What action is described by changing the horizontal direction of a weapon's muzzle?

The action of changing the horizontal direction of a weapon's muzzle is referred to as traverse. When a weapon’s muzzle is traversed, it is moved left or right along the horizontal plane, allowing the operator to aim at targets positioned in different lateral positions without altering the angle of elevation or depression.

This movement is crucial for targeting because it enables the weapon to engage multiple threats or targets effectively without having to reposition the entire setup. In contrast, elevation describes the adjustment of the weapon’s muzzle up or down, depression specifically refers to lowering it, and azimuth is a broader term related to the angular measurement of direction, which can include both horizontal and vertical aspects of aiming but does not specifically define the action itself.