What is the cone of fire in relation to machine gun firing?

The cone of fire refers to the pattern of bullet paths that a machine gun creates when it is fired. When a machine gun is discharged, the bullets do not follow a perfectly straight trajectory due to various factors such as recoil and slight variations in aim caused by the gunner's control and the machine's operating mechanics. As a result, while the individual bullets might be aimed at a target, they will form a cone-shaped pattern in the air as they travel downrange.

This concept is crucial in understanding how to effectively use a machine gun in combat situations since the cone of fire affects the area of impact on the target and the likelihood of hitting it. Gunners must be trained to consider this dispersion when engaging targets to ensure effective fire.

In contrast, the other choices describe different elements related to machine gun firing but do not accurately define the cone of fire. For example, the distance traveled by the bullet refers to its range, and the angle of elevation implies the tactical positioning of the weapon rather than the resultant pattern of fire. The speed of the gun firing pertains to the rate of fire, which is also distinct from the concept of how bullets disperse upon exit from the barrel.