In military science, a killing field is a field of fire, usually covered by machine guns in modern warfare. It may also be a region in which artillery, cannon, or mortars have been registered or deployed. Such a term may be used to describe the approaches to an "ideal" defensive fortification. Military science concerns itself with the study of the diverse technical, psychological, and practical phenomena that encompass the events that make up warfare, especially armed combat. ... The field of fire is the area around a weapon (or group of weapons) which can be easily and effectively reached by gun fire. ... A machine gun is a fully-automatic firearm that is capable of firing bullets in rapid succession. ... Modern warfare is a complex affair, involving the widespread use of highly advanced technology. ... Historically, artillery refers to any engine used for the discharge of projectiles during war. ... A small American Civil War-era cannon on a carriage A caun is any large tubular firearm designed to fire a heavy projectile over a considerable distance. ... US soldier loading a M224 60-mm mortar. ... In military science, defense (or defence) is the art of preventing an enemy from conquering territory. ... Table of Fortification, from the 1728 Cyclopaedia. ...

The term originated in medieval warfare to describe areas within castles specially designed to bunch attackers, who had breached the outer defences, into an area where the defenders could kill them easily Through arrow loops and murder holes. Often these were small courtyards surrounded by high walls. Medieval warfare is the warfare of the European Middle Ages. ... The main gatehouse of Harlech Castle, Wales. ... A Brick Wall A wall is a usually solid structure that defines and sometimes protects an area. ...

See also

• The Killing Fields.
• In mathematics, see Killing vector field.