What type of fire would target an enemy from a side position?

Flanking fire is characterized by targeting the enemy from a side position, which provides a significant tactical advantage. This type of fire complicates the enemy’s ability to return accurate fire, as it engages them from an unanticipated angle, usually resulting in greater disruption and potential casualties. By attacking from the flank, the machine gunner can exploit the enemy's vulnerabilities, often catching them off guard and increasing the effectiveness of the fire.

In contrast, oblique fire involves hitting a target at an angle but does not necessarily come from the side. Frontal fire implies a direct attack towards the enemy head-on, which can expose the machine gun position to reciprocal fire and severely limit the effectiveness of the engagement. Grazing fire refers to fire that strikes the ground within a certain distance of the target, typically parallel to the ground, and is not focused on targeting the enemy from the side. Thus, flanking fire is the most appropriate choice when considering the tactics and advantages of engaging from a side position.