What term describes the scenario where the long axis of the beaten zone aligns with the target axis?

The term that describes the scenario where the long axis of the beaten zone aligns with the target axis is "enfilade." This situation occurs when the fire is directed along the length of a target or a formation, maximizing the effectiveness of the weapon's fire by ensuring that the projectiles hit the target over a larger area. This alignment allows for a higher probability of hits since the bullets travel in a linear path along the longer side of the target, making it more vulnerable to sustained fire.

In contrast, the term "trajectory" pertains to the path that a projectile follows through the air, which does not inherently relate to the alignment of the beaten zone or target axis. "Max ordinate" refers to the highest point of the projectile's flight path relative to the ground, which also does not describe the alignment leveraging the longer side of a target. The "cone of fire" represents the area over which projectiles will land due to the inherent dispersion in their trajectories, but it doesn't specifically address the direct alignment with a target’s long axis as enfilade does.