A point target is:
- A target of such small dimension that it requires the accurate placement of ordnance in order to neutralize or destroy it.
- A nuclear target in which the ratio of radius of damage to target radius is equal to or greater than 5.
Targets such as city buildings, and targets in the midst of many non-targets are considered to be point targets. When attacking point targets, weapons with only the necessary amount of spread and power are employed.
Point targets are often located near other buildings which contain civilians and other innocents, therefore guided munitions are used to take out only the intended target. A strike executing in this manner is often referred to as a surgical strike.
On a smaller scale, point targets can include enemy units and positions. Long-range firearms, such as machine guns, have calculated effective ranges for both point targets and area targets, based on the fact that point targets are more difficult to hit and require more precision from the weapon and its firer. Effective ranges at point targets are therefore reasonably lower than area targets.
Famous quotes containing the words point and/or target:
“Prejudices are so to speak the mechanical instincts of men: through their prejudices they do without any effort many things they would find too difficult to think through to the point of resolving to do them.”
—G.C. (Georg Christoph)
“Well gentlemen, this is it. This is what we’ve been waiting for. Tonight your target is Tokyo. And you’re gonna play ‘em the Star Spangled Banner with two-ton bombs. All you’ve got to do is to remember what you’ve learned and follow your squadron leaders. They’ll get you in, and they’ll get you out. Any questions? All right that’s all. Good luck to you. Give ‘em hell.”
—Dudley Nichols (1895–1960)