The following report of a Japanese method of indicating targets to mortars using machine gun fire is taken from Tactical and Technical Trends, No. 27, June 17, 1943. [DISCLAIMER: The following text is taken from the U.S. War Department publication Tactical and Technical Trends. As with all wartime intelligence information, data may be incomplete or inaccurate. No attempt has been made to update or correct the text. Any views or opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of the website.]

JAPANESE MORTAR RANGING BY TRACER FIRE A novel method of adjusting on, or indicating, targets to mortars has been reported to be introduced by the Japanese in Burma. Two machine guns are sited on the target and open up with tracer. About 30 seconds later, the first mortar bomb falls, being aimed at the intersection of the two tracer streams. Although a certain amount of organization and training is necessary for the operation of this system of target indication, it is considered to have the advantage of being able to spot and indicate targets which could not be observed from a fixed observation post.

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