What describes mutual support in a defensive setup?

• A. Weapons cover each other's dead zones
• B. Overlapping fires
• C. Balanced fires
• D. Early engagement

Answer: (A)

Mutual support means every part of the defense keeps an eye on and protects the others, ensuring there are no exposed gaps. The way this shows up is that weapons cover each other’s dead zones—areas that a single position cannot effectively reach. By having neighboring positions fire into or observe those blind spots, the defense maintains continuous coverage, so an adversary cannot slip through a gap or exploit a limitation in one unit’s field of fire. This keeps the line coherent and resilient because each element relies on the others to protect the whole perimeter.

Overlapping fires describe multiple weapons firing at the same target to increase likelihood of a hit, which supports mutual defense but doesn’t explicitly emphasize covering gaps or blind areas. Balanced fires refers to distributing firepower evenly, which is about even contribution rather than ensuring gap coverage. Early engagement is about initiating contact sooner, not about how the forces support each other across the defensive line.