In fire support operations, what does the term "deviation" refer to?

In fire support operations, the term "deviation" specifically refers to the difference between the intended and actual impact points of a projectile. This measurement is crucial for assessing the accuracy of targeting during an artillery strike or air support operation. Deviation is influenced by various factors, including environmental conditions, weapon system characteristics, and human error in targeting. Understanding this concept allows military personnel to make necessary adjustments in future operations and ensure that fire support is effective in hitting the designated targets.

The other options may relate to various aspects of fire support but do not accurately define "deviation." The distance between different target points pertains to target spacing rather than impact accuracy, the maximum range of weapon systems refers to their operational capabilities, and the time taken for artillery shells to reach the target involves the velocity and trajectory of the shell but does not encompass the accuracy or deviation of the impact point itself.