What is the primary objective of conducting a reconnaissance by fire?

The primary objective of conducting a reconnaissance by fire is to provoke an enemy response. This tactic is employed to elicit information about the enemy's location, strength, and intentions. By engaging the enemy with fire, a unit can determine their positions based on the enemy's reaction to the observed fire. This approach helps to gather essential intelligence, as the enemy's movements or defensive strategies will often reveal their locations or capabilities.

In contrast to the primary objective, maintaining visual contact with the enemy is more about observation rather than direct engagement and does not provide the same level of actionable intelligence as provoking a response. Capturing enemy personnel is a more direct objective that focuses on intelligence gathering through interrogation, which does not align with the intention behind reconnaissance by fire. Protecting friendly forces is important but is not directly related to the purpose of conducting this specific reconnaissance tactic, as its core aim is centered around acquiring information through the enemy's reaction.