close the range

close the range (third-person singular simple present closes the range, present participle closing the range, simple past and past participle closed the range)

1. (military) To move oneself or one's vehicle(s) (warships, tanks, aircraft, etc.) closer to the enemy in order to allow them to fire on the enemy, either more effectively or at all.
   • 2019 February 27, Drachinifel, 10:57 from the start, in The Battle of Samar - Odds? What are those?‎, archived from the original on 3 November 2022:

     With reports of the Japanese forces bearing down on them confirmed, Rear Admiral Sprague orders his ships east, heading towards a series of rain squalls, hoping for concealment. This will hopefully delay the Japanese closing the range, and also draw them away from the much-more-vulnerable landing ships.

• open the range