Where does fire at will come from?

Answer 1

It is unlikely that this term can be traced to its origin. However, it is very likely that it simply developed out of practical necessity, much like other orders and traditions in the military.

In the early days of gunpowder weapons development, weapons were not rifled (grooved barrels) so were notoriously inaccurate. It was more a matter of pray and spray. the "spray" portion of this concept was made very difficult by the single shot nature of early firearms. So gun units relied on numbers of shooters to accomplish what a single rifleman or artillery piece can today. different gun crews are able to load and set at different rates. Some are quicker, others are not. It would only make sense that once weapons were ranged (that is the target was sighted and gunners knew approximately where their fired rounds would land), the command would be given to "fire at will." No one in the firing line really had anything personal against the guy named Will; the order has more to do with the will or desire of the gunners.

The more modern order, typically given to artillery gun units is to "Fire for Effect!" In essence, this is a free for all, until a "cease fire" or "check fire" is called. gunners will acquire their target by the first gun, whose crew radios coordinates to the other guns of the unit, who extrapolate based on their position in relation to the target. The unit will coordinate fire on the target, and when "effect" is called, all gun crews will fire and continue firing until they 1). expend all ammunition; 2). Receive a "cease fire" or "check fire" order; 3). the predetermined number of rounds is fired; 4). or the target and a large piece of landscape is forever altered.