kill zone

plural kill zones

1. governmentThe area of engagement where an attack on the enemy is focused and which has the highest percentage of fatalities.

   If time is available, the ambush group may prepare the kill zone with obstacles, booby traps, mines or trip flares.

   2014, Chris McNab, Martin J. Dougherty, Combat Techniques: The Complete Guide to How Soldiers Fight Wars Today, Amber Books Ltd, →ISBN

   4 more examples

   You either kept distance or an obstacle between yourself and the engagement area, a buffer zone against the enemy's reaction from the kill zone.

   2004, Charles W. Sasser, Craig Roberts, Crosshairs on the Kill Zone, →ISBN, page 90

   We had to get out of the kill zone if at all possible. We were also told if a truck in front of us gets hit and will not move, not to stop, but to go around it and get out of the kill zone.

   2007, Gerald L. Hunt, The Kill Zone: Day to Day Convoys in Iraq, →ISBN, page 43

   Wolff radioed Dressler that the Russian had been driven from the first kill zone and was close to being driven from the second kill zone.

   2014, Doug Eiderzen, The Ambiance of Victoria, →ISBN, page 322

   The American escort carriers turn south, passing right through what would have been 2nd Destroyer Division's kill zone. But, as a result of Kurita's orders, they, and their Long Lances, are still off to the north of the formation, looking for Kongō.

   2019 February 27, Drachinifel, 19:38 from the start, in The Battle of Samar - Odds? What are those?, archived from the original on 03 Nov 2022

   1. governmentSuch an area defined by drone warfare.First known use 2020s

      Near-synonyms: no man's land, no-man's land

      Synonyms: no man's land, no-man's land

2. A position where someone is facing a deadly attack.

   He had his foot on the brake during the kill zone, keeping the limousine almost motionless, while the brake lights were one.

   2016, The Lone Wolf, The 10 Second Kill Zone, →ISBN, page 3

   3 more examples

   He was parked on the zigzag road just to the east of the kindergarten street, facing the kill zone, the three-man assault team in position, but the plan was now going to shit. He had picked the zigzag road as the perfect kill zone based on Pike's following Azzam and triggering the assault as the team leader, something that was crucial to prevent the team from taking out the wrong person.

   2011, Brad Taylor, One Rough Man, →ISBN

   In police work, then, officers are in the kill zone when they are in positions where they could be shot, stabbed, run over, or otherwise mortally injured by citizens.

   2012, David Klinger, Into the Kill Zone: A Cop's Eye View of Deadly Force, →ISBN

   The man firing the gun turned his weapon on the larger target, giving Jenna the chance to pull out of the kill zone using the Suburban as cover.

   2016, CJ Lyons, Kill Zone, →ISBN

3. The area of the chest and abdomen where a bullet is most likely to kill its target.

   He squeezed the trigger, aiming for the kill zone.

   2011, Mel Odom, Apocalypse Dawn: The Earth's Last Days: The Battle Begins, →ISBN, page 22

   3 more examples

   On your first two tries you got maybe one shot in the kill zone, the rest were too low.

   1989, Michael P. Murphy, Old Soldiers, →ISBN, page 228

   Each staccato flare of light was glaring and vehement and expanded into the corners of the room. Bishop tracked the first shadow of movement, a dark specter, aimed for the kill zone, center mass, and fired.

   2005, Matthew Vierling, Last Refuge, →ISBN, page 421

   Inexperienced shooters will attempt to aim for the “kill zone” (the area of the chest and abdomen) and instead will hit the lower extremities, often the thigh.

   2008, Bruce D. Browner, Alan M. Levine, Jesse B. Jupiter, Skeletal Trauma E-Book, →ISBN, page 445