What is a spotting round and when is it used?

• A. A live round fired to observe impact and guide subsequent rounds; used at the start of a mission to calibrate fire
• B. A range-finding device attached to the barrel
• C. A dummy round used for range estimation
• D. A special flare used for night illumination

Answer: (A)

Spotting rounds are live rounds fired not to hit a target, but to observe where they land so you can adjust your aim for the rest of the fire mission. The observer or spotting team watches the impact and relays data on elevation, deflection, wind effect, and range error, allowing quick corrections to the firing solution. This is typically done at the start of a mission to calibrate the fire, establish accurate zero, and ensure subsequent rounds hit closer to the intended point.