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'Bounding overwatch', also known as leapfrogging or simply bounding, is the military tactic of alternating movement of coordinated units to allow, if necessary, suppressive fire in support of offensive forward movement or defensive disengagement. As members of a unit (element to platoon level) take an overwatch posture, other members advance to cover; these two groups continually switch roles as they close with the enemy. This process may be done by "leapfrogging" by fireteams, but is usually done within fireteams along a squad/platoon battle line to simulate an overwhelming movement towards the enemy and make it more difficult for the enemy to distinguish specific targets. This military tactic takes continuous training and focused coordination to be effectively practiced on the modern battlefield.
It was first developed in World War II, when suppressing fire became possible- in other words, when man-portable automatic weapons began to come into general issue.