tukivärejä

Tukivärejä is a Finnish term that translates to "support weapons" or "heavy support weapons" in English. It generally refers to a category of firearms designed to provide indirect fire, suppress enemy positions, or engage targets at longer ranges than standard infantry rifles. These weapons are typically operated by a small team rather than a single soldier and are often mounted on a bipod or tripod for stability.

Common examples of weapons that fall under the tukivärejä classification include machine guns, particularly general-purpose machine guns and heavy machine guns, as well as mortars and some types of anti-materiel rifles. Their role in military operations is to lay down sustained suppressing fire, disrupt enemy movements, and engage targets that are beyond the effective range of assault rifles.

The specific weapons designated as tukivärejä can vary depending on the military organization and their doctrine. However, the underlying principle remains consistent: to provide a significant increase in firepower and range to support the advance or defense of infantry units. These weapons are crucial for achieving battlefield dominance by neutralizing enemy threats and creating favorable conditions for friendly forces.