crewserved

Crew-served weapons, sometimes written crew-served or crewserved, are weapons that require a team to operate rather than a single soldier. They are designed to deliver heavier firepower or longer reach than individual weapons and to provide suppressive fire or direct-fire support. Common examples include machine guns, mortars, grenade launchers, anti-tank guns, and many vehicle-mounted autocannons.

Operation and roles: A typical crew includes a gunner, loader, and a commander; larger systems may add a spotter, ammunition bearer, or fire-control operator. The crew coordinates aiming, loading, and firing, while maintaining safety and ammunition logistics. Indirect-fire systems rely on observers and fire-direction data. Training emphasizes communication, drill sequences, and standard operating procedures.

Advantages and limitations: Crew-served weapons provide heavier, sustained fire and rapid target engagement that individual arms cannot match. They enable suppressive fire and area denial but impose logistical demands and a need for coordination. If a crew is incapacitated or dispersed, the weapon loses effectiveness more quickly than a solitary weapon.

Usage: In modern militaries these systems span infantry teams, are mounted on vehicles, or are integrated into artillery units. They complement infantry firearms by delivering firepower that does not depend on a single operator, contributing to combined arms operations and battlefield flexibility.