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I always thought overwatch was a made up GW word like wargear. But BBC is using it to describe British soldiers mission in Iraq.

This is a term we use in the military. One unit or squad will watch the terrain ahead to give covering fire if needed while another unit moves forward. Then the moving unit will provide overwatch while the following unit moves to and beyond the first moving unit. Like a deadly game of leap frog. This is one rule in 40k I kind of miss. It came from real world use.

Ah, thanks.
I guess Larry Hama never used it in GI Joe comics thus it never entered my vocabulary.
I still remember what an enfilade is though.

I love enfilads. Especially with extra cheese, and when taco bell has them on sale for 3 for 5 dollars.

Great question, one I never thought to ask!

Now lay off the Grape Soda and go check out the new Snake Eyes pics they've put on the net!

Ive seen the term used in other strategy and computer games as well. X-COM 1 and 2 come immediately to mind. I've also heard it called opportunity fire.

I'm waiting for the next Aliens sequel to be directed by
Michael Bay. After they revive Sigourney Weaver's Ripley
clone queen predator hybrid, one of the hardened
multi-ethnic marines says

"Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, man. Who put HER in charge?"

just seconds before a face hugger makes sweet sweet
love to his mouth.

So you're psyched for the upcoming Aliens: Colonial Marines game too, Malfred? It's back to the original "terminators with overwatch" awesome-gaming formula.

I remember the Space Hulk "FPS" where you'd hear your Terminators take up position and say "Overwatch" in that strangely comforting way.

Ozymandias, King of Kings

Yep. Here ya go:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overwatch

RussWakelin wrote:Yep. Here ya go:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overwatch

Wikipedia's so great. Outside of GW, I'd only ever heard the word in context of "bounding overwatch" (which is what kutzmon seems to be describing) which I knew about, but now I know even more, including the cool history of overwatch in armored warfare.

No wonder GW left overwatch out of the 3rd+ editions, the rest of the game isn't realistic so it wouldn't fit.

GW never invented anything. All "their" words and ideas have been pinched frｏｍ　ｐｒｉｏｒ　ｓｏｕｒｃｅｓ．