Firing points

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A Firing point is a prepared position from which troops may use their firearms with minimal exposure to return fire. They may be anything from very simple constructions such as sandbag protection at the edge of the parapet in trench warfare to sophisticated heavily protected positions integrated into permanent fortifications. Large gun emplacements for instance are vulnerable to being overrun by lightly armed and mobile troops, who can avoid the field of fire of the primary armament by dispersal, stealth or by utilising limitations on the armaments range of traverse or depression. To neutralise this threat, military engineers commonly incorporate provision for defending troops to engage the such attackers, in the form of slit trenches, pillboxes, bunkers and redoubts.