Counter-battery fire (sometimes called counter-fire) is a battlefield military activity to defeat the enemy's indirect fire elements (guns, Rocket launchers, Artillery and Mortars), including their target acquisition, command and control components. Counter-battery arrangements and responsibilities vary between nations but involve target acquisition, planning and control, and counter-fire. Counter-battery fire rose to prominence in World War I. Counter-RAM is when the rockets, artillery, or mortars are shot down, before they hit their ground targets, or simply provide early warning.