What does 'ordinate' refer to in relation to machine gun firing?

The term 'ordinate' in the context of machine gun firing specifically relates to the elevation of the flight path above the line of sight. When firing a machine gun, understanding the ordinate is crucial for effective targeting and ensuring that rounds hit the intended target, especially when engaging at various distances and elevations.

In practical terms, this means that the shooter must account for the trajectory of the bullets in relation to the sight line to achieve accurate fire. Since bullets travel in a curved path due to gravity, an adjustment of the ordinate allows the shooter to correct for factors like distance and elevation differences between them and the target. This is particularly important in combat scenarios where targets may be at varying heights, such as in hilly terrain. Understanding how to adjust the ordinate helps in elevating the gun's barrel appropriately to compensate for these factors, resulting in a higher probability of hitting the target accurately.