What happens to the beaten zone when firing on falling terrain?

When firing on falling terrain, the beaten zone actually becomes longer and wider. This is primarily due to the way the trajectory of the projectile interacts with the incline of the terrain. As a gun is fired at a target on a slope descending away from the gunner, the bullets travel further before they hit the ground. This distance translates into a longer beaten zone.

Moreover, as the rounds strike the slope at varying angles, the dispersion of the rounds increases, leading to a wider area covered by the projectiles. The falling terrain alters the angle of descent, which impacts how the rounds impact the ground and the spread of their effects. This understanding is crucial for effective machine gun employment, as it influences targeting and the coverage area in which the bullets will be effective against potential threats.