst-person shooter is a Video game genres, featuring a First person , with which the player views the action as if through the eyes of the protagonist and in which the primary element is combat based around shooting....
s (FPS); in this context, it refers to the movement
Movement

A movement is a Motion , a change in position. Movement can also refer to:...
 alone, even when no weapon is being fired. Sidestepping is an integral part of any first-person shooter
First-person shooter

File:Freedoom aaa.pngFirst-person shooter is a Video game genres, featuring a First person , with which the player views the action as if through the eyes of the protagonist and in which the primary element is combat based around shooting....
 as it allows the player to dodge incoming fire while keeping their view aimed at their target.

See also

  • Ground-attack aircraft
  • Military aviation
    Military aviation

    Military aviation is the use of aircraft and other flying machines for the purposes of conducting or enabling warfare, including national airlift capacity to provide logistical supply to forces stationed in a theater or along a front....
  • Straferunning
    Straferunning

    In video games, particularly in first-person shooters , straferunning is a technique that allows a player to run or fly faster through levels by moving forwards and sideways at the same time....
  • Circle strafing


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