What does MAXORD refer to in the context of artillery?

MAXORD, in the context of artillery, refers to the maximum operational range of a weapon. This term encapsulates the furthest distance that a particular artillery piece can effectively fire a projectile, which is crucial for planning fire support missions. Understanding MAXORD is essential for commanders to employ artillery effectively, ensuring that they can engage targets within the designated operational area while also accounting for factors such as terrain, weather, and the ammunition being used.

In contrast, while other terms and definitions may address different aspects of artillery operations, they do not specifically define the range capability of the weapon itself. For example, the minimum required expenditure of rounds would concern quantity rather than distance, the highest point on a round's trajectory references a different aspect of projectile behavior, and the standard operational limit for fire missions typically encompasses various parameters beyond just the range. Thus, MAXORD succinctly denotes the maximum range at which a weapon can operate effectively, making it a key consideration in artillery accuracy and effectiveness.